There's a sexy side to green technology. Have you heard of solar panels that use nanotechnology? Algae that can be raised to make carbon-neutral biofuel? How about devices that generate power from the motion of the ocean, or even backpack wind turbines — O.K., maybe not.
But for all the interest in Silicon Valley science fiction, the most cost-effective green technology can be found in our own homes, simply by improving the energy efficiency of our houses and apartments. On average, heating an American home with natural gas creates about 6,400 lbs. of CO2 a year; using electricity will produce about 4,700 lbs of emissions. Both numbers can be larger if you live in a cold part of the country. The problem is that many American houses are poorly constructed and insulated, leaking heat in winter and cool air in the summer — and that's not cheap. Oil and gas prices may have declined in recent months — of course, fuel costs in the U.S. have also been historically low, compared to our counterparts in much of Europe — but most experts believe that's only temporary and expect to see significantly higher costs to heat and cool our homes in the future. For poor families, especially those on fixed incomes, a drafty house can eat up a large chunk of their income in the winter. The leakier the home, the more money you're wasting — and the more carbon you're spewing.
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