E2: Energy

E2 is a critically important look at some of the solutions available to us for a wide range of problems posed by a society based on fossil fuels (climate change, peak oil, oil spills, devastation caused by mining, air pollution, etc.). Beautifully filmed, with a perfect soundtrack, this is an inspiring response to the despair so many are feeling due to the environmental destruction that is going on all around us.The E2 DVD contains 6 half hour episodes on topics such as windpower, evolving car design, biofuels and microloans for the poor to develop small solar projects. There's also an episode on better approaches to coal and nuclear power, but I'd prefer those technologies get mothballed and that instead we focus on solar, wind, tidal, conservation, increased efficiency, green building, better urban design and so forth. The second installment of E2  e2: Design Season 2  covers another series of innovations that are taking place.Congratulations to PBS for producing this wonderful DVD.I hope many Amazon customers will get hold of it and share it with others.I'd also recommend: A Crude Awakening - The Oil Crash Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil Plenty Magazine Radiant City Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century Yes!

The world needs to know more about the limits of carbon-based energy, and its indirect costs. Today, the rapidly rising direct cost of petroleum generally pushes the ongoing global warming (or climate change) debate off the table. The good news is that the price of oil is now so high that people are forced to consider conservation and alternatives through the traditional price mechanism rather than through Sting, Joseph Kennedy, Al Gore's hypocritical chiding. Those high prices are a clear signal that, regardless of your political or environmental bent, we just can't afford business as usual with oil.The bad news is that the government is not likely to be of help here. Carbon taxes on clearly dysfunctional consumption are unpopular an regressive and subsidies to nascent industries such as wind, ethanol, and other hybrid energies are not likely to produce what we really need. Again, the market will work.The stories are current; the production values are high but the right questions are not always asked nor are the broadest array of solutions and critics considered. Interviewing a journalist for the market-oriented magazine/newspaper, The Economist," does not do enough to provide balance or insight. CAFE standards are an inferior, meddling solution. Subsidies for ethanol have grossly distorted food prices and shifted the energy problem from calories of heat t calories of food to consume. The viewer is left more with dismay and pessimism than with hope for the future.Less hand wringing and more examples of solutions would be appreciated, but that does not detract from the basic value of the series' message.

Frank and thorough discussion of development of sustainability energy programs in California while looking at puny reasons federal government does not create a federal energy policy. Worthwhile video.

what a eye opener

This was very good, educational and informational when it comes to a rural area building wind generators. I personally enjoyed watching this, and I totally support renewable energy solutions.

I'm very happy to have seen this wonderful program. I wish everyone would......But every time I turn around, I get the feeling Amazon is going to charge me for it, again.

It's interesting to see how much has changed in terms of our view on energy. FutureGen has essentially been canned. Nuclear is in the doghouse, even though it's the best large-scale carbon-free energy source. People are starting to see that wind is not as great as it sounds. And the shale gas/oil discoveries have completely changed the game for the US, kind of like the iPhone did for cell phones.

Although this series came out several years ago, the subjects and information are timely and relevant, as well as presented in an interesting way.