- ---- - -- ----------------- CONSERVATION A New Prosperity: Building a Sustainable Energy Future, (SERI Solar Conservation Study), by the Solar Energy Research Institute, 1981, 465 pp., $19.95, paperback, from: Brick House Publishing Co., Inc. 34 Essex St. Andover, MA 0180 By a miracle of fast work and daring, this remarkable report, long suppressed by the Washington bureaucracy, has been snatched from obscurity, recast in readable two-column one-volume format, and rushed through the printing presses by the B;ick House Publishing staff of Andover, Mass. Originally released through the efforts of Congressman Richard L. Ottinger on March 30, 1981, it was recast into one volume, edited, printed, and put on sale by Brick House on about May 5, 1981, to constitute what may be the biggest scoop in the annals of solar energy and conservation. This is a big book. Almost an encyclope- • dia. It covers all major branches of solar energy, including solar heating, solar photovoltaic cells, wind power, biomass, etc., and all major avenues for conserving energy in the home and in industry. Also, four chapters deal with transportation and five with the utilities. Hundreds of meaty tables and graphs are included. Deriving much help from experts in many parts of the country, the SERI staff has compiled a major contribution to the debate on our country's energy future. Reinforcing the conclusions of the well-known 1979 hook by Stobaugh and Yergin and the later book by the Union of Concerned Scientists, the SERI report drives home this central message: more efficient use of energy and greatly expanded use of renewable energy sources can become the pillars of a new prosperity. By the year 2000 we can achieve a full-employJuly 1981 RAIN Page 21 ment economy and increase worker produc-· tivity while reducing energy consumption by nearly 25 percent. A quarter of the (reduced) energy need could be s~pplied by solar energy and other forms oI renewable energy. Oil imports could be virtually eliminated. All this is contingent, the ~ERi writers . warn, on the government's rolling 11p its sleeves and really helping, as by intropucing , a broad rang~ of measur~s that will encourage energy saving by-individuals, utilities, and industry and will eliminate the various ... present roa~blocks and artifical incentives. What a whale of a book! A big powerful book! Too much for an individual reviewer to_digest ! Yet for any engineer, econ~mist, ' industrial leader., financier, or intel~ige~t layperson wishing to see how this country can find its way out of the present energy . quagmire, it is compulsory reading. It is a pivotal book that will be discussed and debated for years. -William A. Shurcliff A limited number of copies of the SERI Solar Conservation Study are available as a 'two volume set for free, courtesy of your friendly)ocal congressman. Ask for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Committee Print 97-K. . PULLING THE RUG OUT by Charles Hill The federal government has for a number of years Operated a lowincome weatherization program (largely implemented by Community Action Agencies), which provides storm windows, storm doors, insulation, caulking and other conservation measures for low-income households. During its first three years at the Department of Energy (1977-1979), the program was plagued with difficulties, severely limiting its potential. However, as a result of various administrative and regulatory adjustments, the program turned around dramatically in 1980. Unfortunately, the Reagan Administration's budget proposals now recommend elimination of the program. They would relegate weatherization to the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, significa~tly reducing that program's budget while expanding its responsibilities. The Reagan legislative proposals come at a time when heating oil costs have risen roughly 30% over the last six months (following a 100% increase the prior year), when the Administration is seriously considering natural gas deregulation (over 60% of low-income households heat with natural gas), and when the Administration has proposed a reduction.of 25% in the energy assistance program, which helps the poor pay for their energy needs. Clearly, the Administration's approach closes the door on efforts which can provide significant energy savings. The weatherization program reduced energy consumption by the poor, whereas the energy assistance program only pays bills, thus carrying the poor from one year's crisis to the next. The annual savings from weatherization have been demonstrated in most cases to exceed the protection from rising energy costs that is provided by the energy assistance program. It is also permanent protection, which becomes mor,e valuable as energy prices rise. For these reasons, the concept of a focused weatherization program has attracted the interest of conservationists, poor people's-• advocates, community-based organizations, and general consumer -· groups. Also, because of its substantial job opportunities; especially for the semi-skilled and unskilled, the program has attracted labor support. In short, low-income weatherization holds great potential for effective local coalitions, as well as a broad-based national coalition. Legislati~n is currently being drawn up which will determine the precise fate of the weatherization program. One suggestion now being considered is an Energy Conservation Block Grant, combin- ' ing low-income weatherization and other DOE programs also slated for extinction or significant reduction. For those wanting to learn more about the weatherization program, in its administrative or legislative aspects, contact Charles Hill or Carol Werner of the National Consumer Law Center, 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Rm. 504, Washington, DC 20002, 202/543-6060.OO
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