Human Potential Energy Gain and Energy Output
Our age is one of increasing energy, resource and environment depletion coupled with human population increase.
These processes will reduce the human ability to exist on the Earth up to 2100 AD.
In 2100 AD the world population will be approx. 24,800,000,000.
This will equate to140 m² per person compared to 500 m² per person in 2014 for all energy, resource and environment provision to keep one human being alive.
Humans have therefore 85 years, 2 lifetimes, to define how long and in what way they will survive on
Earth or expand out to make a second home elsewhere in the Universe.
Can humans therefore use themselves as portable energy sources to alleviate their future?
Human Energy Gains from the Earth Environment.
Solar Radiant heat
This allows for a total Potential Passive Energy gain for humans
= 82 wh/m2
=1 x 100 w light bulbs on for 1 hour
Solar Light – Photovoltaic and Photosynthetic Energy
Total light energy
= 136 wh/m2
=1 x 100 w light bulbs / h
Food Intake
Total Potential Passive Energy Gain by eating
= 12.24 wh per gram of glucose
Allowing a level of glucose per day
= 200 g per day
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selfish_brain_theory
Total energy gained
= 102 wh
=1 x 100 w light bulbs on for 1 hour
Breathing / Oxidation
Total Passive Energy gain for humans by breathing
= 45,867 wh
= approx. =460 x 100 w light bulbs / h
Total Potential Energy Gain per human
= 220 wh
= 2 x 100w light bulbs / h
With breathing and eating
= 466 x100 w light bulbs / h
Human Energy output into the Earth Environment.
Energy from a Human at rest outputs
=100 w
=1 x 100 w light bulbs / h
Energy from a human carrying out short term work for 1 hour
=100w for 1 hour
=1 x 100 w light bulbs / h
Source: http://www.recumbents.com/mars/tetz/E-Assist.htm
Energy from a human carrying out Labouring work for 8 hours
=75w constantly
=1 x 100 w light bulbs / h
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_power
Energy a human body can generate
=10 to 100 millivolts over 0.01-10 microns producing local fields of 103-107 volts/m
Allowing for 1 millivolts and 1 amp making 0.001 watts
= 0.01 w to 0.1 w
= 10000th to 1000th of a 100 watt light bulb / h
Conclusions.
There is a massive energy in balance occurring between humans and the environment.
Humans take in the equivalent of 2 to 466, 100w light bulbs, and could only output 10000th to 1000th of a 100 watt light bulb / h or manual labour to the energy level of 1 x 100w light bulb.
Even if; by 2100; there was only 1 human on Earth and not 26 billion, this depletion situation would still occur.
The energy in-balance can be assisted if human energy, resource and environment use is re-considered.
As an example. In relation to one of the largest energy uses humans create, a dwelling for themselves and their families.
The energy use of a pre 2007, 2storey, 3Bedroom, 4 Person House ( 2st3B4P ) is approx.
87m2 = 87 x 51 kwh/m²/yr = 4500 kwh/yr = 0.51 kwh/h = 510 wh/h = approx. 5 x 100w light bulbs /h.
The energy use of a post 2020, peak oil, 2storey, 3 Bedroom, 4 Person House ( 2st3B4P) is approx.
87m2 = 87 x 30 kWh/m²/yr = 2610 kwh/yr = 0.30 kwh/h = 300 wh/h = approx. 3 x 100w light bulbs / h.
If the dwelling can be reduced in size to one third of its 2020 area; 30msq or less; then each human occupant could assist in the total energy input for the dwelling at a level of 100w/h each.
The progress of energy depletion is however not arrested until a review of human life is carried out.
At current 2014 levels of energy generation the mass to energy to mass ratio has not been overcome and humans are still depleting energy, resources and environment.
They also have to contend with the environmental changes their previous energy and resource use has caused to the climate.
Humans can use themselves as portable energy sources to alleviate their future.
They will have to change their nature of dwelling, needs and values post 2020 up to 2100.
Ian K Whittaker
My websites:
https://sites.google.com/site/architecturearticles
Email: iankwhittaker@gmail.com
19/02/2015
14/10/2020
745 words over 2 pages