If we come up with free energy(hypothetical), what will people do with the money they save?

[Tim01]

I believe they will go to Walmart and buy more plastic stuff. Or maybe a more expensive car with a bigger engine.
Thoughts?

[dem629]

1. Could be. And it's up to them.

[OhioChick]

2. Something will go up to eat up that cost savings...food, tuition, housing, etc. n/t

[NYC_SKP]

3. If "people" includes corporations, it will hasten the end of planet Earth as we know it.

Energy and resource costs are among the limiting factors that regulate the rate at which we increase our raping and ruining our planet.

Elimination the energy cost component would probably increase the rate at which we bring down ruin.

And, yes, more plastic crap from Walmart.

:cry:

[Tim01]

4. I hadn't thought of it.

But yeah, you're right.

[pscot]

5. I'd rather have a pig with wings

Flying hams. Yum.

[salguine]

6. We'll all go on pink unicorn rides. Because there will be pink unicorns before

the energy companies ever allow Congress to do any such thing.

[Posteritatis]

7. I'd use my free energy and savings to help establish my impenetrable moon fortress. (nt)

[Statistical]

8. Luckily such a thing will never happen (law of conservation of energy and all that)

We "could" we a massive reduction in energy costs.

Electrical power is currently ~0.10 per KWH.

Say a new source of energy came out that was 90% cheaper. ~0.01 per KWH. This would radically change life as we know it.

Electric Vehicles even @ $40K would suddenly seem cheap. Average midized EV gets 3 miles per KWH so at $0.01 per KWH 12,000 miles would cost about $40. A years worth of power for transportation costing $40.

Even hydrogen would be vastly cheaper than gasoline. Hydrogen has about 50% of the efficiency of a pure EV but at $0.01 per KWH hydrogen would be incredibly cheap. Operating cost would be $100 for $12K miles.

EV and Hydrogen would replace oil/gasoline/diesel for transportation in less than a decade.

Lots of staples of life (food, clean water, heating, cooling) are very dependent on energy and transportation costs.

The poor would benefit the most as transportation, heating, cooling, electricity, food, and water costs make up a substantial portion of their expenses.

[Motown_Johnny]

9. Hookers and Booze

[Maru Kitteh]

10. Beer and hookers. My first thought. Damn it.

[Oregone]

11. Spend it on the next resource that becomes controlled

Probably water

[omega minimo]

12. Spend it on public education so people weren't ignorant about history, respecting other cultures

:evilfrown: