While New York can't be redesigned from scratch to be entirely powered by renewable energy, like Masdar, we can take our cues instead from Juneau. When an avalanche forced Alaska's capital to switch from hydro to diesel power, its citizens cut their energy demand by 30% -- and it's still down by 15-20%, months after hydro was restored. We talk to deputy mayor Randy Wanamaker about the city's new culture of conservation.
Comments [4]
My brother lives in Juneau. After the avalanche, electic bills went up 5x, a fact that seemed to be glossed over in the interview. This means a $100 electric bill went to $500. While the Juneau-ites are an environmentally responsible bunch, their cut in electic use was motivated at least as much by economics as altruism.
NYC could really cut its energy usage if the office and (some) subway A/C were a few degrees above freezing and if office buildings were retrofitted with motion sensors to turn off when no one's around.
A girl can dream...
I wish I could go to Alaska and see the glaciers.
why can't we redesigned from scratch? the grid is falling apart, some part of the city goes black every year.
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