Witnessing the Death of the Environmental Industrial Complex; Effectiveness then Efficiency.

Doing the right thing right for Society, every time; being Effective then Efficient.

The recent release of ‘Planet of the Humans’ has highlighted the fact that the Environmental Industrial Complex it identifies, has failed in its avowed intent to improve the sustainability of human processes in their effect on the Environment.

Whilst the documentary highlighted many relevant issues it failed to mention, as always happens, the key issue of Effectiveness then Efficiency. Neither has any of the outrage of the Environmental Industrial Complex (EIC) mentioned this. Much of this outrage has concentrated on the use of outdated values for the ‘efficiency’ of solar cells. ~ This calls into question what value can be placed on any supposed insight the EIC has given in the pass and is doing now in its ‘Green Mantra’ protestations.

It is clear from the film reviews that the EIC do not understand three crucial things

• Physics.
• Quality at System Level, BigQ.
• That most people do not understand Energy Management and do not want to be Energy Managers.

Definitions

‘BigQ is that which maximises the Essential Value added to Society through the creation of goods and services at continually reducing Loss to Society (waste) at system level.’

‘Energy Managers are those that actively participate in maximizing the effectiveness of energy systems in the creation of Essential Value to Society and the continual reduction in Loss to Society in doing so.’

‘Waste is the ‘Loss to Society’ of Energy, Physical Resources, Time, and squandered Ingenuity in the creation of non-essential value and in the process-losses still present in the creation of Essential Value’.

Using the films contentious issue of solar cell efficiency as an example. Whilst the theoretical physical ‘efficiency’ of a single solar cell or panel is of importance, it is the ‘lifecycle’ EFFECTIVENESS of the of the Solar Photovoltaic installation at system level that is critical, The same is true of all low energy density renewable sources.

The Consequence

The consequence of this failure of understanding lies at heart of the oxymoron that is the ‘Green’ Economy. Calling for Renewable Energy in this context is pointless as it can never deliver its supposed benefits of powering, even a minimal Essential Value Economy.

It is also doubtful if many professional Energy Managers understand full import of this Essential Value, system based, reality.

In terms of widely distributed micro-generation renewable systems such as Solar PV on individual buildings, it means they must be installed, operated, maintained, decommissioned and recycled for maximum life-cycle Effectiveness, by society, at system level, not by individual building owners.

No EIC or Green Deal pronouncement ever mentions this.