Energy Fact Sheet

The USA consumes 360 million BTUs energy/capita/yr. France 160 million, Germany 172 million, China 29 million, and India 11.8 million.

Total energy consumption in US in 1998 was 94 quadrillion BTUs (Quads). 39% oil, 23% coal, 23% natural gas, 7.4% nuclear, 6.3% hydroelectric, 3.2% wood, under 1% for wind, solar, and geothermal combined. This shows the folly of converting coal and oil to gas and how much work we have to do to develop sustainable energy. Most oil and gas experts believe that the United States Geological Service and the Energy Information Agency are exaggerating gas and oil reserves. It is impossible to know how soon we will run out. When oil runs out it will be a national catastrophe unless we are prepared. We need a long term vision which would protect our grandchildren.

The World consumes about 27 billion barrels oil/yr, US consumes 6.5 billion barrels. The USGS says that world oil may be as much as 2500 billion barrels of oil. There is a group of retired and foreign oil geologists who say that there probably is only 1000 billion barrels left. Presently only Saudi Arabia has the capacity to increase production. In 10 years most of the importable oil left will be in Arab country. Today only about 20% of our imports are coming from the Persian gulf yet they may have as much as 70% of the remaining supply. In 10 years we will be begging for their oil and will face economic ruin because of the prices. World consumption of oil is expected to rise and competition will be fierce.

The USGS has forecast that we have as much as 1800 trillion cuft of gas left yet it is getting harder and harder to find. We have greatly increased number of drilling rigs yet supply has not risen accordingly. Presently we are exporting gas to Mexico and importing about 15% from Canada. Canadian production is falling off. If we have that much gas why is it hard to find new gas and why are we so eager to drill in Alaska? Pipelines from Alaska will not have the carrying capacity to fuel the US. It is costly to liquefy and import gas.

It would take 1200 new nuclear power plants to satisfy US total consumption. Nuclear fission is a non renewable energy. There are limited supplies of ore. Nuclear plants have a limited life. The problems of waste disposal would make it folly to greatly increase production. However we must continue to do research and to build a few new plants each year.

Urban Sprawl, cars, and single family houses are the biggest causes of our excessive energy usage. Long commuting distances, frequent trips to stores, the loss of farmland, and high heating costs for houses are all deadly to mankind.

Because of Global warming and running out of energy it is crucial that we cut our consumption by 50%. The well insulated apartment house is the best energy machine of all. It is important that we integrate energy production with agriculture and dwelling. There is no single source of energy that can supply our future needs. If we cut consumption by 60% and develop 10 quads nuclear, 10 quads biomass, 10 quads coal, 10 quads wind, and 10 quads solar we can probably survive for 200 years. We need to spend $500 billion/year on Planned Communities and solar, wind, and biomass energies. We must plant billions of trees. We must stop building houses and cars. Since we will need every worker, one advantage of energy spending will be full employment.

The Planned Community which integrates dwelling, manufacturing, and agriculture in a group of large well insulated buildings is the only hope for mankind to survive with any sort of comfort. This is the only way that waste heat can be used to the fullest extent. It also is the only way we can reduce transportation needs so that workers can work in both agriculture and manufacturing and get to work on foot or bicycle. In the planned community, sewage can be returned to agriculture.

If you wish to help in saving our grandchildren you must be willing to discuss methods of doing so at great length. Cooperatives must be formed which will build examples of planned buildings and communities. One example would be a senior center planned for maximum conservation of energy. I would like support for the construction of an apartment building devoted to energy research on the former landfill site. There needs to be group action to force the University of Michigan to stop concentrating on sports and concentrate on Sustainability.

We are a totally immoral society because we are killing our own progeny.

Kermit Schlansker PE >kssustain@provide.net/ >http://www.provide.net/~kssustain/

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