Wesley Roe et al.,
Thanks for Holmgren's material; the thermodynamic laws, especially
the 2nd, are arguably the most important limiting factors on civilization's
attempts at sustainability. He did make one error; his statement
that, "These laws are taught in every science course..." In fact, they
should be, but are not, especially in the earth and biological sciences at the
college level. Many professors, and I was one of them, think these laws,
along with Newton's mechanical laws, should be the foundation laws for
instruction not only in all science courses, but in engineering, and the social
sciences as well. Then we could begin to say that Americans are truly
educated.
Darwin Thorpe
Professor emeritus,
Compton Community College
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, July 11, 2005 9:59 AM
Subject: [Scpg] Energy and Permaculture
David Holmgren (David will be in SB Aug 2)
Energy and Permaculture
by David Holmgren
Reprinted from
The Permaculture Activist #31 (to subscribe check info at bottom of
article)
http://www.permacultureactivist.net/Holmgren/holmgren.htm
David Holmgren only Southern CA appearance
will be on Santa Barbara Ca Tues Aug 2 , Workshop and evening lecture
see details at bottom or go to www.sbpermaculture.org click upcoming
events
Copyright The Permaculture Activist PO Box 1209W, Black
Mountain, NC 28711 USA
The sustainability debate has shown a deep
confusion about the processes and systems which support life and humanity. The
lack of conceptual tools to incorporate previously ignored environmental
"givens" into calculations used by economists and decisionmakers is painfully
obvious. There are no simple answers to the complex question of costs,
benefits, and sustainability. However, there is a natural currency we can use
to measure our interdependence on our environment and assist us to make
sensible decisions about current and future action.
That currency is
energy.
Energy Laws
The energy laws governing all natural
proceses are well understood and have not been challenged by any of the
revolutions in scientific thinking during the 20th century. These laws are
called the first and second laws of thermodynamics.
First Law: the law
of conservation of energy. Energy is neither created or destroyed. The energy
entering the system must be accounted for either as being stored there or as
flowing out.
Second Law: the law of degradation of energy. In all
processes some of the energy loses its ability to do work and is degraded in
quality. The tendency of potential energy to be used up and degraded is
described as entropy, which is a measure of disorder which always increases in
real processes.
These laws are taught in every science course, but, in
a manner typical of our fragmented society and culture, are completely ignored
in the way we conduct our economic life and relationship to the natural world.
The laws of thermodynamics are widely seen as true, but not very useful
theoretical ideas. The second law has always represented a fundamental threat
to the modern notion of progress. More traditional and tribal views of the
world are in keeping with the second law. For example, the ancient Greek idea
of the universe being used up by the passage of time is very pessimistic to
the modern mind.