SOAPBOX: "Wasted Energy," by Hannah Fairfield, New York Times, 1 June 2008, p. BU6.

We create about 40 quadrillion BTUs of energy in the U.S. each year, but only about 33% is actually consumed by end users (14 quad). The rest is lost to conversion (27 quads) and distribution (1-plus quads).

Current conversion technologies thus mean we lose almost two-thirds of our energy that way.

Just on the immediate horizon, though, are technologies that should boost the capture to more like 50%.

Environmentalism of the future will be more Amory Lovins-style: more efficiency focused than pollution obsessed. Master the first and the second falls into place.