Explore the vast range of titles available.

Using a fascinating array of examples, Fressoz describes how we have gorged on all forms of energy - with whole forests needed to prop up coal mines, coal remaining central to the creation of innumerable new products and oil still central to our lives. The world now burns more wood and coal than ever before. This book reveals an uncomfortable truth: 'transition' was originally itself promoted by energy companies, not as a genuine plan, but as a means to put off any meaningful change. 'More and More and More' forces its readers to understand the modern world in all its voracious reality, and the true nature of the challenges heading our way.

How will humanity continue to meet its energy needs without destroying the conditions necessary to sustain human life on earth? The search for an answer to this question depends as much on the past as on the present; and as much on the physical sciences as on the social sciences. This book offers a truly trans-disciplinary and trans-cultural look at the problem of energy production and consumption in modern times. Discussing issues of history, politics, science, risk, lifestyle and representation, contributors demonstrate that experiences through time can provide insights into the kinds of solutions that have succeeded, as well as reasons why other solutions have failed. They also show what different countries and cultures might learn from each other, emphasizing how discoveries in one discipline have inspired new approaches in another discipline. Among many other important conclusions, the book suggests that energy transitions do not occur simply because of the exhaustion of old energy sources, and any solutions to the incipient energy crisis of the 21st century will depend on people's perceptions of science, environment and risk, informed and shaped in turn by the media. Brendan Dooley is Professor at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, International University Bremen, Germany. Contents: Introduction, Brendan Dooley. Part 1 Energy and History: Energy transitions in historical perspective, Martin Melosi; Hydraulic energy, society and economic growth, Salvatore Ciriacono; Work and environment in Mediterranean Europe, Guiliana Biagioli. Part 2 Energy and Politics: Energy and sustainable development, Jürgen-Friedrich Hake and Regina Eich; On the creation and distribution of energy rents, Bernard Beaudreau; Liberalization of electricity markets in selected European countries, Paul Welfens and Martin Keim. Part 3 Energy and Science: Science and education, Petra Lietz and Dieter Kotte; Tomorrow's scientists: where will we find them?, Linda Miller. Part 4 Energy and Lifestyle: Obstacles to the use of renewable energy sources in Bulgaria, Antoaneta Yotova; Present situation and future challenges of the Estonian energy sector, Olev Liik; Energy efficiency and lifestyle, András Zöld. Part 5 Energy and Risk: Social uncertainty and global risks, Michalis Lianos; Energy technologies and integrated risks, Natasa Markovska, Nada Pop-Jordanova and Jordan Pop-Jordanov. Part 6 Energy and Opinion: Measuring and explaining environmental behaviour: the case of Spain, Juan Díez-Nicolás; Afterword, Brendan Dooley; Index.

In recent years it has become commonplace to downplay notions of an industrial revolution and argue instead that Britain's transformation was gradual and incremental. In The Industrial Revolution and the Atlantic Economy Brinley Thomas contests this view, arguing that change in the energy base and hence in technology has enabled Britain to overcome an energy crisis and sustain dramatic population growth. Throughout these essays illustrate the organic approach to economic growth that Brinley Thomas pioneered.

Since the discovery of fire, humans have been energy users. And this is a good thing--our mastery of energy is what separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom and has allowed us to be the dominant species on the planet. However, this mastery comes with a price: we are changing our environment in a profoundly negative way by heating it up. Using one engaging story after another, coupled with accessible scientific facts, world authority Richard B. Alley explores the history of energy use by humans over the centuries, gives a doubt-destroying proof that already-high levels of carbon dioxide are causing damaging global warming, and surveys the alternative energy options that are available to exploit right now. These new energy sources might well be the engines for economic growth in the twenty-first century.--From publisher description.

Argues that change in the energy base and hence in technology has enabled Britain to overcome an energy crisis and sustain dramatic population growth. Throughout these essays illustrate Thomas' organic approach to economic growth

Power to the People examines the varied but interconnected relationships between energy consumption and economic development in Europe over the last five centuries. It describes how the traditional energy economy of medieval and early modern Europe was marked by stable or falling per capita energy consumption, and how the First Industrial Revolution in the eighteenth century--fueled by coal and steam engines--redrew the economic, social, and geopolitical map of Europe and the world. The Second Industrial Revolution continued this energy expansion and social transformation through the use of oil and electricity, but after 1970 Europe entered a new stage in which energy consumption has stabilized. This book challenges the view that the outsourcing of heavy industry overseas is the cause, arguing that a Third Industrial Revolution driven by new information and communication technologies has played a major stabilizing role. Power to the People offers new perspectives on the challenges posed today by climate change and peak oil, demonstrating that although the path of modern economic development has vastly increased our energy use, it has not been a story of ever-rising and continuous consumption. The book sheds light on the often lengthy and complex changes needed for new energy systems to emerge, the role of energy resources in economic growth, and the importance of energy efficiency in promoting growth and reducing future energy demand.

Access to clean, affordable and reliable energy has been a cornerstone of the world's increasing prosperity and economic growth since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Our use of energy in the twenty–first century must also be sustainable. Solar and water–based energy generation, and engineering of microbes to produce biofuels are a few examples of the alternatives. This Perspective puts these opportunities into a larger context by relating them to a number of aspects in the transportation and electricity generation sectors. It also provides a snapshot of the current energy landscape and discusses several research and development opportunities and pathways that could lead to a prosperous, sustainable and secure energy future for the world.