Energy a personal view
Myths,
we will run out of oil, False
This is not strictly correct the oil industry is self balancing, at present we have 40 years current consumption know reserves. When the perceived supply runs short the world market puts the price up per barrel, this enables the oil companies to make profit out of previously difficult to extract oil wells. Most of the world has not been explored as the technology as yet is not available.
Energy is running out. False
We are made of energy the sun is shining on the earth, we get less than 2 billionth of the energy emitted from the sun. 1997 the Culham laboratories recreated fusion for the first time on earth. There is a project in France building an experimental power station. There is no reason that we cannot capture the suns power house of fusion on the earth other than the ingenuity and financial commitment of man.
The energy released by fusion is related E=MC² explained that is energy released E is mass say 1kg times the speed of light squared which is a mighty big number, fusion releases this amount of energy.
Capturing the suns power, wind power, solar cell, solar heating. All uneconomic and sold under false pretenses.
The political system is manipulating the energy market by trying to make these devices economic. The latest financial device is to pay more for the electricity these device generate to make them appear economic. This is subtly transferring wealth from the poor to the rich as how many solar cells and wind mills do you see on council estates. These are the very people who will be paying the extra fuel tax their utility bills, these extra collected funds will be paid out the people who install the wind turbines etc to make them feel green.
Most of these device will never pay for their purchase and installation costs before they will need replacement in 5 years for a Band Q turbine or 30 years for a solar PE cell as installed on the CIS building in Manchester
CO2 causes global warming. False
Hotly discussed is the worlds carbon balance, we are not adding any just releasing the trapped CO2 in fossil fuels, The world remains in carbon balance no matter how much we release. Plants love it and in no time the extra plant life on land and sea created will suppress this rise and absorb the CO2. Measuring a few years is of little use as the system of the earth is too large. Come back in 200 years and Ill listen to your latest propaganda (oh forgot we will all be dead by then)
Getting the best value from your energy.
Firstly compare the cost of your energy usage against other costs within your expenditure budget whether it be home or business. In my case my business turns over £800k and its variable utility costs for electric water and gas are around £4k 0.5% my materials costs are £300k 40% my wage bill is £200k 25% my tax bill for paye ni and vat is £200k 25% so as you can see I don't bother switching the light off turning my pcs off, there are far more important things to focus on like making a profit which keeps people in jobs. A lot of other so called green companies could do well to look inward and focus on profit and not on presented a false green impression.
In your home average couples income £30k ( I am sure it is much higher but I think this is a more representative figure) Typical house energy costs £1.5k 5% annual family holiday £3k 10% car costs £5k inc fuel tax insurance depreciation, wage tax and NI hidden tax of employers NI £10k 33%, so forget energy efficiency focus your efforts on a cheaper car or a cheaper family holiday, better still write to your MP who is conning us all with an ever increasing tax burden.