STOPING GLOBAL WARMING STARTS WITH INCREASED EFFICIENCY

Increasing the efficiency of cars and minivans, power plants and even light bulbs will not only help curb global warming, it will help cut air pollution, protect our wilderness and coasts from drilling and stimulate economic growth.

Burning fossil fuels not only emits carbon dioxide, the primary global warming culprit, but also soot, smog and carbon monoxide. Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels cuts pollution and reduces the demand to drill in sensitive wilderness areas like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It reduces the amount of oil we transport, lessening the chances of spills. Consumers benefit because efficiency costs less than the energy it saves. Finally, it helps our economy by cutting oil imports, which account for one-third of our national trade deficit.

One of the easiest ways for individual consumers and small businesses to save energy and money is to use compact fluorescent lights. Replacing a 60-watt incandescent bulb with a 15-watt compact fluorescent bulb that emits as much light saves over 400 pounds of coal. The compact fluorescent bulb costs about $15, but lasts 10,000 hours and pays for itself in two to six years, depending on how often the bulb is used.

Unfortunately, the energy market isn't working. Businesses often make decisions based on short-term paybacks, ignoring the long-term savings from energy efficiency investments. Buildings are seldom built by the people who will pay the energy bills, so construction cost takes precedence over long-term operating costs. Similarly, consumers aren't looking at pollution reduction and long-term savings when they buy a car. They tend to be more concerned about styling and comfort than fuel efficiency.

That's why energy activists must work to influence public policy and to educate consumers. Consumers can't buy energy-efficient appliances if stores don't stock them, but stores won't stock them if they think people will balk at higher upfront costs for greater efficiency. It's up to the federal government to intervene and require a minimum level of efficiency for all consumer products from appliances to cars. In cleaning our air we are reducing threats to our wilderness and shores.