Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg cover image

Physical limits and the long-term future (with Anders Sandberg)

Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg

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Efficiency and Energy Usage in Civilization

Civilization has the potential to significantly reduce energy usage by improving efficiency across various sectors. Many current practices operate well below thermodynamic limits, indicating ample room for optimization. Computers, for instance, display considerable inefficiencies compared to Landauer's limit, which sets the minimal energy requirement for information processing. Additionally, energy efficiency could be enhanced through better organization and transport of services. However, reforming these services poses challenges, as market dynamics do not always favor the adoption of more energy-efficient practices. Often, stakeholders may overlook improvements even when they present a financial incentive, leading to a paradox where lower energy costs encourage higher consumption rather than conservation, as evidenced by shifts from incandescent bulbs to LED lighting resulting in increased overall usage.

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