[Timetrvlr]

The Energizer

Amory Lovins has a vision: The U.S. economy keeps going and going and going—without any oil

by Cal Fussman, Photography by Ben Stechschulte
Lovins waters tropical plants in a hothouse that serves as a "furnace" for his home/office in Old Snowmass, Colorado, where subfreezing temperatures are common throughout the winter. Overhead windows have special coatings that let light through but reflect interior heat. The pond is home to catfish, frogs, and crayfish.


AMORY LOVINS is a physicist, economist, inventor, automobile designer, consultant to 18 heads of state, author of 29 books, and cofounder of Rocky Mountain Institute, an environmental think tank. most of all, he's a man who takes pride in saving energy. The electricity bill at his 4,000-square-foot home in Old Snowmass, Colorado, is five dollars a month, and he's convinced he can do the same for all of us. his book winning the oil endgame shows how the united states can save as much oil as it gets from the persian gulf by 2015 and how all oil imports can be eliminated by 2040. And that's just for starters. Story continues

[3plus3]

Wow that was a really great article. I wish I had the money and ability to get my electric bill down to 5.00 a month

[Timetrvlr]

I'm quite a fan of Amory Lovins' applied science innovations. He advocates replacing our present automobiles with similar-size autos that get three times better mileage. It could be accomplished by making autos lighter using carbon fiber and heat-formed plastics and replacing conventional power plants with hybrid power plants.

[debrajean]

Originally Posted by Timetrvlr

I'm quite a fan of Amory Lovins' applied science innovations. He advocates replacing our present automobiles with similar-size autos that get three times better mileage. It could be accomplished by making autos lighter using carbon fiber and heat-formed plastics and replacing conventional power plants with hybrid power plants.

Aren't there other countries that have banned oversize trucks and suv's? I had heard that it's against the law to drive anything but a fuel efficient compact car, that car makers can't even make those gas hog cars. Maybe the U.S.A. should implement something like this and then we'd be able to get those things off the road. But, then everyone would be up in arms about their right to choose whatever they want to drive, regardless of the fact that their right to choose is polluting the air they're breathing.

[horselover]

How can you ban necessary vehicles? I don't understand. If you have a large family, you can't squeeze them into a compact.

[BigDaddy]

Originally Posted by horselover

How can you ban necessary vehicles? I don't understand. If you have a large family, you can't squeeze them into a compact.

There are much more fuel efficient mini vans then the gas guzzling SUVs. Or even vehicles like the Mazda 5 which seats 6 people. Usually I see one person driving that Cadillac Escalade or the Hummer H2. Most of these vehicles I see as status symbols not because they need the space.

[EviesEarth]

Wow, I would love to have an indoor garden such as that one! I think I may want to check out a few of his books.
Thanks for sharing!

[RFL1986]

That is such a cool thing to do. I'd love to have something like that but this obviously isn't the kind of solution for the average person as it requires quite a bit of time and knowledge of horticulture in order to pull off correctly. Just the same I really like this guys ideas.