Download - Perspectives on the Big Picture
Perspectives on the Big Picture
By Tom Anderson
On Space Ship Earth
Humans are not the Passengers
We are part of the Crew
The Age of Fossil FuelsIn a 10 Thousand Year Frame
Human Capacity for Work
One horsepower is 745.7 Watts
A human is capable of about 1/3 of a horsepower
Therefore a human is good for about 249 Watts of output
Gasoline vrs Human
• Regular Gas is 125,000 BTUs per gal
• Let’s allow a 25% conversion to work
• Therefore a gal is 31,250 BTUs
• At a human rate of 249 Watts of output
• It would take you 37 hours of peddling
Value of Human WorkCompared to Gasoline
• Gasoline is about $4 per gallon
• Human output is about 249 Watt hrs / hr
• Or about 854 BTUs per hr
• Or about 0.03 gallons of gas per hr
• Or about $0.11 per hr
Perspective
• The age of fossil fuels has greatly shifted and distorted our estimation of the value of human work
• When people think about there being less fossil fuel they panic as they see it as a contraction of what they can do.
• As a negation of the idea of abundance
• But it is NOT
The Age of Fossil FuelsIn a 10 Thousand Year Frame
Living Lighter Party!
Let’s Talk Trash
How Much Energy Does It Use
What’s A Girl To Do
Abundance• The abundance of human creativity
• The abundance of work available to supply human needs
• The abundance of satisfaction in doing something productive to help others
• The abundance of rich and vibrant communities
• The abundance of possible human relationships
Methane: Farm Power NW
Methane: Dry Fermentation
19
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1980 '85 '90 '95 '00 '05 '09
District Heating Electricity
CHP Proportion of Electricity and District Heating Production
20
Composition of Fuels in District Heating Production
Combined Heat and Power
Combined Heat and Power
• Infinia’s Micro CHP
• Sterling engine electrical generator
• Available soon!!
Public Policy
• State legislation supporting solar installations.
• Community solar projects
Tom Anderson
739-1968
Thank You for Your Time and Attention
Questions
