Question:
: As many readers of this group are probably aware, the U.S. government regulates : the energy efficiencies of some kinds of home appliances like water heaters, : air conditioners, home furnaces and so on. The regulations are to benefit : consumers, like building codes and pesticide restrictions. They are derived : purely from calculations of overall costs to consumers, and the appliance : standards program is one of the most effective energy-saving programs in the : entire Department of Energy, second only to the CAFE standards for fuel : efficiency. : Anton Kast : Physicist : Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Dear Anton, I’m disappointed in you. A physicist? Are you one of those "Affirmative Action" products? Have you ever heard of Newton’s "Energy can neither be created nor distroyed"? That means it also cannot be "saved". Well, anyway. Do you remember the 70s when every politician promised energy independence? Do you know what became of it? We are using more energy now than ever before. How come? Well, I am a scientist and I give you a simple explanation: Energy cannot be saved. It is impossible. For example, we now drive twice as efficient cars for twice the miles. Result, no savings. – We have TVs that used half the energy than before, so we get extra TVs for the kids in their bedrooms for possibly an increase in energy use. Go down the line. Every little appliance "saving" which you praise, is undone in some other way. Ernst
Response:
As many readers of this group are probably aware, the U.S. government regulates the energy efficiencies of some kinds of home appliances like water heaters, air conditioners, home furnaces and so on. The regulations are to benefit consumers, like building codes and pesticide restrictions. They are derived purely from calculations of overall costs to consumers, and the appliance standards program is one of the most effective energy-saving programs in the entire Department of Energy, second only to the CAFE standards for fuel efficiency. The appliance standards program is threatened right now by some amendments to an interior appropriations bill currently being debated in the senate, and there has been a regretable lack of accurate information in the debates about the subject. Readers who would like to know more about the program and the proposed legislation to kill it should check out http://violet.berkeley.edu/~ngreene/senate.html There is some background information there, as well as a link to take you to a form if you want to add your weight to a petition in support of the appliance standards program. Anton Kast Physicist Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
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