28: Our Energy Future
Q1: What are some possible energy futures?
Q2: What kind of future way of life would you like to see in the year 2020? What kind of energy base would it have?
Q3: What can you do to help create such a future?
As mentioned above, our energy situation has changed with time and our life styles. Where once we used mostly wood and muscles, now we use mostly oil, natural gas and nuclear energy. It is important to keep in mind that the energy situation will continue to change. The question is, how will it change and who will control that change.
(figure available in print form)
29: Our Energy Future (cont.)
The items being bought, the pollution being produced, the way we choose to live and travel, the effort we are willing to make to understand both the current energy situation and our real energy needs, the degree to which we are willing to get involved to get the information needed to see if we agree with how our local, state and national resources are being spent—all these decisions are constantly influencing our energy future. They all go together and are forming the energy situation of tomorrow.
Two contradictory predictions as to the world’s energy supply for the future are given below. As you read them consider what you think about each and ask yourself how it happens that serious, intelligent, educated people come up with contradictory information and predictions.
30: Our Energy Future (cont.)
“By the mid—1980’s, rising costs and public concern over safety would halt nuclear plant construction, including the contruction of breeder reactors, already plagued by technological problems, concern over the threat of nuclear proliferation and problems of cost.”
1
“For the long term, and on a world-wide basis, it is projected that the fraction of electrical energy supplied by nuclear resources will tend toward 45% by the year 2000, and toward 60—65% by the year 2020.”
2
1
1Steinhart, J.S.
Pathways to Energy Sufficiency Pg. 48.
2
Nesbit, W.
World Energy
pg 49.
31: Our Energy Future (cont.)
The Steinhart study predicts a significant change in the way people live and gives many specific examples. Several of these examples follow.
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1. Because so many environmental problems are caused by size, there will be less large cities and an increase in medium-size cities separated by farmland and forest.
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2. There will be a, significant increase in regional agriculture as opposed to the large-scale, energy intensive farming of today. When considering the energy needed for gasoline, machinery, fertilizer and pesticides—it takes fifteen energy calories to produce one food calorie.
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3. The American diet will be significantly different Beef consumption will be half what it is today and people will eat more whole grains, dried beans, potatoes and vegetables. A large number of families will have home gardens.
32: Our Energy Future (cont.)
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4. Food chains like McDonald’s will phase out largely due to the energy cost of packaging.
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5. By developing more efficient cars, public transportation and cities of a somewhat circular design with a one or two mile radii and convenient walking and bicycling paths—our current energy use in transportation will be cut to 25% of its current level. With this there will be no reduction in social interaction or accessibility—even, perhaps, an increase.
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6. By changing the economy’s mix of goods and services there will be a significant decrease in the industrial use of energy.
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7. Considering conservation, efficient designing, the above mentioned items and other such possibilities, Steinhart’s group believes there will be a per capita energy consumption decrease of 64%.
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8. The energy used would come from mixed sources. As mentioned above, nuclear power plants would
(cont.)
33: Our Energy Future (cont.)
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be phased out because of the cost and technological problems. Energy would be produced from various sources and each area would use the sources most appropriate for its circumstance. An area might use solar, wind, oil, gas, geothermal, tidal power, traditional hydropower or a combination of any or all of these.
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9. A thirty-hour work week will prevail. The extra available time could be profitably used by caring for a family garden and doing other services for oneself more cheaply than if they had to be paid for.
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10. Crutial to such a future is the continual development and implementation of government policies and laws in this area,. Policy areas such as transportation, energy and fuel supply, economic reform, energy and conservation and environmental protection are some of the areas currently being worked on for policies and laws that could help create such a future.
Special Student Project
Each student is expected to choose one of the following projects.
Project #1. Answer the question “Should Connecticut build more nuclear power plants? Yes _ No_.” be between two and four pages long and include (l) reasons why you selected the answer you did, (2) personal and social consequences of this course of action and (3) what can you do to help Connecticut follow this action.
Project #2. Write a play or skit two to four pages long depicting life as you would like it to be in the year 2020. As part of the play or skit or in addition to it, make clear some aspects of its energy base.
Project #3. In a group of from two to six students, write and act out a play, skit or puppet show on what life could be like in the year 2020 or 2050 and reveal in it its energy base.
Activities
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1. Use discussion card for class discussions.
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2. Use the special projects.
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3. Read and discuss parts or the entire article “Energy Obesity”, by R.E. Miles Jr.
1
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4. Assign the reading of part or all of
Pathways to Energy Sufficiency: The 2050 Study
and
World Energy: Will There be Enough in 2020
? These two short books present and interesting contrast in predicting what the future energy situation will be like. They also offer a chance to discuss the significance of future studies and interest group predictions.
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5. on the class and on what one wants to focus, using the slide presentation
I have Three_Children of My Own
2
by Dr. Helen Caldicott and the movie
What Time Is The Power On Today
?
3
by United Illuminating would give powerful examples of extreme views.
I Have Three Children Of My Own
is strongly anti-nuclear and
What Time Is The Power On Today
is just as heavily in favor of allowing the power companies greater freedom to do as they want.
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6. Plan and hold a debate on a controversial, current environmental issue stressing the possible future consequences of the opposing vies.
1
iles, R. E., Jr. “Energy Obesity”,
The Futurist
, Dec. 1980
2
Available from the New Haven Peace Center. Fee requested.
3
Available from United Illuminating in New Haven. Free