Earth Hour is Pointless

The hard part is finding solutions. This requires the dull, hard work of engineering and testing, and incur real, significant costs to implement solutions or changes. This is the part where I see value, and the reason I think Earth Hour is pointless. I’m already “aware” of the problem of generating sustainable electrical power growing world demand. While reduction of usage is a nice sentimentality, it is impractical and unlikely to work. The world needs more, clean sources of energy.

Real Solutions

Finding clean sources of energy has not been easy. From a power plant perspective, wind and solar power have low yield for the size of acreage needed, hydro power is very location specific (I really don’t care if some wildlife lose their nests as a result of flooding), and nuclear results in hazardous byproducts.

Rather than looking at the source, investigating untapped possibilities at the destination would yield greater benefits. Updating ordinary homes to use solar panels or geothermal would reduce the overall demand on the power grid. Adding energy efficient windows, doors and appliances, and sensible recycling of water use are all part of the larger plan to make individual homes more efficient and self sustaining. As with any “real” solution, these benefits come at a higher cost to the homeowner than simple “awareness.” Government incentives may help mitigate the costs, but that would take serious policy, clear-headed initiatives (and cash) from governments. The strategy of making homes mini-power generating stations could be extended to larger buildings. Some new condo buildings are already using innovative solutions for recycling rainwater and heat distribution. Geothermal power generation could also be useful on these larger scale buildings.

Most factories consume a lot of power, and generate a lot of heat in the manufacturing process. Properly engineered, this waste heat can be redirected into powering steam turbines, meaning factories could generate their own energy needs. Currently there is little incentive or drive from factory owners or engineers to design such factories, though a few retrofitting projects have been completed successfully. The problem is more a lack of drive and vision than technical.  

Conclusion

The solutions I am proposing all require large amounts of capital, investment, clear headed government policy, and accountability. As such, I am resigned to see them fail to take hold given the limitations and short sightedness of human nature. So I am resigned to complaining about empty acts of symbolism while the real solutions are too expensive or complex for the world or an individual to implement.