We want it all (cheap energy) and we want it now

Melb International Flower and Garden Show display garden.

Very interesting TV show on our fuel and energy options for the future - 10 bucks a litre produced by Dick Smith who 'hails' himself as both entrepreneur and energy guzzler extraordinaire, and I guess (feeling guilty) wanted to give back by producing this doco.

Some interesting facts and statistics canvassed on the show by Mr Smith were these:  apparently, it costs around $80,000 to finance a domestic solar system that will generate enough power to realistically keep that house in energy and be self-sufficient in to perpetuity. Images were shown of a typical size house roof needing to be literally covered with panels to supply enough energy to enable that house to get off the grid. 

Beyond Zero Emissions have plans for a solar thermal plant, and this immensely dedicated not for profit think tank envisions that Australia's energy needs can reasonably be fulfilled by solar thermal energy. 

A vast majority of Australians are opposed to sourcing our energy from nuclear power, and yet our nation continues to supply overseas countries with uranium for their energy needs!  

Carbon capture is going to be hugely expensive and may not be a viable way of reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the forseeable future. 

A mere 3 kilogrammes of saw dust can be converted in to one litre of crude oil. 

The language of modern generations is very much - We want it all, plus we want more, and we want it now! But be reminded that it's not hugely realistic to want both cheap energy NOW, keep expanding our energy reliant possessions, and not want to have to pay  the price, IN THE FUTURE. 

Ultimately, a show like the one I watched tonight reminds us of the sobering fact that at the outset we as individuals can all reduce our energy usage and thereby reduce the demand we need to make for dirty coal, and oil whose availability is past peak supply.   If we just cut down on the number of gadgets we keep buying - that would help reduce the energy outputs to keep them fired up.