Policy Wise

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Two interesting stories,

First, a coalition of companies and the U.S government has launched to campaigin to popularize the use of energy-efficient light bulbsThe 18Seconds movement is aimed at getting Americans to replace electricity-wasting incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs that are up to five times more efficient and last several times longer.The campaign — named for the average time it takes to change a light bulb — began Thursday at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, California.

The coalition includes Yahoo, Wal-Mart Stores, Environmental Defense, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, U.S. mayors, retailers, religious organizations and conservation groups. [link]

Walmart? Who would have thought that is possible. These kind of movements make immense sense, the sacrifices demanded are minimal and the benfits extensive, not only to the environment but also to the consumer in the form of reduced energy bills.

Second,

…has given rise to a growth spurt of companies offering to offset “carbon footprints” from activities as varied as romances, driving a car and using disposable diapers. These days, pop stars, chief executives and politicians all vaunt the ways they offset by planting trees or investing in renewable energy projects — many of which are based in poorer countries in Africa or in India.[link]

This is not very different from the trade in pollution credits except this is meant for individuals rather than companies. However, concerns remains regarding the efficasy of such ventures.

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