If we add all of the waste built into our lifestyle, infrastructure, technnologies, and addiction to all things electrical and fuel powered, the actual real work we attain is less than 10% of the actual energy potential extracted from the earth in all forms. This is the real issue, not CO2 at all. Reduce energy consumption and here’s what you get:
- Less need for ANY form of new generating or fuel source capacities
- Less impact in CO2, less environmental damage caused by energy creation and consumption
- Lighter cars that are safer in crashes as well as in end-of-life recovery
- Less wasteful homes that are cheaper to maintain
- A sustainable society with a future
We know we can do the following right this minute, with very little real pain:
- Save between 70% and 90% in energy used for lighting by reducing light levels, adding simple controls, and converting obsolete luminaires to high efficiency fluorescent and LEDs
- Save easily 50% of the energy used for auto transportation by moving into cars that are right sized for the use. Small 2 seat cars for daily commuting, with little motors that get 40MPG, rather than 18MPG SUVs
- Save 30% to 50% of the energy used for heating and air conditioning by simply installing programmable t-stats and turning the temps down in winter and up in summer, and sealing off unused rooms
- Save 70% of energy from waste management by throttling idiotic buying of crap we do not need, skipping the bags, and recycling
- Save 70% of transportation costs from purchase of products made here in the USA, not distant countries on the other side of the globe
- Save 30% to 50% of the fuel we use every week by planning trips, not driving when it is not necessary, and more careful driving behavior