Re: 5 dollar gas...are we ready?
I just love how people KNOW exactly what is going to happen in the future. I feel sad that you apparently live in such a pessimistic and narrow view of the world.
My predictions of the future are limited only to things that rely on the immutable laws of physics. No amount of "feeling" or "sadness" will ever get the efficiency of a solar collector above 100% - I don't know much about the future, but I do know that conservation of energy will still hold.
Alternative energy efforts are an uphill battle that I cannot foresee exactly what will happen in the future but I think that the efforts are worth the time. If nothing else it helps alleviate the increase of fossil fuel needs even if it is a small amount. They are, much like increasing mpg in cars or any other saving measure or even nuclear, part of a solution. (rearrangement) We (humans) would be much better off if people would work for several solutions instead of being naysayers to everything except what they think is best.
Only if we come to an agreement about what the term "solution" means. In my "doomsday" scenario, we don't really find an effective replacement for fossil fuel and we scrape by on what we can collect from the sun. If we go down that path, then yes, absolutely many different forms of solar energy can be part of the solution, where "solution" is defined as getting the total power production up to about 10% of the total that we have today. If, however, in your mind you're thinking of "solution" as a true replacement for fossil fuels, then I absolutely disagree that any combination of solar-based power options will ever get us there. That would be like arguing that by stitching together 10 handkerchiefs in just the right way, we'd be able to blanket an elephant.
Another very helpful solution to our energy problems, it is a reduction in the human population. Nobody wants to hear it because they all think their offspring are the best thing ever!!!
Absolutely - also, they think the sex they have is the best thing ever!
I disagree on 2 points:
1.) I don't think that it is impossible for solar energy to provide a significant fraction of human energy needs. I understand the scale of the problem and recognize the geographic constraints. I don't accept that saying that it will be hard and can't meet all of societies demand automatically means that the entire idea needs to be tossed on the scrap pile.
See above rant about the "solution" but substitute "needs." Solar can become (and, in fact, will become if we don't find a nuclear/fusion solution) a significant slice of the human energy production pie - but only because the pie itself is shrinking down to a shell of its former self.
2.) Society will have to adjust to increased prices long before the supply of fossil fuels runs out (which will never run out completely, but just won't be able to meet demand). I have faith that humanity will be able to adjust to a lower energy intensity economy (or course that doesn't mean that it won't be painful, just not a catastrophic collapse). Of course, it's doubtful that the Earth's population carrying capacity under such a situation will be anywhere near what it is today and population will HAVE to fall, perhaps significantly (20% or more).
I agree with this, but I don't think it really clashes with my previous statements. The price of energy will continually, gradually rise as fossil fuel becomes scarcer, and society's use of energy will be constantly adjusting in response. I don't really predict a rapid, catastrophic collapse - I'm just comparing snapshots in my head of what society will look like in 100 years vs. today if we don't find a non-solar replacement for fossil fuel. That doesn't mean I think we'll be fine for 99 years and then fall off the cliff. Regardless of how we get there, I do think that is where we are heading unless we find a non-solar energy source.
