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My Response to WSJ’s “The Problem With Going Green”
David Owen continues to blame energy efficiency for the ills he ascribes to growth and wealth. His misunderstandings of “rebound” in energy use were devastatingly…
My Response to WSJ’s "The Problem With Going Green"
The economic growth Owen decries is boosted not just by energy efficiency but also, and far more, by many other things he doesn't choose to criticize, such as education, public health, capital markets, and technological innovation. He is right that consumption has impact, and that one way to reduce impact is to consume less or differently. But he is dead wrong that using energy more productively has the perverse effect of increasing its use, eliminating or reversing the benefits sought: this has never been observed, and a vast literature shows that actual "rebound" effects, when observable, are small and unimportant.
Looking to the Future for Energy Efficiency
Given the rapid pace of innovation today, it's hard to grasp what the future will be like in five years, let alone 40. Technologies continue to become smaller and faster in ways few thought could be possible.
Hawaii Lab Achieves LEED Platinum
The University of Hawaii's new C-More Hale Laboratory recently won certification as the first LEED Platinum laboratory in Hawaii.
Retrofits Study Drives Lender Confidence in Energy Savings
The Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation (DBAF) and Living Cities, a community development group, released a report recently that offers a potential breakthrough. With the right approach, savings projections can give investors the confidence they need to justify underwriting energy efficiency into loans.