Put aside for a moment all the talk about alternative fuels. They are no doubt important and the wave of the future. But the fastest, cheapest, easiest and cleanest step toward a sane energy environment -- a step available to all of us immediately -- is the powerful combination of efficiency and conservation. Full Story »
Posted by Terry Gamble
Herbert is right on. An energy efficiency retrofit of an existing building can reduce energy consumption by 30 to 50% and pays for itself in lower energy bills within 3 to 10 years (or even faster for large commercial buildings). By contrast, installing solar PV panels on the roof of a home takes about 20 years to pay for itself. That's not to say solar should be passed by - solar and other renewables absolutely need to be developed and expanded - but energy efficiency is really the hidden gold.
