Advocating 'Soft Energy'

Amory Lovins foresees a green Hawai'i

The Maui Weekly
Thursday, March 27, 2008
by Helen Anne Schonwalter

Amory Lovins, cofounder of the influential Rocky Mountain Institute, spurred Mauians to think differently about energy at the fourth Dowling Company, Inc. sponsored Focus Green Lecture on March 18, at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's McCoy Studio Theater.

Lovins is a leading proponent of "soft energy"-meaning using renewable energy resources instead of depleting finite resources. He has consistently argued for environmental protection as a path to prosperity: clean and renewable power, hybrid cars and green building industries all create jobs.

An entertaining speaker, Lovins cleverly chided opponents of green energy solutions for their thinking in the negative valence, not the positive: "It is cheaper to save fuel (+) than to buy fuel (-)," he explained. "Efficiency of energy consumption is a (+)."

While Lovins is a-political, he is keenly aware of the politics of global warming. "We don't need to wait for global agreement, [for example] the Kyoto Protocols. China is acting in self-interest by racing to cut energy costs," he said. "China cut its energy intensity and saved 7.9 percent a year during 1997 to 2001."

Here in the U.S., "while politicians endlessly debate theoretical costs, companies are racing to beat their competitors," asserted Lovins. "End use efficiency techniques would deliver the same or better services: oil and electricity production." Among the many examples of savings, he cited, "half the oil at one-sixth of its price."

Quoting from his famous book, Winning the Oil Endgame, which he said was written for military and business leaders, Lovins estimated, "Eight-y-seven percent of fuel energy is currently wasted before it gets to the wheel" in cars, trucks and aircrafts.

In place of the cumbersome metal frame of cars-the "bathtub" design of passenger vehicles-Lovins and co-founder Hunter Lovins of Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) have designed a lightweight carbon fiber frame for vehicles.

"Strong, ultra lightweight but ultra safe? with 12 times more absorption of crash energy than steel," Lovins claimed. He showed a video clip of racecar driver Katherine Legge, whose ultra light racecar burst into flame and broke apart before our eyes; she emerged from her vehicle with only a scraped knee.

"Currently, carbon fiber auto body parts are being manufactured by Toyota and Nissan for their plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV)," he said. These manufacturers "are committed to cutting energy consumption 15 percent by 2015."

Renowned for his wide-ranging intellect, Lovins turned his attention to Hawai'i. An audience member told Lovins that HECO and MECO are planning to import palm oil from the rainforests of Malaysia, with deforestation adding greenhouse gases. Lovins was aghast. He described cellulosic ethanol alternatives that are cheaper and kinder to the planet: switch grass and bagasse (sugar cane byproduct). Lovins noted, "Brazil replaced 26 percent of gasoline consumption with sugar cane ethanol? Sweden is going off oil by 2020." The audience was green with envy.

Maui needs to catch up. "[Renewable energy] technologies have improved faster than we have used them," Lovins said. Explaining his concept of diversity to Mauians longing to get off oil addiction, he said, "Weather forecasting will inform us when to use solar and when to use wind power." Not to mention harnessed wave energy!

"Nuclear and coal costs are escalating per year, while renewable sources are the most cost effective," Lovins said. Referring to saved megawatts as "negawatts," he said, "reward companies for cutting your bills, not for selling more energy."

Building construction, part of the private sector, is more adaptable and dynamic than public policy, said Lovins, describing how 'Iolani School in O'ahu had installed "light shelves" next to the windows that "cut down glare, redirect light into the classroom, and cool the room without AC." "Ha'iku has a Hawaiian-style solution with Bamboo Technologies," Lovins said to audience applause. "[Bamboo] has finally won official approval for structural integrity: two to three times stronger than Douglas fir poles of the same size? Bamboo is resistant to typhoons and earthquakes? [and] sequesters carbon dioxide."

In the question-and-answer period, Lovins was asked, "What are your three priorities for Maui?" He replied that with electricity in Hawai'i by far the costliest energy, Maui should employ "passive cooling techniques: light-colored roofs, shading with overhangs, natural ventilation."

Lovins's Rocky Mountain Institute (and two spin-off pioneering enterprises: E Source and Competitek) offer solutions that fit into the environment without destroying it.

So, what are we waiting for? Quoting Marshall McCluhan, Lovins answered his own query: "Only puny secrets need protecting; big discoveries are protected by public incredulity."