Turning Off the Heat

Turning Off the Heat: Why America Must Double Energy Efficiency to Save Money and Reduce Global Warming, Thomas R. Casten, Prometheus Books, 1998

The steam rising from the smokestack of the average power plant is potential energy that is being wasted. No matter the fuel, oil, natural gas or trash, the generating capacity of the average power plant is such that two-thirds of the possible energy goes right up the smokestack. The author, CEO of an independent power generating company, says that that potential energy can be used to generate heat in smaller, more modern plants that can be built much closer to cities, greatly raising the efficiency level. It would also lower energy costs, instead of raising them, as everyone else seems to believe.

There are several reasons why utilities don't do this at the present time. Utilities are one of the last of the monopolies, so there is little reason to innovate. Any cost savings that do occur from innovation must be passed on to the consumer; so says the various state utility control agencies. Federal environmental laws are set up to discourage innovation. The mere suggestion of an energy plant, no matter how small and fuel efficient it may be, being built anywhere nearby, gets people very upset.

The author makes several suggestions to help reduce carbon dioxide levels. Among them are: allow competition in the utility industry (where there will be plenty of reason to innovate), end all fossil fuel subsidies, enact new building codes that force deployment of efficiency-producing technology, real tax credits for the purchase of energy-efficient cars and appliances, mandate that all recipients of federal funds that are energy users, like hospitals and universities, increase their energy efficiency to keep receiving those funds, and a national shade-tree planting program.

It has been said that undertaking the reductions in greenhouse gases mandated by the Kyoto Protocol would severely damage the US economy. This book does an excellent job at showing how much greater reductions can be achieved with much less pain and cost. The writing gets somewhat technical at times, but in these days of global warming, it is very highly recommended.