Reply #68: The magick bullet for sustainable energy

[Fovea]

is to realize that there is no single magick bullet yet.

In the example of a home in say, Iowa or Nebraska, one might employ solar, wind, biomass, etc on a local scale. In Kansas, wind is a winner, but so is solar.

Part of what we miss when we think of heating is also the value of thermal mass. I predict a lot more communities using earth contact housing and low wind profile, high passive solar potential designs using earthship style rammed earth/ in place vitrified earth/ slip formed concretions will be in high demand quite soon.

Lastly, if what I suspect is true about how the midwest climate will change over this century, expect to see a large scale rainwater sequestration program in place to catch the hyper-severe spring stormwater, and store it for the July-August killer dry heat waves.

The Hadley institute was calling for a 42% increase in Iowa rainfall by 2050, most of that in the form of extreme precipitation multi day events. If not dealt with, the flooding will be insane.

I predict a multi trillion with a 'T' dollar effort to keep the Missouri, Mississipi, and Ohio River valleys livable.

I believe as Hadely does, that the effect of higher vapor pressure in the oceans, particularly the C type climate coastal zones will cause higher precipitations, and higher static air temp will increase off season aridity. In essence, a monsoon/dry year cycles in the center of the US. The midwest (at least the tornado alley part) is a place which currently is affected by four geographic weather systems.

Of the systems that currently whipsaw us about, I think the Gulf and Alberta systems will effect us in greater and greater amounts. Our lows will be wetter and more destructive, our highs will be dryer and windier. The frost depth will be shallower, another plus for earth contact in the coming years.

The soil will eventually start shifting from podozol to hydrosol.