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Soft energy path

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	Topics Soft energy path Topic Home In 1976 Amory LovinsAmory Lovins Amory Bloch Lovins was trained in physics and has worked professionally as an environmentalist.... coined the term "soft path" to describe an alternative future where efficiency and appropriate renewable energyEnergy In general, the concept of energy refers to "the potential for causing changes." The word is used in several different conte... sources steadily replace a centralized energy system based on fossil and nuclear fuels. Soft vs Hard As physicist/consultant/lobbyist Amory Lovins describes it, the "hard energy path" (with which the soft path contrasts) is based on the assumption that the more energy we use the better off we are. It involves inefficient liquid-fuelLiquid fuels Liquid fuels are those combustible or energy-generating molecules that can be harnessed to create mechanical energy, usually... automotive transport, as well as giant, centralized electricity-generating facilities, often burning fossil fuels (e.g., coalCoal Coal is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground by underground mining or open-pit mining .... or petroleumPetroleum Petroleum or crude oil is a black, dark brown or greenish liquid found in porous rock formations in the earth.... ) or harnessing a nuclear fissionNuclear fission For the generation of electrical power by fission, see Nuclear power plant... reaction (see nuclear powerNuclear power Nuclear power is the controlled use of nuclear reactions to release energy for work including propulsion, heat, and the gen... ). The hard path is not simply a matter of energy sources, though, because it is greatly augmented and complicated by wastage and loss of electricity and other common, directly usable forms of energy. The "soft energy path" assumes that energy is but a means to social ends, and is not an end in itself. Soft energy paths involve efficient use of energy, diversity of energy production methods (matched in scale and quality to end uses), and special reliance on co-generation and "soft technologies" (i.e., alternative technologyAlternative technology Alternative technology is a term coined by Peter Harper, one of the founders of the Centre for Alternative Technology, N Wal... ) such as solar energy, wind energy, biofuelBiofuel Biofuel is any fuel that is derived from biomass recently living organisms or their metabolic byproducts, such as manure fr... s, geothermal energy, etc. Soft energy technologies Soft energy technologies (appropriate renewables) have five defining characteristics (Lovins, 1977). They (1) rely on renewable energyRenewable energy Overview Renewable energy sources, or RES, capture their energy from existing flows of energy, from on-going natural processe... resources, (2) are diverse and designed for maximum effectiveness in particular circumstances, (3) are flexible and relatively simple to understand, (4) are matched to end-use needs in terms of scale, and (5) are matched to end-use needs in terms of quality. Residential solar energy technologies are prime examples of soft energy technologies and rapid deployment of simple, energy conserving, residential solar energy technologies is fundamental to a soft energy strategy. Active residential solar technologies use special devices to collect and convert the sun's rays to useful energy and are located near the users they supply. Passive residential solar technologies involve the natural transfer (by radiation, convection and conduction) of solar energy without the use of mechanical devices. Lovins argued that besides environmental benefits, global political stresses might be reduced by Western nations committing to the soft energy path. In general, soft path impacts are seen to be more "gentle, pleasant and manageable" than hard path impacts. These impacts range from the individual and household level to those affecting the very fabric of society at the national and international level (see Lovins, 1977). Implementation Facts have validated some of Lovins' assertions. While U.S. federal commitments in the energy field have varied and no ongoing, official resolve to adhere to the soft energy path has been made at the national level, in the Winter 1998 edition of the Whole Earth CatalogWhole Earth Catalog *The Whole Earth Catalog* was a sizeable catalog published twice a year from 1968 to 1972, and occasionally thereafter, un... , Amory Lovins pointed out that choices made by industry and citizens had resulted in a national energy use curve just slightly lower than the levels he had projected for the U.S. 'soft energy path' in 1976. In this sense, the success of the soft energy path for the country exceeded expectation, and there has been a renewed interest in the soft energy path due to the recent popularization of "peak oilPeak oil Peak oil is the point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is reached, after which the rate of produ... " theories. At the same time, proponents of renewable energyRenewable energy Overview Renewable energy sources, or RES, capture their energy from existing flows of energy, from on-going natural processe... sources complain that the fraction of energy derived from renewable sources has declined slightly in a number of nations (though grown slightly in others) if, say, the years 1985 and 1994 are compared. Still, some proponents put much hope in the commercial emergence of hydrogen fuel cellFuel cell A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device.... s, which appear to have possibilities as an efficient energy-storage method. The utilization of both windWind power Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into more useful forms, usually electricity using wind turbines.... and solar powerSolar power Solar power is the technology of obtaining usable energy from the light of the Sun.... is generally predicted to grow significantly, and is already doing so in many regions. Further, the European Commission of 1997 predicted a significant growth in all of the main sources of renewable electricity generation except hydro-electric by 2010 (see renewable energy developmentRenewable energy development newable energy development covers the advancement, capacity growth, and use of renewable energy sources by humans.... ). One criticism leveled at decentralized energy technologies is that, generally, the large, centralized methods produce energy much more efficiently than small, distributed plants. The energy decentralists counter that this is a generalization, that new developments are in the works, and even today there are sometimes exceptions (see the discussion in the renewable energyRenewable energy Renewable energy sources, or RES, capture their energy from existing flows of energy, from on-going natural processe... article). In Lovins' analysis, large-scale electricity production facilities have an important place, but it is a place that they were already filling by the mid-1970s. At that time, Lovins felt that more centralized, large-scale "conventional" energy production facilities would not generally be needed . Transitional strategy The following transitional strategy to a soft energy path has been proposed: Double the efficiency of oil utilization, mainly through improved vehicle design (the development of improved hybrid cars, ultralight designs, and streamlined large transport vehicles). Apply creative business models which focus on certain advanced technologies and lightweight materials. Substitute 25% of U.S. oil needs via a major domestic biofuels industry, which could result in an economic boost for the rural regions that would supply the plant material for biofuels. Make natural gas again abundant and affordable through wider utilization of well-established efficiency techniques. See also Action on climate changeAction on climate change The issue of human-caused, or anthropogenic, climate change is becoming a central focus of the Green movement.... CogenerationCogeneration Cogeneration is the use of a heat engine or a power station to simultaneously generate both electricity and useful heat.... EarthshipEarthship Earthships are earth-sheltered autonomous buildings made of tires rammed with earth, which are usually arranged in a "U" or ... Energy demand managementFacts About Energy demand management Energy demand management is often referred to also as demand side management.... Energy Tax ActEnergy Tax Act The Energy Tax Act was a law passed by the U.S.... Green politicsGreen politics Green politics is a body of political ideas informed by environmentalism aimed at developing a sustainable society.... Green tax shift National Energy Conservation Policy ActNational Energy Conservation Policy Act The National Energy Conservation Policy Act of 1978 is a U.S.... Negawatt PowerNegawatt power Negawatt power is a term coined for an arbitrage way of supplying additional electrical energy to consumers without increase... New UrbanismNew urbanism About new urbanismNew urbanism is an urban design movement whose popularity increased beginning in the 1980s and early 1990... Nuclear energy policyNuclear energy policy Nuclear energy policy is a policy concerning all aspects of nuclear energy, such as mining, enrichment and storage of burned... Proposed oil phase-out in SwedenOil phase-out in Sweden In 2005 the Swedish government announced their intention to become the first country to break their country's dependence on oil an... Self-sufficient homesSelf-sufficient homes A self-sufficient house is one that operates without need for external electricity, natural gas, sewage, or other utilities.... Soft energy technologies Tom BenderTom Bender Tom Bender began to make his mark in the early 1970s as an architect, author, and strategic planner.... Bibliography Amory B. Lovins, Soft Energy Paths: Toward a Durable Peace, Penguin Books, 1977. Morrison, D.E., and Lodwick D.G. (1981). "The social impacts of soft and hard energy systems", Annual Review of Energy, 6, 357-378. External links