Can sustainable development principles be applied to energy?
Yes! In the short term it is cheaper to increase available energy for new business by cutting wasteful uses rather than by building new generating capacity. Insulation and efficient combustion of oil and gas saves energy which can then be sold for new applications. In the medium and long term the goal is to shift the reliance fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) which, when burnt, eject carbon deposits into the environment, to increased use of renewable energy such as the sun, wind and tides. The cost of generating electricity by these methods continues to fall dramatically and they are becoming economically attractive.
