My solution to rising energy demands!

I don't like the idea of more power plants, nuclear power, or really, some of the more environmental things, either. Therefore, I would rather people be educated or just learn to live with less power. 'Cause people don't need as much as they use. Maybe put a bunch of solar plants in the desert.

Whattaya think? Would you be ok giving up a good portion of your electrical use? Maybe people would have to have their own power-producing devices for anything over a certain amount. Like solar cells and whatnot.

So in short, my solution to rising energy demands is to lower energy demands.

 

What you're suggesting is what some folks call "con-ser-va-tion." It's already being advocated by others.


Seriously though, tryin' to cut down wouldn't be a bad idea. I also agree with on-site power generation like you mentioned.

 

american could spend a trillion dollars on solar panels tomorrow and not even feel the "pain". trillions of dollars are usually wasted by most western governments anyway. the solution is already there. you are one of the few that are thinking.

 

That's an excellent idea! As long as alternative sources are made available to people, they wont change their usage habits. Until it causes them some discomfort, they won't beleive it's really a problem. Rationing electricity and gas would help people look at changing what they do and how they do it. Fines for wasting resources would help too.

 

The whole issue is not the price of energy but rather the consumption and requirements to produce it. So solar and wind alternatives thou costly would supply a more viable option than the building of more coal fired or nuke facilities.


Im not a fan of power plants, I think the loss thru the lines and the need to be controlled by others uses (ie) the power outages in California and others dying from the loss. I think we should set up our own if you have the space and even city skyscrapers could offer some solar assistance and wind roof top turbines.

Conservation is a great idea too, look for more energy efficient items, light bulbs ect, lower use of TV time ect, plan trips to the store not just spur of the moment things and if you have friends maybe set it up that you all go together to shop.

 

Conservation won't happen. Any point in US history where we thought our energy demand was stable, we came out with new power sucking devices. TV's dishwashers, washing machines, PC's, and our countries energy demand increased. Our demand for energy will probably grow even more over the next decade.

Our energy lust appears to be insatiable.

FatFreddy, solar panels aren't very energy efficient, but it's not true that they cost energy then they produce. Solar panels usually produce 1 times to up to 6 times the energy they require to make.

I don't think we should switch to solar panels until they can be made more energy efficient. It would cost working class people inordinant amounts to keep their lives on track.

On average in this state energy costs 8.4 cents per kW/h. Solar power here would cost consumers about 56 cents per kW/h. Many working class people couldn't afford to keep their houses temperate at those costs.

 

Its not as if most energy demands come from electricty anyway.

 

we could at least start using electric powered cars......that would use less energy....and hydrogen...they still would use some unrenewable sources but not anywhere as much "in 1900 1/3 of all automobiles were powered by electricity in New york"

 

You all say this, "let's switch to hydrogen, it's easy". The fact of the matter is, it isn't easy, it's not efficient, and therefore won't replace fossil fuels.

 

It sounds like a good idea, but sadly one that will most likely fail....First off you cant cram the desert with solar power plants, one cause nobody will do it, and second because of the cost. Sadly the cost of the plants are more important to the government than the future generations who's lives that we put at risk. If anything will work at all, it would be a whole NEW TAP of energy, which aint happiin anytime soon. Dont worry though we are doing great right now, you wont have to live when the world is falling apart, or is it already?