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while U.S. population increased 31 percent,

unintended consequence of the

32

gross domestic product increased 114 per-

energy efficiency crusade.

cent, and vehicle miles traveled increased 127

percent."3 0

The EPA has recognized that "indoor lev-

els of many pollutants may be two to five

Emission reductions by power plants and

times, and on occasion more than one hun-

on-road vehicles have been an important part

dred times, higher than outdoor levels," an

of the above improvement. Emissions of car-

important problem, since people spend far

bon monoxide and volatile organic com-

33

more time indoors than outdoors. While

pounds from on-road vehicles dropped 43

percent and 60 percent, respectively, between

this could lead to a heavy-handed expansion

1970 and 1997. Emissions of particulate mat-

of regulation in an attempt to correct the

ter from on-road vehicles fell 40 percent in

unintended consequences of previous regula-

the same period. Lead emissions from vehi-

tion, it may also be addressed by relaxing

cles were virtually eliminated, dropping from

building codes and removing subsidies to let

172 thousand short tons in 1970 to only 19

individuals decide between heavy insulation

short tons in 1997. Nitrogen oxide emissions

and letting more (increasingly cleaner) out-

from vehicles fell slightly in the same 27-year

side air indoors.

Future oil crises

period. On the power plant side, while NO

x

like those of the

Cleaner Electricity

emissions increased 26 percent, emissions of

S O2, particulate matter, and lead fell by 25

More electricity is being produced with

1970s are highly

percent, 84 percent, and 80 percent, respec-

less pollution in the United States despite the

improbable.

tively, between 1970 and 1997.3 1

oldest and most polluting coal plants being

exempted from the emissions reductions

Entrepreneurial responses to future air

required under the Clean Air Act of 1990.

quality regulations can be expected to

Electricity generation increased 14 percent

result in improved air quality and not be

between 1989 and 1996, while NO emis-

stymied by technological barriers so long as

x

sions increased 3 percent and SO emissions

the regulations are based on sound science

2

fell 18 percent.3 4 Those changes resulted pri-

and realistic marketplace economics, not

punitive disrespect for the energy and end-

marily from

use sectors.

·a

Indoor air quality has not shown the

one-fourth increase in nuclear out-

35

improvement of outdoor air quality and, in

put,

· a nearly 50 percent increase in the

fact, has worsened. State and federal energy

policies subsidizing home and building insu-

amount of coal being "scrubbed" by

lation in the name of energy conservation are

high3-6tech pollution control technolo-

at issue. Ben Lieberman explained:

gies, and

· a drop in sulfur content of coal (a near-

Insufficiently ventilated offices and

ly one-half drop in sulfur content of

residences use less energy for heating

coal was registered between 1972 and

37

and cooling . . . [but] also hold in

1994 alone).

more airborne pollutants, such as

biological contaminants, volatile

Lower emissions from retrofitted oil and

organic compounds, and formalde-

gas units, and the entry of gas plants in place

hyde. Consequently, those and other

of more polluting coal units, are also impor-

compounds sometimes reach indoor

tant factors in pollution reduction.3 8 The

concentrations that can cause physi-

environmental advantages of natural gas

cal discomfort, or more serious ill-

over coal in modern facilities have led many

nesses. Indoor air pollution and its

environmentalists to welcome gas as a

health effects are in large part an

"bridge fuel" to a "sustainable" energy mar-

9