Human equivalent power: towards an optimum energy level

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1979 · Environment; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00139157.1979.9931176· OSTI ID:5621585

Hafner, E

How much energy would be needed to support the average individual in an efficient technological culture. Present knowledge provides information about minimum dietary power needs; but so far we have not been able to find ways of analyzing other human needs which, in a civilized society, rise far above the power of metabolism. Thus we understand the level at its minimum but not at its optimum. This paper attempts to quantify an optimum power level for civilized society. The author describes a method he uses in seminars to quantify how many servants in units of human equivalent power (HEP) are needed to supply a person in a upper-middle-class lifestyle. Typical seminar participants determine a per-capita power budget of 15 HEPs (perfect servants) would be required. Each human being on earth today is, according to the author, the master of forty slaves; in the U.S., he says, the number is close to 200. He concludes that a highly civilized standard of living may be closely associated with an optimum per capita power budget of 1500 watts; and since the average individual in the U.S. participates in energy turnover at almost ten times the rate he knows intuitively to be reasonable, reformation of American power habits will require reconstruction that shakes the house from top to bottom.

• Research Organization: William Coll., Williamstown, MA
• OSTI ID: 5621585
• Journal Information: Environment; (United States), Vol. 21:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
ENERGY DEMAND
ENERGY ANALYSIS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
ENERGY ACCOUNTING
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
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DEMAND
MANAGEMENT
NORTH AMERICA
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290100* - Energy Planning & Policy- Energy Analysis & Modeling
292000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Supply
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