Wind Turbines Leave Some in a Huff by Jim Carlton was published in The Wall Street Journal. Michael Deneui resides in San Francisco; Deneui is a 40 year old telecommunications consultant. Deneui wanted to be more “eco-friendly” so he decided to build a wind turbine hoping that it would result in a reduced energy bill. Though Deneui wanted to be more eco-friendly there was an issue with his wind turbine, “its pole is 35 feet tall. Mounted in the backyard, it can be seen a block away. And when it's on, the blades sometimes cast light reflections” (Carlton, 2009), which has caused a few issues with the neighbors. A few neighbors have complained of noise issues coming from the blades, whereas other neighbors have stated that though they can see it is not of any kind of nuisance.
Ethical Issue: Deneui built a wind turbine because he wanted to be more eco-friendly and save on his energy bill. He installed on his property with his money, so why is this so bothersome to the neighbors? If your neighbor did a similar thing would you approve of it?
Locke would argue that it is your own body and you put your own labor in it, therefore, you now own it. Deneui is not breaking any natural limits, he is not wasting anything or taking anything from mankind, so it should not be a concern to his neighbors. He is not installing it on anyone’s property other than his own. Locks view of money represents the labor value, and that is just what Deneui did, he put his money into the labor of the wind turbine.
I can see his point and Locke's point of view of why it is his property, because it was built on his land, and through his own labor. It certainly was beneficial not just to him but the environment as well. But the problem was and certainly Locke did not address it in his theory was that if one's property was disturbing the people that were around him, his community, his neighbors. Locke neither addressed the solution nor the issue.What if a property was built based on someone else's expense unknowingly. Would Locke approve that? Would today's society approve that? Even it is his property and beneficial to the owner.
ReplyDeleteFor starters great connection between the two. I do agree with you, seems that this person went out of his way to improve the enviroment around him by being eco friendly. His stored up labor (money) went into the purchase of this product, further more this persons labor went into the installation. I mean i could see if the neighbors are annoyed by fact that a huge turbine is above him. Locke does not metion anything in his article about annoying his neighbors; but he does metion if it benefits the land value by adding more then it was orginaly worth is good. Further more Locke states just as you said if it benefits a community as whole then also a good thing. Wind turbines are clean energy, that develop clean energy.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like the common idea of one house/family in a neighborhood that are crazy/just different than the rest. While somewhat of a stereotype, it is most often true. In this case, it is not necessarily a bad thing. But people always have to complain about something; and most often, it is not bothering or harming them whatsoever. I think in this case, this man is being a model citizen to his neighbors. In these tough economic times, it is important to do everything possible to cut costs and save.
ReplyDeleteLocke would not object to this man's project because of his ethos of industriousness. He would want people to use their land/property in the most efficient way possible. By erecting this wind turbine in his yard to reduce energy costs, Locke would say that he is using his land more efficiently.
I like this story; someone is realizing a problem and taking the initiative to fix it. His neighbors should be praising instead of criticizing him.