Energy Independence: How Denmark Kicked Its Foreign Oil Habit

• Strict energy-efficiency standards were placed on all buildings.
• Gas and automobiles were heavily taxed (Today new cars are taxed at more than 105% of the cost of the car.)
• “District heating systems” were implemented throughout the country, reusing normally wasted heat produced by power plants by piping it directly into homes. Today more than 60% of Danish homes are heated this way.
• The government invested heavily in clean and renewable energy systems, especially wind power. Today 21% of Denmark’s energy production comes from wind farms. On top of that, they lead the world in wind-power technology – another product to export. The industry has created more than 20,000 jobs.
• Rebate campaigns helped people buy more energy-efficient – and therefore more expensive – home appliances. Today more than 95% of new appliances bought in Denmark have an “A” efficiency rating. (“A” is the best; “G” is the worst.)
• They started drilling for – and finding – more oil and natural gas within their own waters in the North Sea. (Showing that no plan is perfect, these efforts have long been opposed by environmentalists.)
• In 2005 the government committed $1 billion to develop and integrate better solar, tidal, and fuel-cell technology.

While many of these efforts would work in the U.S. or most of the world, adapting even a few points or ideas would greatly help.  Let’s see if the next U.S. President actually does have any ideas to lower our requirement for oil or if it’s just empty promises.

STORY

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