Energy report calls for new product standards
A new report by the McKinsey Global Institute says the U.S. can reduce energy consumption by a third in residential buildings if we increase adoption of existing energy-efficient technologies, like compact flourescents and high efficiency appliances. But as the study notes, it won't happen without new government standards for products that require all of them to be energy efficient.
We'll have to see how apoplectic the Republicans get over that one, once their corporate financiers let them know they don't like that approach.
Still, I think this year is the tipping point. Historically, we'll look back at 2007 as the year the country woke up to the realities of global warming and the need to do something about it. Now. Whether we're waking up in time is another question. We'll have to see.
