Enabling solutions to global climate change has become synonymous with technological innovation in the energy sector. Up-and-coming technologies such as carbon sequestration, hydrogen fuel cells, and high-efficiency wind turbines provide a glimpse into the world's possible energy future. However, numerous tried and proven technologies with the potential to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions already exist but remain to be implemented widely. Recent initiatives by the Australian government and Western Europe's largest coal-fired power plant are demonstrating the untapped value of existing technologies.
Australia Switches to Energy-Saving Light Bulbs
The Australian Government has recently announced that it will phase out the incandescent light bulb by 2009 in favor of the energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulb. The incandescent light bulb, invented over 125 years ago, loses approximately 95 percent of its energy as heat rather than visible light. The more efficient compact fluorescent light bulb uses only one-quarter of the energy and lasts over four times as long, making up for its slightly higher initial cost within 500 hours of use. Australia estimates that banning incandescent light bulbs will eliminate 800,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions and lower household lighting costs by 66 percent.
European Power Plant Installs High Efficiency Turbines
The Drax coal-fired power plant in England is western Europe's largest carbon emitter. Although the European Union has recently announced plans to fit all coal-fired plants with carbon capture and storage technology by 2020, doubts remain concerning the long-term cost framework and implementation. Drax has decided to guarantee immediate emissions reductions with an already proven technology: high efficiency turbines. Chief executive Dorothy Thompson has announced a US$195 million deal to install the turbines, which will cut the plant's total emissions by 5 percent--one million tonnes of CO2--by 2011.
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