People tend to think of energy efficiency as an abstract concept — a philosophy, framework or approach to reducing energy consumption. And because of this, many disregard efficiency and its ability to assure energy security and environmental and economic sustainability.

The weather is costing the U.S. economy quite a bit. It turns out that hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires and earthquakes, among other Ming the Merciless-like weather events, are costing $485 billion per year, as much as 3.4 percent of the GDP.

"Buying local" could achieve, at maximum, around a 4-5% reduction in GHG emissions due to large sources of both CO2 and non-CO2 emissions in the production of food.

Over a decade ago, EPA began developing new regulations to cut dangerous pollution from power plant smokestacks. These plants churn out most of the mercury, acid gas and arsenic pollution in our air, and the new rules will dramatically slash this pollution, saving up to 17,000 lives and preventing 120,000 asthma attacks each year.

Pacific garbage patch known as the Pacific Gyre. Twice the size of Texas, the Gyre’s actual density is hard to measure, but some estimates put it at around 335,000 pieces of plastic per square kilometer, roughly 7 times as many particles as zooplankton.

Remanufacturing is three times more environmentally beneficial than new manufacturing, but it also generates full product quality at half the price of new. By extending product life, remanufacturing saves 85 per cent of the energy that went into manufacturing the original product, as well as saving the labour and capital costs that are associated with a new product. With same quality as new products, remanufactured products can save 50 percent costs, 60 percent energy and 70 percent raw materials. Remanufactoring can also create jobs for the society.

Remanufacturing is three times more environmentally beneficial than new manufacturing, but it also generates full product quality at half the price of new. It saves 85 per cent of the energy that went into manufacturing the original product, as well as saving the labour and capital costs that are associated with a new product.