When a line at the door reaches a certain length…
C.D. Howe Institute finds that the lowest-cost and highest-value programs are NOT properly supported.
- solar air heating
- solar water heating
- solar electricity
- wind
- biomass
The Canadian government’s cost to displace one ton of CO2 from any of these technologies ranges from CAN $4 per ton (for solar air heating) to CAN $30 per ton (for biomass).
In stark contrast, the most expensive government programs underwriting liquid biofuels cost taxpayers CAN $295 to $430/ton of CO2 displaced from ethanol and CAN $122 to $175/ton of CO2 displaced from biodiesel.
McKinsey & Company found that better buildings, efficient equipment, and sealing leaks is the fastest and best way to cut USA energy – quick reductions “greater than the total of energy consumption of Canada” while pocketing $1.2 trillion by 2020. [US Energy Efficiency Report, .pdf] Ecogeek points to fixing electronics sucking energy while not in use leading to energy savings equal to the yearly electricity consumption of the Netherlands.
I see the Canadian incentives study as striking. Our human mind is so vulnerable to fashion.