There are many changes that could be done, but that too requires a rational discussion of pros and cons.
For example, why are super efficient small diesels the norm in Europe? The answer is simple, the fuel expense due to taxes is much higher than here and hence the added cost of the diesel technology ‘pencils’.
And wallah, people buy and companies produce the high efficiency engines. Engines that are more efficient than the over-privileged get to drive in the HOV lane solo Green Annointed Priuses squeaking out a mere 50-60MPG.
Of course, those same engines cannot be imported to the US because… they don’t met our air standards.
We’ve been looking at solar for our house. It doesn’t pencil, but I might do it just to make the meter spin backward during the day. Then again, we’re new in the house so it maybe the abnormally cool summer tweaked the calcs. The new high efficiency HVAC system did pencil. That is already installed. Loving it and the variable speed super quiet blower.
Also loving the top loading high efficiency low water and low energy use washing machine. The old one was worn out and it was failing to spin. It’s almost creepy to look how little water is in the machine with a load compare to the prior machine.
Nukes, they make too much sense, but Three Mile Island and Chernobyl spooked too many.
Mass transit? Buses pencil, trains don’t. But you keep seeing trains getting pimped.
