Earth day realities

Do we help the Earth when we lower the household thermostat? Here is a simple analysis of our heating bill from January (Milwaukee weather, mind you).

• We lowered our target temp from 63 to 60F, about a 5% reduction...
• ... the average outside temp in January was 5 degrees higher than the year prior (16F in '07, 21 in '08)...
• ... resulting in a decrease of 17% in heating degrees required...
• ...which returned a 31% reduction in natural gas purchased.

Good news, right? For our bill, yes. For the Earth, maybe, maybe not. That depends on what you do with the windfall. By reducing our household consumption, we put downward pressure on the price of natural gas, which in turn makes it easier for others to buy and consume. So are we really winning or just shifting, even accelerating the burn?

As my economist friend points out, my limits are useless in isolation. Everyone (yes, everyone) has to do it too. The biggest energy challenge of our time will be universal conservation. First, Americans will have to agree to limits. Are you ready for 60 degrees (or 78 in the summer)? Then, who's going to tell the Chinese that they can't do what we've done for 80 years?

Happy Earth day. Buy a sweater.