Watching TED talks is a good way to give you fresh ideas and get you brain juices flowing.
1. A Reality Check on Renewables
Physicist David MacKay takes us through interesting thoughts on the limitations of certain renewable energy sources and how could overcome them and pursue them regardless.
2. A 40 Year Plan for Energy
Another physicist Amory Lovins describes how the US can be oil and coal dependent by 2050. He looks at key opportunities at creating energy efficiency with current technology, such as ones in the transport and building sector, and how to use these monetary savings for future efficiency investments.
3. Transition to a world without oil
In this video, Rob Hopkins reminds us of that the shortcomings of oil, and proposes a way that communities can help each other become independent of it through what he calls the Transition.
4. Using biology to rethink the energy challenge
What happens when you try to solve the energy problem by combining engineering, chemistry and biology? Bioenergy.
5. Salvation (and profit) in greentech
From a different perspective, venture capitalist John Doerr talks about the dire climate situation and how investment in green technology can help.
6. The thrilling potential for off-grid solar energy
The grid is an essential part for accessing energy – or is it? Amar Inamdar talks about how communities without electricity can access it through off-grid solar.
7. High altitude wind energy from kites!
A different kind of wind turbine, Saul Griffiths from Makani power reveals an invention that harnesses wind energy from kites! Currently their prototype has a 600kW capacity.
8. How behavioural science can lower your energy bill
What are the key drivers for people to pay more attention to their energy use? According to Alex Laskey it isn’t money, environment or being model citizens. It’s knowing that your neighbours are doing more than you.
9. The trade-offs of building green
Catherine Mohr talks about how it is sometimes the unexpected things that are the culprit behind energy use, and how paying attention helps.
10. Fusion is energy’s future
To finish off the list, here is an outlook on the potential for fusion energy (how the stars give off so much light and heat) and how that can potentially change the whole energy landscape.
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