DID YOU KNOW
If the world consumes energy
the way SINGAPORE and US does
the WORLDS' resources is like to finish in NINE years?
The most astonishing fact is that even though the world is aware that our resources is quickly depleting, not many countries are willing to change the way they consume energy or see the urgency to change. Perhaps only when we finally run out of fossil fuels, then will people see the necessity to change and innovate.
The topic of discussion in class this week was about the next industrial revolution. Shifting from our current Unsustainable fossil fuel-based Energy Intensive economy to an Environmentally Sound and Sustainable Clean and Green Approach.
I found the picture above a very good representative of the issues we talked about. Currently, most of our energy source comes from underground, where we dig and mine for coal, petroleum and other resources. Not only is it depleting but the traditional methods have harmed our environment with carbon emissions and destroyed our landscape with all the digging and mining.
As we look towards the future, our main sources of energy are coming from above ground level such as the sun and wind which are resources that we will never run out of! In addition, the sun is able to produce so much energy (3,850,000 EJ) that we only need ONE hour of the sun's energy to meet an entire year's worth of consumption by mankind (600 EJ).
I found it very interesting that Germany is one such country who has taken the lead and invested in solar energy, even though Germany is known to be a country that receives very little sunlight all year round. However, the government gives cash incentives to whoever that is able to generate energy back to the grid. Thus, house owners and farmers have all come together to put up solar panels on buildings, roof tops and even as a farm cage. I think this is definitely a good start as every little bit of energy counts today, especially with the world experiencing depleting fossil fuels.
Thus I thought it was astonishing that Singapore has not thought of using solar energy especially when we receive 1o hours of sunlight a day, all year round! The amount of energy we will be able to provide can feed the entire earth for 10 years in one day. However, the sad truth is people always look merely at the economical benefits. The cost to install solar panels on top of buildings is a hefty sum compared to a few cents needed to burn coal. But what people fail to include into the cost equation is the opportunity cost of taking away the resources of future generations and selfishly leaving the problem to them to face.
As we have learnt in the earlier sessions, Change is inevitable. We should not resist change but embrace it so that we can move forward and develop. We should not be like the Ostrich who keeps its head buried below ground, fixated on our current way of mining for fossil fuels and oblivious to what is happening around it. Instead, we need to be like the eagles who soars high above ground, seeing everything in a wider perspective and look for new technologies that could be even better than what we have.
Because I strongly believe that the new technologies will provide us with a promising future, bringing even greater improvements to our way of life! Just watch this video and you'll see what I mean.
Overall, I really enjoyed this week's class, especially with the additional point of views given by today's special guest, who works in the wind turbine energy industry. I have learnt a great deal from class and give it a 10 out of 10! :) :) :)
Cant wait for more!
Selene :)
I found the picture above a very good representative of the issues we talked about. Currently, most of our energy source comes from underground, where we dig and mine for coal, petroleum and other resources. Not only is it depleting but the traditional methods have harmed our environment with carbon emissions and destroyed our landscape with all the digging and mining.
As we look towards the future, our main sources of energy are coming from above ground level such as the sun and wind which are resources that we will never run out of! In addition, the sun is able to produce so much energy (3,850,000 EJ) that we only need ONE hour of the sun's energy to meet an entire year's worth of consumption by mankind (600 EJ).
I found it very interesting that Germany is one such country who has taken the lead and invested in solar energy, even though Germany is known to be a country that receives very little sunlight all year round. However, the government gives cash incentives to whoever that is able to generate energy back to the grid. Thus, house owners and farmers have all come together to put up solar panels on buildings, roof tops and even as a farm cage. I think this is definitely a good start as every little bit of energy counts today, especially with the world experiencing depleting fossil fuels.
Thus I thought it was astonishing that Singapore has not thought of using solar energy especially when we receive 1o hours of sunlight a day, all year round! The amount of energy we will be able to provide can feed the entire earth for 10 years in one day. However, the sad truth is people always look merely at the economical benefits. The cost to install solar panels on top of buildings is a hefty sum compared to a few cents needed to burn coal. But what people fail to include into the cost equation is the opportunity cost of taking away the resources of future generations and selfishly leaving the problem to them to face.
As we have learnt in the earlier sessions, Change is inevitable. We should not resist change but embrace it so that we can move forward and develop. We should not be like the Ostrich who keeps its head buried below ground, fixated on our current way of mining for fossil fuels and oblivious to what is happening around it. Instead, we need to be like the eagles who soars high above ground, seeing everything in a wider perspective and look for new technologies that could be even better than what we have.
Because I strongly believe that the new technologies will provide us with a promising future, bringing even greater improvements to our way of life! Just watch this video and you'll see what I mean.
Overall, I really enjoyed this week's class, especially with the additional point of views given by today's special guest, who works in the wind turbine energy industry. I have learnt a great deal from class and give it a 10 out of 10! :) :) :)
Cant wait for more!
Selene :)
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