We must tap energy-efficiency opportunities That President
Barack Obama has already named climate change as one of his top
priorities in his second term is welcome and timely news. The
failure last month of negotiators meeting in Doha, Qatar, to
reach a meaningful international agreement to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions reminds us that individual action will always be
the best way to prevent climate change. Thankfully, that work
isn’t as hard as it sounds, and it is where Obama will find
fertile ground going forward. In reducing energy consumption —
and corresponding carbon emissions — there is much to be gained
from untapped energy-efficiency opportunities. It’s that simple;
and when it comes to electronics, it’s about being smart. The
good news is that we can get the same amount of work done with
less energy. On the energy-efficiency front, however, we have
only just begun to tap available opportunities and build upon
the success of efforts like the Department of Energy’s Energy
Star certification program