Wings Cruising Log

While reading about California and Washington's power shortages we were struck by one figure which was frequently mentioned: 1000 watts is enough for one average household. This translates to a monthly household usage of about 720 kw/hrs which isn't too far from the average monthly household figures of 300-600 kw/hrs we found on the Internet. On Wings we use 75 watts or less, and our monthly usage is around 30-60 kw/hrs, less than 1/10 the power of an average household. A good portion of this is supplied by solar panels. Granted, we don't have a dishwasher, air-conditioning, or a big screen TV. I wouldn't say that we are "back to nature" advocates, but we are happy that our lifestyle, in some ways, has less impact on the environment.

I remember wandering around in downtown Chicago during a heat wave in 1994 or 1995. It had been well over 100 degrees for several days, but in downtown Chicago there were many thousands of very, very large office blocks, all cooled to a pleasant 70 degrees. Standing on a boiling hot sidewalk, looking around the nearby blocks, I was astounded at the magnitude of power usage this required. Then I considered that this was just one city out of many hundreds of cities, and that air-conditioning was just one of many many uses of power.

So really, how long can the human race continue to use energy at its current rate of consumption? One does not have to use this much power, we prove this onboard our boat.

What it seems like is going to happen in California and Washington is that either power rates are going up or the taxpayers as a whole are going to bail out the power companies, or both. In any case the cost of electrical power is going up. We think this is good in a way because it may reduce demand and usage. Of course those with money will continue to consume, only low income people will be forced to turn off the dishwashers and air-conditioners. Isn't it the same on a world wide scale? This year we visited several countries where the average family could only afford electricity for a small refrigerator, a TV, and a few lights, and that's all. On a world wide basis, guess where all the power is going...to countries like Mexico, Fiji and Vanuatu or to Europe, America and Australia?

If this sounds like we are standing on a soap box...well, I guess we are. Maybe its time. (Alternatively, let's all get sailboats with solar panels.)

Fred & Judy

Photo of Festivities in Sydney, Australia