249-Energy Return on Investment: A Critical Problem for Modern Efforts to Meet the Climate Challenge
Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
Energy return on investment (EROI) refers to the energy available for consumption after accounting for the energy required to produce energy. For example, energy is required to operate oil drilling equipment. Therefore, the total energy available for consumption is the energy required minus the energy produced. This is important because modern energy sources require an ever increasing amount of energy to function. Therefore, the energy available to consumers is reducing, even though absolute energy production increases. There are differing perspectives about solutions to modern environmental problems. The Green Growth perspective argues that we can move to non-fossil fuel alternatives and maintain our present lifestyles. However, the Degrowth perspective argues that EROI and other considerations make Green Growth impractical. Specifically, alternative, non fossil fuel sources of energy have high EROI values because they require a lot of energy to produce energy.Therefore, the EROI perspective suggests that society should think in terms of degrowth instead of continued growth. This could mean decreases in the quality of life, particularly for affluent Americans. However, this is not necessarily the case; some research suggests that happiness will be higher in a non-growth, less materialistic society. This poster will expand on these arguments and review theory and data suggesting that the Degrowth alternative can offer an environmentally plausible solution to the climate crisis that also increases human well- being.Our current study is an ongoing literature review of EROI, where we aim to compile the present EROI literature and introduce it and degrowth to psychologists.
Recommended Citation
Tyler, Iris, "249-Energy Return on Investment: A Critical Problem for Modern Efforts to Meet the Climate Challenge" (2024). GREAT Day Posters. 70.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2024/posters-2024/70
249-Energy Return on Investment: A Critical Problem for Modern Efforts to Meet the Climate Challenge
Energy return on investment (EROI) refers to the energy available for consumption after accounting for the energy required to produce energy. For example, energy is required to operate oil drilling equipment. Therefore, the total energy available for consumption is the energy required minus the energy produced. This is important because modern energy sources require an ever increasing amount of energy to function. Therefore, the energy available to consumers is reducing, even though absolute energy production increases. There are differing perspectives about solutions to modern environmental problems. The Green Growth perspective argues that we can move to non-fossil fuel alternatives and maintain our present lifestyles. However, the Degrowth perspective argues that EROI and other considerations make Green Growth impractical. Specifically, alternative, non fossil fuel sources of energy have high EROI values because they require a lot of energy to produce energy.Therefore, the EROI perspective suggests that society should think in terms of degrowth instead of continued growth. This could mean decreases in the quality of life, particularly for affluent Americans. However, this is not necessarily the case; some research suggests that happiness will be higher in a non-growth, less materialistic society. This poster will expand on these arguments and review theory and data suggesting that the Degrowth alternative can offer an environmentally plausible solution to the climate crisis that also increases human well- being.Our current study is an ongoing literature review of EROI, where we aim to compile the present EROI literature and introduce it and degrowth to psychologists.