World must limit energy consumption
Lance Sansouci
Issue date: 10/9/09 Section: News
10/09/09 - Nathan Lewis of the California Institute of Technology said that the world must reduce its energy consumption last night at the Kirk engineering building.
Lewis' presentation, "Global Energy Perspective," described the technical, political and economical challenges involved with the adoption of renewable energy technologies.
"Energy is the single most important problem facing humanity today," Lewis said.
He said the world consumed 13 trillion watts of energy in 2001, with the U.S. consuming a quarter of it. The estimated energy consumption for 2050 is 28 trillion watts.
The majority of the energy being consumed is from oil, gas and coal.
Although these methods are unconventional, they are economically cheaper when compared to the more conventional nuclear or solar production costs, Lewis said.
Lewis said because of the rapid population growth coupled with the gross domestic product or a total of the domestic economic activity, energy consumption is estimated to decrease by one percent per year, by 2050.
Lewis said there should potentially be enough oil by 2050, but he warns that the world's livelihood is still at risk.
For example, present energy consumption has lowered the pH of the world's oceans, causing 20 percent of the ocean's coral to bleach.
"Finding Nemo may be the only colored coral your kids will see on this planet," Lewis said.
Energy consumption thus far has increased the melting of the Arctic ice more rapidly than predicted, and has also began to melt the arctic permafrost or soil at or below the freezing point of water. This effect releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
When carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere it stays there for approximately 3000 years, adversely affecting the world's environment at large, Lewis said. To prevent this, Lewis suggested examining the potential energy, technologies and costs of various forms of renewable energy.
"Potential sources of renewable energy include wind, solar, and hydroelectric energy," Lewis said. The essence of using renewable resources is to essentially reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.
Lewis' presentation, "Global Energy Perspective," described the technical, political and economical challenges involved with the adoption of renewable energy technologies.
"Energy is the single most important problem facing humanity today," Lewis said.
He said the world consumed 13 trillion watts of energy in 2001, with the U.S. consuming a quarter of it. The estimated energy consumption for 2050 is 28 trillion watts.
The majority of the energy being consumed is from oil, gas and coal.
Although these methods are unconventional, they are economically cheaper when compared to the more conventional nuclear or solar production costs, Lewis said.
Lewis said because of the rapid population growth coupled with the gross domestic product or a total of the domestic economic activity, energy consumption is estimated to decrease by one percent per year, by 2050.
Lewis said there should potentially be enough oil by 2050, but he warns that the world's livelihood is still at risk.
For example, present energy consumption has lowered the pH of the world's oceans, causing 20 percent of the ocean's coral to bleach.
"Finding Nemo may be the only colored coral your kids will see on this planet," Lewis said.
Energy consumption thus far has increased the melting of the Arctic ice more rapidly than predicted, and has also began to melt the arctic permafrost or soil at or below the freezing point of water. This effect releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
When carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere it stays there for approximately 3000 years, adversely affecting the world's environment at large, Lewis said. To prevent this, Lewis suggested examining the potential energy, technologies and costs of various forms of renewable energy.
"Potential sources of renewable energy include wind, solar, and hydroelectric energy," Lewis said. The essence of using renewable resources is to essentially reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.
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