Show Sen Garn opposes proposed home energy surveys By Senator Jake Jakc Garn The Carter administration is considering a plan to use the nations nation's youth as energy detectives going from house to house in their communities to check how effectively their neighbors are conserving energy The purpose purpose of the program is to raise awareness and educate the general public on ways that energy can be saved White House sources say Under the voluntary program high school students students' or other youths would start outside a house checking off cooky y problems s on a govern govern- prepared ment-prepared survey list The volunteer would then knock on the door to tell i the occupant what his or her outside energy conservation score is is and offer to go through the inside of the house to complete the survey According to the team members member's s manual which would be prepared by the Department of ot Energy the youths would check everything from the inflation of the homeowners homeowner's car tires to the water level in the toilet tanks AIl this All should should- take about 45 minutes to an h hour ur to complete A White House spokesman said that the information manual is not going to be sent just anywhere It will be circulated circulated circulated cir cir- among educators an and d I volunteer organization tion n executives for dispersal Th The e spokesman stressed that th the e program is not intended t to to imply that an army of little uniformed inspectors will go ou out t and check on people He added adde d j de that all recruiting would b be e strictly voluntary The booklet t suggests that students b be e i recruited through voluntary y organizations such as the Bo Boy y and l radi radio radio- sc jockeys on rock n roll 1011 stations station Included in the manual will be checklists suggestions and mottos for stirring up the enthusiasm of the volunteers I find it disturbing that such a proposal is even being con con- This course of action does not represent a society that prides itself on freedom from coercion and a right to privacy it further involves the federal government in private citizens' citizens lives Moreover the cost of putting together a page manual and arranging for recruitment would be enor enor- Informing the American of the need for energy conservation is a worthwhile objective but hut a proposal that sends a. a ann army ui of YOUl lS into neighborhoods as energy sleuths inspecting our personal property is clearly not the way to do it |