Swenson's Law
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To avoid deprivation resulting from the exhaustion of non-renewable resources, humanity must employ conservation and renewable resource substitutes sufficient to match depletion.
Anticipating that demand for energy will continue to increase as supplies decline, humanity will adjust by some combination of the following:
- Conservation -- the same life-style accomplished with more energy-efficient
artifacts ... more fuel-efficient cars ...
- Life-Style Change -- a form of conservation: telecommuting instead of commuting ...
back to the land ... living closer to work ...
- Substitution -- using other energy sources to accomplish the
same objectives ... solar power... walking not driving ...
- Deprivation -- just plain doing without ... no more plane trips to
visit the family across the country ... or, more seriously, pestilence ... mass starvation
... war ...
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The Swenson Curve
Figure 1.
This graph depicts possible alternative scenarios for humanity as oil goes into decline over the next few decades.
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Presentations on The Coming Global Energy Crisis and Solar Energy Potential by Ron Swenson
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Which choices will we make? That depends a great deal upon how quickly
we begin preparing for the inevitable. Ron Swenson, publisher and editor of <%=Sitename%> website, has been pushing the envelope to achieve practical clean reliable renewable energy solutions, providing Nurture Capital for ventures such as ...
Substitution
- Development
- EcoVillage real estate development employing renewable, sustainable materials and technologies
- Solar Energy
- ElectroRoof building commercial roofing systems that produce electricity with solar energy
- SolarQuest® MicroSolar Distance Learning Initiative in Bolivia, Galapagos, Peru, Bhutan
- rMeter renewable energy and climate monitoring systems
- Transportation
- KiteTugs large kite-powered modern sailing vessels
- SolarEVolution Practical Solar Utility Vehicles ("SUV's") for deep rural conditions
- Tonatiuh Mexican solar race car
Conservation
- Energy Efficiency
- Transportation
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