Going Green: Energy Conservation (broadcast Friday, June 20th, 2008)

US DOE

This week, the president called for Congress to make policy changes that could open up offshore US coastal areas for oil exploration. The plan, which would end the federal ban on offshore oil drilling on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts and some parts of the eastern Gulf of Mexico and allow individual states more control over nearby drilling, is supported by Republican presidential candidate John McCain. In several speeches this week, McCain discussed his potential energy policy, calling for increased energy production, including more nuclear plants. But whatever happened to energy conservation?

In this segment, with oil prices rising through the roof, we'll talk about concrete steps you can take to conserve energy. Plus -- is 'miles per gallon' the wrong way to think about energy usage? A new paper published this week in the journal Science says that MPG may be misleading -- that 'gallons per trip' may be a better way to consider energy efficiency. We'll talk about it. Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.