Federal investments in a handful of energy-related research and development projects have had a terrific payoff, according to a recent study by the National Research Council. For instance, the study says an $ 11 million Department of Energy investment to develop three energy-efficient technologies resulted in an economic return of $30 billion. These R&D investments led to more efficient refrigerator and freezer compressors, better electronic ballasts for energy-efficient fluorescent lighting, and heat-resistant and low-heat-emitting windowpanes.
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