Facts, Choices, and Challenges

 

In our search to meet growing energy needs, compete in a tough global economy, and contribute to a sound environment, one of the most vital energy “sources” will be increased efficiency. Efficiency is good for business, good for the family budget, and good for the environment.

 

The United States has an impressive track record of efficiency gains. Over the last 25 years, as the U.S. economy has grown 110%, energy consumption has grown by only 24%.63. In 2003, producing a dollar of GDP took only half as much energy as it took in 1975.

 

Our nation has not only become more energy efficient, it has also become much cleaner in the way it produces and uses energy. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nitrogen oxide emissions have declined by 17% since 1970, sulfur dioxide emissions have declined by 49%, lead emissions have declined by 98%, carbon monoxide emissions have declined by 41%, volatile organic compounds (which are precursors to ozone) have declined by 48%, and particulate emissions from combustion have declined by 82%.

 

U.S. companies are taking the lead in improving energy efficiency. For example, at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., electricity is the leading expense after labor costs, exceeding $1 billion a year. So the retailer has devised techniques to channel daylight into stores through prismatic skylights that concentrate light without radiating heat.

The systems cost about $200,000 per location and pay for themselves in two to three years through reduced electricity and cooling costs.

 

Consumers have significant gains to make if they’ll follow suit. According to EPA, if every household replaced one regular bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb, consumers would collectively save more than $600 million a year. The energy saved, would be enough to light 7 million homes, and the greenhouse-gas reductions from power plants would be equivalent to taking 1 million cars off the road.

 

In addition, if all Americans kept their tires properly inflated, the National Resources Defense Council estimates that the nation would cut its gasoline use by 2%.

We can and should make further progress in increasing efficiency while reducing harmful impacts on the environment. We must also work to promote energy efficiency worldwide, particularly in large, high-growth economies such as India and China.

 

Climate Change

 

A consensus has emerged that the earth is getting warmer, that CO2 emissions are increasing, and that human activity is a contributing factor. As scientific inquiry continues, our focus should be on policy options that can realistically and successfully address this risk.

 

Since fossil fuels will continue to supply the lion’s share of our fuel and power, securing our energy future is inextricably linked to the challenge of managing climate change.

 

Furthermore, while developed countries account for the most significant CO2 emissions, most of the growth will come from large developing economies. China is expected to pass the United States as the number one CO2 generator within a year. Any solution must be global in scope or it will not succeed.

 

America’s greatest contribution to the management of climate change will be the development and application of technologies at home and abroad that increase efficiency and address environmental concerns without sacrificing economic growth or human progress.

 

Increasing our energy supply while also identifying ways to reduce CO2 emissions in a fair and technologically achievable manner is one of the most critical challenges of our time.