2008 Woodie Awards
A new world of energy
Convocation discusses important issues concerning the world
Dawn Hughes
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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Energy conservation is a leading topic in environmentalism. John Anderson presented a convocation lecture on that topic Tuesday, Oct. 9. He discussed where our energy comes from and what can be done to reduce the amount of energy that is wasted. The theme of his lecture can be summed up in this phrase: think big, create small.
Anderson also talked about the effect our energy use is having on the environment. According to Anderson's slides, out of the carbon-dioxide being released into the atmosphere "Forty-two percent is from transportation and 40 percent is from generating electricity."
He emphasized the fact that the rising cost of oil does not affect the cost of electricity because they come from two different sources.
One of the examples he gave, which is imperative to many college students, is the cost of gas. "Eighty-seven percent of fuel energy is wasted and three-fourths of fuel use is weight related," Anderson said. The solution is to make ultra light cars out of carbon composites. These cars are just as safe as, if not safer than, the cars we drive now, and they waste far less gas.
When one student asked about the possibility of running out of oil, Anderson said, "We will have oil definitely for the rest of my life and probably for the rest of yours, but can we afford to burn that oil economically and environmentally?"
The practical application of all that Anderson talked about is about saving energy and finding new forms of energy. Finding more effective ways of wiring, plumbing, and designing automotives saves energy, and the more energy we save the less carbon dioxide is expelled into the atmosphere.
Anderson also talked about the effect our energy use is having on the environment. According to Anderson's slides, out of the carbon-dioxide being released into the atmosphere "Forty-two percent is from transportation and 40 percent is from generating electricity."
He emphasized the fact that the rising cost of oil does not affect the cost of electricity because they come from two different sources.
One of the examples he gave, which is imperative to many college students, is the cost of gas. "Eighty-seven percent of fuel energy is wasted and three-fourths of fuel use is weight related," Anderson said. The solution is to make ultra light cars out of carbon composites. These cars are just as safe as, if not safer than, the cars we drive now, and they waste far less gas.
When one student asked about the possibility of running out of oil, Anderson said, "We will have oil definitely for the rest of my life and probably for the rest of yours, but can we afford to burn that oil economically and environmentally?"
The practical application of all that Anderson talked about is about saving energy and finding new forms of energy. Finding more effective ways of wiring, plumbing, and designing automotives saves energy, and the more energy we save the less carbon dioxide is expelled into the atmosphere.
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