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Non-Tech : Alternative energy -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Eric who wrote (4506)	3/28/2008 12:01:28 PM
From: gg cox	Respond to of 16955

One recommendation.<g>

To: Eric who wrote (4506)	4/5/2008 8:46:29 AM
From: Lynn	Respond to of 16955

Two things: 1. People who read the article before the 29th might want to check back later: All Energy Roads Lead to the Sun By Andrew C. Revkin [UPDATE 3/29: Several commenters have questioned Dr. Nocera’s energy math. I’ve forwarded their comments to him and will update anon.] dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com 2. One of the comments under the article is noted as being a 'must read;' a URL for the entire article is given (and used below). Here is the beginning of the article followed by a few of my comments: Eco-Eats Cheese, eggs, and fruit are just a few of the foods Americans needlessly refrigerate I’ve often marveled at the difference in fridge sizes between the U.S. and other parts of the world. But when you look at the way different cultures approach refrigeration, the discrepancy starts to make sense. In American households—including some I’ve lived in myself—we refrigerate everything from honey to hot sauce to eggs, none of which require such treatment. Unlike cultures that market daily for their edible needs, Americans, by and large, have a habit of shopping less frequently but bigger, justifying the “need” for massive fridges (plus: we buy in bulk, fear bacteria, package products more robustly, and commonly over-buy—all generalizations, but ones that nonetheless harbor grains of truth). The ever-increasing popularity of one-stop supermarkets in nearly every part of the world is changing the pace at which people shop, so fridge sizes are on the rise everywhere, but they may not be as necessary as we’ve long assumed. [remainder of article snipped] plentymag.com Neither the article nor any of peoples' commentary following it make mention of a BIG difference between why we (in the U.S.) food shop the way we do vs. people in at least developing countries (I can not speak for Europe): supermarket sales fliers in the U.S.. The various supermarket chains and their weekly sales fliers result in many people in the U.S. becoming food hoarders. We buy things in larger quantities than we need to 'save money,' because it's a 'bargain.' I am as guilty as anyone when it comes to this. Butter and Cracker Barrel cheese are _always_ available. When butter goes on sale for $1.99 a pound and Cracker Barrel, $2.00 an 8 ounce bar, I load up, even when I really do not need either. Even though a stick of butter or the cheese can be left out _if_ we plan to consume them in a few days, both have to be refrigerated if neither will be consumed in a week (or even few months--just check the expiration dates). Basically, many people end up needlessly stock piling food in their refrigerators here whereas elsewhere people do not. I have lived in NE Africa. Food, whether perishable or tinned/boxed/dry (rice, beans, etc.) do not go on sale. There is absolutely no incentive to buy cheese or butter in bulk. This results in a lack of need for a large refrigerator and, in turn, less energy required for keeping food cold. Add to this the amount of space the average U.S. refrigerator is allocated to left overs, whether from restaurants or home cooked. Developing countries restaurants to not offer 'doggie bags' due to human-realistic meal size servings. Home prepared food is of a quantity required for one meal. I could go on. As an aside, one lasting thing living in developing countries has had on me is an awe for the vast amount of different foods and brands of individual items in U.S. grocery stores. Just taking canned tomatoes, there is a mind-boggling selection of the ways they are processed (puree, sauce, diced, small diced, whole, plum with or without puree, etc. in different sized cans) and brands. Where I have lived the only tomato item sold in a tin was tomato paste in tins half the size of ours. There were different brands, but only one was usually available at any given time. A person just asks for X amount of tins, does not specify a brand. Lynn P.S. I do not refrigerate eggs and it drives some of my friends and relatives nuts. Hey, if people Khartoum do not bother to refrigerate eggs, I can see no reason to do it here: 109 F vs. 70F (inside) U.S. weather.yahoo.com