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Real energy savers don’t wear cardigans. or do they?
Anna Bernasek, NY Times
WHEN oil and gas prices surged after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, President Bush appealed to Americans to conserve energy. He asked people to cut back on nonessential travel, for example, and to carpool to work. Then, in October, the White House started a campaign for energy conservation in American homes, dusting off some old ideas like switching to fluorescent light bulbs and installing better insulation in attics.
Some critics derided the program as a bizarre flashback from the 1970’s – a collection of worn-out ideas that evoked feelings of deprivation and gloom. It will be a pity, though, if an effective energy policy never gets off the ground. Much has been learned since the 70’s about what works and what doesn’t. Clearly, energy conservation isn’t what it used to be.
The preferred term these days, however, is energy efficiency – something that economics and even chief executives can relate to. The phrase implies getting more out of what we have – and that’s not gloomy at all. Technology can deliver increased benefits with less energy, in effect replacing some of that electricity and oil with brain power. And efficiency holds the promise of greater satisfaction, not self-sacrifice.
There are reasons for optimism. One is that market forces can help provide solutions: higher prices, on their own, can make people cut back.
(13 November 2005)
The Oil Drum has a long discussion on conservation and PO.
Speed limit crackdown to cut emissions
Leak reveals climate change plans
David Adam, Guardian
Ministers are planning to crack down on motorists who speed on motorways in an attempt to meet government targets aimed at reducing Britain’s emissions of greenhouse gases.
Officials acknowledge that any move to force the 15 million motorists who currently exceed the 70 mph speed limit to slow down would be “politically sensitive”, but they say it would save significant amounts of carbon dioxide pollution. Engine efficiency falls quickly beyond 70 mph.
The proposal is among dozens of new measures outlined in a confidential government review of its policies to tackle climate change, a copy of which has been obtained by the Guardian. The review was ordered in September 2004 because ministers were struggling to meet their pledge to cut UK emissions of carbon dioxide by 20% by 2010, a commitment restated in this year’s election manifesto.
…The review lists 58 possible measures to save an extra 11m-14m tons of carbon pollution each year, which it calls the government’s “carbon gap”. One of the options, a new obligation to mix renewable biofuels into petrol for vehicles, was announced last week. Stricter enforcement of the 70 mph limit, the document says, would save 890,000 tons of carbon a year – more than the biofuels obligation and many other listed measures put together.
…The most effective steps, the review says, are pollution caps imposed on industry under UK and European carbon trading schemes. Other proposals include mechanisms to increase electricity generation from offshore wind turbines and combined heat and power systems, stricter enforcement of building regulations and linking winter fuel payments for pensioners to energy efficiency measures.
It also weighs up what it calls “politically difficult” options, which include road-user charging, changes to speed limits, high-speed rail links and reintroducing double British summertime – where the clocks go forward two hours in spring.
(14 November 2005)
Related story at the Guardian: Government sets out challenge for greener Britain.
Cut down to size
Recycling obsolete tower blocks
Steve Rose, Guardian
What to do with a tower block that no one wants to live in? The solution: pull it down, slice it up, turn it into pleasant family homes. Germany’s ultimate recycling scheme
(14 November 2005)
