Solar sham

 Is it just me or is solar energy really just a sham. The way I figure
it we would have to cover 14 million sq km with PV cells by 2050 to
satisfy world enery needs, assuming current growth rates and all other
things being equal. Worse, owing to inefficiencies in the system solar
PV will actually add to global warming. PV might look good on the
roof, it might 'feel good' but it isn't going to solve the problems we
face.

 
It's just you.;-)

Reality - PV alone will not solve the world's energy problems. No one
who is not on medication has ever said it would.

But, solar and gravitational energy will be able to provide a large
part of the solution for world's future energy needs.

OTOH, the real problem is that the west seems set on replicating
wasteful energy practices from the past with renewables, rather than
learning to use less energy to run their homes.

Renewable does not mean cheap, have you priced panels or batteries
lately?, nor should we treat it as a throwaway commodity.

 bealiba@gmail.com wrote:

"gravitational energy"?  Other than hydroelectric how do you generate
power using gravitational energy?


So tell us how to use less energy to run our homes.


to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

 
The other major source of energy from gravity is of course tidal.

Most people start with more efficient lighting. Then of course there
is better insulation, turning the heat down 2 - 4 degrees and the AC
up a couple of degrees. Or just build a house that does not need AC at
all. Most people could reduce their energy use by up to a third
without any discomfort at all.

And what is it with 45 square ranch style houses for two people.

 bealiba@gmail.com wrote:

You say that "most people" could do all this.  Do you have statistics
on the temperatures at which people keep their houses?  Or on the
percentage of people who do _not_ use "more efficient lighting"?

If you think "just build a house" is an option for most people then
you have lived a sheltered and overprivileged existence.

And right now I'm cold.  The thermostat is set to 68.  If I set it to
64 then I'm going to be _really_ uncomfortable.  Yeah, there are
drafts in the house.  Yeah, I can fix them.  Right now I have other
priorities, like keeping the rain out.  Maybe instead of buying the
"handyman special" I should have paid rent for another couple of
decades so I could afford to have a custom-built solar like you have.


Well, either they plan to have kids or they had kids and the kids grew
up and moved out.  Or maybe they entertain a lot.  But if you have a
kitchen, a dining room, a common room, a guest bedroom, his and hers
study, and a real workshop then you can use up 4500 square feet pretty
quickly.

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--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)