Bureaucratix: California “Green” Regulation Will Block Radio Signals Inside Cars

jcenters — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:45:37 +0000

California’s “Cool Cars” initiative seemed like it might be a cool idea: Ban the sale of darker colored vehicles, which in the long run would lead to less energy usage when cooling them down. Neat idea, if not a little…okay, extremely authoritarian. But now things are getting even more ridiculous.

Now the California Air Resources Board is insisting that automakers make windows more energy efficient. That seems reasonable. A 45% decrease in solar energy entering each vehicle by 2014. Also seems reasonable. A 60% decrease by 2016. Okay, fair enough.

But here’s what the geniuses at the CARB didn’t seem to realize: In order to block solar rays, a glaze of metal oxide must be applied to the windows, which has the unintended side effect of blocking radio signals, including, but not limited to: Cell phones, Wi-Fi receivers, GPS units, garage door openers, and parolee ankle bracelets. Also, it would effectively kill the soft-top Jeep Wrangler, which really sucks since California is home to the famed Rubicon trail, a popular test site for 4×4 vehicles.

According to Autoblog, Honda tried a similar technique about twenty years ago, but quit because of the aforementioned radio signal issue.

Or maybe it was an intended consequence. Hey, kill two birds with one stone, save the environment, and effectively ban texting while driving! Genius. As for (relatively) innocent parolees? Well, hey, gotta crack a few eggs, ya know?

I’m waiting to see if the Federal Communications Commission might have a little something to say about this.

Obama Mandates Greener Government

jcenters — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:58:42 +0000

President Obama signed an executive order today ordering federal agencies to reduce consumption and emissions by 2030.

"As the largest consumer of energy in the U.S. economy, the Federal government can and should lead by example when it comes to creating innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, conserve water, reduce waste, and use environmentally-responsible products and technologies,” Obama said.

Here’s a brief timeline of the executive order:

50% recycling and waste diversion by 2015.
30% reduction in petroleum use by 2020.
26% greater water efficiency by 2020.
Net-zero-energy buildings by 2030.

Federal agencies will also be required to measure carbon emissions for the first time, including those from commuting employees.

The White House says that the new efficiency standards will save taxpayers money. I wonder if they apply to the Department of Defense?

Update 21:30 CST: “The executive order requires agencies to ‘measure, manage, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions toward agency-defined targets.’” So I guess that’s a big NO.

TeKnocratix » energy

Bureaucratix: California “Green” Regulation Will Block Radio Signals Inside Cars

Obama Mandates Greener Government