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The authors oppose a proposal by Colorado State Representative Carl Miller to increase coal use, arguing that coal plants are expensive, polluting, and slow to implement. They propose a transition toward energy efficiency, which could save up to 70% of current electricity use, and distributed energy resources including wind, solar, bio-fuels, and fuel cells. The text highlights the success of wind energy programs in Colorado, such as those by Holy Cross Energy and Public Service Company, as evidence of the viability of a free-market approach to clean energy.

An amended petition filed on October 13, 2000, by Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), the Bluewater Network of Earth Island Institute, and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) requesting permission to participate as amici curiae in the NAFTA Chapter 11 arbitration between Methanex Corporation and the United States.

The report argues that while diesel trucks and buses are essential for commerce, they are disproportionate sources of smog, soot, and greenhouse gases. It evaluates a transition from conventional diesel to a 'green truck path' involving advanced exhaust controls, natural gas, hybrids, and fuel cells. The authors model a 2030 scenario where aggressive policies could reduce pollutant emissions by over 90% and global warming pollutants by 26%, while maintaining current oil consumption levels despite doubling truck travel.

The La Pine Community Design Charrette, facilitated by the Rocky Mountain Institute in April 2000, sought to move away from traditional consultant-led planning by involving residents directly in the design process. The workshop focused on creating a walkable town center, improving pedestrian safety along Highway 97, and establishing a greenbelt system along the Little Deschutes River. Key recommendations include reducing excessive commercial zoning to prevent sprawl and concentrating retail into a viable town center of 50,000 to 75,000 square feet. The report outlines specific locations for prospective projects such as a civic center, health center, and performing arts center, while emphasizing the need for 'Green Development' and sustainable infrastructure like 'Living Machines' for wastewater treatment.

The report examines daylighting projects that uncover buried waterways to restore ecological function and urban amenities. It details 18 completed projects in the US, including those in California, Washington, and Illinois, and discusses international examples from Europe and Canada. Key findings highlight that while daylighting can improve water quality, reduce flooding, and increase property values, it faces social fears, institutional hurdles, and technical complexities. The document provides recommendations for project proponents, emphasizing community involvement, expert technical assistance, and a phased approach to implementation.

The Union of Concerned Scientists identifies seven policy tools—Renewables Portfolio Standards, public benefits funding, net metering, fair transmission/distribution rules, fair pollution rules, consumer information, and green customer demand—to transition the US to renewable energy. It argues that deregulation risks favoring fossil fuels unless these mechanisms internalize the public benefits of renewables and remove market barriers.

The Hypercar concept, developed by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), proposes a 'whole-system' approach to vehicle design to achieve fuel economies of 90 to 200 mpg. This is accomplished through the synergy of advanced polymeric composites to reduce mass by 50-65%, aerodynamic improvements to cut drag by 40-50%, and hybrid-electric drivesystems that recover up to 50% of braking energy. The document asserts that these vehicles can maintain safety standards, including in collisions with heavier cars, and could be compatible with various fuels, including hydrogen via fuel cells. RMI estimates that production-volume Hypercars could appear in the early 2000s, with costs comparable to conventional vehicles.

The report examines a range of high-efficiency fixtures and systems to reduce residential water use. It highlights the potential of dual-flush toilets, low-flow showerheads and faucets, graywater recycling, composting toilets, and rainwater collection. The author argues that while the 1992 U.S. standards significantly reduced per-capita indoor water use, further gains can be achieved through technology and native landscaping, while raising broader questions about sustainability and growth.

The document details IKEA's transition toward environmental sustainability by adopting The Natural Step's scientific framework. It highlights specific initiatives such as the 'Trash Is Cash' waste reduction program, the elimination of chlorine bleach in catalogs, and the implementation of strict formaldehyde emission standards globally. The case also explores how IKEA's core values of frugality and cost-consciousness align with resource efficiency, and how the company manages its global supplier network to maintain these standards while keeping prices low.

The author outlines twelve fundamental transitions in electricity efficiency, moving from fragmented equipment upgrades to integrated, whole-system optimization. He argues that 'negawatts' (saved electricity) are often cheaper than new generation and that market failures currently penalize efficiency. The paper proposes eight improvements to make efficiency programs more cost-effective and critiques the concept of 'retail wheeling' as a distraction from the more significant shift toward wholesale competition and decentralized generation via fuel cells and superflywheels.

Amory Lovins advocates for 'green design' that integrates biologically informed human comfort, high-performance technology, and community-rooted architecture. He argues that combining Japanese sensibilities regarding dynamic environments with Western innovations—such as 'superwindows' and advanced daylighting—can reduce building energy use by 80-90% while improving productivity and well-being. The text highlights several case studies, including the ING bank headquarters in Amsterdam and DeMontfort University in England, to demonstrate that sustainable design can enhance financial performance and human health without increasing capital costs.

The paper presents a technical case for 'ultralight hybrid vehicles' (UHVs), asserting that fuel efficiency can be improved 3–4x over conventional cars without compromising marketability. It emphasizes that reducing tractive loads—through mass reduction, aerodynamic optimization, and low-rolling-resistance tires—is the most critical factor in making hybrid drivesystems cost-effective. Using the SIMPLEV model, the author demonstrates a design with a curb mass of 585 kg and a drag coefficient of 0.19 that achieves high fuel economy (up to 115 mpg on highways) and low emissions, while meeting strict performance criteria for acceleration and gradability.

The report proposes the 'Hypercar', an ultralight hybrid-electric vehicle that combines synthetic composite materials with hybrid propulsion to increase fuel efficiency by up to ten times compared to standard cars. It argues that the current 'Iron Age' approach of incremental steel-car refinements is obsolete and that the U.S. must transition to agile, low-capital manufacturing using moldable composites to maintain global competitiveness. The authors suggest that government mandates, such as California's ZEV requirements, and market-based 'feebates' can accelerate this transition, which would reduce oil dependency and environmental impact while fostering industrial renewal.

The report analyzes the energy-intensive nature of the Texas transportation system, which is heavily dependent on petroleum. Using the LEAP/EDB model, it compares a Reference Scenario (status quo) against four alternatives: Rollback, Moderate, Aggressive, and Visionary. The findings indicate that while the Reference Scenario projects a 44.2% increase in energy use by 2020, the Visionary Scenario could reduce energy consumption to levels below 1994 totals. The study emphasizes that aggressive pricing and technological shifts are necessary to achieve significant energy savings and air quality improvements.

The testimony argues that the GATT Uruguay Round Final Agreement is undemocratic and environmentally hazardous. It claims the agreement's dispute resolution mechanisms exclude public participation and that its 'least trade restrictive' standard for Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures would jeopardize numerous U.S. environmental and food safety laws. The author further asserts that the agreement lacks sufficient safeguards to prevent a 'race to the bottom' in environmental standards and that the proposed World Trade Organization (WTO) creates an unaccountable bureaucracy.

The document analyzes the environmental trade-offs between disposable and reusable diapers, noting that disposables use more raw materials while reusables require more water and nonrenewable energy. It highlights how regional priorities—such as solid waste management in New York versus water scarcity in California—determine which product is environmentally superior. Additionally, it discusses the role of labor costs in the economic assessment of reusable diapers and details Procter & Gamble's corporate efforts to mitigate negative publicity through research funds, recycling projects in Seattle, and lobbying campaigns using the Arthur D. Little study.

The AES Corporation, an independent power producer, faced a conflict between its strategy of using low-cost coal for electricity generation and its commitment to social responsibility, specifically regarding greenhouse gas emissions. For its Thames plant in Connecticut, which was projected to emit over 15 million tons of carbon over 40 years, the company evaluated four offset alternatives: promoting energy conservation through lighting retrofits, employing carbon scrubbing technology, implementing reforestation projects in tropical developing countries, or shifting its long-term strategy toward natural gas and renewables. While natural gas and renewables offered lower emissions, they presented higher operating costs or intermittency issues. Reforestation was identified as a cost-effective method to sequester carbon while providing additional social benefits.

The document details a legal conflict between Mobil Chemical Company and several US state attorneys general over the claim that Hefty garbage bags were 'degradable'. While the bags were photodegradable, they did not break down in landfills, leading to charges of consumer fraud. The case is situated within a wider 1980s-1990s context of 'greenwashing', where vague environmental terms were used to meet consumer demand despite a lack of scientific substantiation or infrastructure for degradation.

The author proposes shifting economic focus from the mere pricing of depletion and pollution to the creation of active markets for 'negawatts' (saved electricity) and other saved resources. By treating efficiency as a tradable commodity, the author argues that the economic incentive to save resources—which is often cheaper than producing new ones—can be harnessed through arbitrage, auctions, and derivative instruments. The text details various mechanisms for implementing these markets in the electricity and water sectors, suggesting that such an approach reduces financial and environmental risks while providing a more efficient alternative to regulatory mandates.

The document details the environmental and health impacts of Alberta's coal-fired power plants, noting that in 2014, 68% of the province's electricity was generated from coal. It highlights that these plants are significant sources of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, fine particulate matter, mercury, and greenhouse gases, with 2011 emissions totaling 43 megatonnes of GHG. The authors propose a transition plan to reach 0% coal reliance by 2030, increasing renewable energy to 40% and reducing electricity demand through energy efficiency by 20%. The strategy discourages increased reliance on stand-alone natural gas due to production-related GHG emissions and suggests mechanisms for phase-out such as legislated closures, lifespan caps, or carbon pricing.