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OKIsItJustMe

(21,207 posts)
21. Once again, you need to start somewhere
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 07:29 PM
Jan 2013

There is a large group of people who point to “Jevons’ Paradox” to “prove” that energy conservation is counter-productive.

There is also a large number of people who would like to use more energy per capita than they are presently using (e.g. the Chinese.)

Now, you can wave your hands, and shout “Look at all the coal they’re using!” or you you can be grateful that they’re adopting renewables faster than we have in “the West.”

http://www.solidiance.com/whitepaper/china-renewable.pdf



[font face=Serif][font size=5]The Importance of Renewable Energy to China[/font]

[font size=3]The use of renewable energy is an increasingly hot topic and important issue in China.

In the face of the problems of climate change, greenhouse gas emissions and oil prices rising, the public has come to realize the importance of developing renewable energy. More and more people opt for green travel or low-carbon life-styles and the public media has been increasing its coverage and publicity of the development of low carbon technology and renewable energy.
– Liu Mingliang, Analyst, China Wind Energy Association


According to Solidiance analysis, there are 3 key drivers behind the continued interest in renewable energy in China:
  1. China’s increasing demand for electricity.
  2. China’s need to reduce its reliance on coal for energy production
  3. China’s need to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

[/font][/font]

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I guess we should try to make sure that any money savings from cheaper energy limpyhobbler Jan 2013 #1
True belivers in “Jevons’ Paradox” will tell you that such efforts would fail OKIsItJustMe Jan 2013 #2
It seems like more of an abstract philosophy question that a real world problem. limpyhobbler Jan 2013 #3
"It's not a natural law..." NoOneMan Jan 2013 #10
Preach it, brother! GliderGuider Jan 2013 #11
As long as there are people with unfulfilled needs and wants The2ndWheel Jan 2013 #4
And there we have it! (A true believer!) OKIsItJustMe Jan 2013 #6
Thanks for taking out my qualifying statements to make your point The2ndWheel Jan 2013 #24
No energy has yet been conserved. In this example we just have more consumption NoOneMan Jan 2013 #9
How about addressing the Nature article linked to by the OP? OKIsItJustMe Jan 2013 #12
I did. Its based on a false premise NoOneMan Jan 2013 #14
Did you actually read the Nature article? OKIsItJustMe Jan 2013 #17
This paper is akin to analyzing genetic drift in unicorn populations NoOneMan Jan 2013 #18
So, is that a yes? OKIsItJustMe Jan 2013 #19
I don't think you understand that I am not arguing about the red herring NoOneMan Jan 2013 #20
Once again, you need to start somewhere OKIsItJustMe Jan 2013 #21
"There is a large group of people who point to..." NoOneMan Jan 2013 #23
Invoking Jevons misses the point GliderGuider Jan 2013 #5
Except, that /it is all about Jevons…/ OKIsItJustMe Jan 2013 #7
I do things out of a wide variety of personal concerns GliderGuider Jan 2013 #8
“The point of making things more efficient is to allow the whole system to keep growing.” OKIsItJustMe Jan 2013 #13
It's not simply an article of faith. GliderGuider Jan 2013 #15
"This is an article of faith for you, but not necessarily true." NoOneMan Jan 2013 #16
At the age of 60 madokie Jan 2013 #22
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»The 'rebound' effect of e...»Reply #21