The Zero-Emissions Challenge, Part 8: The Hard Way
In considering methods of reducing our carbon emissions, I alluded to three methods of reduction: the "easy" method, the "planned" method, and the "hard" method. So far, I haven't said much about the "hard" method. But it's pretty straightforward: assume that emissions must fall to nearly zero immediately. The CO2 outcome is already known: near zero. What's less clear is what such a requirement would do to our lives.
First, we'd essentially be limited to the electricity we produce ourselves. At present that's 5 Kwh per day. Timing is not an issue, because our battery backup provides power day and night, as long as we don't exceed its capacity. But we'd be severely limited on what we could run.
First off, refrigeration would be severely curtailed. We'd trade our kitchen fridge for the small fridge in the barn. Our cheese & pickling fridge would have to go, but we'd need the deep freeze for long-term storage. Those changes would bring us from 3.4 Kwh to 0.7 Kwh per day.
Cooling and air circulation would be eliminated, except for an occasional fan, cutting 1.8 Kwh per day but making summers very uncomfortable. Computers and peripherals would be limited to an hour a day, with printers on only when they're in use, cutting our current 2.7 Kwh to less than 2/10. Lightbulbs would be cut to the absolute minum: seven CFLs, dropping our usage from 4.3 to 0.4 Kwh. Dishes and clothes would be handwashed, with clothes hung outside to dry (despite the blowing dust). Water would be conserved for irrigation; showers would probably be cut to one or two per person per week.
The microwave and toaster oven would go into storage. Cooking and heating would be entirely by wood. We'd need to find alternative ways to heat our water, either with solar or wood. Showers, when they happened, would most likely be cold.
Cooling and air circulation would be eliminated, except for an occasional fan, cutting 1.8 Kwh per day but making summers very uncomfortable. Computers and peripherals would be limited to an hour a day, with printers on only when they're in use, cutting our current 2.7 Kwh to less than 2/10. Lightbulbs would be cut to the absolute minum: seven CFLs, dropping our usage from 4.3 to 0.4 Kwh. Dishes and clothes would be handwashed, with clothes hung outside to dry (despite the blowing dust). Water would be conserved for irrigation; showers would probably be cut to one or two per person per week.
The microwave and toaster oven would go into storage. Cooking and heating would be entirely by wood. We'd need to find alternative ways to heat our water, either with solar or wood. Showers, when they happened, would most likely be cold.
And then there's driving. We can't give it up completely, because there will always be supplies we need in town. But we might be limited to one or two trips a month. A horse and wagon might replace our motor vehicles. We wouldn't have much in the way of income, which now depends on us driving to client locations. So we'd have to grow more of our own food, and hunting would probably become a necessity, not only for food but also for skins.
Imagine extending an immediate near-zero-emissions requirement to our nation. The trucking industry would shut down, with all transportation routed to our neglected railroads. Food would no doubt become a priority freight commodity, creating shortages of many other goods simply for lack of transportation capacity. But commercial agriculture as we know it would also shut down, creating shortages in basic foodstuffs such as bread and protein.
Add to this unemployment for several million people dependent on either commercial agriculture or the labor-intensive trucking industry for their living... An electrical grid dependent on our renewable and nuclear generators, about 14% of our current capacity... Elimination of oil and natural gas for heating and cooking... And little or no gasoline or diesel.
Add to this unemployment for several million people dependent on either commercial agriculture or the labor-intensive trucking industry for their living... An electrical grid dependent on our renewable and nuclear generators, about 14% of our current capacity... Elimination of oil and natural gas for heating and cooking... And little or no gasoline or diesel.
In short, cutting emissions to zero the hard way would not be pretty. It would look a lot like the Stone Age, but with internet.
It behooves us all to look at cutting emissions in some sort of planned approach because, speaking for myself, the Stone Age is not where I want to live.
It behooves us all to look at cutting emissions in some sort of planned approach because, speaking for myself, the Stone Age is not where I want to live.
We used 1270kwh per month, family of 5...we just built a pretty large energy efficient home...ICF basement, SIPS walls and Roof...Viessman Boiler...powered by propane...does radiant heat, hot water domestic and hot water for the Lifebreath furnaces which are hot water coils...with electric fan..
we have radiant in the basement, master bath and garage..
Our Stove is Dual Fuel, Electric Oven..rest is Propane..we signed up at http://renu.citizenre.com/">http://renu.citizenre.com/
to have them put in Solar Panels in 2008...in our field...not on the house...and get all of our electric from Solar...from them...
I guess I would consider going to a couple of Electric On Demand, whole house Hot Water Heaters to replace the Viessman Boiler..but it is SO effiecient...it would be hard to beat it...
Trying to do this in Michigan is tough, because we have no rebates like California does on Solar..
But
http://renu.citizenre.com/">http://renu.citizenre.com/
Is a really cool idea...
Jeff
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Also I forgot to say that every light in the house is either a dimable CFL or a new PERMLIGHT...www.permlight.com....LED fixture...
We have been buying and trying every LED..to find the best that are 2700˚K to 2850˚K...and that have good Lumen output per watt used...once LED gets to about 10% or less of the energy used from a CFL or incandescent...then it will be wonderful...
Using CFL's like the Neptun CFL's that don't have any mercury is best..dimable and no mercury..
We do a lot of Media...Audio and HD Video Work, and Music at home as well...so that is included...my home office and studio...LED's are best because they come on at 100% right away...where CFL take a bit of time...but save big bucks...turning off the lights is still a challenge with kids and my wife..but we are working with it..
Jeff
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