At 11:27 AM 7/18/00 +0000, glenn morton wrote:
>I couldn't find what I actually asked about. I wasn't asking about what
>technologies are out there. What I am asking for is a calculation showing
>that these technologies can produce enough energy to move products for an
>entire economy. I asked for answers to the fact that we will have to
>replace about 65% of our present energy supply within the next 50 years. I
>don't count anything as an answer unless it can be shown to be capable of
>that much energy produciton. Can you point me to that on Joyce's page
>since you seem more familiar with that page than I?
>glenn
I do not want to diminish the significance of Glenn's point here. However,
I think that there will be a shift in the future away from highly
centralized production and delivery of energy in the form of only a few
media (e.g., oil, coal, etc.) towards a decentralized production of energy
via an eclectic locally available sources. For example, wind works very
well in some places for production of electricity, while solar works very
well in other places. In some local places, wood is even a reasonable
option for fuel (i.e., it can be sustainable harvested, and produces less
waste than trucking other fuels from far away).
Solar is a great example as a resource that can provide significant
supplemental energy and will likely be produced on a very localized
level. In most of the temperate U.S., a well designed home with
south-facing glass will provide significant heating in winter while
avoiding undue heat gain in the summer. Individual homes can be outfitted
with solar panels to produce electricity or heat water.
The technology exists for these things, and I think that in combination,
they can make a significant contribution. We just need to shift our
thinking a little; a single energy resource does not have to provide all we
need in order to be useful. Likewise, for the millions of Americans that
pedal a stationary bicycle or walk a treadmill for hours each day, there
could be ways of tapping this for energy production. I wish that were
rewards for manufacturers of appliances and electronics to make them energy
efficient.
Doug
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