It so happens that Alentejo is -and used to be far more – a very sunny region of Portugal.
Some time ago I received a call from the electric company: a survey. Would I, the person asked, find a device that helped me save energy useful ( I later found out he meant a smart meter). My answer completely astonished him: no, in fact I didn't! He proceeded: would I like to have a device installed that would give me feedback on which appliances were using too much energy so I could switch then off or replaced them? Again, no, in fact I wouldn't. The person was appalled... Why not??? He clearly couldn't keep it in longer and felt an urge to check what kind of moron was he talking too. Why couldn't I understand the obvious, his tone gave in – that it is surely a desirable thing to save energy and thus money by not spending much electricity...?
I grant you: I was waiting for this, somewhat impatiently already. I did wish to venture and tell this person, tell the whole world that NO, IT IS NOT NECESSARILY A GOOD IDEA TO SAVE ELECTRICITY. This implies that it is scarce, thus comes from polluting or non-renewable sources. It fits a mentality of scarcity and conforms with all the social and energy paradigms that are used up and no longer adequate.
What I really want, I told the survey guy, is to have all the heaters turned on and temperature of 23ºC all over the house all winter. What I want is to light all the Christmas lights I can find! What I want is to drive an electric car that I can fully charge quickly. We have an enormous roof and the sun pours down on it constantly; the wind swirls around the place many days and nights every week. What good is it to save them, what sense does this make? What I want is to spend energy as much as it pleases me (providing no pollution or harm comes from it) and have a ball. And I want it to be ridiculously cheap or free in itself, for it is freely given to all (and building or buying my own affordable devices to collect it). Furthermore, news are coming out every day now about fusion energy and edgy systems that space exploration and other activities are requiring and which may transform the world.
So no, I don't want to save electricity! Energy revolution.... bring it on!!!