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1.  Humans need about 2200 calories per day to live,  x 365 days per year = 803 Kcal = 933kWh per annum (1kWh = 860 Kcal)

  The alternative is to reduce the demand for electricity.  I do think
there are too many human beings consuming too much and contributing too
little.

Lionel Boxer CD PhD MBA BTech(IndEng) - 041126725

Hello all,

To add to the conversation – so far I notice the 'debate' was about the limits to type/scope of energy generation, and the present contention on reducing excessive consumption.

I propose we need to include a conversation on reducing/eliminating losses in the generation to consumption process.

In the example below, it seems that more than 2/3 of the generated energy is lost and not even available for consumption.

http://www.energyliteracy.com/?p=134

Furthermore, if we can also switch over to more eco-efficient and smart appliances, we can reduce consumption by another 40%-70% (depending on the appliance and utilized technology).

In effect our present generative sources and capacities, can deliver 3 to 4 times the present consumption rate. Alternatively, we can phase out more than half of generative sources and plants (and thus their emissions) and still have excess energy available to fulfill present consumption requirement.

And of most interest as per me, IF we can achieve these efficiencies in our generation, transmission, and consumption – renewable sources become plentiful (30% of total capacity, fulfils 100% of requirement) AND cost-effective (same cost of generation, 2-3 fold increase in output available for consumption).

Of course it is not that simple and easy to attain, however the long term implications of research and innovation on maximizing efficiency initiatives seem to be more palatable than some of the proposed solutions! We can also work on this solution without casting aspersions on individuals' motivations, societal lifestyles, and national cultures!

I personally think the challenge is not about figuring out the required technology, but about changing mindsets about the 'sins' of energy generation and consumption. Thankfully, ONE members are best positioned to work on that!

Best regards,

Sujit Sur

Assistant Professor

School of Business

Dalhousie University

6100 University Avenue

Halifax, NS

Canada B3H 3J5

Tel: (902) 494-4589

Fax: (902) 494-1107

Interesting thread on losses.   I know the source is a little dated but I like the % flow of the figure below and each time I see this, it gets me thinking about what it will take to flip some of these numbers???

Best Regards,

Robert Sroufe, Ph.D.

Murrin Chair of Global Competitiveness

Beard Institute Director of Applied Sustainability

Marketing & Supply Chain Management Department

John F. Donahue Graduate School of Business

600 Forbes Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15282

(412) 396-1909

(412) 396-4764 (fax)

P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.

Hello all,

To add to the conversation – so far I notice the 'debate' was about the limits to type/scope of energy generation, and the present contention on reducing excessive consumption.

I propose we need to include a conversation on reducing/eliminating losses in the generation to consumption process.

In the example below, it seems that more than 2/3 of the generated energy is lost and not even available for consumption.

http://www.energyliteracy.com/?p=134

Furthermore, if we can also switch over to more eco-efficient and smart appliances, we can reduce consumption by another 40%-70% (depending on the appliance and utilized technology).

In effect our present generative sources and capacities, can deliver 3 to 4 times the present consumption rate. Alternatively, we can phase out more than half of generative sources and plants (and thus their emissions) and still have excess energy available to fulfill present consumption requirement.

And of most interest as per me, IF we can achieve these efficiencies in our generation, transmission, and consumption – renewable sources become plentiful (30% of total capacity, fulfils 100% of requirement) AND cost-effective (same cost of generation, 2-3 fold increase in output available for consumption).

Of course it is not that simple and easy to attain, however the long term implications of research and innovation on maximizing efficiency initiatives seem to be more palatable than some of the proposed solutions! We can also work on this solution without casting aspersions on individuals' motivations, societal lifestyles, and national cultures!

I personally think the challenge is not about figuring out the required technology, but about changing mindsets about the 'sins' of energy generation and consumption. Thankfully, ONE members are best positioned to work on that!

Best regards,

Sujit Sur

Assistant Professor

School of Business

Dalhousie University

6100 University Avenue

Halifax, NS

Canada B3H 3J5

Tel: (902) 494-4589

Fax: (902) 494-1107