Energy Probe

Thomas Edison's invention of the light bulb a century or so ago — with the help of a couple of Canadian patent holders — was not just a bright idea. It was the quintessential bright idea, the very symbol of eureka!

Even such a dimwit as Donald Duck was known to have had a light bulb go on over his head on occasion.

And while the slow-lighting curlicue of a compact fluorescent does not carry nearly the same visual kaboom, it is such an energy-efficient device that even such Kyoto skeptics as the federal Conservatives are turned on by it.

Toronto's plan to mandate green roofs on new buildings could seriously threaten the city's building stock.

Energy Probe's Norm Rubin joined CBC Radio One's "Here and Now" program recently to talk about Earth Hour. Norm hoped that Earth Hour would open people's eyes to how changing energy-use patterns can help the environment

"Most of us energy and environment wonks were first triggered by something simple, mostly as kids," says Norm. "And Earth Hour could do that for a bunch of future activists -- even if Anthropogenic Global Warming turns out to be wrong!"

CanSpec Inspection Services of Sudbury helps the public understand what support there is for conserving energy, from technical to financial help through federal government programs.

CanSpec is holding an open house Thursday, July 28, at 2107 Lasalle Blvd., Suite 306 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The recent increases in prices for various forms of energy – as typified by soaring gas prices and dire warnings about shortages of electricity – are not being tackled with any great success by the politicians and industrialists of the world.

So it's probably up to us.