1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910493154703321

Autore

Perkins John H.

Titolo

Changing Energy : The Transition to a Sustainable Future / / John H. Perkins

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Berkeley, CA : , : University of California Press, , [2017]

©2017

ISBN

0-520-96284-2

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (365 pages)

Disciplina

333.79/4

Soggetti

Energy consumption

Renewable energy sources

Fossil fuels

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Front matter -- Contents -- Preface -- Prologue -- 1. The Invisible Keystone of the Modern World -- 2. Energy and Energy Services -- 3. Energy and the Modern Nation-State -- 4. Primary Fuels and Energy Efficiency -- 5. Energy Systems -- 6. Climate Change -- 7. Geopolitical Tensions, Health and Environmental Effects, and Depletion -- 8. The Fourth Energy Transition: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy -- 9. Energy Sources: Criteria for Acceptability -- 10. Strengths and Weaknesses of Primary Energy Sources -- 11. Barriers and Challenges -- Epilogue -- Appendix 1. Units for Measuring Energy and Power -- Appendix 2. Production of Heat by Combustion and Fission -- Notes -- Glossary -- Index

Sommario/riassunto

Changing Energy outlines how humanity established the current energy economy through three previous transitions, and how we now stand poised for a necessary fourth transition. Human societies around the globe have received immense benefits from uses of coal, oil, gas, and uranium sources, yet we must now rebuild our energy economies to rely on renewable sources and use them efficiently. The imperative for a fourth energy transition comes from dangers related to climate change, geopolitical tensions, documented health and environmental



effects, and long-term depletion of today's sources. John H. Perkins argues that a future in which current levels of energy service benefits are sustained can come only from investments in the technologies needed to bring about a fourth energy transition. Changing Energy envisions a viable post-fossil fuel economy and identifies the barriers to be overcome.