Tackling Climate Change in the U.S.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mirza @ Mar 15 2007, 12:22 AM) [snapback]405904[/snapback]</div>

Here's a link to the report: http://www.ases.org/climatechange/climate_change.pdf


Notably, the report indicates "overall energy efficiency" can achieve most of the targeted reduction. Actual renewable energy sources make up less than half, and no mention of nuclear power rampups. Too bad.

 

It seems like a lot could be achieved simply by changing building codes to include things like 2 mode toilets, solar water heating, and various and sundry construction and insulation methods. Siting of trees and landscaping should be included, but those sort of decisions should be left to the architects. Architects should be building that sort of thing in because it's the right thing to do. A code would probably too rigid in that case.

A tiered energy consumption tax would goad people in the right direction. Being tiered lower income people would not be hit as hard, unless they use a lot of energy.

 

Standby power consumption is another easy one to curb. We have our tuner/tv/dvd player on a power strip that we turn off at night. Standby power use on some of these devices can can range between 10 and 15 watts.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lywyllyn @ Mar 16 2007, 11:24 AM) [snapback]406803[/snapback]</div>

Some of the big TVs draw 40 watts on standby. Most of the new ones have a configuration setting for fast-on or low power, so you don't need the power strip switch.

Tom

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Mar 16 2007, 12:54 PM) [snapback]406934[/snapback]</div>

That's good to know. Ghost loads are such a waste. Useless energy consumption.