<Rick Dworsky: A Warm Bath of Energy -- Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion The Oil Drum DrumBeat: June 6, 2006>

146 comments on Drumbeat 2nd Monday Open Thread

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

| Show without comments | PDF version

JN2 on June 6, 2006 - 9:47am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
"I can drive by SUV, turn my thermostate down to 65 in the Summer, buy a big house, live far from work, etc, etc. and cut energy use at the same time."

Yes, if you can do it using clean energy. But can we convert to renewables in time? How much time do we have? Would 5% reduction in CO2/year be enough? Or 1%? Or 20%? A 5% per year reduction (fixed) would take us to 25% of current CO2 in 15 years, or to 47% (declining balance). Is either of these good enough? What should our targets be?

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
tstreet on June 6, 2006 - 10:07am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
We need a 70% reduction in co2 emissions.  That cannot be done with just renewables.  Conservation and efficiency have to done at the absolute maximum we can manage.  
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
JN2 on June 6, 2006 - 11:00am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Tstreet, thanks for your reply.

We need a 70% reduction in co2 emissions.

Interesting number. Where do you get it from?

That cannot be done with just renewables.

It can be done in 15 years at a fixed 5% per year. Why do you say it can't be done?

Conservation and efficiency have to done at the absolute maximum we can manage.  

Maybe so. But is this just a belief of yours or do you have data to back it up? And what is the absolute maximum we can manage?

FYI, I really am trying to get a handle on the CO2 situation. If Stuart's 2 - 3% per year decline after PO is correct, my worry is we will still fry the planet. Would 5% per year reduction in CO2 be enough?

(Odograph, thanks for getting me to think in timelines :)

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

146 comments on Drumbeat 2nd Monday Open Thread

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

| Show without comments | PDF version