From Michael Edelman
Fred Pearce argues that the progress the Chinese have made in improving their
energy efficiency by a factor of 50 per cent suggests that the industrialised
West should have little difficulty in making more modest 7 per cent improvement
(Forum, 9 January, p 44).
But I fear he is ignoring the problem of diminishing returns. As efficiencies
increase, getting these last few per cent out becomes increasingly
difficult.
mje@mich.com
