Re: Worrying about the long term (was Global Warming (NUCLEAR))

[Rick Tarara <rbtarara@SPRYNET.COM>]

It is just not very meaningful to compare energy efficiencies between
different countries.  Take Switzerland for example.  It looks VERY energy
efficient.  However, if you look closely, you will see that a good portion
of the Swiss economy is based on the energy used in Germany, Italy, and
France.  You can't fairly compare the energy efficiency of Japan (at 335
people/km^2) and the U.S. at 30 people km^2.  The transportation-energy
demands of the U.S. are VERY much higher as are lots of other factors due to
housing patterns, housing size, etc.  I guess you can try to change the
culture/lifestyle of everywhere to something that is very energy efficient,
but I don't think you will ever be successful doing so.

All this means that you must concentrate on how to use conservation and
efficiency WITHIN the framework of the local culture/economy.  If you do
that, then a 25% reduction in energy use is very hard to achieve.

Rick


----- Original Message -----
From: "William J. Larson" <bill_larson@CSI.COM>
To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2001 2:09 PM
Subject: Re: Worrying about the long term (was Global Warming (NUCLEAR))


> Rick,
>
> > 2)  I set a goal of a 25% reduction in energy use for the Efficiency and
> > Conservation groups (combined).  Year after year these groups FAIL to
> > achieve this goal once they work the numbers.
>
> I have the impression that Western Europe (with a population and standard
of
> living approximately equal to the US) is using a lot less of the world's
> petroleum than the US. Here in Europe we have huge gasoline taxes. I
assumed
> this (presumed) lower level of usage is due to our greater efficiencies.
In
> which ways am I wrong?
>
> For what it's worth [< < 0.002¢], the zero health effects of Three Mile
> Island made me very PRO nuclear. The (to my mind) surprisingly low health
> effects of Chernobyl made me very, very PRO nuclear. [Based on the then
> common thinking I initially expected at least tens of thousands to die
> within days.]
>
> Cheers,
> Bill Larson
> Geneva, Switzerland
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Rick Tarara <rbtarara@SPRYNET.COM>
> To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
> Sent: 2001 March 31 8:53 PM
> Subject: Re: Worrying about the long term (was Global Warming (NUCLEAR))