Sustainable Energy - Without the Hot Air

by MacKay, David JC

• ISBN13: 9780954452933
• ISBN10: 0954452933
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-01-01
• Publisher: UIT Cambridge Ltd.

Summary

Addressing the sustainable energy crisis in an objective manner, this enlightening book analyzes the relevant numbers and organizes a plan for change on both a personal level and an international scalefor Europe, the United States, and the world. In case study format, this informative reference answers questions surrounding nuclear energy, the potential of sustainable fossil fuels, and the possibilities of sharing renewable power with foreign countries. While underlining the difficulty of minimizing consumption, the tone remains positive as it debunks misinformation and clearly explains the calculations of expenditure per person to encourage people to make individual changes that will benefit the world at large.

Author Biography

David MacKay is a professor in the department of physics at Cambridge University, a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Climate Change, and a regular lecturer on sustainable energy.

Table of Contents

I Numbers, not adjectives

1 Motivations
2 The balance sheet
3 Cars
4 Wind
5 Planes
6 Solar
7 Heating and cooling
8 Hydroelectricity
9 Light
10 Offshore wind
11 Gadgets
12 Wave
13 Food and farming
14 Tide
15 Stuff
16 Geothermal .
17 Public services
18 Can we live on renewables?  

II Making a difference
19 Every BIG helps
20 Better transport
21 Smarter heating
22 Efficient electricity use
23 Sustainable fossil fuels?
24 Nuclear?
25 Living on other countries’ renewables?
26 Fluctuations and storage
27 Five energy plans for Britain
28 Putting costs in perspective
29 What to do now .
30 Energy plans for Europe, America, and the World
31 The last thing we should talk about
32 Saying yes Acknowledgments

III Technical chapters
A Cars II
B Wind II  
C Planes II  
D Solar II
E Heating II  
F Waves II 
G Tide II
H Stuff II  

IV Useful data  
I Quick reference 
J Populations and areas

K UK energy history  

List of web links

Bibliography

Index

About the author