Solution: The Renewable Electron Economy
About the Author
I work helping companies and governments in California save energy through energy efficiency retrofit projects. I have an interest in helping us see the big picture with regard to how policy can support organizations and individuals to do the right thing with regard to the climate. I write about these issues on my blog, www.greenthoughts.us. One of the key concepts I write about is the Renewable Electron Economy, which is based on Ulf Bossel's analysis of our energy alternatives. I also write about how governments get it right and not so right in helping support climate protection, renewable energy and energy efficiency.
About This Video
The quickest way for us to transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources is to build a Renewable Electron Economy. Based on the work of Ulf Bossel, who compared three post-fossil future energy systems in an analysis of their relative energy efficiencies, I have in my video quickly outlined 4 steps or goals that we need to achieve to build this sustainable energy system. The Renewable Electron Economy competes with the alternative post-carbon visions of a Biofuel Economy and a Hydrogen Economy, as well as two other Electron Economies, the Nuclear Electron Economy and the Coal CSS Economy. The advantage of the Renewable Electron Economy over the first two is that it makes much more efficient use of renewable energy sources and the advantage over the latter two is that it makes use of existing and emerging technologies, crucial in taking quick action to reduce emissions, and has little or no toxic waste. I am not dogmatic or purist in my advocacy for the REE, as biofuels and hydrogen may play niche roles in a future energy system, but I want to see us take timely steps to deal with our climate and energy challenges in the most sustainable way possible.
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