Environment & Energy

GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)

46. Sorry - it's actually low energy "transformity" that's the hallmark of low quality.

Mon Feb 18, 2013, 03:39 PM

Feb 2013

Last edited Mon Feb 18, 2013, 04:16 PM - Edit history (1)

In this view, sunlight is the lowest quality energy and and information is the highest. Electricity stands just below information in our current understanding of energy quality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergy

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Stewart Brand: Why Environmentalists Must Accept Nuclear [View all] wtmusic Feb 2013 OP

Brand is not an authority on this topic kristopher Feb 2013 #1

Of course he's an authority... and he absolutely demolished Jacobsen FBaggins Feb 2013 #9

AGREED!! PamW Feb 2013 #23

I also agree. dumbcat Feb 2013 #43

xkcd... gcomeau Feb 2013 #2

nice phantom power Feb 2013 #3

I'm down for that wtmusic Feb 2013 #5

He is 100% correct dbackjon Feb 2013 #4

No, he isn't. kristopher Feb 2013 #6

I will take your disapproval as a sign I am correct dbackjon Feb 2013 #7

Now that's not fair FBaggins Feb 2013 #12

I like a lot of what Brand has to say, but he's wrong about nuclear. diane in sf Feb 2013 #20

H. T. Odum had something to say about situations like this. GliderGuider Feb 2013 #8

Wouldn't it be great if we could maximize power intake wtmusic Feb 2013 #10

I frankly don't think it's possible. GliderGuider Feb 2013 #11

Energy is available to both of us right now wtmusic Feb 2013 #13

Good questions. GliderGuider Feb 2013 #17

I wanted to thank you for your thoughtful answer wtmusic Feb 2013 #19

One of the most cogent posts I've seen in a long while. Thanks. n/t appal_jack Feb 2013 #21

All of us see the world and try to construct a mental analog, wtmusic Feb 2013 #27

I'll make a strong claim for the simplicity of this framework. GliderGuider Feb 2013 #28

I think that's a bit wonky GG. joshcryer Feb 2013 #14

The global economy is expanding. The world population is still growing. GliderGuider Feb 2013 #15

Yeah, that's the paradox of capitalist development, though. joshcryer Feb 2013 #18

I respectfully disagree. GliderGuider Feb 2013 #22

Capitalism required inequitible development globally. joshcryer Feb 2013 #24

How do you get a scenario where every country grows at the same rate? GliderGuider Feb 2013 #25

Smart primitivists realizing private property is a scam. joshcryer Feb 2013 #29

Wishing up scenarios is one thing. Real life is quite another. GliderGuider Feb 2013 #30

There are examples. See the Aka. joshcryer Feb 2013 #31

Remnant low-energy cultures like the Aka, !Kung, Pirahã and Penan GliderGuider Feb 2013 #32

It's hard for me to see how high energy equates authoritarianism. joshcryer Feb 2013 #33

The issue is energy quality, and work GliderGuider Feb 2013 #34

It sucks to be you? wtmusic Feb 2013 #37

Tell it to the laws of thermodynamics. nt GliderGuider Feb 2013 #38

Thermodynamics says nothing about goals wtmusic Feb 2013 #39

OK, how about "ultimate end state"? GliderGuider Feb 2013 #40

How are you defining "waste"? wtmusic Feb 2013 #41

Waste heat = an increase in system disorder = entropy GliderGuider Feb 2013 #42

By the way, thanks for your comment about language. GliderGuider Feb 2013 #44

"low energy density is the primary hallmark of low energy quality" kristopher Feb 2013 #45

Sorry - it's actually low energy "transformity" that's the hallmark of low quality. GliderGuider Feb 2013 #46

Someone, somewhere, will do it cheaper and dirtier with the same energy sources . . . hatrack Feb 2013 #16

Stewart Brand...hadn't heard that name in a while. HooptieWagon Feb 2013 #26

Stewart Brand is a nutjob that makes money bilking RW nutjobs jpak Feb 2013 #35

Thanks for kick wtmusic Feb 2013 #36