Heating

The Arithmetic of Sustainability ← Series Home The initial step in tackling the formidable challenge of moving away from fossil fuels is to calculate precisely the sheer scale of the problem: determining the total energy we consume. The current sustainable energy discourse is often mired in emotion and “twaddle,” obscuring the fundamental numerical challenge ahead. To create viable strategies rather than “pipedreams,” we must quantify our energy use—the “red stack”—and compare it directly against potential sustainable production—the “green stack.” ...

The Arithmetic of Decarburization: A Hard Look at the Energy Revolution ← Series Home The Thermal Sector: A Hidden Giant Heating and cooling buildings accounts for approximately 27.2% of final energy consumption in industrialized nations. In Austria, this amounts to roughly 300 PJ annually—most of it provided by natural gas, oil, and biomass. Unlike transport, where complete decarbonization requires entirely new vehicle technologies, the thermal sector can be addressed through a combination of demand reduction and efficiency improvement. ...