Energy Literacy Advocates Newsroom
On Capturing Low-Hanging Fruit
Friday, September 25, 2009
A reminder of optimism surfaced this week, mostly unheralded, in the race to control greenhouse gases and energy use. That gem is simply this - that if all US vehicles were reduced in weight by 0.1 percent, a 10 fold gain in reduction of carbon emissions could be captured, as compared to the gains from an 0.1 percent change in housing density.
Why does this represent the clarion call of optimism? While increasing design density is an au courant approach to cutting the carbon footprint here in the US, this report out of the University of Texas at Austin - and cited by the National Academy of Sciences - highlights low-hanging fruit (ie, an easier way). Cut down on the weight of cars, and you'll effect greater environmental gains than trying to convince people to shun the suburbs.
Pushing for higher mileage standards, lowering the weight of cars - these simple steps represent real and actionable policy goals that can be accomplished and put in place, and can yield real results. While silver bullets do not exist to resolve looming energy issues, like America's dependency on foreign oil, there are tangible ways to help put a dent in the problem.posted by
Amanda Voss
at
2:14 PM
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