You need JavaScript to view this

Energy and society. [Effects of energy development on natural and societal environments]

Abstract

It is now clear that quality of life, material welfare, health, employment, and income are affected by energy availability and cost and there is no return to the cheap abundant energy of the past. This paper examines the feasibility of adjusting our energy systems so that we simultaneously decrease unemployment, costs, dependence on foreign resources, undesirable effluents and impacts on the biosphere. The major societal effects of energy systems developed by man can be related to four predominant technical sectors: first, the use of work animals; second, the direct conversion into mechanical work of inanimate stored solar energy (hydropower, wood, farm waste, and fossil fuels); third, the use of electricity as an energy form derived from these sources; and fourth, the use of nuclear energy as a primary source. Since the past and potential impacts of these developments are so many, only a few are explored here - chiefly those relationships of energy flow to the societal materialistic targets of health, security, social stability, upward mobility, and leisure. The traditional target of economic growth may be one of best composite means of achieving all of these materialistic goals, thus, industrial growth has been a prime objective. Other contributors to social  More>>
Authors:
Publication Date:
Apr 01, 1976
Product Type:
Journal Article
Reference Number:
EPA-; ERA-01-013439; EDB-76-048065
Resource Relation:
Journal Name: Aware; (United Kingdom); Journal Volume: 67; Other Information: Presented at the Hoots Lecture Series, Stanford University, Stanford, California
Subject:
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY; ENERGY; ENERGY POLICY; ENERGY SUPPLIES; MANAGEMENT; ENVIRONMENT; AVAILABILITY; COST; ECOLOGY; ECONOMICS; EFFICIENCY; ENERGY CONSERVATION; ENERGY CONSUMPTION; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS; INCOME; OCCUPATIONS; PUBLIC HEALTH; SECURITY; SOCIOLOGY; GOVERNMENT POLICIES; 292000* - Energy Planning & Policy- Supply, Demand & Forecasting; 293000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Policy, Legislation, & Regulation; 290300 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment, Health, & Safety; 530100 - Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies- Social & Economic Studies- (-1989)
OSTI ID:
7193831
Research Organizations:
Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA
Country of Origin:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Journal ID: CODEN: AWAEB
Submitting Site:
TIC
Size:
Pages: 2-5
Announcement Date:
Jun 01, 1976

Citation Formats

Starr, C. Energy and society. [Effects of energy development on natural and societal environments]. United Kingdom: N. p., 1976. Web.
Starr, C. Energy and society. [Effects of energy development on natural and societal environments]. United Kingdom.
Starr, C. 1976. "Energy and society. [Effects of energy development on natural and societal environments]." United Kingdom.
@misc{etde_7193831,
title = {Energy and society. [Effects of energy development on natural and societal environments]}
author = {Starr, C}
abstractNote = {It is now clear that quality of life, material welfare, health, employment, and income are affected by energy availability and cost and there is no return to the cheap abundant energy of the past. This paper examines the feasibility of adjusting our energy systems so that we simultaneously decrease unemployment, costs, dependence on foreign resources, undesirable effluents and impacts on the biosphere. The major societal effects of energy systems developed by man can be related to four predominant technical sectors: first, the use of work animals; second, the direct conversion into mechanical work of inanimate stored solar energy (hydropower, wood, farm waste, and fossil fuels); third, the use of electricity as an energy form derived from these sources; and fourth, the use of nuclear energy as a primary source. Since the past and potential impacts of these developments are so many, only a few are explored here - chiefly those relationships of energy flow to the societal materialistic targets of health, security, social stability, upward mobility, and leisure. The traditional target of economic growth may be one of best composite means of achieving all of these materialistic goals, thus, industrial growth has been a prime objective. Other contributors to social development have been greater productivity in agriculture, improved transportation and communications, and shorter working hours. Two main topics discussed are: The Industrialization of Society and Food, Population, and Energy. (MCW)}
journal = []
volume = {67}
journal type = {AC}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {1976}
month = {Apr}
}