As a further measure to stop global warming, the Obama plan requires that by 2025 all new federal buildings be zero carbon emitters. How this is to be done is not explained, but it should be possible provided that such buildings use no artificial lighting, air conditioning, or heating, and involve no cement, steel, aluminum, copper, glass, plastic, or paint in their construction.
The 0 C requirement, of course, refers to operation rather than construction.
Incorporating renewable energy (usually geothermal and solar) into the building design along with increased efficiency and insulation are elements of all designs I have seen. Additional elements such as ‘green screens’ and ‘green roofing’ can also contribute. On site energy production can easily be a long term money saver as well.
gasoline from corn based ethanol is barely a net energy addition, lowers mpg and clogs engines. the brazilians use sugar cane which is much more efficient
The real and achievable answer for biofuels is a combination of algae* and mixed prairie grasses**.
Cap-and-trade is worse than Zubrin outlines. The schemes I’ve read give additional credits to those with properties that absorb carbon dioxide.
That would be the point of the trade part of cap and trade.
* can be grown in greenhouses anywhere (http://gas2.org/2008/03/29/first-algae-biodiesel-plant-goes-online-april-1-2008/)
** can be grown cheaply and easily on land too poor to use for food production (http://www.blackhillsportal.com/npps/story.cfm?ID=2039)
