As climate change continues to be one of our biggest global challenges, we often turn to technology to help us cut down on energy use, reliance on fossil fuels and the production of harmful greenhouse gasses. But, can some energy saving methods really end up using more energy? Join OURFUTURE.ENERGY as they debate the energy efficient methods that are not actually as efficient as you might think, all thanks to something called the ‘rebound effect’.
So which energy saving methods are the big offenders? Renewable energy sources such as pumped hydro storage plants, renewable fuels such as hydrogen, recycling and even carbon capture, a method that stops harmful carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere! What makes these technologies use so much energy and can they still be beneficial to society and our environment? How do we balance the energy trilemma of sustainability (not wasting energy or harming our planet), accessibility (the cost and location of energy sources) and security (making sure energy is available when we want it, now and in the future)?