April 12th, 2009
Sustainable Energy - Without the Hot Air
I’ve just finished reading (online) a book called “Sustainable Energy - Without the Hot Air“, by Professor David McKay from the University of Cambridge. It’s an insightful guide about energy consumption and renewable energy production, and the options available to policy and decision-makers. It’s an important read - and is clear and consise (and witty). It’s not feel-good, it’s not easy, but it is fascinating.
In case you’re wondering whether it’s more environmentally friendly to read it online, or buy a paper copy - it depends how fast a reader you are! If you’re a fast reader or will use a laptop, go with online, otherwise there’s no real difference.
One of my favourite paragraphs:
One of the main sinks of energy in the “developed” world is the creation of stuff. In its natural life cycle, stuff passes through three stages. First, a new-born stuff is displayed in shiny packaging on a shelf in a shop. At this stage, stuff is called “goods.” As soon as the stuff is taken home and sheds its packaging, it undergoes a transformation from “goods” to its second form, “clutter.” The clutter lives with its owner for a period of months or years. During this period, the clutter is largely ignored by its owner, who is off at the shops buying more goods. Eventually, by a miracle of modern alchemy, the clutter is transformed into its final form, rubbish. To the untrained eye, it can be difficult to distinguish this “rubbish” from the highly desirable “good” that it used to be. Nonetheless, at this stage the discerning owner pays the dustman to transport the stuff away.
