Posted on 03/09/2007 11:14:24 AM PST by libertarianPA
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Change a light bulb and stop a war. Build smarter homes and keep the seas from rising.
These are the kinds of arguments U.S. environmentalists use to promote their cause. Others say forget "save the planet," Americans respond better to "save some money."
Regardless of the sales pitch, energy efficiency is an opportunity that Americans shun, as less than 5 percent of the world's population consumes almost 25 percent of global oil production.
While gas-guzzling vehicles draw the most criticism, homes and businesses consume even more energy -- 40 percent of the U.S. total in 2005 versus 28 percent for transportation -- and provide the biggest potential for savings.
The U.S. Green Building Council says structures built to its standards can cut energy usage 20 to 80 percent using available technologies such as compact fluorescent lighting and high-efficiency building shells and water heating.
The Paris-based International Energy Agency, which advises rich governments, says more efficient use of energy can do far more to cut carbon dioxide emissions than either a shift to renewable energies or nuclear power in coming decades.
Advocates for efficiency call it "low-hanging fruit," so what keeps it from being picked? Woeful public awareness, timid policy-makers and resistance from the building industry to mandate greater standards, experts say.
"Nothing is stopping building owners from making investment in plants and equipment except they don't want to do it," said Peter Fusaro, founder of Global Change Associates, an environmental consultancy.
"There's just no people pushing it. Politicians make platitudes about energy efficiency but who's going to make the investment?"
Some states are more aggressive than the federal government. California has called for a 25 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. Ten northeastern states including New York have pledged to cut emissions from electricity generation to 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2019.
"We want to drag the federal government into this. We're not going to wait," said Peter Smith, president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
THE OFFENDING LIGHT BULB
Tim Carey, president and chief executive of the New York Power Authority, said he would outlaw traditional, incandescent bulbs if he could. Australia plans to phase them out by 2009.
"I outlawed them in my house and nobody seemed to mind," Carey said. "We certainly would have to invade a lot fewer countries in the Middle East."
Scientists link carbon dioxide, released when coal, oil and natural gas are burned, to global warming, which in turn has resulted in heat waves, floods and storms.
Buildings use more energy than they need to because they leak energy through ill-conceived lighting, oversized heating and cooling systems or poor building materials.
In a pilot program, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority built 15,000 energy-efficient homes, which cost on average $7,000 more than a conventional home. That $7,000 investment paid for itself within four years through lower energy bills, Smith said.
"It just makes good business sense," Smith said.
But consumers are generally unwilling to invest in more expensive homes or appliances unless they can make their money back in less than three years, according to a study by consultants McKinsey & Co.
"Most people would pay a few dollars extra on their mortgage each month for a Jacuzzi or better counter tops. That doesn't faze them. It's just crazy that we have this market barrier," said Bill Prindle, deputy director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
"That's why we need stronger building codes," he said.
Codes are determined by state and local authorities, making it difficult to institute a national policy. Builders favor voluntary standards, saying mandates add to costs by disrupting supply chains and creating delays by leaving government agencies short of inspectors.
Prindle says the United States needs a national energy policy requiring efficiencies in order for the market to work.
Others are hopeful the 2008 presidential election will produce candidates no longer fearful of conservation, which in the past been associated with sacrifice.
Hey Mr. Peter Smith! Just follow President Bush's example and live in an eco-friendly house by choice!
On another note, CFL bulbs, while somewhat more expensive than traditional light bulbs, actually do result in savings on your electric bill each month.
"On another note, CFL bulbs, while somewhat more expensive than traditional light bulbs, actually do result in savings on your electric bill each month."
Me too. I've been doing this for years. My house is as efficient as any 60 yr old house can be. $.50/sf/year. However, I resent the Greenies making people do this. This is coming though. It is already required in Boston for commercial buildings. www.usgbc.org are a scary bunch.
do like Gore and Edwards say, not as they build.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
The last time I looked at "green" for the house, it would have set me back $20,000. Then I'd need to hire a solar cell sweep to brush the snow off the collectors twice a day. Then there were all those dead, worn-out batteries - what to do with them? I could either build a bunker with them or roll them down the hill onto my neighbor's land. And what do I use for power when it's cloudy for six weeks in winter? Candles?
I estimated it would 2020 before I broke even, if ever.
Green fits frogs best...
Ah, ah! You forget. They purchase carbon credits. So everything they consume evens out in the end.
Guess you feel pretty foolish now, eh?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Well, it won't make them stop hating us, but if we do get serious about true energy independence, then we can curtail the funding for terrorism and the middle east's power would dry up.
They would still hate us but would not be empowered to do much if anything about it.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
The dirt in my yard is green - from the antifreeze ;)
The better way of stating this is "While the United States is responsible for 35% of global GNP, it uses only 25% of global oil production.
I started putting in CFL in some applications, they do save $$.. biggest drawback is the fact that they take a good 20-30 seconds to become fully bright.
Not a problem in some applications.. but rather annoying in others.
And what the hell are we doing when we complain about Global Warming and we start daylight savings time early. That extra hour of sun has gotta have an effect.
Pass it on - environmentalists will adopt it as policy!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
But with our new-fangled ethanol consumption, we're going to need a lot of corn and a lot of petroleum for all that fertilizer. And since the liberals won't let us drill on our own soil, we ain't getting our business out of the Middle East anytime soon.
True, true... I would never in a million years ever think they should be mandated as a replacement for traditional bulbs... I'm just one of those cheapos who refuses to spend more on electricity per month than absolutely needed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.