Jevons paradox The Jevons paradox has been used to argue that energy conservation may be futile, as increased efficiency may increase fuel use. Nevertheless, increased efficiency can improve material living standards. Further, fuel use declines if increased efficiency is coupled with a green tax or other conservation policies that keep the cost of use the same (or higher).[3] As the Jevons paradox applies only to technological improvements that increase fuel efficiency, policies that impose conservation standards and increase costs do not display the paradox. History[edit] The Jevons paradox was first described by the English economist William Stanley Jevons in his 1865 book The Coal Question. At that time many in Britain worried that coal reserves were rapidly dwindling, but some experts opined that improving technology would reduce coal consumption. Cause[edit] Elastic Demand for Work: A doubling of fuel efficiency more than doubles work demanded, increasing the amount of fuel used. See also[edit]
The Solar Guide | Your Complete Guide to Solar Energy How to power America with renewables on the cheap: Build a shit ton of wind and solar capacity America could be powered almost entirely with wind turbines and solar systems by 2030 at a cost comparable to what we’re spending for dirty power today, a new study finds. The necessary approach would surprise most people, and it would generate enough economic activity to make any capitalist drool: Build, build, build … and then build some more. From Midwest Energy News: The analysis … challenges the common notion that wind and solar power need to be paired with fossil fuel or nuclear generators, so utilities can meet electricity demand when it’s not windy or sunny.The paper instead proposes building out a “seemingly excessive” amount of wind and solar generation capacity — two to three times the grid’s actual peak load. For the study, published in the Journal of Power Sources, researchers used a model to evaluate the cost effectiveness and reliability of tens of billions of combinations of renewable energy generation and storage capacity.
The Oil Drum | Discussions about Energy and Our Future Rebuilding the Foodshed: Fields of ENERGY Over the coming days, we'll be sharing material from Chapter 4 (Energy) of the latest Resilience guide, "Rebuilding the Foodshed: How to Create Local, Sustainable & Secure Food Systems". This is a heck of a chapter, one that takes a look at the complex relationships between food systems, energy and waste. If you eat food, grow food, use energy, create energy, or make waste, you'll find yourself fascinated. Read Part 2, Read Part 3, Read Part 4, Read Part 5, Read Part 6, Read Part 7 Food is energy. As soon as one opens wide and espouses the need for a food system that’s balanced in terms of health, equity, and ecology, it becomes apparent that much of the discussion is about how to extract one’s ecological footprint from one’s mouth. Do we simply go retro? The energy behind human civilizations was once a product of the food supply. Such inquiries into food security should not be viewed as mere intellectual exercises or myopic self-preservation interests. Energy Fields References 1.
Can Crowdfunding Unlock an Off-Grid Solar Revolution? | Business on GOOD The poorest people on the planet spend more on energy than we do. Surprised? I live in a two-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn and calculated that my roommate and I spend about $850 annually on electricity and gas. This represents 0.5 percent of our combined annual income (before I joined the startup world, that is). What does it mean to live in energy poverty? But there’s good news. However, this solar off-grid revolution faces a critical obstacle: access to finance. Here's SunFunder's solution. Help empower lives with solar energy loans HERE. (1) Aenesen, Heck and Pinner, “Solar power: Darkest before Dawn”.
WEBINAR RECORDING: Community Solar 101 Energy | Mar 5, 2013 In January 2013 New Dream hosted a webinar about how everyday people can work with neighbors to bring solar energy to their community. Topics included solar cooperatives, bulk purchasing, group net metering, and more. Guest speakers: Anya Schoolman - Executive Director, Community Power Network. Click play on the video above to watch a recording of the webinar.
Community Green Energy - Energy Exchange Project Green Energy’s Big Challenge: The Daunting Task of Scaling Up by David Biello 20 Jan 2011: Report by david biello From the dust-blown steppes of Inner Mongolia to the waters off Shanghai, China installed more wind turbines in the first half of 2010 than any other country — 7,800 megawatts of potential power production, or more than the United States, the European Union, and India combined. In fact, in northeast China alone, autumn and winter winds now produce some 17 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, roughly 5.5 percent of the total power generation in the region. But despite this rapid progress, wind energy still only generates a tiny fraction of China’s electricity. This is hardly unique to China. As the world attempts to wean itself from fossil fuels — a result of the converging desires to combat climate change, improve energy security, and ‘We need to replace all of the power-producing infrastructure that we have today within 40 years,’ says one expert. create green jobs — renewables such as the sun, wind, water, and hot rocks will play a larger role.
Looking at Trends in District Energy Development "District Energy" is a term widely known in the energy field, but seldom enters the conversation of city planning. District energy has been popularized by EcoDistricts, an organization that embodies a paradigm shift in urban planning which includes utility services as a component of community development. District energy is not a new concept; there are hundreds of legacy systems the U.S and thousands worldwide. Thomas Puttman, founder of Puttman Infrastructure, develops district energy systems that provide steam, cooling, and electric to a group of buildings based on local energy production. Emerging Trends in Developing District Energy Electricity and water utilities have consistent development models. Without the buy-in from end users, developers cannot deliver the PPA necessary for project financing. Each building in Hudson Yards ‘plugs into’ the district system, eliminating the need for in-building boilers and chillers. Figure: District Energy Ownership and Operating Models[3]
The Energy Cost of Food At the grocery cooperative nearest my home I can buy kale from California, grapes from Argentina, olive oil from Italy, miso from Japan, and apples from New Zealand. I can enjoy a diet that’s utterly dissociated from Vermont’s Champlain Valley where I live, one that renders my local climate, the character of the local soil and geography, and even the passage of seasons irrelevant to my food choices. I can eat as if I lived in a tropical paradise where summer never ends, while living in a temperate paradise where summer lasts just a few short months. As I walk out of my co-op I’m reminded of the source of this modern food miracle: a nearby service station sells gasoline for $3.67 per gallon, and diesel for 30 cents more. This is pricy compared to what these fuels cost a decade ago, but they still provide astonishingly cheap energy. Just how much energy does it take to fuel the US food system? As high as this 15 Calorie figure might seem, it’s surely an underestimate. So what? Notes