Green Technologies: Vinod Khosla's Ideas

"A Prius might save you, depending on your calculations, a half a ton to 2 tons of carbon a year," Khosla said, referring to the battery-and-gasoline-powered Toyota car. But, he added, "Just painting your [home's] roof white saves you 10 tons of CO2. That's good economics. Instead of spending $5,000 extra for that Prius, you could spend a few hundred dollars to replace the light bulbs in your house with more efficient ones and save a lot more carbon." He presented data showing that while the all-electric-powered GM Volt, expected to be sold starting in 2010, would emit 144 grams of carbon dioxide per mile, it would also cost a hefty $623 a month to drive, and much of the electricity required to power the car would be created by burning coal. SEE FULL STORY HERE

SUMMER RHODES
RIPTIDE SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT

Comments

[Dan Underhill]

The painting roofs white idea must be aimed at an audience in hotter climes with air conditioning. I don't even know of anybody with air conditioning in the back of San Pedro Valley, our warmest spot. Each location and each individual needs to give these issues thought and research.