BRING EFFICIENCIES UP TO DATE IN KANSAS CITY

And while you're adding solar panels, how about other efficiencies?

Mo.: Panel Pushes For Energy Conservation
David Twiddy, September 14, 2007 (AP via Yahoo Finance)

WHO
Speakers at the Kansas City Energy Efficiency Forum: Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo); Robert Cox, president, Sierra Club; Matthew Tidwell, spokesman,Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L); Ken Baker, senior manager, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.;

US energy consumption can be changed dramatically with efficiency measures. (click to enlarge)

WHAT
Speakers at the Forum, co-sponsored by utilities and advocacy groups, talked about energy efficiency, how important it is and how it can be improved locally and nationally by citizens, business and government.

WHEN
The Forum was September 14.

WHERE
- The Forum was held in Kansas City, Mo.
- Kansas is 36th and Missouri 46th in efficiency investment among US states.

WHY
- Bringing energy issues to the historically well-supplied (no pun intended) Midwest, the forum reported that the US lags behind the rest of the world in being efficient with energy.
- Apparently laying groundwork for the only good expected from coming congressional energy legislation battle, Senator McCaskill advocated for efficiency measures like more efficient light bulbs, increased efficiency standards for government buildings, expanded tax credits for installing renewable energy systems and requirements for utilities to generate electricity from renewable sources.
- KCP&L pointed out it had upped the percent of electricity it gets from renewables and cut back on burning coal. It said its customers’ use of programmable thermostats had prevented power crises in the hottest parts of this past summer.
- The Sierra Club found energy/climate change to be second only to the Iraq war as a voter concern and advocated for legislation requiring utilities to get electricity from renewables.
- Wal-Mart claimed a series of efforts: installing skylights and efficient light bulbs cut energy use 20%; all stores’ energy use is monitored at corporate HQ; heat given off from refrigeration units is used for heating water; solar panels are being installed in California and Hawaii.
- Energy experts talked about the need to give utility companies incentives to encourage efficiency from customers.

Lots of rooms for improvement. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo): "It's very important that we incentivize the programs that encourage the citizens to do what is right, whether it's changing their light bulbs, updating their appliances, making sure their tires are inflated to the proper level or building energy-efficient homes…"