2.5 Sustainable Energy Production - Reduction and Efficiency
2.5 Sustainable
Energy
Production
– Reduction
and
Efficiency
In order to
satisfy
the
basic
needs
of
all
of
mankind
sustainably,
a
transformation
and
increase
of
energy
services
is
required;
one
quarter
of
the
world’s
population
currently
uses
three
quarters
of
available
commercial
energy
resources;
resources
that
are
being
rapidly
depleted
and
that
are
facing
exhaustion.
The
means
of
improving
this
situation
begin
by
increasing
energy
efficiency
(alongside
promoting
using
less
energy,
or
conservation),
by
diversifying
energy
sources
and
by
moving
to
the
use
of
renewable
energies.
Reduce
The first steps
to
a
sustainable
energy
system
solution
is
essential
and
involves
reducing
the
amount
of
energy
we
consume. This is
an
often
overlooked
concept,
as
it
involves
changing
the
current
paradigm
of
steady
economic
growth,
which
is
generally
associated
with
increased
energy
consumption. The economic factor
of
constant
growth
will
be
explored
in
a
later
chapter,
but
in
this
section
it
must
be
highlighted
that
without
fossil
fuels,
we
will
not
be
able
to
continue
our
current
energy
consumption,
and
these
patterns
of
use
must
change.
Efficiency
Much of
the
energy
we
use
in
burning
fossil
fuels
is
wasted. In any energy transfer
there
are
associated
losses,
usually
in
the
form
of
wasted
heat
going
to
the
atmosphere. Using the example from earlier a thermal
power plant is 38.5% efficient, transporting it
from
the
power
station
to
you
houses
looses
another
7%,
then
once
it
is
in
your
home
further energy will be lost through inefficient appliances. Considering all
these
losses,
and
the
precious
value
of
the
resource
in
the
first
place,
it
does
seem
absurd
that
the
final
end
use
is
a
light
being
left
on
when
nobody
is
in
the
room
or
an
empty
room
being
kept
warm.
In transport use,
cars
can
be
made
to
be
more
efficient
therefore
using
less
fuel. However, there
is
a
danger
when
considering
efficiency
without
first
consulting
the
first
ethos
of
reduction. An increased efficiency
coupled
with
an
increased
usage
could
have
zero
net
effect
of
increased
energy
use.
http://www-g.eng.cam.ac.uk/impee/?section=topics&topic=DomesticEnergy&page=slideshow