Earth Sustainable Technology

Author: Hiroshi Komiya
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-02-01
Features: This book elaborates on the role technology can play in achieving sustainable development on Earth. In the first chapter, it explains how the Earth's cycle system formed by solar energy has evolved to its current state and how human activities have disrupted this cycle. Examining the global material cycle reveals that the current development model will lead to an irreparable situation for the Earth in the future. In the second chapter, it describes the current state of energy consumption by humans for material production and daily activities. Especially according to the law of energy conservation, it explains what the depletion crisis of energy that should not decrease actually means and what improving energy utilization efficiency refers to. In the following four chapters, the three basic principles of improving energy utilization efficiency, saturation of artificial products and recycling, and the development of natural energy are elaborated on separately. In Chapter 3, the theoretical limit of energy consumption that technology can achieve is clarified. In Chapter 4, the theory is compared with the reality. In Chapter 5, the path to achieving a material cycle-based society is examined, analyzing and demonstrating from both theoretical and practical perspectives that product production through waste reuse is not only possible but also a way to reduce energy consumption. In Chapter 6, alternative energy sources for depletable fossil resources are explored. Especially based on the characteristics of natural energy, the current status and future prospects of promising technologies are analyzed and looked ahead to. On the basis of the above examination, in Chapter 7, a 2050 vision plan is proposed as a basic plan target for the sustainable development of the Earth. To avoid a tragic situation and to realize the blueprint of a high-efficiency energy system and a recycling and reuse system, it is essential to correctly choose the direction of science and technology. In Chapter 8, to ensure the correctness of the choice, the relationship between society and technology is discussed. This book consists of eight chapters, including: Can Earth Sustainably Develop?, Understanding Energy, The Limits of Energy Saving, Energy-Saving Technologies in Daily Life, Product Manufacturing and Recycling, etc.