Climate Capitalism

In this May 14 entry, I commented on an article from an Oregon newspaper discussing how relatively inexpensive efficiency improvements like installing insulation can have a much greater impact on reducing carbon emissions than investing in more expensive technologies like solar power.  Seemingly to reinforce the point, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced an initiative today to increase the number of light colored roofs.  Replacing dark roofs with white ones, according to a statement attributed to Secretary Chu in a May 26, 2009, AFP article, “could have the equivalent effect of taking every car in the world off the road for 11 years.” 

Although the article isn’t clear, it appears that the 11-year figure assumes that all dark roofs in the world suddenly be painted white.  Obviously, an initiative to get new government construction or to provide tax incentives for lighter colored roofs on private construction would not have this drastic an effect, but it would have a positive effect.  Again, the point is not that investment in more expensive technologies should not be abandoned for simpler ones.  As Secretary Chu points out, we must consider a “range of measures” in fighting climate change, which includes both new advances in technology and greater implementation of common sense efficiency improvements.

AP White House Correpondent Jennifer Loven published this analysis today on the Obama administration’s brokering of a compromise between the federal government, state governments, the auto industry and environmentalists on vehicle emissions standards.  No doubt many will find fault with one or more aspects of the deal, but that is the nature of any compromise.  The fact that the various stakeholders with significantly divergent interests were able to find common ground is reason for optimism that we will start to see progress on other energy and pollution issues, including the fight against global warming more generally.

We here at ClimateCapitalism.com are all for investing in clean energy, but we’re also for common sense.  Here’s an article from the Corvallis, OR Gazette Times that puts both concepts into perspective.  According to a study performed by an advocacy group in nearby Vancouver, WA, old-fashioned investments like installing insulation can often result in more energy savings than more expensive “green” investments like solar systems.  The moral of the story: a combination of energy efficiency and new technology is the best clean energy strategy.

If you’re considering installing solar, wind or other renewable energy improvements for your home or business, make sure to check out the DSIRE(Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency) website.  The site lists available state and local tax incentives for renewable energy and efficiency improvements for each state and through federal programs.  For an interactive map, see this link:

http://www.dsireusa.org/index.cfm?EE=1&RE=1