More on Conservation
Posted on Dec 8th, 2009 by Doug Marsh VP, CR, CAPS, GBP | 0 Comments
In the 70's, when the gas crisis hit, it really clobbered Japan because they were importing 40% of their fuel. The government brought down some major laws regarding energy conservation. Now every manufacturing facility is required to improve energy efficiency 1% per year. This was a hardship at first but has now created innovation, equipment upgrades and techniques across the board and has promoted healthy competition in the manufacturing sector. As a result Japan holds 50% of the worlds green patents compared to our 12%. Per capita energy consumption is 1/2 of what ours is. The pushback on government involvement in this country is strong but because gas is still cheap and we don't have to make changes we don't. The inherent value of increasing effeciency in everything from buildings to cars would have a generational effect on jobs for our entire country, decrease foreign oil dependance and radically affect foreign policy and money spent overseas instead of at home.
Comments