Re: [Phys-l] Energy use (was CFLs)

["Shapiro, Mark" <mshapiro@Exchange.FULLERTON.EDU>]

Here in the U.S. we use 67% more energy per person than the average of the top 18 developed countries.

Canada comes close, but most developed countries use much less energy per person than we do.

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/ene_usa_per_per-energy-usage-per-person

China and India are using more energy as they develop, but don't come close to any of the developed countries in energy use per person.

Mark
________________________________________
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Rick Tarara [rtarara@saintmarys.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 8:30 AM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Energy use (was  CFLs)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Shapiro, Mark" <mshapiro@Exchange.FULLERTON.EDU>


> I disagree with your analysis.  By not charging the ratepayers for the
> external costs, you reduce the incentive to conserve.  Thereby driving the
> cost up for everyone.  Here in southern California we have tiered rates for
> residential electric consumption to encourage conservation.
>
> US energy policies have led to profligate consumption of energy.  We have
> about 5% of the world's population, yet we consume 25% of the world's
> energy resources.
I get really tired of this one as well--(and the percentage is falling
quickly as China rapidly moving to become king of the energy use hill).  Our
energy use per person is about the same as Canada and Australia.  Not too
far above Germany.  Big, developed nations, use energy.  Its why they are
developed.  The larger the physical size of the country, the more energy
necessary to move people and goods.  The more industry that resides within
the country, and the more that raw materials are mined, processed, and used
within a country, the higher the energy use.  Switzerland seems to use no
energy--but it lives off the energy burned in France, Germany and Italy.
You also have population density and (more to your point) life-style
differences.  If all Americans would put their family of four into a 1000
square foot apartment, with that apartment stacked on top of and surrounded
on all sides by other such apartments--sure the energy usage would drop.
Yes, we can use less energy--but I repeat that reducing by more than 25% is
tough.  As a country of 300+ million people, stretching 3000 miles coast to
coast and 1000 miles border to border, with (still) the biggest economy in
the world and a 21st century technology, the U.S. does not do all that bad.
The problem is really not that the U.S. uses too much energy (OK, a little
too much), it is that the rest of the world uses too little to provide a
21st century living standard to their people.  The comparison to be made is
between the developed world and the 'third world'--average out the
variations for population, area, population density, percentage of 'home
grown' economy versus imported resources and then do your comparisons.
Spare us, please, from the 5%--25% mantra.  It really is not useful.

Rick

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