The argument for environmental protection and sustainability often centers on the oil that powers our cars and heats our homes. Routinely left out of the discussion is the oil that sizzles our french fries.

Recycling printer cartridges gives applicants two points. Setting copiers to print on both sides of the paper earns three. Donating food to soup kitchens or charities equals 10 points.

The goal is a minimum of 100 points, which is the threshold for resorts in Arizona to earn the new statewide Certified Green Lodging recognition, provided by the Arizona Hotel & Lodging Association in partnership with the Arizona Office of Tourism.

A walking tour of the Maricopa Solar generating facility, billed as the “world’s first commercial-scale SunCatcher plant,” is like taking a step into the future.

It’s not as striking as the movie “Avatar,” which is set at a time when Earth’s resources have been depleted, but it provides a glimpse of what is being done to deal with the depletion of nonrenewable energy sources.

Four bills were proposed by Democrats during the 2010 legislative session that would have revised energy-reduction deadlines and created new standards for energy consumption in state buildings, but none of them have received committee approval and appear dead for now.

The Board of Regents, which oversees the three state universities, failed to meet the 2008 deadline to decrease energy use by 10 percent, instead achieving a meager 1.3 percent reduction.

Back in 2003, lawmakers passed a law that required state agencies and universities to reduce their energy consumption by 10 percent by the end of 2008. The legislation had overwhelming bipartisan support, but the results were disappointing.