3 ms·

We are living in the age of efficiency. As population growth slows it's only natural for electricity to as well. We aren't limited by our raw computing power,

by arkis22 10y ago

We are living in the age of efficiency. As population growth slows it's only natural for electricity to as well. We aren't limited by our raw computing power, we're limited by our inability to apply it.

caseysoftware 10y ago
I remember my college desktop and how happy I was when I got a 400W power supply! Now the Mac I travel with that has 100x the processing, storage, etc uses a 85W supply if it's plugged it. If you do that at scale with more efficient everything, it makes sense. Remember when turning off the lights saved money? It was dubious then but with bulbs that use 1/10 the power, it's almost humorous.
- Scoundreller 10y ago
  Ya, that 8 watt LED bulb will cost you $8/year running 24/7 at 10cents/kwh. If it takes 2 seconds to turn it on and off each day, that's 24 minutes a year saved by leaving it on. If your time is worth >$20/hr, consider uninstalling the switch.
  - caseysoftware 10y ago
    And in Austin, energy rates are 1/3 of that. If your light is on 1/3 of the time, we're down to < $1/year. Without any time/value aspects, saving $1/year isn't on anyone's radar.. especially since the AC turning on is going to be much more.
    - fnj 10y ago
      > And in Austin, energy rates are 1/3 of that. Are you saying electricity delivered to the home costs 3 cents/kWh in Austin? I flat out don't believe that. We're paying over 20 cents on Cape Cod. I can believe 10 cents in some areas. 3 cents, sorry; no.
      - caseysoftware 10y ago
        As of December, the Austin Energy rates are 2.8c/kWh at the bottom tier, ranging up to 10.8c/kWh at the top. Once you add all the extra fees and "one time charges" that happen every month, it's more but that's the base. Ref: http://austinenergy.com/wps/portal/ae/residential/rates/residential-electric-rates-and-line-items/!ut/p/a1/jZCxTsMwEEC_pUNGx66j0sAWDAqhLZlIgxdk0mtiybEj-0okvp5ULIBa6G0nvac7PSppTaVV77pVqJ1V5rjLq1fGU_4gGC_yJU9Zlovb1aJ6ms_XbAJevgPlfXnHiqqssnIlWC6SC_0zk7H__McLDnC_EZuWykFhR7TdO1p7CHoHFrUyBAw06HVDvEIIRNkdMdoC0Qh9OPqZfUvSyfewBw8-PvgpTIc4hJuIRWwcx7h1rjUQN66P2CmlcwFp_ZOkWyr_-p4ni9_AibxfwPl-Q_9cf6xhm-J1obPZ7BPxDgh_/dl5/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/ http://austinenergy.com/wps/portal/ae/residential/rates/resi...
Graphon1 10y ago
> As population growth slows it's only natural for electricity to as well. You missed the point. It's not that growth in total energy use is slowing, like growth in population is slowing. The point is that per-capital energy use is _declining_. You can't describe a decline as "slowing growth" with a straight face unless you are a Fox News commentator.

by arkis22 10y ago

caseysoftware 10y ago

I remember my college desktop and how happy I was when I got a 400W power supply! Now the Mac I travel with that has 100x the processing, storage, etc uses a 85W supply if it's plugged it. If you do that at scale with more efficient everything, it makes sense. Remember when turning off the lights saved money? It was dubious then but with bulbs that use 1/10 the power, it's almost humorous.

Scoundreller 10y ago
Ya, that 8 watt LED bulb will cost you $8/year running 24/7 at 10cents/kwh. If it takes 2 seconds to turn it on and off each day, that's 24 minutes a year saved by leaving it on. If your time is worth >$20/hr, consider uninstalling the switch.
- caseysoftware 10y ago
  And in Austin, energy rates are 1/3 of that. If your light is on 1/3 of the time, we're down to < $1/year. Without any time/value aspects, saving $1/year isn't on anyone's radar.. especially since the AC turning on is going to be much more.
  - fnj 10y ago
    > And in Austin, energy rates are 1/3 of that. Are you saying electricity delivered to the home costs 3 cents/kWh in Austin? I flat out don't believe that. We're paying over 20 cents on Cape Cod. I can believe 10 cents in some areas. 3 cents, sorry; no.
    - caseysoftware 10y ago
      As of December, the Austin Energy rates are 2.8c/kWh at the bottom tier, ranging up to 10.8c/kWh at the top. Once you add all the extra fees and "one time charges" that happen every month, it's more but that's the base. Ref: http://austinenergy.com/wps/portal/ae/residential/rates/residential-electric-rates-and-line-items/!ut/p/a1/jZCxTsMwEEC_pUNGx66j0sAWDAqhLZlIgxdk0mtiybEj-0okvp5ULIBa6G0nvac7PSppTaVV77pVqJ1V5rjLq1fGU_4gGC_yJU9Zlovb1aJ6ms_XbAJevgPlfXnHiqqssnIlWC6SC_0zk7H__McLDnC_EZuWykFhR7TdO1p7CHoHFrUyBAw06HVDvEIIRNkdMdoC0Qh9OPqZfUvSyfewBw8-PvgpTIc4hJuIRWwcx7h1rjUQN66P2CmlcwFp_ZOkWyr_-p4ni9_AibxfwPl-Q_9cf6xhm-J1obPZ7BPxDgh_/dl5/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/ http://austinenergy.com/wps/portal/ae/residential/rates/resi...

Graphon1 10y ago

> As population growth slows it's only natural for electricity to as well. You missed the point. It's not that growth in total energy use is slowing, like growth in population is slowing. The point is that per-capital energy use is _declining_. You can't describe a decline as "slowing growth" with a straight face unless you are a Fox News commentator.