Although technology change (usually involving an improvement in energy efficiency) is not inherently a geographic process, it does not occur uniformly over geographic space. Consequently, mathematical modeling and behavioral and innovation diffusion studies by geographers have improved our understanding of the pervasive phenomenon of technology energy efficiency change in energy markets. Similarly, creative government policies in Germany since 1990 have led to a faster rate of adoption of renewable energy sources, compared to the United States. (more…)
In this new century, there is considerable pressure on the top six automakers to reduce their environmental and ecological footprint calculation. The automaker that wins the race to build and sell the superior car will shape consumer preferences, thereby boosting sales and profits. The winning firm will fashion a corporate strategy that drives automobile emissions to near zero while simultaneously providing high levels of performance, safety, and comfort. (more…)
As a reaction to these historical perspectives, the building industry has witnessed a certain rise in design responses to regional climatic conditions, as part of a powerful efficiency and energy conservation push since the 1970s. More recently, the zero green house gas emsission and office building has become a design concept as part of strategies to introduce urban renewable energy as an increasing contributor to managing urban energy supplies. (more…)
The age of industrialization came into full force through the modern exploration and use of fossil fuels. As one of its most striking phenomena, the rapid expansion of cities throughout the late 19th and the 20th centuries was a direct outcome of the fossil fuel energy economy as well. (more…)
Do we have the resources? Rudolf Diesel developed the diesel engine which ran on biodiesel vegetable oil in the late 1800s. At the time, he speculated that his discovery seemed insignificant, but later could prove to be as important as mankind’s uncovering of future energy uses for petroleum and coal tar. Given the U.S.’ rapid expansion into biofuels, it would appear his vision was correct due to the drawbacks of biofuels. But widespread adoption of biomass-based fuels is not a foregone conclusion. Two questions haunt its progress. First, will it truly reduce U.S. reliance on fossil fuels? And second, is there enough farmland to accommodate widespread production, without jeopardizing food supplies? (more…)
The relationship of gross national product per capita to energy consumption per capita for most countries of the world correlates very well with the status of economic and technological development. The World Bank defines developing countries as low-and middle-income countries for which the annual gross national product is $5999 or less per capita (World Bank, 1989; U.S. Congress, 1991). (more…)
Coal is an important energy source and energy consumption in United States as well as worldwide. It will remain so for many years particularly in many developing countries. Fossil fuels stay as the main energy sources to the U.S. economy, but we can not ignore the importance of coal for decades. Coal production provides the price stability and will continue to be an significant source for electricity generation. Coal utilization is the major source of hydrogen in the coming hydrogen-based energy economy and it will be a crucial source of gas to liquid process of fuels energy.
Coal utilization and the importance of coal as source of energy industry perspective will change over time. (more…)
World energy use has increased steadily over the past several decades. Much of the growth in world energy consumption has been concentrated on the use of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal). This trend is expected to continue over the foreseeable future. Industrially mature nations will continue to rely on fossil fuels to meet their energy needs for all end uses, but the greatest rate of energy use is projected to occur in the emerging economies of the developing world. (more…)