How Would You Help Solve the Potential Energy Crisis?

Question

Issues such as global warming and renewable energy are much more than a load of hot air. It's going to take a special kind of person to help us all get a grip on the situation. Could this be you? Perhaps more importantly, how would you do it?

Answer 1

The biggest impact on the potential energy crisis would happen if:
a. Automobile companies built engines that ran on fuels other than traditional fossil fuels, and
b. Oil companies supported automobile companies to achieve this.

Answer me this: Which is the one technology that's essentially remained unchanged from the 1860s - for nearly a century and and half?

The internal combustion engine!!

Look at the advances and far-reaching changes in other areas like computers or medicine. But engines, that consume oil, have remained that way for a 150 years!!

We need to provide an impetus to our elected representatives, and to corporates that are involved in this to make sweeping and far reaching changes, driven by extensive R&D, to bring about thsi change.

Answer 2

Once enough people have drowned from rising sea levels the problem will solve itself.
I am not utterly convinced of Global Warming being a real problem generated by mankind. Nearly all hard evidence available says that no temperature rise is occuring and history says that earth is due for an ice age. To be honest. I don't think that anybody has developed a realistic model for the earths climate.
I am an environmental engineer and do know a little of the uncertainties involved.
Splash headlines are good for funding though and scientists want to be paid just like everybody else.

Answer 3

We have had the ability to solve this problem for decades now and refuse to do it because it would take money away from the oil tycoons and they, after all, give a lot of money to election campaigns. We have technology that can run cars on nothing but water. We have technology to operate generators that will provide free electricity. We do not need fossil fuels such as natural gas or petroleum BUT, if we were to do away with them right now, how many jobs would be lost and how many companies would go bankrupt? Plus, look at how it would lay politics on a level playing field for the average person since no one would be getting large donations for their campaign. Most people don't want to hear that though.

Answer 4

Ten easy things to do are to...
1. Replace all incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs
2. Turn off lights when not using them (never have one light bulb on for over 3 hours a day)
3. Buy as many Energy Star products as possible
4. Install any plant around the house
5. Take cool to warm showers (never hot steamy showers)
6. Clean cloths in cold or warm water (never hot)
7. Unplug any electronic devices that aren't in use
8. Recycle at least half of the waste in my household
9. Buy a car with an MPG (miles per gallon) of at least 30
10. Don't use the dishwasher more than twice a week
11. Use electric lawn mowers, weed whackers, and leaf blowers instead of gas powered
12. Try to use the AC and Furnace wisely - open windows on cooler days in the summer and on warmer days in winter

Answer 5

First I would ask that all of those concerned about global warming watch the BBC Documentary entitled, " The Great Global Warming Hoax". Then watch the Sony Picture Studios movie "Who Killed the Electric Car?" I would like to see a construction boom of Nuclear Power Plants the likes of which we have never seen before.
Now, imagine if you were asked to change the climate of Mars or the Moon or even your town USA.

Answer 6

I agree. The special person is each and every one of us. We have to use the technology that is available to us to solve the energy Crisis. A good start will be Solar power.
Solar panels are great,
Solar panel is a generic term used to describe a device that collects and converts solar energy into electricity or heat.
examples in use are:
* Photovoltaic module, used to generate electricity
* Solar thermal collector, used to generate heat
* Solar hot water panel, used to heat water, often in homes
Check out the following sight it explains everything

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power#Energy_from_the_Sun

The Photovoltaic panels are being currently used on roof tops of many homes and they are so efficient that they produce more electricty than the owner can use, as a result you can sell electricity back to your power company.

This technology is getting cheaper every day and its almost everywhere in japan and germany, since the goverment there gives large insentives for the people to use solar power.

Please explore the internet and find out more about solar power, It is a great solution, and a good start to go green.

Answer 7

First I would come up with all the possible ways to replace fossil fuels , gasoline ,coal etc. There are a number ways without going into to many details. One being alcohol: Second: hydrogen. Third: compressed air. One big area of research should be , coming up with alternative's to replace the internal combustion engine which uses fossil fuel and is not fuel efficient. The main goal,s are One stop using fossil fuels that contaminate and Second create more efficiency for less fuel consumption. This is a big subject so we will stop here. Dr James Cross

Answer 8

In addition to internal combustion engines, look at the various other technologies enabled by abundant and cheap fossil fuels, The green revolution has been enabled by fertilizers and insecticides made of fossil fuels. The green revolution in turn has enabled millions NOT to starve driving up population. Look at building technology, even applied technology of atomic fission depends upon cheap fossil fuels. What's going to happen when fossil fuels peak out and it costs as much or more to extract a barrel than it's sold for? Virtually all the modern miracles, all modern industry, local and global trade, that we take for granted today came about through availability of cheap fossil fuels. That special kind of person is going to be one who can face life living at around 90 percent less consumption and waste production than s/he is now living. Middle-class life as we know it, our conspicuous consumption, is unsustainable. This bad news is bad for business, so no one wants to talk about it. Worse yet, the talking that does get done is all that gets done. We live in a world of imagery and public relations and no one wants to mess with that. To look after the future of the world is not the business of business.

Answer 9

1. Provide incentives that would cause more people to drive smaller fuel efficient cars and trucks and build smaller homes.
2. Provide Incentives for using mass transit.
3. Increase use of Nuclear Power and clean coal for electrical power.
4. Increase oil production in all areas we have oil, but with high penalties / taxes on use in later years. This will provide incentive for developing Nuclear and other types of energy.
5. Provide incentives for reducing population growth.
6. Provide incentives for wind and solar power use only when it is really cost effective.

Answer 10

I recently read about this site on wall street journal. It's called Carbon Diet Plan, which lists ways to improve one's ecological profile "and provides inspiration for your friends to do the same." I like it's idea of making an impact on global warming 1lb at a time.