77 Billion litres of fuel to burn lamps and candles

[pietpetoors]

I was sent a link to an interesting article.
The stats make you think twice about using anything else than electricity to make light (LEDs and solar the best)

According to studies conducted by Mills and his colleagues at the Berkeley Laboratory at the University of California, this "dirty light" consumes 77 billion liters of fuel worldwide, costing its predominantly impoverished end-users a total of $38 billion annually.

And

If a single kerosene lantern burns for an average of four hours a day it emits over 100kg of CO2 a year, says Mills. "The combustion of fuel for lighting consequently results in 190 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to one-third the total emissions from the UK,"

From:
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/10/tech/ ... hpt=hp_bn9" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[george]

Jeez.Thats quite a lot.
But it makes sense

its predominantly impoverished end-users

Unfortunately it is cheaper to go and buy a liter off paraffin although it will cost you more in the long run

[pietpetoors]

In the end most predominantly impoverished end-users get it for free because other people worries what will happen to the world (like solar geysers in South Africa)

Parafin is not that cheap anymore either, I think within 8 months or less of use a little solar LED light would be cheaper, cleaner and saver

[george]

Unfortunately a lot has to do with educating the masses. they dont know what an LED light is.

[Mr_B]

Well I'm sure the guys doing the study have all the right answers, but often people forgot that using "energy-saving" devices just transfers the point at which the pollution is created! An electric car might not use petrol, but to recharge requires electricity which is produced at power stations, which, in SA's case, use coal extensively! Burning coal generates extremely high volumes of hazardous emission! So until the green sources of electricity are found, we are fighting a losing battle!

What a lot of people also aren't aware of is that the production of solar panels is a messy polluting business itself! Read here: http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2008/03/ ... ide-o.html

Hopefully in the short term the clever okes can come up with more efficient panels that are produced in a greener way!

[george]

Well I'm sure the guys doing the study have all the right answers, but often people forgot that using "energy-saving" devices just transfers the point at which the pollution is created! An electric car might not use petrol, but to recharge requires electricity which is produced at power stations, which, in SA's case, use coal extensively! Burning coal generates extremely high volumes of hazardous emission! So until the green sources of electricity are found, we are fighting a losing battle!

What a lot of people also aren't aware of is that the production of solar panels is a messy polluting business itself! Read here: http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2008/03/ ... ide-o.html

Hopefully in the short term the clever okes can come up with more efficient panels that are produced in a greener way!

You sound like Jeremy Clarkson But i get your point

[Mr_B]

You sound like Jeremy Clarkson But i get your point

At least I don't look like him!

[pietpetoors]

Bretton, I am with you. We all are on the solar panel, wind charger and battery bandwagon now, but soon the minerals used to produce those items will also be extinct. At least the material in a battery can last for a year or two and can then get recycled but the oil you burn in a lamp only lasts for a split second and can nether be re-used.

If a wind charger packs up you can recycle the copper and other metals and use it as part to build the next one.
So in the end we might be slightly better of.

[Mud Dog]

You sound like Jeremy Clarkson But i get your point

At least I don't look like him!

I bet he's very happy about that fact too!

[pietpetoors]

Who is Jeremy Clarkson ? At least I know who Mr B is!

[Mud Dog]

Don't you get a TV signal in Langebaan?

[george]

Who is Jeremy Clarkson ? At least I know who Mr B is!

He is a street racer from die flatse

Don't you get a TV signal in Langebaan?

only sunbeams and wind

[pietpetoors]

Don't you get a TV signal in Langebaan?

Eish no, I watch Forum not TV

[Mr_B]

I believe satellite transmission still doesn't cover Langebaan... something about maintain the satellite backout around the navil base!

[Mr_B]

Who is Jeremy Clarkson ? At least I know who Mr B is!

He is a street racer from die flatse

Who? Mr B or Jerome Klerkies?

[george]

Who is Jeremy Clarkson ? At least I know who Mr B is!

He is a street racer from die flatse

Who? Mr B or Jerome Klerkies?

if the shoe fits Mr V6

[Mr_B]

Who is Jeremy Clarkson ? At least I know who Mr B is!

He is a street racer from die flatse

Who? Mr B or Jerome Klerkies?

if the shoe fits Mr V6

No no... I drive the V6 like a very old man... swambo actually finds it a little annoying! You know how expensive that fuel stuff are! :wth: