Climate and energy

Cool Earth Day home page from Department of Energy (DOE). While this link holds, take a chance to check out the Earth Day homepage from DOE. It features a cross-section of a home, and you can click on certain target areas – hot water heater, attic, appliances, etc. – for tips on how to practice better energy efficiency.

Since consumers are of course only one piece of the energy solution, I look forward to a similar page where someday producers can also drag a cursor over certain target areas and receive tips on how to improve their energy efficiency as well. It’s only fair. I’m sure they anxiously await their chance. (Otherwise they’ll be paying millions to consultants to figure out the same information.) Not that there’s anything wrong with consultants! Quagmire, stepping out now.

U.S. military goes to CFLs. CFL stands for compact fluorescent lightbulb. They are much more energy efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, which only use 10% of the energy they draw for lighting. The other 90% is wasted as heat. EnergyStar-qualified CFLs (check for the label on the packaging) use 75% less energy than incandescents, and last up to 10 times longer. They save you about $30 in electricity over the life of the bulb. They also produce 75% less heat than incandescents, so they are safer.

All that should help explain why, with “Operation Change Out,” the military is making the switch to CFLs in their on-base housing. At Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune alone, 17,500 CFLs have been installed. Over their lifetime they will prevent more than 7.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, saving nearly 5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and at least $500,000 on energy bills.

FYI, KDHE has a great handout on FAQs about CFLs and their small amount of mercury. For a pdf, click here.

It ain’t just in Kansas. Also today from the Warming Law Blog, updates on how other states are handling their concerns re carbon dioxide regulation, in absence of prompt EPA action after the Supreme Court’s findings in Massachusetts v. EPA.

Speaking of CO2 drama. Folks probably know by now that Governor Sebelius is considering a compromise on the Kansas coal bills proposed by legislative leaders on behalf of Sunflower Electric and Midwest Energy (AP, Houston Chronicle).

Reactions to the compromise range, naturally, from “what do you mean, this offer represents a compromise?” to “maybe this is as good as we can get.” One thing the reactions all have in common is “wow I am so tired of this mess.”

For the coverage, see the KC Star, the Hutch News, and CEP’s thoughts on this yesterday.

Do you want to know more about coal…? Really? It’s OK, some people do. Then check out the Center for American Progress’s progress report on coal, for a huge accumulation of facts on the topic.

— Maril Hazlett, www.climateandenergy.org