Re: Fw: Energy article from BBC news

I would like to take the position (for a 4th or 5th time) that we cannot solve
the long term problem with energy type solutions. Our basic problem is that
there too many people for the earth's resources to accommodate. If not energy,
then water, food, pollution or some other factor will harm us in the near
future.. Energy may or may not be the most imminent problem but we must address
the real problem of overpopulation.

Everything else is just a Band-Aid solution IMO. It will work for a while but
two decades will tell a different story. Nature (human or other) will provide
solutions in terms of massive deaths by starvation, disease, war or other forms
of extermination.

IMHO

How is that for out-glooming Glenn Morton?

Walt

Innovatia wrote:

> From: "Glenn Morton" <glennmorton@entouch.net>
>
> Glenn drew the conclusion:
>
> > Just another couple of years and demand will far outstrip supply. God help
> our
> > children and grandchildren.
>
> Some of us on this list concur with Glenn's viewpoint. As Christians and
> ASAers, the question then arises as to what we should do in response. Some
> possibilities are:
>
> 1. Wring our hands and discuss the situation.
> 2. Start doing something about it, aided by the associations we have
> through ASA and this listserver.
>
> The first category is not useless, for through it, others become aware that
> there is a problem, and that might contribute to # 2. This list-server
> discussion might contribute toward that end while informing us of the
> situation.
>
> In the second category, some possibilities are:
>
> 1. Provide technical ideas for student and grad-degree projects in
> alternative energy, such as solar thermal electric systems.
>
> 2. Encourage the ASA Global Resources & Environment Commission and CEST
> (Christian Engineers & Scientists in Technology) to sound out their
> memberships for interest in prototype development of a viable alternative
> energy system. Incidentally, ASA Council member Ken Touryan manages govt
> alternative energy research.
>
> 3. Write a piece for the ASA journal on the subject. (Glenn has described
> the situation there before.)
>
> 4. For those with skills in alternative energy systems development, work on
> such a project commercially and/or on a hobby basis with a small group of
> doers.
>
> I am doing # 4, contemplating # 3, might do # 2 (though ASA Commissions to
> date appear to be more organization than action), and will combine # 1 into
> # 4. I am interested in off-list collaboration with anyone (students,
> academicians, industry/govt/NPO engineers or scientists, retirees)
> interested in providing technical/scientific contributions to a project I
> have started, the development of a solar thermal electric system (STES) - in
> particular, anyone who has some knoweldge of thermodynamic working fluids in
> the 100 to 300 deg C range.
>
> As the oil situation worsens, there is new hope for thermal-to-electric
> conversion devices. At present, advances have been made in increasing
> efficiency (to over 4 %) of thermocouples (thermoelectric modules, or TEMs)
> (www.hi-z.com), such as those found in car coolers, to where it is feasible
> to use them to produce electricity from heat, which (unlike electric charge)
> is cheap to store at high density. Also under development are thermionic and
> electron quantum-tunneling devices, the latter being funded by Rolls Royce
> (www.powerchips.gi), with prototype devices showing 15 % efficiency. That is
> sufficient to replace automobile engines. A STES designed using TEMs can be
> retrofitted in the future with the higher-efficiency devices.
>
> Are any of you involved in alternative energy development at present? If so,
> I at least would be interested to hear what you are doing.
>
> Dennis Feucht
> dennis@innovatia.com

--
===================================
Walt Hicks <wallyshoes@mindspring.com>
In any consistent theory, there must
exist true but not provable statements.
(Godel's Theorem)
You can only find the truth with logic
If you have already found the truth
without it. (G.K. Chesterton)
===================================