During tonight’s news conference, President Obama defended the stimulus package that has passed the Senate citing specific projects related to energy efficiency. In his response to questions from the press, President Obama displayed the type of thinking that lies at the heart of sustainable development. He specifically mentioned the retrofitting of government buildings or weatherizing of 2,000,000 homes. The direct result of these projects are manifold. They include the following:

1. Cost savings from increased efficiency
2. Less energy wasted due to lack of insulation/reduction in energy consumption
3. Emissions from coal-fired electricity and natural gas burned to generate heat will decrease due to a decline in energy consumption.

The  insulating of buildings (the “low hanging fruit”) is one of the most basic and essential components of greening the grid. The reduction in greenhouse gases and toxic metals (mentioned in an earlier post regarding coal-fired electricity generation), is an added bonus on top of the economic benefit this project provides.

- Eric Wilson