[Pil-pc-oceania] ABC opinion: Can we live with zero emissions?

Mon Mar 17 20:32:00 EST 2008

are these induction cooktops very efficient, Andrew?

On 17/03/2008, Andrew Leahy <alfski at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> a good read kerry.
>
> small aside, green-powered electric induction cooking is da bomb!
> you can pickup one or two-pot portable induction cooktops relatively cheap
> at decent asian supermarkets.
> to me the instantaneous heating and temperature control is just as good as
> gas, and safer.
>
> andrew
>
>  On 17/03/2008, Kerry Dawborn <kj.dawborn at bigpond.com> wrote:
>
> >  Hi Folks, thought you might find this message which was posted on the
> > Public Transport Users Association list, interesting... It gives a detailed
> > positive view of the potential future, and as writer Matthew Wright says, we
> > already have the know-how to do this.....
> >
> > Highly recommended reading!
> >
> > Kerry
> >
> > -------- Original Message --------  Subject: [ptua] ABC opinion: Can we
> > live with zero emissions? Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:51:26 +1100 From:
> > mediamonitor at ptua.org.au <mediamonitor at ptua.org.au><mediamonitor at ptua.org.au> Reply-To:
> > ptua at yahoogroups.com.au To: ptua at yahoogroups.com.au
> >
> >   http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2186610.htm
> >
> > Can we live with zero emissions?
> >
> > Matthew Wright
> >
> > On February 21, the interim Garnaut Climate Change Review was
> > released. It states: "It is in Australia's interest for the world to
> > adopt a strong and effective position on climate change mitigation."
> >
> > Professor Garnaut also mentioned scenarios including what it would
> > take if Australia was to be fair to developing countries and carry its
> > historical burden to have a 50 per cent chance of meeting the long
> > established EU goal of keeping warming under two degrees. To do this
> > he suggested we would have to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 90 per
> > cent by 2050 - effectively, it's a zero emissions target.
> >
> > So what would life be like with zero emissions? Is it even possible?
> >
> > Yes it is, and here's how it looks...
> >
> > It all starts at home
> >
> > If your house was built after 2014, then you don't require any space
> > heating or cooling as your house has been engineered to include
> > passive solar design, as well as with enough thermal mass storage like
> > concrete or rammed earth to get you warmly through many days of
> > continuous cloud cover.
> >
> > Your water is heated purely by an evacuated tube solar system in the
> > summer months and boosted by an electric heat pump in the winter
> > months. Lighting is vivid and dimmable, using Light Emitting Diodes
> > (LEDs), which use five per cent of the electricity consumed by today's
> > lighting.
> >
> > There is no more gas in use, so if your house is of pre-2014 vintage
> > it has been retrofitted to 8-star. The gas cooktop is gone, replaced
> > by the European style induction cooktop, which cooks faster and gives
> > better responsiveness than gas.
> >
> > Our electric ovens are triple glazed - you can put your hand on the
> > front while the thermostat is up and not get burnt.
> >
> > Our televisions are Organic LED (OLED) display based. Sony has already
> > released one and they use 10 per cent of the power of today's LCD
> > flat-panel televisions.
> >
> > Computers use the technology of the latest laptops with OLED displays
> > and consume around 80 per cent less power than today's desktops.
> >
> > Water collected from our roofs provides 100 per cent of our water.
> >
> > Getting energised
> >
> > Brown coal use ended in Victoria in 2014 and black coal was phased out
> > in 2016 in the rest of the country.
> >
> > By now, wind power already contributes 40 per cent of total power
> > generation and we see rapid growth in concentrating solar thermal
> > plants (these boil water to drive steam turbines to make electricity).
> > Gas was used to repower coal plants during the transition to a zero
> > emissions energy sector, but by 2020 gas has been phased out totally.
> >
> > For energy security, reliable baseload and peak power demand, we use
> > pumped hydro, compressed air storage, high temperature solar hydrogen
> > storage, ammonia thermochemical storage and Phase Change Salt thermal
> > batteries as well as flywheels and super-capacitors.
> >
> > In 2020, geothermal technology takes off, allowing Australia to
> > continue exporting energy based products such as aluminium.
> >
> > Travelling and eating
> >
> > We get around by traditional bicycle, fully enclosed electric assist
> > bicycles, public transport and private cars.
> >
> > Fast and frequent light and heavy rail account for 70 per cent of
> > travel. Just like in the 1930s, trams and trains are now within 500
> > metres of most homes in cities like Melbourne and Sydney. By 2020, a
> > massive rail network using the latest engineering is rolled out across
> > our cities and major urban centres.
> >
> > The streets are clean and there is no local air pollution in our cities.
> >
> > Asthma rates and air quality related mortality fall dramatically as a
> > consequence.
> >
> > The vehicle fleet is a combination of electric vehicles (60 per cent)
> > and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (40 per cent). Congestion charges
> > and road taxes motivate most people to use public transport.
> > Intercapital trips are on the $100 billion 400km/h fast rail system,
> > which links Perth, Melbourne, Cairns and Darwin.
> >
> > International air flights are costly and are used to get from Darwin
> > to Singapore. For trips to Europe or Africa, you take the Trans Asian
> > Fast Train which links to the African Fast Rail. To get to the US, you
> > take the Fast Train to Haerbin in China, then fly to Anchorage in
> > Alaska eliminating all long haul flights. The only other flights are
> > to small remote islands such as New Zealand and Iceland.
> >
> > Shopping centres have been upgraded for energy performance; slashing
> > their power consumption by 80 per cent. As you enter any commercial
> > centres you'll notice the addition of air-locks (two sets of doors) to
> > keep the heat out or in.
> >
> > Energy used for production is listed on all foods, which are taxed
> > based on their total life cycle energy input. Thus, vegetarian dishes
> > are more popular, with the average family eating meat less than once
> > or twice a week. Freight is almost exclusively done by rail, with
> > shipping containers racing around the city on the tram network.
> >
> > Waste is expensive and we all have a compost bin. Community
> > food-producing gardening has become a popular pursuit and means our
> > cities import 50 per cent less food from rural areas.
> >
> > Entertainment is of course zero carbon, with the lights at the MCG
> > being replaced by an array of thousands of high power LEDs.
> >
> > Farming is predominately organic. Soil carbon is also big business.
> >
> > Carbon dioxide is actually pulled out of the atmosphere by a process
> > developed by the ancient South American Mayans called Bio Char. This
> > involves cooking crop waste in the absence of oxygen and then using
> > the synthetic gas to make biofuels for our plug-in hybrids and farm
> > machinery. The by-product is the char, which takes carbon out of the
> > atmosphere and even increases soil fertility. Farmers are paid for
> > this, with the aim to return our atmospheric carbon to the pre
> > industrial level of 270ppm.
> >
> > Forests stewardship is rewarded. Reforestation with indigenous species
> > becomes a new land use, which corresponds with the reduced farming
> > footprint of a more vegetable based diet.
> >
> > Recycling is about closing the loop. Usually 95 per cent of any
> > product that comes to the end of its life after reuse is recycled.
> >
> > Mining and construction now predominately use electric vehicles and
> > tools. Consequently, according to the unions, life expectancy of blue
> > collar workers now exceeds that of the white collar work force. The
> > Unions are also happy about how quickly the renewable energy industry
> > has grown to over 100,000 workers.
> >
> > Materials are taxed according to their total life cycle, which means
> > if management plans are not in place for mine tailings and industrial
> > wastes, the costs are prohibitive, thereby promoting alternative
> > materials.
> >
> > And the best bit?
> >
> > All the technology and know-how that was used to achieve this was
> > commercially available at scale in 2007. I think we must make this
> > change much sooner than 2050.
> > __._,_.___ Messages in this topic
> > <http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/ptua/message/27083;_ylc=X3oDMTM2dDZjOThtBF9TAzk3NDkwNDMzBGdycElkAzM2ODcxODgEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzQwMDY0MjI1BG1zZ0lkAzI3MDgzBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3Z0cGMEc3RpbWUDMTIwNTcxNTA5MAR0cGNJZAMyNzA4Mw-->
> > (1) Reply (via web post)
> > <http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/ptua/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJxdnJvaWc4BF9TAzk3NDkwNDMzBGdycElkAzM2ODcxODgEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzQwMDY0MjI1BG1zZ0lkAzI3MDgzBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3JwbHkEc3RpbWUDMTIwNTcxNTA5MA--?act=reply&messageNum=27083>|
> > Start a new topic
> > <http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/ptua/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlcTFkOTRsBF9TAzk3NDkwNDMzBGdycElkAzM2ODcxODgEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzQwMDY0MjI1BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA250cGMEc3RpbWUDMTIwNTcxNTA5MA-->
> > Messages<http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/ptua/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJldWY1ZThoBF9TAzk3NDkwNDMzBGdycElkAzM2ODcxODgEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzQwMDY0MjI1BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA21zZ3MEc3RpbWUDMTIwNTcxNTA5MA-->|
> > Files<http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/ptua/files;_ylc=X3oDMTJmcHNjYTViBF9TAzk3NDkwNDMzBGdycElkAzM2ODcxODgEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzQwMDY0MjI1BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2ZpbGVzBHN0aW1lAzEyMDU3MTUwOTA->|
> > Photos<http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/ptua/photos;_ylc=X3oDMTJlazgzb2I2BF9TAzk3NDkwNDMzBGdycElkAzM2ODcxODgEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzQwMDY0MjI1BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3Bob3QEc3RpbWUDMTIwNTcxNTA5MA-->|
> > Links<http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/ptua/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJmNTlxcDNoBF9TAzk3NDkwNDMzBGdycElkAzM2ODcxODgEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzQwMDY0MjI1BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2xpbmtzBHN0aW1lAzEyMDU3MTUwOTA->|
> > Database<http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/ptua/database;_ylc=X3oDMTJjNWwxa3JmBF9TAzk3NDkwNDMzBGdycElkAzM2ODcxODgEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzQwMDY0MjI1BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2RiBHN0aW1lAzEyMDU3MTUwOTA->|
> > Calendar<http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/ptua/calendar;_ylc=X3oDMTJkY2V1ZzIzBF9TAzk3NDkwNDMzBGdycElkAzM2ODcxODgEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzQwMDY0MjI1BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2NhbARzdGltZQMxMjA1NzE1MDkw>
> > Public Transport Users Association - www.ptua.org.au
> >
> > Opinions posted are the author's own.
> > [image: Yahoo! Groups]<http://au.groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJkMGtoNnFpBF9TAzk3NDkwNDMzBGdycElkAzM2ODcxODgEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzQwMDY0MjI1BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2dmcARzdGltZQMxMjA1NzE1MDkw>
> > Change settings via the Web<http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/ptua/join;_ylc=X3oDMTJmdjllNDVsBF9TAzk3NDkwNDMzBGdycElkAzM2ODcxODgEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzQwMDY0MjI1BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3N0bmdzBHN0aW1lAzEyMDU3MTUwOTA->(Yahoo! ID required)
> > Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest<ptua-digest at yahoogroups.com.au?subject=Email%20Delivery:%20Digest>| Switch
> > format to Traditional<ptua-traditional at yahoogroups.com.au?subject=Change%20Delivery%20Format:%20Traditional>
> > Visit Your Group
> > <http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/ptua;_ylc=X3oDMTJkdm5jcjVhBF9TAzk3NDkwNDMzBGdycElkAzM2ODcxODgEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzQwMDY0MjI1BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2hwZgRzdGltZQMxMjA1NzE1MDkw>|
> > Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use <http://au.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>| Unsubscribe
> > <ptua-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com.au?subject=>
> >  Visit Your Group
> > <http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/ptua;_ylc=X3oDMTJlcDF0MGswBF9TAzk3NDkwNDMzBGdycElkAzM2ODcxODgEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzQwMDY0MjI1BHNlYwN2dGwEc2xrA3ZnaHAEc3RpbWUDMTIwNTcxNTA5MA-->
> >   Y!7 Toolbar
> >
> > Get it Free!<http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylc=X3oDMTJvOHYycjgxBF9TAzk3NDkwNDMzBF9wAzIEZ3JwSWQDMzY4NzE4OARncnBzcElkAzE3NDAwNjQyMjUEc2VjA25jbW9kBHNsawN0b29sYmFyBHN0aW1lAzEyMDU3MTUwOTA-;_ylg=1/SIG=11f4sktvc/**http%3A//au.toolbar.yahoo.com/%3F.cpdl=ygrps>
> >
> > easy 1-click access
> >
> > to your groups.
> >  Yahoo!7 Groups
> >
> > Start a group<http://au.groups.yahoo.com/start;_ylc=X3oDMTJvZXQyY2pwBF9TAzk3NDkwNDMzBF9wAzMEZ3JwSWQDMzY4NzE4OARncnBzcElkAzE3NDAwNjQyMjUEc2VjA25jbW9kBHNsawNncm91cHMyBHN0aW1lAzEyMDU3MTUwOTA->
> >
> > in 3 easy steps.
> >
> > Connect with others.
> > .
> >
> > __,_._,___
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Pil-pc-oceania mailing list
> > Pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org
> > http://jasper.cmsarchitects.com/mailman/listinfo/pil-pc-oceania
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Fact: To manufacture a 3 tonne car requires 50 tonnes of raw material.
> Fact: In your lifetime you will eat 50 tonnes of food and produce 3 tonnes
> of poo :)
> _______________________________________________
> Pil-pc-oceania mailing list
> Pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org
> http://jasper.cmsarchitects.com/mailman/listinfo/pil-pc-oceania
>
>

-- 
David Arnold
Permaculture Designer
4446 Murchison Rd
Violet Town VIC AUS 3669
03 5798 1679
arnold.vt at gmail.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://jasper.cmsarchitects.com/pipermail/pil-pc-oceania/attachments/20080317/da996a7c/attachment-0001.html 