Joseph J. Romm

The author covers the current status (at least to 2003) of hydrogen as a fuel source in general and as a tool for reducing greenhouse gases. Seem very detailed and broad, though somewhat repetitive - as though the chapters were taken from papers he had written previously, but had missed a few editing opportunities to connect them. Overall, though, a good read. Now I need to do research to see how well his predictions for the future are turning out in the last ten years. Ps: for the short term (20 years) the cheapest solution to reducing greenhouse gases is to upgrade or replace dirty energy (coal generation of electricity) and adopt policies to force the transport system to become cleaner (as in Europe).… (mer)

Romm's summary of the problem of global warming is not the best out there, his focus is too centered on the United States, and the links between his proposed solutions and the gravity of the problem are weak at best.

But his book is the only one that has a firm grasp of the politically feasible, and if the U.S. get their act together and do something about global warming, the policies they will enact will probably follow along Romm's blueprint, and this political pragmatism is the book's great advantage over others of its kind.… (mer)

Available from RMI: http://www.rmi.org/store/p12details963.php

By Joseph Romm and William D. Browning.

This landmark study makes a new economic case for green design in the workplace. Its message to corporate managers: while energy-efficient design can pay for itself in reduced energy costs alone, it may also produce vastly greater benefits in higher worker productivity, lower absenteeism, fewer errors, better quality, and increased retail sales. Eight documented case studies show that productivity gains from green design can be as high as 16 percent.

Published by Rocky Mountain Institute (1994). Softcover, 15 pages.… (mer)