House Plans to Become Carbon Neutral - AP

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

House Plans to Become Carbon Neutral

Thursday June 21, 2007 5:46 PM

By JIM ABRAMS

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House aims to slash energy consumption
by 50 percent in 10 years under a “Green the Capitol” initiative
released Thursday by congressional leaders.

The final report prepared by the House's Chief Administrative Officer
also pledges that the chamber will operate in a carbon-neutral
manner by the end of next year.

The report outlines a series of environmental initiatives such as
purchasing electricity generated from renewable sources, installing
energy efficient lighting, reducing the use of coal at the Capitol
power plant and switching to hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles.

-snip-

According to the report, two thirds of those emissions could be cut
by using renewable fuel sources for electricity and increasing use of
natural gas at the power plant, which does not generate power but
does provide steam for heating and cooling. Currently, more than half
the electricity Congress buys is generated by coal. Only 2 percent
comes from renewable fuels.

The remaining 24,000 tons of carbon emissions would be dealt with
by buying carbon offsets from the Chicago Climate Exchange.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6726020,00.html

[kestrel91316]

1. IMHO ALL government vehicles should be either Priuses or,

if diesel trucks etc are needed, run on biodiesel. Here in LA our DWP vehicles (sedans) are all Priuses. LAPD parking enforcement cars are some tiny thing like a Focus or Echo, gets great mileage (but a Prius would be great due to the constant stop-and-go city driving).

They need to put solar panels on the rooftops of government buildings all over Washington (except where architectural value would be damaged, like the Capitol dome, lol).