Mitt Romney As Governor Pushed For More Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs 22MAR12

HERE is just a bit of the environmental record "gov" mitt romney is trying to hide from, including his comments on high gas prices, energy efficient light bulbs and other energy saving products as well as government tax credits for consumers purchasing energy efficient products and government regulations mandating increased fuel efficiency for all vehicles. Oh mitt, this is more from your past that can't be erased like an Etch-A-Sketch!

WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney's effort to turn up the heat, so to speak, on President Barack Obama over the issue of rising gas prices has had various elements and layers. He's called for Obama to fire top cabinet officials; ridiculed the president's reluctance to approve critical portions of the Keystone pipeline; and denounced the burden of government regulations.
In one recent campaign stop, Romney accused the president of banning "Thomas Edison's [incandescent] light bulb."
On Thursday morning, The New Republic did a deep dive into Romney's record as a governor and discovered that he pursued many of the same policies he now denounces: While in Massachusetts, Romney responded to high gas prices by stressing that they were a result of the global market. He pursued policies of conservation and vehicle efficiency. He even went so far as to suggest high gas prices would have a positive effect on consumer behavior.
"I don't think that now is the time, and I'm not sure there will be the right time, for us to encourage the use of more gasoline," Romney said, according to the Quincy Patriot Ledger's report at the time. "I'm very much in favor of people recognizing that these high gasoline prices are probably here to stay."
As for those incandescent light bulbs, Romney's statement has been challenged by fact-checkers, who note that the bill that requires minimum efficiency standards for those bulbs was signed into law by President George W. Bush. Obama has subsequently blocked Republican attempts to repeal the law.
But while Romney may be opposed to the federal government regulating minimum standards for the light bulb market, he certainly wasn't opposed to the government promoting energy-efficient light bulb use itself.
In his 2004 Climate Protection Plan, Romney pledged that Massachusetts would work with other states "to foster legislation and other approaches" that would encourage energy efficiency standards for many products, including "Torchiere lighting." Elsewhere in that proposal, he noted that "lighting accounts for 20 to 25 percent of all electricity consumed in the U.S," and that improvement in this field "offers a significant opportunity for the state and for municipalities to save energy and money."
"To that end, the state is working with other states to assist municipal officials to encourage the use of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), high-efficiency street lighting, or other energy-saving lighting technologies," the plan reads.
A search of Lexis-Nexis also reveals that in late November 2005, Romney signed a bill that gave families a $600 tax credit for the purchase of energy-efficient products. The bill, as The Boston Globe reported at the time:

will raise the minimum energy efficiency standard for residential boilers and furnaces, incandescent reflector lamps, and laptop computer power cords -- something Rhode Island, New York, and several other states have done. Such a measure could have a dramatic long-term effect in reducing energy consumption in Massachusetts, and even the country as a whole, Romney said. "This is going to be paying dividends for the people of Massachusetts for a long, long time to come, and we're not finished," he said.

(emphasis added) A month and a half before he signed that bill, meanwhile, Romney joined then-Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman for an "Easy Ways to Save Energy" campaign that included, among other suggestions, "replacing existing light bulbs with Energy Star qualified fluorescent lights." The full press release announcing the campaign is below.

DEDHAM, MA -- With higher home heating costs expected this winter, U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney today highlighted easy, inexpensive ways consumers can save money by reducing home heating bills. This visit to New England is Secretary Bodman's first stop on the national "Easy Ways to Save Energy" campaign. "As a longtime Boston resident, I know how tough New England winters can be," Secretary Bodman said. "Because of tight oil and natural gas markets and the damage to our energy infrastructure caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, consumers can expect to see higher energy bills this winter. There are, however, simple, inexpensive, yet extremely effective measures consumers can take to reduce their energy bills."
"As a state, Massachusetts and its people have led the way in pursuing energy efficient programs for our homes and businesses," said Romney. "This year, it's especially important for consumers to know that winter doesn't have to burn a hole in their wallet. Families can save hundreds of dollars by following some common sense tips."
Secretary Bodman and Governor Romney's visit to Lowe's also highlights the company's October 8, 2005 kick off of energy saving How-To Clinics at its 1,200 stores nationwide. Held each Saturday at 1 p.m., these clinics aim to educate consumers about the many ways they can conserve energy and money this winter.
In launching the national "Easy Ways to Save Energy" campaign on Monday, October 3, 2005, Secretary Bodman announced that the Department of Energy will take a comprehensive approach to improving energy efficiency for consumers, businesses and the government. The campaign features: For Consumers:

• An informative "Energysavers" guide outlining easy ways to improve home energy efficiency available through the Department of Energy, or, online at www.energysavers.gov;
• An aggressive public education effort including online, print, radio and television ads featuring the "Energy Hog" - a character similar to McGruff the Crime Dog and Smokey the Bear;
• An "Energy Hog" curriculum to be used by teachers in grades 3-8 featuring web-based games and take-home activities;
• A series of radio public service announcements in English and Spanish featuring energy saving tips that have been distributed to 4,500 stations across the United States;
• For Business:
• Industrial Energy Saving Teams that will be dispatched to help improve the efficiency of 200 of America's most energy-intensive factories;
• Department of Energy is making the Energyavers guide available to be reprinted and distributed by manufacturers, retailers and local utilities;

For the Federal Government:

• Secretary Bodman has directed teams of qualified energy experts to deploy to federal facilities to identify quick and easy ways to save energy this winter. The federal government is the largest consumer of energy in the United States.
• Easy tips for consumers include:
• Making sure your home is properly insulated. Proper insulation in attics, ceilings, floors, crawlspaces and exterior and basement walls can save 30 percent on home heating bills;
• Installing a programmable thermostat. Turning down a thermostat from 72 to 65 degrees for eight ours a day will save up to 10 percent on your heating bill;
• Replacing existing light bulbs with Energy Star qualified fluorescent lights in the lamps and fixtures in your home; this can save up to 50 percent on lighting costs.

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/22/mitt-romney-light-bulbs_n_1372892.html?utm_source=Alert-blogger&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Email%2BNotifications

Should You Shut Down Your Computer or Put It to Sleep? 1NOV10

— Flickr/dougwoods

Phew! You've made it through another day at the office. You're just about to don your coat and head out into the evening—but your computer's still on. Should you turn it off, or leave it in "sleep" mode? Some say it's better to shut down, since that way it won't be using any power while you're not around. But others say that the process of shutting down and starting up again uses more power than letting your machine sleep. Who's right?
First things first: Turning your computer off, then on again does not use more power than leaving it on in "sleep" mode. "That's a myth," says Bruce Nordman, an energy efficiency researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Another myth: Turning your computer on and off is bad for the machine. "In order to do any real damage, you'd have to turn it on and off far more frequently than anyone would ever want to," says Nordman. That said, trying to remember to shut down your machine every night isn't necessarily the most effective energy-savings strategy. Here's why.
Fifteen years ago, when computer manufacturers first experimented with sleep mode (it used to be called "standby"), the energy savings weren't very dramatic. Today things are different: According to energy efficiency expert Michael Bluejay, while in use, the average laptop requires 15-60 watts, while desktops use 65-250 watts, plus an additional 15-70 for the monitor. In sleep mode, however, most laptops use a measly two watts, and desktops with monitors use 5-10 watts, says Nordman. ("Hibernate" modes on some computers use even less energy—for a good rundown on the difference between various power management modes, check out Michael Bluejay's guide.) Because sleep settings use so little energy, Nordman believes that it isn't really worth making a big production out of remembering to shut down your computer every day: "Much more important to make sure that your computer is set to go into power-saving mode after a certain period of idle time."

The EPA's Energy Star program agrees with Nordman—sort of. Using power-management settings (like sleep mode) is the best way to reduce your energy use, says Katharine Kaplan, who leads the EPA team that develops Energy Star requirements. Nevertheless, Energy Star still recommends unplugging computers—and most other electronics—at night. "If it were just computers, leaving them in sleep mode wouldn't be a problem," says Kaplan. "But people have so many devices these days that it really starts to add up." When you do shut down devices, cautions Kaplan, be sure to unplug them completely, lest they become energy vampires. One solution: Smart Strips allow you to plug in several devices, with one designated as a "master." When the master is turned off, the other devices shut down, too. (Just be careful not to accidentally turn something off that other machines in your house depend on, such as the WiFi.)
One last tip: Skip the screensaver. "Screensavers actually use more energy than a static image, since they require the computer to do calculations," says Nordman. And they don't even save your screen: Back in the days of the flying toasters, screensavers prolonged the life of your monitor, but that technology isn't applicable to newer screens.
The bottom line: Before you obsess over unplugging your computer every night, first make sure your computer is set to go into a power-saving mode after a short amount of idle time. (The EPA recommends 15 minutes for your monitor and 30 minutes for your computer.) Then, if you remember to unplug at night, give yourself an extra pat on the back.
Thanks to the computer gurus at TechSoup for helping me research this post.
Got a burning eco-quandary? Submit it to econundrums@motherjones.com. Get all your green questions answered by visiting Econundrums on Facebook here.
Correction: An earlier version of this article described computer energy use in terms of "watts per hour," when it should be simply "watts." We regret the error.

You Asked, Chu Answered, Department of Energy Secretary Chu answers questions from the public on home energy efficiency 14OKT10

Ed. Note: Cross-posted from the Department of Energy's blog. To learn more about events happening as part of National Energy Awareness Month, check out our calendar.
Last week Secretary Chu invited you to submit your questions on home energy efficiency and the response was tremendous. We sifted through your questions and recently discussed many of them with the Secretary.
 Here are the resources that the Secretary referenced during the discussion: (video at the end of this post)

• Home Energy Saver Audit
• Energy Star Appliances
• Solar Water Heater Assessment

While the Secretary covered a lot of ground during the course of our discussion there were some thoughtful questions that we didn’t have a chance to ask, so we decided to ask the experts at Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to weigh in. You can check out their responses below.
Mayank A.
QUESTION: Do solar panels function differently in winter or summer assuming the same amount of sunlight is available?
ANSWER: Solar panels depend upon sunlight to generate power. In summer, solar radiation is more intense than in winter, so electrical output is generally greater. In winter, both solar intensity and the number of hours of sunlight are decreased, which can mean lower electrical output. If, however, the amount of solar radiation (meaning number of hours of sunlight AND intensity of that sunlight on the solar panels) were exactly the same, the solar panels would function about the same.
David F.
QUESTION: What is best way to get a discount on Solar and Wind equipment?
ANSWER: One of the biggest challenges for renewable energy equipment is the upfront cost. Major power developers face the same challenge that families do -- how to finance that upfront cost. Because, after all, with renewable energy, the fuel is free. Once you buy the equipment, there's no incremental cost to purchase fuel since sunlight and wind are free. Of course, you have to maintain the equipment, but you aren't buying coal or natural gas on a daily basis to generate electricity.
A good way to get a "discount" on renewable energy equipment is to look for financial incentives. For homeowners, the federal government will provide a 30% tax credit for newly installed solar and wind energy equipment (geothermal heat pumps and fuel cells get a credit too) through 2016. Click here for more information. There may also be incentives offered by your state, check here for more information.
L Darryl D.
QUESTION: I'm currently ordering dual pane polyolefin interior storm windows. I was wondering if there's an acceptable durable low-emissivity film to boost those units' performance to an R-3 air space or so in addition to tightening up the single pane existing window. ... additionally, is there a climate zone where the ROI for geothermal (ground loop) heat domestic HVAC heat pump is too slow to compete with say an SEER 16 air to air heat pump and perhaps a DOE map of the point where the payback is neutral for either choice.
ANSWER: There are really two questions here, so let's split this up. Your windows question: Adding a low-e film to a dual pane window has the potential to increase energy performance, but it is somewhat dependent on your climate zone. An interior, thin film, double pane storm window as you suggested is a good solution, however over a long period of time the visibility can diminish. Another potential solution is a storm window with low e glass that also has comparable energy performance but will be more durable. Since these options can become complex, and are highly dependent on your climate and energy prices, it's probably best to contact a window professional for a specific solution for you.
On geothermal heat pumps: When deciding whether to install a geothermal heat pump (GSHP), calling an accredited professional is essential. They can help you understand if the local climate and geology are suitable, whether you have enough space and which ground loop option makes the most sense (e.g. horizontal, vertical, surface water). Currently the only reliable way to determine the return on investment of a GSHP versus 16 SEER air source heat pump (ASHP ) for your application is to request quotes from qualified contractors for each. Accredited GSHP installers can be located on the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association web site. Application of this technology is highly variable between specific sites. The Oregon Institute of Technology Geo-Heat Center cites costs of ASHP verses GHP (both in their optimal zone where GSHP is 50 to 100% more efficient than ASHP). Total installed cost (10.5 kW – 3 tons) for a 2000 ft² home with duct work and controls, ASHP and Gas with AC ~ US$ 4 to 5,000 ($1300– 1,700/ton); Surface Water GHP ~ US$ 7,000 ($2,450/ton); Ground-coupled (horizontal) GHP ~ US$ 8 to 9,000 ($2,700 – 3,000/ton). For additional information, click here. A major reason these vary so much—and they vary non-linearly—is due to differences in air, soil and water temperature.
In general, the efficiency of an ASHP drops dramatically when the air temperature drops below freezing. They stop working entirely and must be supplemented with electric heating during prolonged periods of cold. The USDA plant hardiness map is actually a good way to see in detail the lowest temperatures that can be expected each year in the United States. These temperatures are referred to as "average annual minimum temperatures" and are based on the lowest temperatures recorded for each of the years 1974 to 1986. To find out more, click here. DOE is, however, funding research on ASHPs that will perform better in cold conditions.
Conversely, GSHPs experience efficiency declines (not as dramatic) when the ground temperature heats up. The GSHP efficiency also depends on the ground ‘s conductivity which is related to its geology and soil moisture content at 100 feet. To find out more, click here. DOE also is funding research on hybrid heating and cooling systems that are better adapted to efficient operation in warmer climates.
Several GSHP manufacturers have calculators on their web sites that assist with system comparisons. Links to all the members of the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA), including manufacturers, can be found here.
Robert Wu (via e-mail)
QUESTION: In China, on-demand water heaters are widely used, and no one uses water tanks to keep hot water around all the time.
When we remodeled our home in California three years ago, I wanted to install on-demand water heater to save gas, but the architect said that it is not widely used in the US and not available in our market. Wouldn't it save energy to not keep hot water ON all the time? It will certainly save on having to install a big water heater tank. Or is it an issue of changing consumer behavior? I hope the market has changed since my renovation and that on-demand water heaters are available now.
ANSWER: Water heating accounts for 12-15% of energy use in U.S. households, so better efficiency for water heaters will have a significant benefit for American families. The good news is that water heating technology is getting more efficient. ENERGY STAR(r) water heaters are now available in a variety of forms, including high-efficiency gas storage water heaters (these are the most traditional format), gas condensing water heaters, solar hot water heaters, heat pump water heaters, and on-demand water heaters. Each of these types of water heaters has its own advantages, but all of them save you money over the non-Energy Star models. Consumers that replace a water heater today have many more choices in technologies (and savings) than they did just a few years ago. Add in Federal tax credits available until December 31, 2010 and there's even more savings. There may also be rebates available in your state.
Andrei P.
QUESTION: Is there some resource you recommend for helping homeowners evaluate whether particular improvements make sense for their homes? I imagine it's not trivial to replace the skill of a professional with easy rules of thumb, but I'd find something like that useful. Getting a professional to come over and make customized recommendations requires quite some effort.
ANSWER: The best approach is to use a professional - a professional home energy assessment can help you identify areas of energy loss and set a plan to start saving. You'll get a prioritized report to help you identify which improvements to make first. Some utilities and local governments offer free home energy assessments. Click here for more on what to expect from a home energy assessment.
But there are some things you can do yourself: You can perform a do-it-yourself energy assessment as well. The results are not as precise, but it may help you identify some easy savings opportunities. Click here for more on that visit.
If you have an older home, the odds are pretty good that you need more insulation. Insulating (or adding insulation to) an attic or crawl space can make a significant difference both in your family's comfort and your energy bills. Click here for more information.
Because energy efficiency is closely linked to regional climate conditions, it's hard to provide a guideline that works nationwide. A few things to think about:
*check your attic insulation, if you have four inches or less of insulation, you'd likely save by adding more *replace the light bulbs you use most often with ENERGY STAR Compact Fluorescent Lights. *airseal and caulk - check around windows and doors, if you can feel air movement, you need to airseal. Be sure to check around basement rim joists (where the floor above connects to the walls), that's often a place with no insulation at all.
Also, check out the calculators available here.

John Schueler is a New Media Specialist with the Office of Public Affairs