GreenLightsBlog

(in 5 Easy Steps)

1. Popularize energy-saving CFL light bulbs.
   Persuade everyone to switch to CFLs. This will prevent 106 billion pounds of pollution per year in the U.S. More importantly, it will show that the public can adopt an environmentally-friendly technology that is also financially sound (they’ll save money with the switch). It will also show that GreenLights as an organization can instigate such a switch.
2. Popularize solar hot water heaters.
   Persuade everyone to switch to solar hot water heaters. This will prevent roughly half a trillion pounds of pollution per year, and it will save everyone money on energy costs. Solar hot water heaters generate a 15-20% return in energy savings, meaning everyone will get richer by making the switch.
3. Popularize solar electric systems.
   Persuade everyone to switch to solar electric systems. Prices on solar electric systems are coming down, from $7-8 per watt in the past to closer to $3-$4 per watt. At $3 per watt, a solar electric system generates a 9% return in energy savings. This means that if you install one on a new home and finance it with the mortgage, you’ll save more on energy costs than you’ll pay extra on your mortgage. Solar electric systems are capable of providing all the electricity you use in your house, so when everyone has a solar electric system, we’ve solved half the problem.
4. Popularize hybrid/electric cars.
   Add plug-in systems to hybrid electric cars so that you can charge the battery from your household electricity. Decrease the size of the gasoline engines and increase the size of the electric engines. Eventually, we’ll have fully electric cars that charge from our household electricity, which in turn is powered by pollution-free solar panels on our roofs.
5. Repeat in other countries.
   World saved. Global warming averted. Voila!

~ Eddie

Filed under: Uncategorized on June 2nd, 2007