Human energy consumption

   by

Torbjörn Skytt

Text by Andreas Willfors

   On Thursday, 11 November 2013, Torbjörn Skytt, a teacher and engineer, presented about human energy consumption. Different countries have different patterns of  energy consumption and lifestyle choices. For example, energy consumption per capita in Sweden is higher than countries like China, but lower than USA. Most categories of consumption are dominated by USA. Also world trade differ largely between countries, but some patterns can be found. Machines are the largest product group being sold between nations. Developing nations are mostly supplying raw material. Countries like Sweden and USA have negative trade balances, importing more than they export, resulting in networks of debts between nations.

   The energy perspective can be used to look at human life, for example sugar consumed can be translated into kilowatt hours. We use 11 kWh to get 0,1 kWh worth of sugar in the form of soft drinks, resulting from the supply chain. Patterns like this result in the  high energy consumption of developed nations.

   Today 1 billion people use half of the total energy produced, while the rest is consumed by the remaining 5,8 billion. Energy usage has constantly increased and still will in the future. How to supply this energy is still an issue, with most energy sources having some inherit problems. Japan has proved it possible to reduce its energy consumption and close down its nuclear reactors. The future development depends cultural patterns in humans. Humans see things differently, resulting from different backgrounds. The increasing energy consumption and related problems call for a paradigm shift.

Torbjörn  Skytt explaining patterns of consumption and debt.