In the past few weeks, Europe announced a slew of proposals on improving the efficiency of:

1. Buildings, applicances and transportation
2. Phasing out incandescent light bulbs
3. Wasteful water pumps
4. Power adapters that connect devices like laptop computers, modems and cordless phones to wall sockets – The enhanced performance standards for external power supplies means the E.U. could save enough electricity by 2020 to power Lithuania for a year. (Wow!)

What are we in the US doing?

• We still don’t have recycle bins in most public places – malls, airports, offices, starbucks (hello?). We have seen these all over Europe.
• Many cities/towns are still not recycling
• Most of our office buildings leave their lights ON all night. What exactly is the justification for that? Can technology not solve it?

Wake up, USA.

From the Aspen Ideas Festival

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

From David Letterman

At Brandeis University

Time Magazine Interview