It would be very convenient if my utility recommends such products to consumers based on the Energy Efficiency ratings and the load pattern in my neighborhood.

FORBES: When the lights went out, my light went on

Second, we must look at ways to further improve the efficiency and reduce the power load of storage and other enterprise equipment.

FORBES: Nothing Comes for Free

Or they may increase the efficiency of the grid by consuming off-peak load and pushing more kilowatt-hours over the same infrastructure.

FORBES: On The Verge of Change: A View of Our Future Energy World

For example, the first phase of the EU Emissions Trading program, which contained several design flaws that have since been rectified, has already been found to have reduced emissions by around 100 million tonnes of CO2 mostly by forcing a shift of load from coal to gas power plants and providing an incentive for inefficient coal plants to improve the thermal efficiency of their boilers.

CNN: Your ask the expert: Carbon trading, part 2