In a recent article I described how a detailed analysis of energy production and usage in the US shows that about 51% of the energy produced is wasted. One of the best ways of addressing our energy problems is energy efficiency. True, we need to do more: carbon sequestration (saline wetlands and trees in all but the northernmost latitudes are the best ways of sequestering carbon) and alternative energy are necessary. But even without changing our energy production, we can get a good head start on dealing with global warming by improving energy efficiency. In John and Teresa Heinz Kerry's book, This Moment on Earth, they describe how Texas Instruments was able to design a factory in Texas where energy efficiency was the primary design element that saved them so much money that it allowed building in Texas to be competitive with outsourcing to India. They saved money, saved energy and kept jobs in the United States all by designing with energy efficiency in mind.

Energy efficiency is the smartest step towards dealing with global warming.

There are many ways that you as a private citizen can be part of the solution. Carpooling, using mass transit, bicycling, walking, buying a hybrid car, turning your thermostat down a degree in the winter, and up a degree in summer, turning off lights, insulation, etc. are all ways where YOU can both save money in the long run and save energy. They all make sense both for your budget AND for dealing with global warming. You should do all you can to do these things. But there is one that is such a no-brainer, that if you haven't already done it, you are losing. The number one change you should have made at least 5 years ago is to switch your light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs.

The one difficulty is that the initial cost is higher. You have to shell out more money when you buy a compact fluorescent bulb than when you buy a regular bulb. But...the overall savings are pretty big. For every regular bulb you replace with a compact fluorescent bulb, you save $35-$60 on energy bills over the life of EACH bulb (5-10 years depending on usage). My wife and I replaced all our bulbs about 6 years ago. We have saved about $200 over that time. And saved thousands of pounds of carbon from going into the atmosphere. They are more convenient, too, because they last 8-10 times longer than regular bulbs, meaning you don't have to change bulbs as often. Compact fluorescents contain more mercury than regular bulbs, but if you account for the mercury emissions from producing the extra energy that a regular bulb uses, you still wind up putting less mercury into our environment. For a full fact sheet on the advantages of compact fluorescent bulbs, go here.

Have you started saving money and the environment yet? Compact fluorescent bulbs are now sold in many hardware stores, some grocery stores, at CostCo...yes, even at Wal-Mart if you want to buy them from THAT irresponsible, law-breaking company. If there is no source near you, you can buy them here.

If you haven't done it yet, I don't really know why. There is no disadvantage to you in the long run and many advantages to you and to our children. We have, by most estimates, 10 years to mitigate global warming. Make your first year's actions be, at a bare minimum, making your life more energy efficient. As Texas Instruments discovered, there is no real downside to doing this.

For more ideas, please see the Union of Concerned Scientists website, as well as my articles on saline wetlands and on one particular idea for planting trees.