Energy From Thorium Discussion Forum

I'd like some feedback on my opinion that the general consensus of what 'conservation' means is completely out of whack.

In my opinion, conservation is where you restrict the use of a resource until a better use presents itself at a later time. For instance, I have a particular green graph paper I prefer to use for any analytical work. The color, material and layout all seem to appeal to me. I bought a lot of this paper back in college and am no longer able to find it. I 'conserve' this paper until a particular situation arises in which I'd like to use it. I don't use it for notes, I don't use it to write grocery lists, but I do use it when I am trying to work out a problem. And, when I work on a given problem, I utilize this paper quite wastefully. I don't make sure to fill up every square inch of it, I don't try to compact my thoughts or conserve each and every single piece. In fact, I fly through sheets, throwing away partially used paper that have discarded ideas or laying out several sheets with different concepts in front of me. This tends to yield better results as far as my problem solving. This is what 'conservation' means to me. The delay of a use until it can be used most effectively. This is also how I feel about energy. I may turn off the lights every time I leave a room, because I can't stand the idea of energy being wasted without a purpose. However, that is only due to my own neurotic personality. If there is a use for the energy then I am going to use all that is possibly available in order to obtain a product. Energy abundance leads to creative and novel products. Energy scarcity constrains our freedoms and the potential for progress.

When did conservation become the notion that I should use as little of my precious green graph paper as possible? Why are people encouraging me to use none at all?

Any thoughts on this are welcome.

To me, what you do with your green graph paper is more a reserve than preserve or conserve. You are reserving the paper for a desired later use. Preserve is more to maintain in stasis with no real intentions, or measure, of future use implicit. To conserve is to use sparingly in a manner that allows that usage to continue in an extended manner. Now this is my own understanding, and it may be flawed, but it is what it is. Energy is a limited resource, and our current technologies demand greater and greater amounts of this limited resource. Energy producers have little or no incentive to produce larger amounts of energy (which would have the effect of lowering the cost/profit of their product) to meet or exceed demand. In an environment where a resource is limited and price and growth is largely market controlled, conservation (as per above definition) is a wise choice.