Energy And Man

First published in 1960, Energy and Man is a book that comprises five speeches, together with follow-up questions, that were given by business school graduates at a symposium held at Columbia University on November 4, 1959. Contributions by Allan Nevins, Robert G. Dunlop, Edward Teller, Edward S. Mason and Herbert Hoover, Jr., with an Introduction by Courtney C. Brown. “THROUGH THE AGES, LEARNING HAS LOOKED TO THE WORLD of practical affairs for the major subjects of its interest. It is very appropriate that a great university, Columbia, through its Graduate School of Business, should share with a great industry, through its representative, the American Petroleum Institute, an inquiry into the role of energy, past, present, and future, in the lives of each of us. “So, when early in 1959 the American Petroleum Institute asked the Graduate School of Business if it would collaborate in the preparation and presentation of a comprehensive symposium...It was decided that it would be appropriate to consider energy in its several forms and to discuss circumstances that will best assure its continued availability in abundance. Thus, on November 4, 1959, a group of over three hundred government officials, economists, historians, scientists, and executives from a broad range of industry gathered in the rotunda of Columbia’s Low Memorial Library to hear delivered and to discuss the papers which are reprinted in this volume.”—Courtney C. Brown, Introduction

Meet Michael Skelly, the man boldly harnessing wind energy that could power America’s future and break its fossil fuel dependence in this “essential, compelling look into the future of the nation’s power grid” (Bryan Burrough, author of The Big Rich). The United States is in the midst of an energy transition. We have fallen out of love with dirty fossil fuels and want to embrace renewable energy sources like wind and solar. A transition from a North American power grid that is powered mostly by fossil fuels to one that is predominantly clean is feasible, but it would require a massive building spree—wind turbines, solar panels, wires, and billions of dollars would be needed. Enter Michael Skelly, an infrastructure builder who began working on wind energy in 2000 when many considered the industry a joke. Eight years later, Skelly helped build the second largest wind power company in the United States—and sold it for $2 billion. Wind energy was no longer funny—it was well on its way to powering more than 6% of electricity in the United States. Award-winning journalist, Russel Gold tells Skelly’s story, which in many ways is the story of our nation’s evolving relationship with renewable energy. Gold illustrates how Skelly’s company, Clean Line Energy, conceived the idea for a new power grid that would allow sunlight where abundant to light up homes in the cloudy states thousands of miles away, and take wind from the Great Plains to keep air conditioners running in Atlanta. Thrilling, provocative, and important, Superpower is a fascinating look at America’s future.

This fascinating text concerns itself with the idea of a person's being able to beat fatigue and make the most of the 'second wind' that succeeds such barriers - barriers that prevent them from being as effective as possible in their various endeavours. The author argues that a "second wind" is a reality in the mental as in the physical realm, and that it can be found and used when needed. This text discusses the stages of fatigue apropos an undertaking or endeavour, and goes on to detail how battling past these 'fatigue-obstacles' can cause a surprising effect: the fatigue gets worse up to a certain point, when gradually or suddenly it passes away, and we are fresher than before. This book is sure too appeal to collectors of antiquarian literature and those interested in the often surprising capabilities of human beings. William James was an American psychologist and philosopher born in 1842. This book is proudly republished here with a new introductory biography of the author.

Abstract: This book discusses the factors which affect the heat produced by animals and man and the ways in which the energy of the organic components of their diets are used to support growth and reproduction. The general thermodynamic principles are considered in addition to the physical principles related to heat loss by radiation, convection, conduction and evaporation of water. Major parts of the book deal with the minimal or basal production of heat, with the heat produced during muscular work and as a result of physiological reactions to the climatic environment. The test is intended for undergraduates and postgraduates who are studying energy metabolism in the context of zoology, agriculture, ecology, or medicine.

A comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society throughout history, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel–driven civilization. "I wait for new Smil books the way some people wait for the next 'Star Wars' movie. In his latest book, Energy and Civilization: A History, he goes deep and broad to explain how innovations in humans' ability to turn energy into heat, light, and motion have been a driving force behind our cultural and economic progress over the past 10,000 years. —Bill Gates, Gates Notes, Best Books of the Year Energy is the only universal currency; it is necessary for getting anything done. The conversion of energy on Earth ranges from terra-forming forces of plate tectonics to cumulative erosive effects of raindrops. Life on Earth depends on the photosynthetic conversion of solar energy into plant biomass. Humans have come to rely on many more energy flows—ranging from fossil fuels to photovoltaic generation of electricity—for their civilized existence. In this monumental history, Vaclav Smil provides a comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel–driven civilization. Humans are the only species that can systematically harness energies outside their bodies, using the power of their intellect and an enormous variety of artifacts—from the simplest tools to internal combustion engines and nuclear reactors. The epochal transition to fossil fuels affected everything: agriculture, industry, transportation, weapons, communication, economics, urbanization, quality of life, politics, and the environment. Smil describes humanity's energy eras in panoramic and interdisciplinary fashion, offering readers a magisterial overview. This book is an extensively updated and expanded version of Smil's Energy in World History (1994). Smil has incorporated an enormous amount of new material, reflecting the dramatic developments in energy studies over the last two decades and his own research over that time.

Why has Canada been unable to achieve any of its climate change targets? Part of the reason is that emissions in two provinces, Alberta and Saskatchewan, have been steadily increasing as a result of expanding oil and gas production. Declining emissions in other provinces, such as Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, have been cancelled out by those western increases. The ultimate explanation for Canadian failure lies in the differing energy interests of the western and eastern provinces. How can Ottawa possibly get all the provinces moving in the same direction of decreasing emissions? To answer this question, Douglas Macdonald explores the five attempts to date to put in place co-ordinated national policy in the fields of energy and climate change - from Pierre Trudeau's ill-fated National Energy Program to Justin Trudeau's bitterly contested Pan-Canadian program - analyzing and comparing them for the first time.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER NATIONAL BESTSELLER In this urgent, singularly authoritative book, Bill Gates sets out a wide-ranging, practical--and accessible--plan for how the world can get to zero greenhouse gas emissions in time to avoid an irreversible climate catastrophe. Bill Gates has spent a decade investigating the causes and effects of climate change. With the help and guidance of experts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, political science and finance, he has focused on exactly what must be done in order to stop the planet's slide toward certain environmental disaster. In this book, he not only gathers together all the information we need to fully grasp how important it is that we work toward net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases but also details exactly what we need to do to achieve this profoundly important goal. He gives us a clear-eyed description of the challenges we face. He describes the areas in which technology is already helping to reduce emissions; where and how the current technology can be made to function more effectively; where breakthrough technologies are needed, and who is working on these essential innovations. Finally, he lays out a concrete plan for achieving the goal of zero emissions--suggesting not only policies that governments should adopt, but what we as individuals can do to keep our government, our employers and ourselves accountable in this crucial enterprise. As Bill Gates makes clear, achieving zero emissions will not be simple or easy to do, but by following the guidelines he sets out here, it is a goal firmly within our reach.