Guys, the point is to be aware of the environmental consequences of escalting enrgy use. And Lance, your numbers are way Wrong.
The world uses about 16 Tera watts of energy now. 2 tera watts of that is electric power at any given moment. or the equivalent of 2000 standard sized 1000 mega watt nuclear generating plants.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._the_World.PNG
there are currently 438 nukes operating around the world, producing about 20% of the electric power. 103 of them still running in the USA, and 18 in canada. ours acount for 20% of our power too.
So another 1200 or so nukes to replace the coal plants is ...doable. or a combination of other means.
the problem is most of that 16 TW comes from fossil fuels, for cars, industry and heating and lighting homes, all producing the CO2 that is changing the ocean chemistry and destroying reefs.
So my point would be to be more efficient in tank energy use, and every other aspect of life and perhaps the changing attitude will make the difference.
We should at least stop and think before we jump off the cliff. So that we know what and why is about to happen next.
Like why grow frags in the bottom of a 29 inch deep tank with 250 w MH lights when a 8- 12 inch deep tank with T8s is just as bright?
Save Watts! Save a Reef!