Energy: the problem

Energy consumption in the developed world is out of control. Current estimates suggest that the human population is consuming energy at levels that would only be sustainable if we had more than one earth to live on. I don't think I need to tell you that we don't have extra planets just waiting in the wings (well not close by). The esteemed Dr. James Lovelock recently outlined an interesting (and frightening) forecast for the future of our home and species ("The Profit"; RollingStone, October 2007). A lot of people don't like to hear what he has to say. It is the worst case scenario, but sometimes thats just what we need to hear.

Here is the skinny. We consume more energy than what the sun imparts to the earth, and we're pretty inefficient with it. The only reason that this has worked out so far is that there is a lot of energy locked up from the time before we started behaving this way. This is the energy in fossil fuels. Those fossil fuels are starting to run out - or at least get a lot more expensive to extract. They also pollute a lot, but I think we all know that.

The more immediate concerns for ourselves, and our children/grandchildren are the political struggles and pollution surrounding the fossil fuel source of energy. Will the earth get too hot, too cold, too dry, too wet? Will we fight endless wars over energy resources? What if we can work on the efficiency of consumption rather than the amount of consumption?

So what can we do? what options do we have? In the next postings, we'll be looking at some recent publications on research into solutions (see, I told you there was hope).

So stay tuned, and come check back. Leave your thoughts. Leave your comments. Bring your friends.