Many Glitters of Conservation

摘要

Some of the glitter and media-reported hoopla of energy conservation is discussed, and some facts to dull that glitter are described. On a natonal TV program in the US, the glitter of an electric car drive system and an airborne bicycle powered by solar photovoltaic cells was presented. But, analysis of the energy required to manufacture the electric batteries and wholesale conversion to battery power shows that electric cars will remain out of reach until most power plants are powered by solar energy, swift water currents, and atomic fusion, and we can once again afford the price of excess power generation. A similar analysis of powering aircraft by solar energy shows that solar-powered aircraft will remain out of reach forever. The fallacy of building electrically-heated homes because there would be no more natural gas is examined. An analysis of new transportation-system policies shows that proposed conservation measures in that sector are wrongly represented. Heating swimming pools, installing thermal insulation, and installing certain solar collectors for tax credits are also examined for real conservation. The author concludes that conservation has much merit, but should not be pushed to block progress anywhere, every time. He says America needs selectively intelligent conservationists, but we must not let erroneous mythologies blunt our communal efforts. (ERA citation 06:007864)