Next Generation Energy is managed and written entirely by Seed editors and expert guest bloggers. Read more about them Energy efficiency... good topic. How do we conserve what we have? Well there are several layers to this question, but let me begin with the most obvious. YOU.
Because the truth is that personal decisions matter. Really. And like all those bumper stickers read, 'Think Globally, Act Locally.'
Step 1: Consider riding a bicycle or walking when possible...You'll save money on gas and get some exercise. And when you buy your next car, think about hybrid and other emerging alternatives--which may be easier on your wallet during the current financial crisis. Keep an energy efficient home and make sure it's well insulated and features efficient utilities. And that also means being a good consumer. Look for smart power strips and yes, those often referenced light bulbs. Remember to unplug your phone charger during the day and turn off your television, lights, and stereos when you leave. Make sure to close the door, both to your home and refrigerator too. And if you can bear it, keep the thermostat below 68 in the winter... another tip which will save some benjamins.
Step 2: Share what you know with friends, family, students, teachers, and community. Encourage others to think about their actions too because the thing about living here on planet earth is that yes, we're all really in this together.
Step 3: Make sure you VOTE. Let your decisions this election cycle be your voice on energy. Both candidates have answered ScienceDebate2008 and laid out what our energy forecast would look like in their administration. Now it's up to us to determine who would best lead the way in policy.
Sure, all of these alone, seem small. But a lot of people, doing a lot of small things, adds up to real change. Remember Earth Hour? It was the biggest voluntary power down in history and inspired many individuals and businesses to change their energy habits--even influencing government policy in some countries. Fifty million people around the world switched off their lights for one hour in more than 35 countries across seven continents and over 18 time zones... and will again for Earth Hour 2009.
As Doc told Marty, our future hasn't been written yet. No one's has. Our future is whatever we make it. So let's make it a good one. Together. In my last post here at NexGen, I encourage readers to think about the possible energy alternatives explored here and keep your eyes and ears tuned into new and developing technologies beyond the blog. And remember one thing... Real change begins with YOU.
Environment
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After reading your blog, thought you would be interested in this….
CNBC will be airing “The Nuclear Option” Tuesday October 14th at 9p ET. Melissa Francis goes inside the nuclear energy debate with a provocative look at the facts and fears behind this controversial energy source. See why some are even arguing for a nuclear power plant in their own backyards. More information is coming soon at http://originals.cnbc.com.
Please let me know if you would like any additional information.
Thanks,
Kevin
201 735 4730
Posted by: K.Folie | October 7, 2008 3:25 PM
If only life were like the movies.
And here's a question for Kevin (or anyone): Suppose...understanding all the simplifying assumptions implied...we were able overnight to substitute the energy released by the combustion of the gasoline used each year in the USA with an equivalent amount of electrical energy produced only by nuclear reactors...how many more nuclear reactors would we have to build?
Just for fun, you can do the same exercise for coal-fired power plants, wind turbines, and solar panels.
Posted by: Eric the Leaf | October 7, 2008 3:46 PM
Sheril, I have a series of thoughts on this, not all connected, so I will just make a list.
When anyone frames the energy question as securing energy independence for America, they are fooling someone; either you or themselves. The only way we can end our dependency on foreign oil is to end our dependency on oil. Full Stop.
I would have no problem with the development of nuclear power as long as those who would supply it pay the full cost, including hazardous waste clean up from mining operations, insurance against accidents in transporting the material and perpetual waste containment for depleted nuclear material. Take away the subsidies for nuclear and make it pay the full cost, ground to ground, and it is no longer attractive.
Oil Shale is the energy equivalent of fools gold, or so claims Randy Udall in a recent edition of High Country News. According to Udall, oil shale has less energy potential than hog manure and it is more costly to obtain. When you see an ad about how much oil this country has, think about all the pork that goes with it. And, BTW, the Democratic Congress has just passed a bill allowing more oil shale development. My ex-Congressman, Richard Pombo must be smiling today.
The idea of thinking globally, acting locally is one of the reasons that I decided to leave the two major political parties and to work within the Green Party. Ecological wisdom, personal and global responsibility, community based economic development, decentralization are all part of the basic values of the Green Party.
Posted by: Wes Rolley | October 7, 2008 5:37 PM
I think you have to temper blaming things on the way people live, though. Ultimately, it's rarely realistic. Rational actors aren't going to give up something important for them for some undefined, vauge benefit like "the environment".
Also, FAR greater gains can be made much more easily by changing the technology. Rather than trying to go through life with your thermostat at 15 degrees, you could just insulate your house better, for instance. It's just smarter to change the technology than to develop obsessive behaviour that has some uncertain benefit.
Rather than risking getting hit with a car by bicycling to work, why not use ethanol for fuel. The ethanol has to come from an appropriate source, of course.
This "personal" responsibility is too much like a religion.
You are just doing it to feel good, basically. If you actually cared, you'd at least check what kind of a difference you're making, or spend you time in a more optimal fashion.
Posted by: Harris Kol | October 8, 2008 12:31 AM
Personal responsibility sounds good, but it simply won't work. Few people will make themselves uncomfortable just for the good of the planet - especially when continued population growth makes a mockery of their efforts.
People will bike to work when gas is just too expensive (as long as it's not freezing, raining, etc.). People will turn down their thermostats when their utility bills go through the roof (though they won't like it). And we will buy energy efficient appliances when it makes economic sense, or when they are required.
To think that we'll behave any other way is pure fantasy. Yeah, 'Think Globally, Act Locally' is a nice little bumper sticker, but if you really want to be EFFECTIVE at changing the world, we need government regulation AND technological innovation. People will do what will save them money (now, not years into the future), provided it doesn't too negatively affect their lifestyles. Or they will do what they're forced to do (i.e. if only energy-efficient appliances are sold, then that's what they'll buy).
Posted by: WCG | October 8, 2008 10:04 AM
Some people will practice efficiency purely because it saves $. I practice it as a game and try to see how few KWh or therms or gallons of gas I can use in a month. So there are some people who will do this, but we are already doing it.
Some efficiency can be automated - national standards modeled after CA ones come to mind - building efficiency, things like requiring lights to have occupancy sensors so they turn off automatically, etc.
We don't need a big technology innovation - the solar, wind technologies already exist and they are good enough. What we need is MASSIVE build outs of these things. More than people putting panels on their roofs. A feed-in tariff like Germany might be the way to go - it spawns lots of private investment in these things. We need to stop subsidizing nuclear and coal, forget CCS that is never going to work.
If we build enough renewable energy generation equipment, we'll have power to spare and we won't have to sacrifice by being cold - the sacrifice is committing the money for the build-out. But the new wealth generated by energy creation will eventually pay back way more than the cost of the build out - only it will be to future generations, not us.
The way I see it, all new wealth created starts as energy. Whenever you generate energy, you are generating wealth ($). All value additive processes (refining, manufacturing, IT) require energy and some raw materials as input. The materials vary, but energy is required for everything. That is why it is so important to generate as much as possible. That is what we need - not a crash "invent new magic technology" program, but a crash "build lots and lots of windmills, solar PV, solar CSP, tidal, wave" program.
Posted by: darthwilliam | October 8, 2008 2:20 PM
The powerdown Sheril speaks of will not be voluntary. This is not human nature—in fact, it is not biological nature. And it never has occurred in the history of the species. Quite the opposite--intensification of production and concomitant depletions always have led to collapse. We have escaped this fate for the last 500 years due to the drawdown of virtually free energy in the form of ancient sunlight, the most exhaustive drawdown of a natural resource in the history of planetary life. Yes, wonderful technologies exist to harness energy, but the build-out will not occur in even a fraction of the time needed to compensate for either the shortfall in hydrocarbons or the devastating by-products of their combustion (the former, I believe, is the more dangerous). This is an extremely pessimistic view for the continuation of industrial civilization and the well-being of nearly all of us capable of reading this blog, but it is an optimistic point of view for humanity. Science and technology will not take us there. The meek will inherit the earth. Several visionaries understood this well, among them Marvin Harris and Kurt Vonnegut.
Posted by: Eric the Leaf | October 8, 2008 10:09 PM
Everybody avoids the only real and efficient way to achieve energy efficiency. Government should put a small but significant tax on energy sources that generate CO2 - and the legislation should provide for that tax to rise steadily over the coming years. As it makes CO2 generating sources of energy more and more expensive it will naturally make alternative sources more competitive. The key is that people need to believe the tax will rise at a steady rate so they will be motivated to make their plans accordingly.
As oil prices are dropping currently this would be a relatively painless time to start, perhaps with a tax starting at 5 cents (say) on a gallon of gasoline and rising by 5 cents per month until a supermajority of congress votes to stop it. Presto - in ten years gasoline and fuel oil will cost $15 or so per gallon and nobody will have any excuse for still owning an inefficient car.
Posted by: Sully | October 9, 2008 7:28 PM
The really, really, obvious and easy way to promote efficiency is to make it instantly obvious to anyone exactly how inefficient they are. Mandate that cars all have mpg (or gpm) meters. Take the electric meter information, and duplicate that inside the house in a picture frame on a wall.
These types of cheap, immediate feedback loops will encourage people to conserve.
Posted by: Richard Hendricks | October 10, 2008 2:41 PM
Is this blog dead?
Posted by: Nathan Myers | October 28, 2008 3:23 AM
As it makes CO2 generating sources of energy more and more expensive it will naturally make alternative sources more competitive. The key is that people need to believe the tax will rise at a steady rate so they will be motivated to make their plans accordingly.
Posted by: wesele | October 29, 2008 12:25 PM
I have an idea!!
Maybe we should learn to breath by CO2...??
(don't try this at home)
best regards from Belarus
Posted by: diagnostyka samochodowa szczecin | November 22, 2008 3:14 PM
Very interesting read.
I also came across the following useful documents related to energy efficiency. I think this webcast is something your blogs' visitors might be interested in.
The E&U webcast "Green Data Centers:Game Changer for Energy & Utility Organizations" is available on demand :
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Posted by: Saurabh Surana | December 2, 2008 1:09 AM
In my opinion the largest threat for California are cataclysms and ecological catastrophes. Not important is how many money we have because one tragedy can us take all.
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Posted by: sesli chat | January 22, 2009 11:43 AM
In my opinion the largest threat for California are cataclysms and ecological catastrophes. Not important is how many money we have because one tragedy can us take all.
Posted by: alufelgi | January 26, 2009 6:19 PM
electric cars that's the future...but for few big fishes of the world it is not good business
that's the way it is...
Posted by: opony | February 4, 2009 7:27 PM
In my opinion the largest threat for California are cataclysms and ecological catastrophes. Not important is how many money we have because one tragedy can us take all.
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Posted by: Uçak Biletleri | March 10, 2009 10:45 AM
Besides new forms of alternative energy... conservation and efficiency are just as important.
Posted by: Alternative Energy | May 29, 2009 1:45 AM
I agree with the previous comment. Making energy is somewhat like a game, I also enjoy my kWH wheel spin backwards. I was able to build my own wind generator with some plans that I received from an engineer. This was an awesome post!
Posted by: Homemade Wind Generator | May 29, 2009 5:52 PM
In the US, our health care system is broken. We have MILLIONS of people with no health care coverage of any kind. We have a baby boomer population entering our Medicare system (how we provide health coverage for the elderly), and, at least in my area, long waiting lists to find a provider who will accept Medicare. In many areas our Docs are leaving primary care and internal medicine fields because of poor reimbursement.
Posted by: seks | May 31, 2009 4:16 AM