Ecocities and Energy

We have to know and understand the scientific theories of energy in order to comprehend the math behind our global energy catastrophe we are currently facing. After reading Energy-A Scientific Perspective, I was able to grasp the laws and theories that explain how energy works, how it flows, how it's stored and what are the different types of energy. In Rolling Stone's article Global Warming's Terrifying New Math, it is explained with numbers and facts the amount of temperature rise, burning of fossil fuels and carbon dioxide the Earth can withstand. Scientists say the global temperature increase should be below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). "So far, we've raised the average temperature of the planet under 0.8 degrees Celsius". This creating unbearable repercussions to the environment. Our Arctic sea ice is melting and already one third of it is gone, our oceans have become 30 percent more acidic, floods and decertification are increasing among many other things. Since the amount of carbon dioxide poured into the atmosphere is increasing, the scientists established a "carbon-budget" of 565 gigatons by midcentury. Nevertheless, a study found that the carbon emissions will keep growing by three percent a year and at this rate we'll blow our "carbon-budget" in 16 years. One of the things that trigger and is accelerating these numbers is the fossil fuels we are currently burning. We're currently planning to burn 2,795 Gigatons and we have five times as much oil, gas and coal in reserve which scientists think it's "safe" to burn! Unfortunately, from what the author states there's no interest from the leading responsible countries and companies to try to reduce these numbers. It will not be possible to achieve this until we redesign our technology, economic model and communities. These numbers will continue to rise unless we leave the addiction we have to our cars and our others unsustainable technologies. As Richard Register states in Ecocities, we have to plan pedestrian cities. Facilitate access so pedestrians can get anywhere in town by walking or bike riding. Also, by making the city as a whole more efficient, buildings can be heated or cooled with zero or very little energy; this is only some of the many things he suggest. Even though the Rolling Stones article has a very pessimistic tone about the global crisis we are currently facing, Register's book make us rethink about the things we can do differently in order to solve these issues. 

The Rolling Stones article may seem very pessimistic but it is not pessimistic at all. It is putting the facts out there so we become aware and do something about it. We can withhold the responsibility to the government and the corporations, but after all it is our responsibility. The companies and our government will not offer their concessions unless we reduce our consumption. So, the article is really a call to wake up and rethink what we can do from where we are. The tips that Register mentions are great! You can decide to walk or ride your bike whenever you can instead of using your car. Many small changes can be made to our daily lives that can make a significant difference in the world. 

These readings have really made me think about the economical and social models we have followed since the industrial revolution. We have slowly created a dependency for fossil fuels and everything is due to the way we have designed our cities, towns, appliances, everything! We have created an economy of consumption and waste, and long hours of commuting to do our day to day tasks. It is said in the story of stuff that "99 percent of the things we mine, harvest and produce are trash within six months". Crazy, right? Think of it, all of these require much more energy to make than what we end up using during the time we own them. As it is explained by the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics the energy at the beginning of the cycle is much more than at the end, as it is lost along the way. That is why we have to be very conscious about our consumption rate. So, think everyday. Think if there's any other way to you could fulfill your daily tasks without consuming as much energy. Be creative and think outside the box!