Energy For Everyone
Energy For Everyone
October 14, 2011 by Taylor Studios
There are a lot of different ways to picture our world, but the one I have in my mind right now is a map of energy. A map of energy that shows who produces it, who consumes it, and who needs it. We don’t even notice the basic uses of energy, like lighting and climate control in our homes, keeping food cold, or moving us from place to place. It’s the daily, in-your-hand uses that have exploded in just the past ten years. From cell phones to laptops, iPods to tablets, we depend upon easy access to energy just to function. The US and western Europe set the bar for how to live a high-energy-consumption lifestyle, while most Africans and Indians have to make do with an energy consumption level that would leave an American feeling like he was camping in the wilderness.
This could lead into a “shrink your carbon footprint!” rant, but I will instead say that the coolest “green” technology I have read about isn’t meant for me. It’s meant for the energy-poor. I’m talking about the composting toilet that allows people to harvest methane for biogas, while creating compost to energize tired soil. The solar-charged lamps that allow people with no electricity grid to keep functioning after sunset. The , which keeps food cool without electricity. The tree watering container that could help reduce erosion in desert areas. These technologies are what prove to me that we can improve the lives of millions of people without destroying our ecosystem. You may have heard that there is much better cell phone service in sub-Saharan Africa than old-fashioned landlines. It makes so much sense. And that dependable connection has improved the lives and economies of so many people. Should we deny someone else what we consider required for daily life? I’m not talking about Blu-Ray players, SUVs, or a TV in every room. I’m talking about light, heat, a dry roof, and connecting to your world. Oh, OK, and maybe Angry Birds.