While the United States continues to spend billions on foreign wars above the $4 trillion spent on Iraq and Afghanistan, we continue to receive new studies showing how the country is failing behind in education, science, and other programs needed for future growth. The latest is the study of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, which found that we have now dropped to 13th out of 16 major nations in energy efficiency — a key economic factor for future growth.
We are now ten spots behind the European Union. I recently spoke with an American businessman and got an insight into the impact of our worsening position. He and his partner created a major company in Iceland because energy costs were so low due to the use of volcanic and other alternative energy. He said that it was just too good to pass up. Of course, these countries also have cleaner air and better health of its citizens. While these studies often look at energy costs, they do not factor in the deaths associated with air pollution. Indeed, most citizens have no idea of the high levels of a death associated with many pollutants.
The energy lobby in the United States continues to resist efforts to mandate alternative energy sources unless it is questionable sources like ethanol. Lobbyists insist that such sources are too expensive and unreliable despite the fact that Germany is number one in the world in the use of such sources and continues to outstrip the world in the strength of its economy. We continue like a ship of fools, spending wildly on wars while refusing to create infrastructure and resources for alternative fuels. We are watching as our educational scores drop with key industrial factors like energy efficiency. What do we think is going to happen for the next generation?
Interesting article Swarthmoremom. It looks like Minnesota is headed in the right direction, hey!
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/18/us/politics/without-much-straining-minnesota-reins-in-its-utilities-carbon-emissions.html?_r=0 “The state swings some regulatory sticks in its carbon-cutting effort. Minnesota has not only set deadlines for utilities to increase the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources, but it has also required minimum shares for certain renewables like wind and solar energy. Minneapolis, which issued a hefty clean energy blueprint in February, is using its utility franchise negotiations to bargain for further carbon-cutting measures.
But it dangles carrots, too. Voracious power consumers like iron ore mines, for example, can sidestep a regulatory mandate by showing a commitment to reducing electricity use. And the state jump-starts green energy efforts by striking deals with utilities: This year, the state and its private utilities agreed to jolt the slow-growing electric-automobile market by offering discount recharging rates.
“We’re going to push the utilities harder than they want to be pushed, but we want them to make money while they’re doing it,” said State Senator John Marty, chairman of the environment and energy committee. “People don’t think it serves us well if we force-feed them.”
Nick and Riesling,
The real, incandescent bulbs are no longer on the shelves here and what remains generally are the mercury laden compact fluorescent types that I don’t like. So, I went online and bought an entire case, ninety six bulbs I believe, of the sixty watt regular ones. I estimate they will last me for many years.
As Riesling mentioned of Germany, I keep the lights off until I need them to see, and generally only turn them on when I am actually in the room and off when I leave. Using these practices gives me the probably same energy cost savings as having CF lights and running them like most people do.