Efficiency
Of course the most salient consideration is the question of why we are burning so much of our fossil fuel reserves so prolifically. We could cut back on our CO₂ emissions almost immediately by simply burning less. This is especially relevant to fighting climate change in the short run, since there are currently no replacements for coal, natural gas, and oil which are available at the scale necessary to let us continue to consume energy at our current rates.
People understand that they can save money by conserving energy and are buying more fuel-efficient vehicles and energy-efficient appliances. They are making their homes more thermally efficient with weatherstripping, programmable thermostats, and dual-pane windows, as well as insulated basement walls, heating ducts, hot water pipes, and water heaters.
Similarly, companies are becoming more energy-efficient in their production methods, the efficiency of their buildings, and their product designs. Boeing’s new Dreamliner aircraft burns 20 to 25% less fuel per passenger.
Solar power
Enough sunlight hits the earth to satisfy 10,000 times the human demand for energy. Even collecting a small fraction of this power would go a long way toward solving our energy and emissions problems. Solar photovoltaics, like we see as solar panels on the roofs of houses, convert sunlight directly into electricity. Solar thermal installations concentrate sunlight to heat water to run generators for electricity. The latter are not terribly efficient and take up a lot of space, so dispersed solar energy is better. By 2030, solar photovoltaics will most likely be the cheapest alternative to all choices.
These are much cleaner, non-depletable sources of energy than fossil fuels. So although solar options are typically more expensive to start, costs are often offset by savings in the long run. They also have the advantage of not requiring massive amounts of water for cooling, unlike nuclear or fossil fuel-driven power plants. They have fewer financial, environmental, and health risks, and can be installed faster. Their fuel is free, local, and unlimited. They make no spills. They use no controversial fracking methods and therefore create no earthquakes. They don’t require nuclear reactors with radioactive wastes. There are no dirty mines and no transport. Fossil fuels will run out, but sunlight is effectively forever.
For these reasons, world solar installations of all kinds are growing at 60% per year. Solar prices are dropping while others are increasing. With larger scale production, prices should drop even further. Solar power also drives massive job creation, since so many installations have to be built and maintained. There are now companies which allow you to pay-as-you-go for their installations, rather than shouldering the heavy burden of up-front costs. Solar could be distributed across rooftops and parking lots anywhere in the nation, or even embedded in roads.
One major problem with solar power is that it is intermittent. It’s only available when the sun shines, and sunshine peaks before energy demand does. To overcome this issue, a number of storage solutions are being developed. Solar panels can be connected to batteries. Solar thermal power plants can store heat in water or melted salt. Both can pump water uphill during peak hours to be released to generate electricity as it pours back downhill by gravity.
Of course the most salient consideration is the question of why we are burning so much of our fossil fuel reserves so prolifically. We could cut back on our CO₂ emissions almost immediately by simply burning less. This is especially relevant to fighting climate change in the short run, since there are currently no replacements for coal, natural gas, and oil which are available at the scale necessary to let us continue to consume energy at our current rates.
People understand that they can save money by conserving energy and are buying more fuel-efficient vehicles and energy-efficient appliances. They are making their homes more thermally efficient with weatherstripping, programmable thermostats, and dual-pane windows, as well as insulated basement walls, heating ducts, hot water pipes, and water heaters.
Similarly, companies are becoming more energy-efficient in their production methods, the efficiency of their buildings, and their product designs. Boeing’s new Dreamliner aircraft burns 20 to 25% less fuel per passenger.
Solar power
Enough sunlight hits the earth to satisfy 10,000 times the human demand for energy. Even collecting a small fraction of this power would go a long way toward solving our energy and emissions problems. Solar photovoltaics, like we see as solar panels on the roofs of houses, convert sunlight directly into electricity. Solar thermal installations concentrate sunlight to heat water to run generators for electricity. The latter are not terribly efficient and take up a lot of space, so dispersed solar energy is better. By 2030, solar photovoltaics will most likely be the cheapest alternative to all choices.
These are much cleaner, non-depletable sources of energy than fossil fuels. So although solar options are typically more expensive to start, costs are often offset by savings in the long run. They also have the advantage of not requiring massive amounts of water for cooling, unlike nuclear or fossil fuel-driven power plants. They have fewer financial, environmental, and health risks, and can be installed faster. Their fuel is free, local, and unlimited. They make no spills. They use no controversial fracking methods and therefore create no earthquakes. They don’t require nuclear reactors with radioactive wastes. There are no dirty mines and no transport. Fossil fuels will run out, but sunlight is effectively forever.
For these reasons, world solar installations of all kinds are growing at 60% per year. Solar prices are dropping while others are increasing. With larger scale production, prices should drop even further. Solar power also drives massive job creation, since so many installations have to be built and maintained. There are now companies which allow you to pay-as-you-go for their installations, rather than shouldering the heavy burden of up-front costs. Solar could be distributed across rooftops and parking lots anywhere in the nation, or even embedded in roads.
One major problem with solar power is that it is intermittent. It’s only available when the sun shines, and sunshine peaks before energy demand does. To overcome this issue, a number of storage solutions are being developed. Solar panels can be connected to batteries. Solar thermal power plants can store heat in water or melted salt. Both can pump water uphill during peak hours to be released to generate electricity as it pours back downhill by gravity.
