Earth sciences and energy
heating and ventilation set points and is Speaking in December, Lovins said: “We “One hundred times the vehicle’s weight in
expected to make an annual saving of £4,200 are often given a multiple choice test. We ancient plants is very ineffi ciently converted
and 25,319kg of carbon dioxide as a result. must choose between climate change, oil to oil,” said Lovins. “Seven-eighths of that
Major investment can also bring big wars, or nuclear holocaust. We are never never gets to the wheels — it is lost in the
dividends. The replacement of outdated and given the choice of ‘none of the above,’ when engine idling. And only the last six percent
ineffi cient air-conditioning systems can pay all these problems go away if we use energy accelerates the car and hits the brake when
for themselves in a couple of years while at in a money-saving way.” you stop.”
the same time improving working conditions According to Lovins, combining low mass
for employees. Business leads the way and drag in cars with advanced propulsion
Lovins believes these, ‘blatantly obvious’, Certain companies, driven by opportunities not only provides a cheap way to save two
monetary incentives for increasing energy for increased profi t, have shown that cutting -thirds of the fuel needed but also yields a
effi ciency should move the Western world back CO
2
emissions is possible, Lovins said. better performance. Lovins argued that the
toward a more energy frugal future. The IBM and STMicroelectronics were able to cut problem is not a lack of energy-effi cient
green energy advocate is co-founder of their emissions by six percent while looking technology in transportation, but rather a
the sustainability research organisation for ways to reduce costs. Similarly, when dearth of knowledge on the part of companies
Rocky Mountain Institute, which works with the Dow Chemical Company invested in about newer alternatives. ■
upwards of 10 of the world’s top 50 brand effi ciency rather than buying more fuel, it
names, such as WalMart. Many of those ended up with a $3.3 billion profi t. Malcolm Maitland is a freelance journalist
companies now have business strategies so From a consumer’s perspective, Lovins specialising in regional affairs, corporate
radical that you might well assume that they stressed effi ciency over fuel consumption by governance and transport. He is also a
had been written by Greenpeace activists. addressing wasteful engineering in vehicles. member of the UK’s Society of Editors.
»The replacement of outdated and ineffi cient air-conditioning systems
can pay for themselves in a couple of years, while improving working
conditions for employees.
Simple measures such as
turning off lights and computers
and unplugging mobile phone
chargers can save energy and
money.

M
O
F
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C
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©
48 PLANET EARTH www.yearofplanetearth.org
PE10.Energy.rky.mw.indd 48 16/2/09 11:17:22 am
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