In this blog post, we explore whether energy is truly an infinite resource and whether we need to conserve it.
We live using an immense amount of energy unimaginable to past generations. Compared to the past, we now consume energy in quantities that could be called an ‘ocean of energy’. A situation where available energy becomes scarce would hardly be a desirable scenario for humanity.
Yuval Noah Harari argues in his book ‘Sapiens’ that the universe contains an infinite number of energy sources, and what we need is the technology to process them into forms we can use efficiently. He cites the Industrial Revolution and the Scientific Revolution as evidence for this claim. Previously, humanity relied on food as an energy source to perform work through the body. Although numerous energy sources existed, humanity could not find ways to harness them solely through the body. However, the invention of the steam engine enabled the operation of countless machines previously unimaginable. With scientific progress, we now extract and utilize energy from electricity and even invisible atomic nuclei. Thus, Harari believes the infinite advancement of science and technology will provide us with endless energy.
But if energy is truly infinite, why do we constantly emphasize the need to conserve energy in our daily lives and strive to practice it? Is energy really so limitless that we needn’t worry about it?
My answer is “No.” Take oil, for instance. Countless things we use in our lives are derived from oil. Petroleum refers to liquid hydrocarbons naturally formed underground or their refined products, which can also be interpreted as being confined within the limits of Earth itself. In other words, petroleum is a resource with a finite total quantity. The notion that this finite energy source can be used infinitely is an optimistic idea that ignores reality. In fact, both the production and consumption of petroleum are increasing by billions of tons annually. This increasing consumption will lead to resource depletion, imposing significant constraints on our lives.
Some might suggest developing a substitute for petroleum. However, finding a resource that can perfectly replace petroleum, exists naturally, possesses sufficient reserves to meet current demand, and is easy to utilize is practically impossible. Therefore, we must create artificial substitutes. This process, however, consumes other resources, ultimately leading to a cyclical depletion of resources. There is no way to avoid the problem of energy and resource depletion.
Furthermore, some might argue that the problem could be solved by utilizing solar energy more effectively. Yet, current technology also relies on capturing sunlight to generate power. Even with technological advancement, it remains questionable whether alternatives beyond light absorption exist. Beyond this, various technologies like renewable energy and nuclear fusion energy are being developed. However, renewable energy has lower efficiency compared to other technologies. New energy sources also cannot provide infinite raw materials. Nuclear fusion energy, which is gaining attention as a next-generation energy source, carries radiation risks and cannot operate continuously for extended periods with current technology, requiring significant development time.
The amount of resources and energy consumed by humans is gradually increasing year by year. Most of the scientific and technological advancements to come will also require energy. Considering the ever-increasing energy usage and the steadily decreasing energy reserves, the outcome is clear. Humanity will reach this singularity point in the not-too-distant future, and avoiding it will be difficult without revolutionary technological progress. So, what is the best course of action for us?
Frankly, in a situation where energy is finite, whatever we do, we must live by consuming energy; this is an inescapable reality. Therefore, the actions we must take are not numerous. First, a conscious reform is necessary. Modern people live wasting energy in what seems like an infinitely vast sea of energy. When these individual wasteful habits accumulate, the total consumption becomes impossible to ignore. To prevent this, we must constantly maintain awareness about energy conservation. We shouldn’t just keep this knowledge in our heads; we must put it into practice to make it embodied knowledge.
Second, we need to advance energy-saving technologies. If energy consumption is inevitable, we need technologies to minimize that consumption and to regenerate some of the energy we use. Examples in the construction field include passive houses, zero-energy houses, plus-energy houses, and low-energy houses. There is also a technology called Ecopath, which utilizes pressure-activated generators installed in roadways to generate electricity from the pressure created when vehicles drive over them.
Finally, inventing new technologies. While I previously mentioned new technologies negatively, this was a critique of the attitude of relying solely on new technologies and living with overly optimistic thinking. Of course, these technologies do not promise eternal energy production, but they can advance techniques that extend the limits of available energy by discovering useful energy sources or identifying areas for savings within existing technologies. If such technologies are realized, humanity could, at the extreme, postpone the time that could lead to its extinction.
Humanity has built modern society through endless revolutions and progress. Living lives more affluent and technologically advanced than the past, we might be too complacent, turning a blind eye to the looming major problems. Even looking at myself, while I have the mindset to conserve energy, I often find it bothersome to practice it or simply forget. After reading ‘Sapiens’ and reflecting on energy issues, I realized this problem is more serious than I had thought. Through this opportunity, I resolved to adopt the mindset of conserving energy, even if it’s just me, and to live a life practicing it.
