Cambridge Ideas - How Many Lightbulbs?

[muhammadzahmad]

thanks for sharing this video...

[katheryncruz24]

Very informative. Thank you,

[ValMartinIreland]

Ok: So we go for the wind option, 600,000 1.5 mw turbines. Then we decommission all our conventional and nuclear power stations, Happy Days.

From the 15 th December 2009 to 21st January 2010 and from 2nd February to 27th February 2011 a blocking weather system happened in the eastern Atlantic which caused anti cyclonic calm conditions over Ireland and Britain. 3 out of four days in 2011 were too calm to generate wind power. So where is the power going to come from?

[PilgrimBeart]

A modern lightbulb uses only 18W, so I reckon that each individual consumes total (primary) power of about 260 lightbulbs. That's inflation for you!

[tf8252]

David the people who control the politicians DONT WANT us to figure it out. They want us to deindustrialize and depopulate by 90%. Its in their own writings. Do the research. And for God's sake you're a physicist...please do your research and you'll see that "Climate Change" is a fraud. 95% of the green house gases is water vapor.

[Dimy761]

There is no technology existing that is capable to replace fossil fuels within decades. The only way is to reduce your personal consumption, that's hurts.

[echoplex89]

@Dimy761

not is you are poor. When I was 12 my mother lost her job and couldn't afford to use her car, so she sold it. We haven't owned a car since, we don't use heat in the winter, and we use public transportation for just about everything.

Internal usage of electricity, well that's another matter altogether.

[earthandairenergy]

Visit earthandair energy ltd and save money on your energy bills by installing Heat pumps or solar to your house in the North West or South East of England!

[jetsetjason]

lovelock is right, nothing will change, global warming will kill billions reducing pollution as .... less people....

[RuFuosD]

I love physicists. Why did the chicken cross the road? To get more nuclear power! Someone needs to tell Doctor Mackay that people want to get rid of plastic bags to get rid of pollution with saving energy somewhere about 5th or 6th on the priority list for banning them. There will never be the kind of nuclear power build-up he is recommending for a number of obvious reasons Cost, Safety/security, not to mention the enormous amounts of fossil fuel required to build them.

[Blacky2604]

@RuFuosD This guy is the government's advisor for climate change and he's a member of the Royal Society. I'm pretty sure he knows what he's talking about and it's in our best interests to listen to what he says. If you actually read his book, he does advocate 100% nuclear power, but rather a mix of different sources with nuclear being the main constituent simply because the energy density is so much higher than other renewable sources.

[guess5who]

I was lucky enough to hear David Mackay speak in Seattle - awesome. Entertaining, to the point, an important message. Read his book!

[BreatheEasie]

look at him eating his Nutella :D

[kTaaang]

the scientists say we should get off fossil fuels by 2050 because they will probably be all dead by then!

[bballbackus]

Why didn't he mention solar energy?

[themsmota]

@bballbackus I don't think Britain have enought solar energy to provide eletricity fro the country. Probably we need to use alternative like wind, or other options.

[actyogi]

I think you have got the numbers wrong - which would not have happened if you had stuck to kw or kwh.

in 2004 total uk electricity was 382 twh or about 0.6 kw per person. You say 6kw per person ( 125 bulbs ). I know that you have also counted gas & heating oil . My personal usage is 0.65kw electricity and 0.27kw gas .

But My real point is that a kw of electricity is worth much more than a kw of gas.

We run air-sourced heat pumps and get about 3kw out for each kw of electricity .

[AndyMaybury]

@actyogi David MacKay talks about heat pumps of various sorts in his book, his website, and his lectures. They will help but do not get us to the 90% reduction needed.

BTW, my electricity use is an average of 280 W (7kWh/day) and almost 1 kW of gas (23kWh/day) for my family of four. I know others who use significantly more than that on their own (as you confirm). Plus petrol & other transport, food, "stuff", national overheads 6kW per person sounds about right—and fits the DECC statistics.

[soylentgreenb]

@actyogi "My personal usage is 0.65kw electricity and 0.27kw gas ."

Most of your power consumption is indirect from your point of view; it is in the form of chickens, tables, street-lighting, petrol for the bus and so on.

[bencorgan]

I've got three words:

CARBON, CAPTURE & STORAGE

[AndyMaybury]

@bencorgan nice fantasy!

[italobambino43]

He is entirely correct, all this recycling, replacement of lighting, disconnecting chargers and appliances, it's all frivolous! Big oil is the culprit many millionaires depend on the production and sale of fossil fuels! We made the right step in the 1950's when we built the first nuclear power plants, however since Three mile island and Chernobyl, environmentalists have made them prime examples against nuclear power! We need to do something more drastic! Big oil is killing the planet !

[Vorticistick]

@italobambino43 He didn't mention recycling, and certainly replacing one of those lightbulbs with one that consumes only 25% of the energy does make a difference. Environmentalists are not standing in the way of a solution to this; they have a wider view of the damage to the environment, not just from AGW but also to habitat, health, and from nuclear pollution. Before jumping on the nukes bandwagon, think about eg Europe being powered via a cable to huge solar arrays in the Sahara. This works.

[ride8575]

If England needs 300 nuclear plants, and it is about 1% of the world population, then we need 30,000 nuclear plants worldwide. That's a staggering number of nuclear power plants! Even if we could find the money to build them, think of the multiplied risk factors involving accidents, waste treatment and disposal, and the increased threat of terrorism. It seems we might kill ourselves in the attempt to save ourselves! Is nuclear practical, let alone advisable?

[actyogi]

IT needs about 40 nukes @ 1Gw to generate our 2004 electricity production - but u probably need 3x that to allow for peak loading. You would use some gas turbine / pumped storage to ameliorate the peaks .

[akikiman]

why do u look so happy??

WE'RE AL GONNA DIEEE!!!!!!!

[gagoff]

I don't mind solar/wind power carrying some of the load. Heck, I'd love cleaner air since I have sensitive lungs, but I wouldn't trust the advice of climate scientists, since the CRU is full of crap and the whole thing about the earths temperature rising is baloney.

Don't get me wrong. I'm still for clean energy, just against the whole guilt trip about global warming

[KnockoffNigeI]

History demonstrates that people follow the path of least resistance regardless of long term consequences. We're consuming fossils now because it's the easiest thing to do. When it becomes necessary, nuclear will be adopted for the same reason.

Renewable also have environmental consequences. Any large scale wave power installation would seriously alter the pattern of coastal erosion.

Energy by it's very nature is fugitive that's why storing lots of it is so difficult.

[jaydamafia]

i dnt get it yo

[AllyKaht]

Just vote LibDem

[doyle579]

Is it just me or is he always happy despite global warming

[VeggieManUK]

Global warming is a lie.

[varflane]

Excellent, common sense, turn the lights off, recycle, eat less kebabs. Nuclear power will see us through the next century. No I don't want a wind farm in my garden, nor do I wish to be super taxed for the next 20 years, build nuclear power stations and make an effort to use less power in the home. An open fire is very sexy. Try eating nothing but an onion and garlic for a few weeks, it works, (but you do smell bad). I'm a cephlapod, I don't care. gimmee more seafood. You know it makes sense.

[ciaran3707]

I think the most important message in this video is that it shows how individual changes wont make a significant difference. Environmentalists who think that the way forward is through teaching people to reduce their carbon footprint by not leaving electrical appliances on standby and doing their shopping in a "bag for life" need to accept this.

[Exesta]

i agree, i see human beings as children, tell them to do this and that but they will do the opposit. The government needs to restrict what we get, take it off us completely and force us to use sustainable methods. Big forceful actions need to bring the change, I think the last big action the government forced on its publics was food rationing.

[SamezXD]

@ciaran3707 They do accept that. What you need to accept is by taking this attitude nothing gets done. If EVERYONE did those things, it would make a difference. So go ahead, do nothing. I will choose to band together with everyone and try

[powpanda]

I completely agree, all that stuff about unplugging phone chargers and TVs is twaddle.

However, he talks about needed to cover half of britain wind turbines. There are plenty of uninhabited desert-type of sites around Europe that could be covered with wind/solar farms, and then they'd only need to be connected to Britain on the power grid.. Look at Australia for eg; we can power all the world with our desert surface area.

[Azrudi]

@powpanda If all you read on German, Russian and Swedish forums are "We can power the entire Europe by covering Great Britain with solar panels and wind turbines", how would you respond?

[thefrequencykenneth]

FACT: If you embraced all the negative energy expressed by chav comment on YouTube, you could power a 40ft diameter lightbulb for 22 years that shines black.

[CONANLI12]

@thefrequencykenneth ...which reminds me of Monster Inc. lol

[U48]

the number 1 thing to worry about is zombies... lets just hope there vegan :D

[trinitrotuleneboom]

We need to take action now! Recycle your waste, use energy efficient light bulbs, walk your way around, do all you can(the cash'll be great too)!

In 40 or so years, your grandchildren will gaze upon our once beautiful forests and say "its your fault". They'll be right.

p.s. for those of you who do care, i like you already.

[POsiris2000]

There is no way we can replace energy obtained from gas and oil.

Even after full life cycle solar batteries produse less energy that was wasted to produce them.

[vkpillay]

I think there are huge potential for solar panel businessa nd insulatiing the houses to save energy and of cause biomass .The way to the future is like using renewable technology of third world in uk and reduce energy cost. i also think energy is lost in tramsmission and the consumer is bearing the cost as well.Going green sustainable energy is the future.

[ssssroryssss2]

What really annoys me is that the government seem only to be banging on at us, the public and not doing anything to reduce the amount of energy that industries are using and the amount of waste they are producing, take overpackaging of products for example. I have heard of a device that has recently been invented that could put energy suppliers out of business. It is supposed to be like an electric motor that keeps spining for a year until you start it again and this device can fit in a cupboard

[fiable262626]

Good video

An interesting side note about indoor light bulbs is that although they are often slated as being very inefficient. The 'wasted' heat energy merely goes to heat the surroundings and hence reduces the amount of energy needed to heat the house and so isnt wasted as much.

Im not too worried about the future of energy, as I get the feeling that these things seem to work themselves out - I could put backing and explanation to that but dont feel like writing an essay on utube :/.

[vkpillay]

Renewable energy policy and technology has been close to my heart. Can Britain affort without nuclear power ? which i doubt.

In any case why on earh you have to show all the wires entangled .I would have thought an organised mind of a physicist should have been in order. I hate to see my wife entangle a half a dozen of wires after hoovering.I like to see wires separately leading from the plug to whereever one connect. I take shower and i did energy monitoring last month, it worked out less.

[alanwgraham1]

far too simplistic - what about changing our life style!

[pigskin75]

Funny thing is, 20 years ago people like you were telling everyone we need to stop using nuclear because it was so dangerous.

Make up your mind!

[t3rm1nat0r999]

What happened to my light bulb?

[jimmyrich1]

one thing that really angers me is how many shops leave lights on after hours! 24 hrs a day 7 days a week

!!!!! what a joke that they are aloud to do this

[etbadaboum]

@jimmyrich1 20% of world electricity is consumed in lightning. 40% of food is wasted in the Western world. We can do better than that.

[MrMonoj]

yes,we'll eventually run out of the energy resources and I wonder what it feels like................

[Tubo430]

Britain needs fewer people folks!!

All those who say "yeah... let's get more people living and working here to solve the pensions crisis", well, I'm afraid if we do that then there'll be no room for houses, turbines, wave machines, infrastructure, let aone have a countryside!

Fewer people. Only then do we even have a chance.

[deviljamez]

im off tesco to get 10 more light bulbs :D

[TheRealTrevorland]

Very insightful perspective on the situation! Well done.

[fosky075]

omg u bored me

[lukeclews]

Only boring people get bored.

[BlacklistedL33t]

i like your wooley jumper

where may i purchase one ?

[MattyCosmics]

well IMO, the government should enforce a rule that we have to put solar panels on the roofs of our house, surely that's a good idea?

I don't understand why they always say yes we got to change this, change that, but it's all talk....nothing ever changes.

[benjyboba]

There is also so many other forms of energy possible and not to mention much more efficient designs. There isn't much we can't techoloically manage with todays true techologies but the only thing that prevents anything happening is buiessness, Does it make money ?. besides wind, we have geothermal, hydroelectric, solar and many more. Not to mention how more efficient each can become. This earth can produce enough energy for the world is people cared more for the world than ruling and money.

[Ludo1100]

yum nutella

[fleetwoodsucks]

run out of coal? lololol

[Drewz0rd]

You think we won't run out of coal?

[fleetwoodsucks]

Not even in our children children's lifetimes

[Slackers118]

More like in 50 years!

[fleetwoodsucks]

Um no. Coal is everywhere.

[mattbiker419]

i cant wait to go to cambridge university :)

[mattf1986ut]

intresting video

[00cat]

amazing, I never knew this, :)

[petujaymz]

My nan's friend's got central heating.

[Matt90Kelly]

liberal nazi. lol

[idnumber101]

lol ....i dont think poiuse321 got that!

[DoNTCLiCKHeRe13580]

Don't Click Here. :D

[Poiuse321]

All this coming from the person who thinks this is a huge conspiracy and that we are getting brainswashed? If only there was a guffaw button ...

[idnumber101]

All this coming from the person who thinks we should be told what to think .....and never question it...and if a person does question it....you attack them without bringing a single fact to the table.....your a mindless zombie .....stupid people like you are the reason wars like iraq happen.......the goverment would never lie!!!...ha you moron

[Poiuse321]

Oh, if only you knew. I'm actually totally on your side and should question whatever we are told, especially the media since they don't tell the truth on any topic. I just love coming on youtube to anger people, makes me day getting angry comments back from people who know nothin about me.

So yes, what I've been arguing about is a load of shit and I don't believe in what I was saying at all. Just done it for the kicks.

And I'm guessing by your name you a member of the no2-id organisation?

[idnumber101]

cool i respect that ...im not a menber of any group ...i just post comments about people's videos also to get a responce....the more outraged the better!!!! hehe....also i did look up your histroy on youtube and notice you like to pull peoples chains!!!!!!

[Poiuse321]

It's all youtube is good for now, bunch of high horse twats getting outraged at comments that I don't even mean. Was a pleasure talking to you.

[idnumber101]

mr macay like the media is talking about 3 diffrent issues as one.....mixing answers questions facts and myths into one massive ball of liberal media guff.....the part he talks about imagery people not wanting wind farms or atomic pawer stations....making him angry....very sciantfic.......this is called nudging people its like a soft form of brain washing....

[Poiuse321]

Oh, how mature. With that attitude I would say that you shouldn't be allowed an opinion on any matter. And i don't think he has a better education, I know he has. Your sprouting words out with so many mistakes I'm beginning to get confused with what your saying. If you want to make an educated opinion how about you dont make yourself look like a twat on the internet and give yourself some respectibality?

[ImEuanAndIGotsSkeelz]

though i dont like nuclear power much at all, it is better than fossil fuels, unless we have another chernobyl, which is bound to happen at some point, and would affect us very badly i think, an interesting idea i thought was offshore windfarms, expensive to build, but you cant really put a price on the environment at the end of the day.

[ScatRusty]

I don't see quite why a video aimed at the general public would help. Surely this should be directly addressed to the government if it's the government who has (the power and authorIty) to do this.

[erix27en3]

it makes sens

[olemog28]

Good Stuff, I hope though clever individuals like David Mckay are being applied to solving problems such as alternative energy sources to fossil fuels that provide more power. This seems a very pressing issue given that the fossil fuel supply in 30 years will be depleted. (Also a good use of public money that provides funding for academics).

[andymooseman]

Why does nobody ever mention solar power?

Fit all new homes with some solar panels. At least it's a start.

[idnumber101]

its sad to see cambridge not even question the ecconomic reasons for the cliamte change movment..........or even atempt to answer the big questions.......oh i forgot if you question the lie....your called a moron.....

[idnumber101]

why do we need to change again.....becuse of climate change ....or becuse of limited resorces.....even smart people like mr macay....seem to be unable to understand the diffrence between fact ....and political bullshit...no surprising conclusions just the same facts pounded out again again....beleave! beleave!...

[Poiuse321]

In all honesty, wouldn't you say he is a little more educated on the subject than you are? These are people who have spent life work on this topic and you are just a person who believes it's all a lie because you seen a video on youtube. Give the scientists some credit, they know what they are talking about.

[sagat4]

Interesting. no need to post same video twice guys (one is ok). and i doubt you are actually 800yrs old is there any physical proof of this? can i see this?

[l0rd0f0blivi0n]

there is another featured video which is exactly the same as this....

don't exactly know why

[hughesa827]

I don't get it, you want to make a point to the country maybe even world. Yet there's only 127 views on this video, ok so its been up 1 or 2 days but still. Why not ask Youtube to put it on the front page for a week, or on google video. I found it really interesting :)