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This bipartisan energy-efficiency bill might actually be able to pass Congress

by Gustavo Stanfield Posted on April 19, 2013

This bipartisan energy-efficiency bill might actually be able to pass Congress

By Lisa Hymas

U.S. Senate

A Democrat and a Republican, working together. Weird.

Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) have come up with an energy-efficiency bill that they think has a real chance of passing the U.S. Senate. And then the U.S. House. In this Congress. Really!

From Politico:

The legislation, known as the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, focuses on improving energy efficiency in commercial buildings, the manufacturing sector and the federal government.

Among other things, the bill strengthens building codes to make new homes and buildings more efficient, creates a new Energy Department program called SupplySTAR to improve the efficiency of companies’ supply chains and requires the federal government — the country’s largest energy user — to adopt strategies to conserve the electricity used for computers.

It’s a scaled-back version of a bill they introduced last year. To preempt conservative objections, it drops a provision that would have expanded a Department of Energy loan program. After Solyndra, “Department of Energy loan program” is not a phrase Republicans are warm to.

A bipartisan duo — Reps. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) — will be pushing a similar bill in the House.

More from Politico:

“As we see a divided Congress, it’s nice to see something that we can agree on. I think this bill is one of them,” Portman told POLITICO in a joint interview with Shaheen ahead of the bill’s official release. “We’re optimistic that we can make progress in the Senate in the short run and get it through the House in the next year and then get it signed into law.”

The bill’s success is far from certain, but the senators say they’ve taken every precaution to prevent the measure from going down in flames.

Over the course of months-long negotiations, the senators have won the buy-in of more than 200 organizations, from the Union of Concerned Scientists to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce … [to] the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Alliance to Save Energy and the National Association of Manufacturers.

According to a press release from Shaheen and Portman, “A study [PDF] by experts at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy found that last year’s version would have saved consumers $4 billion [a year] by 2020 and helped businesses add 80,000 jobs to the economy.”

It’s not a price on carbon, but hey, it’s a start.

Lisa Hymas is senior editor at Grist. You can follow her on

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Are Fuel Exports Driving Up the Price of Gas?

by Gustavo Stanfield Posted on April 4, 2013

green4us

Yes, they probably are. But here’s why that’s OK. raindog/Flickr The U.S. fossil fuel renaissance has sparked job booms in the oil fields of North Dakota and Texas, shrunk our national import tab, and led to a whole lot of talk about energy independence. But, as BloombergBusinessweek noted recently, one thing it hasn’t done is lower the price of gasoline for American motorists, who are still paying $3.71 a gallon. Why not? There are a lot of ways to answer that question, the simplest being that despite all our drilling, oil is remains expensive. Worldwide, demand still beats supply. And since the cost of crude accounts for 72 percent of the cost of gasoline,* pump prices have stayed high. But that doesn’t quite put the issue to bed. After all, Americans are driving and fueling up less, which should theoretically encourage the oil refiners that produce our gasoline and diesel to cut their prices. Businessweek points to a few reasons why that hasn’t happened, but I want to focus on just one of them: exports. To keep reading, click here.

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America’s infrastructure grade improves to a still very sad D+

by Gustavo Stanfield Posted on March 19, 2013

America’s infrastructure grade improves to a still very sad D+

By Susie Cagle

America is full of potholes, slumping levees, and fraying electrical grids. So it may surprise you to learn that the country’s physical infrastructure is actually apparently improving.

For the first time in 15 years, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the country’s infrastructure a higher grade than it did last time. Congrats, America, you’ve improved from a D to a D+! Soo you’ll still have to repeat the class.

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The New York Times reports:

Some connected trends have led to the shift, according to the engineering organization. It cited a rise in the private financing of public projects and renewed attention from state and local government to kick-start their own projects, rather than wait for Washington to send money. The jump in private investment was instrumental, for example, in the improved outlook for the nation’s rails, according to the report. That evaluation jumped to a C+ from a C-. The group also cited short-term increases in financing — a reference to President Obama’s economic stimulus package, which focused in part on “shovel-ready” projects like road and bridge repair.

“When investments are made and projects move forward, the grades rise,” the report stated.

Gregory E. DiLoreto, the group’s president, said, “A D+ is simply unacceptable for anyone serious about strengthening our nation’s economy,” but he added that the improvement “shows that this problem can be solved.”

In addition to the overall grade, ASCE handed out individual marks for specific kinds of infrastructure: near-failing D- grades for levees and inland waterways, and D grades for drinking water, hazardous waste, roads, transit, and wastewater, among others.

The highest grade, a shiny B-, was given for solid waste generation and recycling rates, as we’re now composting or recycling more than one third of the crap we toss.

Infrastructure spending can give a real boost to the economy, as The Economist points out: “a study by the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in 2009 found that every $1 billion spent on infrastructure creates 18,000 jobs, almost 30% more than if the same amount were used to cut personal income taxes.”

The Economist laments that declining gas-tax revenue means there’s less infrastructure funding available. It looks at more “creative” —  i.e. private-public-partnership — solutions to America’s failing everything. For example, in Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) isn’t pushing municipal bonds but rather private investments from “foreigners, charities and pension funds” in things like school lightbulbs. Other cities and states are rethinking their gas taxes, and increasing their (really regressive) sales taxes to fund transportation.

The number of “public-private partnership” (PPP) projects under way around the country, although still low by European standards, has jumped in recent years. They include a tunnel under construction in Florida, a commuter rail scheme in Colorado and road improvements in Texas and Virginia. The Center for American Progress, not normally a cheerleader for red-blooded capitalism, reckons it should be possible to mobilise at least $60 billion a year in private infrastructure investment. That would be a huge step up from the paltry total of $10 billion raised through such schemes between 1990 and 2006.

The Economist calls for doing an end run around Congress, and I don’t blame it. But America’s infrastructure needs are in the $250-400 billion-ish range annually, and relying wholly on private companies to invest that amount seems … optimistic. And those PPPs might be nice for classroom lighting, but am I the only one who doesn’t trust multinational companies (and their intrinsic profit motives) to restore our all-important levees?

Susie Cagle writes and draws news for Grist. She also writes and draws tweets for

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Green Energy Tips That Are Easy To Try Out

by Gustavo Stanfield Posted on March 19, 2013

Using green energy is a simple and affordable way to help your environment while lowering your bills. There are many easy tips within this article, which will help you to get started without having to spend an arm and a leg. Read on to learn what you need to begin.

Consider installing a pellet stove for a greener way to heat your home. These stoves burn compressed pellets made from renewable resources like biomass, corn, sawdust, or other wood waste, and they produce very little pollution. Most stoves use a minimal amount of electricity to operate their blowers, but it less expensive than heating your home with an electric or gas furnace.

Change how you use your electronics to make them more energy efficient and kind to the environment. Batteries on electronics are designed to be used. To keep your battery healthy you have to exercise it by using your electronic not plugged in. It is better for the device and keeping it plugged in after it is fully charged only wastes electricity.

Buying products from companies that utilize green energy is the best way to promote environmental consciousness in manufacturing. It is important for people to take green steps in their own life. However, it is equally important to demand that manufacturers also take steps to be greener. Buy products from companies that utilize green energy sources in lieu of products that are made by irresponsible manufacturers.

Replace your light bulbs with eco-friendly bulbs. These light bulbs will last longer, burn brighter and use less power. The only downside is that they are more expensive than regular light bulbs. However, you will get your money back when your energy bills start decreasing and you won’t have to constantly buy new light bulbs.

Try sealing gaps underneath your doors and windows during the summer and winter. This can prevent the warm or cool air from outside from entering your home, which will help keep your home at a good temperature all year. You could also try putting in rugs to provide more insulation to your floorboards.

A high-efficiency furnace becomes far less efficient with a clogged, dirty filter, so change your furnace filters often. This is especially important if you use tightly-woven pleated filters, because the HVAC system must work much harder to draw in air through its tiny openings. Most filters need to be changed or cleaned at least once every 3 months.

If you want to make better use of energy in your home but aren’t sure where to start, schedule a home energy audit from a professional auditor. These auditors can thoroughly investigate your home, and suggest ways to reduce your energy consumption, with green technology and other improvements.

Keep your refrigerator and freezer set to the optimum temperatures. These appliances are two of the biggest energy wasters in the modern home. Be sure the temperature in your refrigerator is set between 38-42 degrees (F) and in your freezer to -5 degrees (F). Anything lower and you are burning energy unnecessarily.

While it’s super easy and quite cost-effective to alter your home to make use of green energy, it’s up to you to take what you’ve learned here and get started. The more time you dedicate to the project, the better the outcome. So get down to work today for the best results!

Metal Floor Decking Installation are employed to build your natural environment look lovely and these Composite Metal Floor Decking are utilized to ensure it is pleasant.

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