Are we getting too specialized for good? This is an old debate with no resolution as yet. But we raise this question again in the light of energy.
Is specialization the problem? Or is it lack of integration? Whether addressing distribution problems, or retrofitting buildings and industries to gobble less energy, why are inefficiencies refusing to go away?
We have the experts but the problem arises in lack of integration skills or the big picture perspective. While optimizing components, when fit together the result is not so efficient. Where is the missing mass going, to put it in Einsteinspeak?! (When two masses fuse, the product has a mass less than the sum of the reactants. This was shown to be converted to energy.)
The answer is: Bad engineering design. Poorly designed processes and systems that do not take integration seriously end up gobbling energy and resources and go undetected.
There are other issues like being stuck in the traditional way of doing things which often requires one to shut the brain and simply build as per the norm. But by and large, it is the assembling into one efficient system that fails.
Going from the small scale to the larger arena, again integration is missing. We now know that carbon dioxide induced climate change is melting the glaciers and in turn water availability is affected, and finally food grain production. But the widest gaps in integration exist between ministries of energy, water and agriculture in most countries. Hence, they do not understand the broader effects of the decisions they take.
Specialisation helps address problems specific to the domain, but perhaps we need integration specialists now?
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Energy optimization begins not at the point while designing the Electrical systems for a building or optimizing distribution of power. It begins much before that -At the time of conceptualizing the building itself - be it office space or homes. I see many ill conceived buildings in India especially office spaces made RCC structures which are then covered with Glass facades. Such buildings are not suited for a tropical climate like that of India and we seem to simply ape the west by having such buildings.
This results in unnecessary energy consumption due to Air conditioning or lighting during the day when these can actually be avoided by energy efficient designs.
By designing energy efficient buildings we can cut down hugely on the energy consumption. I was reading an Article published in the web where if all house holds in the US switch to CFL lamps, 12 thermal power plants can be shut. That’s huge energy saving. Probably in India we should look at this option and with Mass production the CFL cost can be brought down.
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