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We can’t conserve our way out of this. We have to electrify everything we can, and completely decarbonize our electric grid. To do that, we need to make clean e
by ericd 3y ago
We can’t conserve our way out of this. We have to electrify everything we can, and completely decarbonize our electric grid. To do that, we need to make clean electricity cheaper than fossil electricity, and just as reliable. Spending our focus on trying to convince people to stop consuming energy is a bit counterproductive. Your carbon footprint is almost certainly massive even if you personally use zero electricity, because the supply chain that keeps you alive is extremely carbon intensive. If you run your numbers, I think you’ll find that cars and AC are relatively minor contributors. Heating is much larger for most than either of those, as an example.
- lwansbrough 3y agoIt’s all relative. Relative to your average American suburbanite, my carbon footprint is probably 1/10th or less. I live in the city and walk or bike everywhere. That’s how we get out of this. Not electric cars. Diesel busses and light rail.
- ericd 3y agoIt’s unlikely, since angriculture alone is >1/10, water heating, home heating, manufactured goods, logistics/shipping, steel, and concrete are all major sources. Pretty sure the average family’s direct energy consumption is less than half of their footprint. Passenger cars get a lot of attention, but they’re actually not a large fraction. Concrete alone is a larger source. But yeah, the suburban development plan is obviously terrible.