Skeptics of energy-efficient light bulbs and machinery should take note of a survey by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, which last week reported a 2010 savings of $135 million to electricity ratepayers in the Pacific Northwest. According to a recent analysis by the council, the efficiency of electricity in the region improved last year by 254 megawatts, the equivalent power use of 153,900 homes. It represents the largest one-year gain since energy-efficiency programs began more than 30 years ago. A large portion of the savings - about 20 percent - is attributed t...