[Strawbale] Free energy

[activism98201 at verizon.net]

Not sure how this is related to Strawbale construction, but I'll reply anyway because I find these types of claims to be troubling.

The reference to cheap is only pointing at the end result, the operation of the produced product.  It says nothing of the costs (not least environmental) of the production of such "cheap" things.

Nuclear-powered submarines can operate for a LONG time without refueling, but clearly no one can claim these things as being cheap...

And what do we expect to happen when these folks have more light?  I'd reckon that they'd bee encouraged to increase production and consumption.  If you want to know of what increased consumption of the world's resources will mean to us check out this article:

http://www.aspousa.org/proceedings/houston/presentations/Vince%20Matthews%20China%20India1.pdf


Mark Nagel
Everett, WA


=====================
From: Jon Van Eck <vaneckj at ewashtenaw.org>

Okay, this energy is not quit free, but it is cheap!!  Check this out...

Ann Arbor, Michigan based Appropriate Technology Design Collaborative
has entered a NASA sponsored design competition with an energy efficient
LED light fixture designed for the billion people on the planet who live
where power is intermittent, like "squatter cities". The design uses a
recycled cell phone charger to charge batteries when power is available
and provide light when needed.  The fixture can provide light for
several days between charges.  It also shuts off when the batteries are
charged and has almost no stand-by power loss.  One of the ways the
contest is judged is by the number of page views each entry generates.
Check it out at:  http://tinyurl.com/yphjlu