Over the past 4-5 years, there has been a growing awareness of the impact of global warming and its causes. Americans by and large have accepted the notion that wasteful use of energy and natural resources is a major contributor to climate change and that our nation and its people have the ability and responsibility to use and consume energy resources more wisely.
We know we are guilty of poor environmental habits; e.g., driving gas-guzzling cars and trucks, generating too much trash, creating urban sprawl, and wasting energy in our homes, institutions and businesses.
High energy costs are another issue. Historically, Hawaii, NYC, and Long Island have had the highest electric rates in the nation. The Northeast as a whole has the nation’s highest energy costs. This fact has been true for decades. Electric customers in particular are paying 20-25 cents/kWh, almost double the rate in other parts of the nation. Natural gas and fuel oil costs also are high due to transportation bottlenecks and world energy pricing issues.
Despite these issues and sobering facts, there is a large gap between the economic and technical opportunities for energy efficiency and cost reduction—i.e., “Going Green” —and their realization in the Northeast markets. That is good news for business owners seeking to replace inefficient and obsolete lighting and mechanical systems in their buildings.
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