Energy Policy as if the Planet Mattered:Efficiency's Role

摘要

If you follow the news,it is not hard to see the growing negative effects of fossil fuel use,driven by unchecked energy demand: ·A planned Peruvian gas pipeline threatens fragile rainforest habitat. ·An oil tanker sinking in the Atlantic brings ecological disaster to the Spanish and Portuguese coasts. ·Electricity blackouts strike major U.S. cities in 1999 and 2001. ·Almost half of Americans live in areas that still fail air quality standards. ·Falling fuel economy in American cars worsens our dependence on Middle Eastern oil as we prepare for another war with Iraq. ·Growing signs of climate change threaten a host of economic and environmental problems. Yet rarely do the news media,when they report these problems,cover the alternative energy resource options that could prevent or lessen the impact of these tragedies.If they did,they would find that energy efficiency is the cleanest, cheapest,and fastest alternative to conventional fossil fuel use in meeting our energy needs.