Ask Mr. Green: A Prius or a Furnace? From the Sierra Club

This week we'll get the insights of Bob Schildgen (aka Mr. Green), who writes Sierra's popular "Hey Mr. Green" environmental advice column.

Hey Mr. Green,

I'm thinking of replacing my 25-year-old gas furnace. I'm also thinking about getting a Prius, since my old Corolla gets way lower mileage. But my funds are limited. So tell me, which would give the most bang for my buck in terms of shrinking my carbon footprint: the furnace or the Prius?

--Mel in Detroit, Michigan

While the neighbors might be impressed by an eco-correct Prius, an inconspicuous new furnace may be a more cost-effective path to a dainty footprint. This possibility is obviously much stronger in places with very cold winters, like your upper Midwest.

Your old furnace, likely only 65% efficient (or less), might burn 400 more therms of natural gas than a new model that's 95% efficient. So, with natural gas at $1.29 per therm, you'll save $516 per year with a new furnace. Since burning a therm of natural gas emits the equivalent of 11.8 pounds of carbon dioxide, the new furnace would eliminate some 4,700 pounds of emissions per year. Even if you buy a high-end $10,000 furnace, that breaks down to 15 cents a pound to stifle CO2 over its 15-year life span.

Now for the Prius: Driving it 10,000 miles a year for 15 years will generate 75,000 pounds of CO2 equivalent. Your Corolla will emit roughly 150,000 pounds over that distance, so the Prius could save a net of 75,000 pounds (plus $445 a year on fuel). With the Prius's base price of $23,520, that's 31 cents per pound of CO2.

It clearly pays to do a cost-benefit analysis tailored to your situation before making any big energy purchase, be it furnace, car, or solar panels. It's a pain, I know, having spent hours with the numbers above, but it's worth it. If you're not up to the task, tap an energy auditor or buy your geekiest friend a beer-brewing kit in exchange for crunching your numbers. 

Call 916-624-0808 for an energy assessment. 

List of New California Laws 2012

California Renters Right to Recycling Law

Apartment building landlords will have to start providing recycling services for 7 million California tenants.  Law effective 2012.  Read "California Renters Recycling Law". 

Child Booster Seat Law

The new California Booster Seat Law outlaws parents, guardians, or drivers from transporting on a highway in a motor vehicle any child under 8 years old without securing that child in an appropriate child restraint meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.

The new California law does contain a provision, however, that a child under 8 years of age who is 4'9" inches in height or taller may use a safety belt rather than a child safety seat or booster seat.  Law effective January 1, 2012.

Employment Credit Check Law

Employers can no longer request credit reports for Californians unless they are working or seeking work in a financial institution, law enforcement or the state Justice Department.

The law also exempts anyone who
(1) has access to people's bank or credit card account information, SSN number and date of birth,
(2) has access to an employer's proprietary information or trade secrets, (3) signs a check, credit card, financial contract, or transfers money for an employer,
(4) has access to more than $10,000 cash, or (5) is a manager in 'certain industries'.

Law effective January 1, 2012.

California Handgun Open Carry Law

Open-carry citizen handgun ban.  Supported by cops who cannot tell whether openly carried weapons are loaded or not.  Violators pay $1,000 plus 6 months in jail (misdemeanor). Gun rights advocates vow to carry rifles and shotguns instead.  Californians can still get permits for concealed weapons, though it is increasingly difficult.  Law effective January 1, 2012.

California Human Trafficking Law

Enforces mandatory disclosure of efforts that companies take to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their entire supply chains.  Being watched as a prototype of future legislation in other states and nations.  Law effective January 1, 2012.

California Gay Bullying Law (Seth's Law)

Combats bullying of gay and lesbian students in public schools by requiring school districts to have a uniform process for dealing with gay bullying complaints. Mandates that school personnel intervene if they witness gay bullying.  Law effective July 1, 2012.

LGBT Equality and Equal Access in Higher Education Law

State universities and colleges must create and enforce campus policies protecting LGBTs from harassment and appoint employee contact persons to address on-campus LGBT matters. The law includes community colleges statewide.  Law effective 2012.

Domestic Partnership Equality Law

Corrects inequalities between domestic partnerships and heterosexual marriages, including domestic partner health benefits sharing.  Law effective 2012.

Protection of Parent-Child Relationships Law

Allows courts to consider the relationship between a child and a non-biological parent when considering child rights cases involving birth parents, adoptive parents, and gay or lesbian guardians.  Law effective 2012.

Transgender Non-Discrimination Law

Provides public accommodation and protection in education, housing and employment for gender identity and expression.  Law effective 2012.

Transgender Vital Statistics Law

Makes it easier for transgender Californians to get a court petition to change their gender on official documents.  Law effective 2012.

LGBT Equal Benefits Law

Requires an employer with a state contract worth more than $100,000 to have non-discrimination policies in place for LGBT workers and their partners.  Law effective 2012.

Judicial Applicant and Appointment Demographics Inclusion Law

Includes gender identity and sexual orientation of potential judges into the state's Judicial Applicant Data Report to ensure that state courts are diverse.  Law effective 2012.

Gay Divorce Law

Provides that if a gay couple got married in California but lives in a state that won't grant them a divorce, the California court will have jurisdiction to grant them a legal divorce. The case will be filed in the county where the gay couple got married.  Law effective January 1, 2012.

California Gay History Law

Governor Jerry Brown signed the Gay History Law, which mandates that school textbooks and social studies include gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender accomplishments.  Law effective January 1, 2012.

Internet Sales Tax

Governor Brown signed into law that out-of-state Internet retailers must collect California sales tax on transactions if the retailer has a presence in the state.  Law effective Summer 2012.



California Reader Privacy Law

Government and third-party snoops can no longer gather information on Internet users' reading, book shopping or ebook using habits without a legal court order.  Read "California Reader Privacy Law".