Why Energy Efficiency Does not Decrease Energy Consumption - 2 views
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Jim Proctor on 29 Sep 10Here's one of those studies that apparently shatters our intuition: energy efficiency won't help reduce the use of energy?? Read on for the reason why, all about the "rebound effect" and indirect vs. direct energy consumption. Again, looks like sustainability requires that we address the bigger picture.
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Julia Huggins on 30 Sep 10This brings up some concerns I have about the environmental movement in general. I often feel like our emphasis is in the wrong place. Even before it was acceptable to question environmental activism (without being labeled a no-good capitalist hippie-hater) I have felt uncomfortable with some of the campaigns and goals out there. Alternative Energy is a key one for me. I dont think we have an energy source crisis, I think we have an energy use crisis. I dont just mean "energy use" in terms of petroleum (CO2 emitting) energy either. Even if we find alternate energy sources (like the solar panels article I posted on the LCENVS220 group), or more efficient machines/lights, we still will expect the same (or more) amount of work to be done from external energy sources. I think we should focus on realizing what energy already exists in our natural systems and learn to synchronize with that to accomplish our goals, instead. This, I think, will address broader (and dare I add more important?) problems than CO2 emissions.