Negative Cost Opportunities Could Help U.S. Slash 28% of Emissions
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 12. 2.07
Image courtesy of othermore
Confirming what we've been arguing all along, a new study by the consulting firm McKinsey & Company has indicated that, even with little effort (and at low cost) on the part of industry and the government, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced fairly significantly - up to 28%. Many of these slight changes would quickly pay for themselves in lower energy bills and more cost-effective technologies.
What Jack Stephenson, the study's director, describes as "negative cost opportunities" - which include potential modifications in the lighting, cooling and heating of buildings - would both lower emissions and reduce costs. He acknowledges, however, that even implementing these modest reforms will prove challenging in the short run.
Consumer apathy or lack of knowledge about energy efficiency and resistance to cleaner upgrades by prominent sectors of industry mean that there is, and will continue to be, "a lot of inertia, and a lot of barriers." This despite the fact that, as Ken Ostrowski, a member of the report team, noted, "the potential is so substantial for energy efficiency . . . [it] is just staggering here in the U.S."
Though it didn't elaborate much on solutions, the report suggested a few potential fixes: rewriting rules for utilities to encourage conservation, imposing emissions limits or other government mandates and providing incentives such as tax breaks to promote efficient technologies. It did discount the merits of more complex (and expensive) techniques such as carbon capture and carbon storage, stating that they would only account for a small fraction of the potential to curtail emissions.
So what's in it for us as individuals? Well, the report explains that "lifestyle changes" could help improve our efficiency and that "broad public educations programs" could help increase awareness of the problems. Not that this is necessarily much of an issue for you or us, but such programs - if well devised and executed - could go a long ways towards cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions.
Via ::New York Times: Study Details How U.S. Could Cut 28% of Greenhouse Gases (newspaper)
See also: ::Good For Green Business: Legit Survey Says Green is Not a Fad, ::50 Ways to Green Your Business
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The recommendations are pretty much a carte blanch rip-off of what Amory Lovins has been saying for over a decade to pretty much anyone who'd listen. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I guess.
Obviously there's a ton of low fruit conservation opportunities in the nationwide system. And yes, the challenge is inertia, but that's a challenge with any change.
Question is, how do we support moving this change forward? Where's the legislation that will give utilities and businesses the federal incentives that they need?
whatever. it's a mckinsey ploy to build up their 'green' consulting business. believe at your own peril.
Please read-Americans need to know!!!!!!!!
NHTSA Hearings 8/4/08
I just returned from the NHTSA hearings held today (August 4, 2008) in Washington D.C., regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for NEW Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards (CAFÉ) for years 2011-2015.
IMPORTANT FACTS: You will not believe what you are reading.
1) The 414 pages DEIS analysis was based on an average gasoline price of USD $2.16/gallon for 2011-2020. A calculation approved by the NHTSA administrators/managers. Would you believe it???????????
2) The new CAFÉ rules were also established, negotiated and pre-approved by the NHTSA’s management along with the influence of domestic automotive companies and their lobbyists. We have now established fuel standards for 2011-2020 that presently met in the rest of the Western world (see below)
As one guest speaker said today “are they on another planet?”
NHTSA “NEW Fuel Standards” (2011-2015) decision:
Automobiles are to achieve 31.2 mpg by 2011 and 35.7 mpg by 2015. Light trucks are to achieve 25 mpg by 2011, and 28.6 mpg by 2015.
The NTHSA is also setting a goal of 35 mpg on average for 2020.
America needs to know:
The European Union is currently establishing standards, with a goal of reaching 48.9 miles per gallon for new passenger vehicles as early as 2012. The current EU standard already requires more than 40 miles per gallon about 15% higher than the U.S. goal set for 12 years from now.
Japan currently has a standard of about 40 miles per gallon. Japan aims to further improve fuel efficiency by 17% by 2015, reaching 46.9 miles per gallon.
China has a current average of slightly under 35 miles per gallon. Chinese fuel standards are on target to reach the government’s goal of 35.8 miles per gallon by 2009. China will not only meet, but exceed, the goal just established by the United States for 2020 — more than a full decade earlier.
Australia is targeting 34.4 miles per gallon by 2010.
Canada is targeting 34.1 miles per gallon by 2010.
Under the current administration, purchasing an electric vehicle is becoming more of a necessity rather than an alternative.
BG Automotive Group, Ltd. (www.BGelectricCars.com)