[ExI] repercieve the economy [was: Engineering]

[ablainey at aol.com]

 I have been thinking about this for years now and it is becoming every more realistic when looking at our current economic system. Rather than try to find ways to raise money for future energy solutions. I think we need to re-evaluate the way we perceive the problem and change our economy accordingly. 
We are arguing in terms of MWh gained per $ spent. When we should be arguing in terms of energy outlay per energy return. MWh out vs MWh in. 
If the economy were shifted to an energy backed standard instead of a tangible commodity like Gold. It would be easier to see what pays for itself and yields a profit. 
A solar satellite would then have a substantial energy cost value instead of a $ value. It may cost 200MWh to produce and launch the thing and have an estimated return of 30000MWh during its expected lifetime. (random figures)

When applied to the global economy imagining the Earth' surface divided into hexagonal cells like a mobile network. We could calculate average solar energy fall onto each area, then subtract the actual energy collection of each cell to give an efficiency rating. Areas nearer the equator would be potentially energy rich compared to higher/lower latitudes. Likewise States with greater landmass would be potentially richer. Which may actually be the exactly opposite regionally to the $ economy of the world.
A Nation that invests it energy into Space based solar energy collection would effectively be increasing its landmass and thus its economy.
We all start paying for groceries in kWh instead of $. Which actually reflects the cost of an item not just its perceived value. The raw material cost, mining, refining, production, transport, storage all becomes apparent in the cost. Tomatoes that cost $0.20 to buy don't reflect the true cost in energy terms today, but in an energy based economy a tomato that has been transported 5000 miles would be far more expensive than one produced on a local farm.
Non renewables become free money created by nature to give us a leg up to better technology.

I just think that in a world where energy is the number one commodity, we need to start using it as our global unit of currency. Doing so is the only way to increase our efficiency as a species and will drive us to the stars as it will be the only realistic method of long term economic growth. 


 
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