Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

The Daily Score


He's Bringing Unsexy Back

Posted by Clark Williams-Derry
Energy efficiency is really boring. It's also really important.

of the Christian Science Monitor gets this exactly right:

[N]ot-very-glamorous changes like [compact fluorescents lightbulbs] as well as obsessively sealing and insulating your home will save more than, in the words of one expert, "greenie weenie" additions like green roofs and solar panels.

The whole article is worth reading. But in case you're too busy, here's the point in a nutshell:  if you really want to reduce the environmental impact of your home, do all the simple, boring things first.  Seal up holes with caulk, insulate, and buy efficient lights and appliances.  It's not sexy, it's not trendy, but it's important.

Once you're done with all the boring (but cost effective) stuff, you can think about the nifty high-tech energy solutions, like solar panels.  (Or, perhaps you'll do even more good by helping your neighbors do the simple stuff, too.)



Comments
Posted by Arie v. 12/03/2006 12:50 PM
The computer industry has worked to create PCs and devices that can "suspend" or "hibernate" using very little to no power. For example Windows Vista will default to power savings mode - in a few years most PCs will now go into sleep power states when not in use.

Since there are thousands of computer makers (OEMs), 100,000's of devices and third party written drivers, the coordination efforts involved are significant and take years. This is another of those unglamorous, "little things" that make a big difference.
Posted by Clark Williams-Derry 12/04/2006 12:57 PM
Good point, Arie. There are lots of appliances that suck more power, total, when they're off than when they're on. See more here.

Add a Comment

Name (required)
Email (will not be published) (required)
Website
See a list of html tags you can use in your comment.
(required)
This check is used to prevent comments by spammers.


Sightline Daily brought to you by Sightline Institute.

ORGANIZATION'S NAME GOES HERE!!! It will be hidden by CSS; we need it only for hCard compliance.
1402 Third Avenue, Suite 500 | Seattle, Washington 98101 | tel: +1.206.447.1880 | fax: +1.206.447.2270