The Rational Middle Energy Series: the Episodes.

Please check out the Rational Middle Energy Series. Then, share it with your friends, co-workers and significant others. Most importantly, after viewing, please take some time and join in this important conversation.

EPISODE 2

Energy 101

DESCRIPTIONS & RESOURCES

Energy is complicated. It's so entwined and ensconced in our lives that we barely know it's there. Most of us only recognize energy at the pump or on a monthly bill statement, but energy is a part of everything we do, even more than you might think. It's in the batteries of your devices, the plastic and metals used to make the things in your life, and even in the food you eat. Energy is everything we are, and we are rapidly approaching a time where a change in our energy consumption trajectory will be necessary. What sources do we use to power our economy? How much to we use? Where are we headed as a global community? These issues and more are discussed in 'Energy 101.'  

Information on how we arrived at the statistics in "Energy 101" can be found here.
  • Harry Downing

    we wont get out of this problem without new thecnologies and new energy sources

    • The Rational Middle

      We agree that technology will be a key component of moving towards the energy future. So much of our current system is based on old technology and an infrastructure upgrade would greatly increase our ability to utilize new sources and manage our consumption.

    • http://www.facebook.com/mark.devlin.1654 Mark Devlin

      We are the aliens of this planet. We are destroying everything about it with our super heaters. IE cars, planes, buildings, regardless, you are right on Bill :-)

  • Emmanuelle

    Will this Rational Middle initiative be US-focused only? Statistics for US energy consumption could be put in propospective with European’s and other continents’ statistics, showing already the impact of ways of living. However even if improvements could be brought there (e.g. more public transport, etc…), agree a reduced consumption would not solve the fundamental long-term issue we face.

    • therationalmiddle

      For now these episodes are focused on the United States. We understand that there is a need to make the discussion more broad and we hope to do that in future films and discussions. This is an ongoing project and we appreciate your feedback. If you have ideas, please send them to inquiries@rationalmiddle.com. We read all of our messages, so please reach out to us.

  • therationalmiddle

    There are few scientists who still believe that climate change isn’t caused by greenhouse gasses. Even energy companies themselves agree. There has been a renewed scientific consensus the last few years and several hardcore deniers have done an about face just in the last 12-18 months – Richard A. Muller being one of them (http://bit.ly/LWL94t).

    We haven’t dictated a solution here. We are just beginning a conversation that we hope will yield promising answers to burning questions (pardon the pun). Part of our goal is to provide free and unbiased information alongside expert commentary in an effort to bring people up to speed on where the thinking on energy is today and what our problems are in order to provide a starting point for intelligent, results-driven conversation. We know that there’s no silver bullet, and not every solution will work in every community or country depending on resources and needs. Our plan is to give people the tools, the motivation, and the opportunity to think more deeply about the issues and thus allowing people to come up with more intelligent solutions to the problems at hand.

  • therationalmiddle

    We agree that this is a global issue – especially with regards to pollution and climate change. However, there are issues that affect people of any one country, like the US (and others in the world), when it comes to regimes that don’t like America and who also control some of the oil we use. Trade agreements, embargos, solar panels from china, vehicles from Korea, Japan, etc, as well as energy trade to and from Canada (Keyston XL, for example) all contribute to considerations with national security.

  • http://www.facebook.com/bryce.kuchik Bryce Kuchik

    So what if Green House Gases are not the source of global warming? Is your solution to keep polluting the atmosphere? Do we keep doing business the same old way? Oil and coal are finite resources, and as they are depleted they will only be harder to get and therefore more expensive. For whatever reason you believe in, you must agree that the atmosphere needs to be cleaned up.

    • therationalmiddle

      There are plenty of other reasons to address current energy sources. Coal has a serious issue with particulate matter affecting health near coal plants, radioactive materials, mercury, and a looming waste issue (See Kingston coal ash spill). Oil, as we all know, is a major source of contention around the world, and is highly volatile. Natural gas has issues with drilling that need to be addressed, and though it’s cleaner than coal and oil, it is still a contributor to pollution. Fossils are finite and we use them for so many other things besides electricity, that we need to use them for those purposes that have fewer or no other options – like plastics and manufacturing feedstocks.