5.1 The Fourth Industrial Revolution
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The conventional paradigm changed after many catastrophic global, regional, and
local events including the First and Second World Wars, the oil crisis of 1970s, innumerable nuclear accidents in nuclear power plants, destruction of forests, environmental degradation due to large hydro projects, and the evidence of global warming.
The developed countries were compelled to change their approach to energy generation which was based on the fact that the performance of energy using equipment
was more significant than the quantum of energy used. For example, improving the
cooling efficiency of air conditioners to reduce electricity consumption or improving
the heating efficiency of electric heater or the efficiency in mobility provided by
vehicles that use gasoline to convert heat energy to mechanical, and so on. In other
words, it was the energy efficiency that took precedence over all other considerations. The new paradigm, while agreeing with the prevailing approach of substantial
149
The conventional paradigm changed after many catastrophic global, regional, and
local events including the First and Second World Wars, the oil crisis of 1970s, innumerable nuclear accidents in nuclear power plants, destruction of forests, environmental degradation due to large hydro projects, and the evidence of global warming.
The developed countries were compelled to change their approach to energy generation which was based on the fact that the performance of energy using equipment
was more significant than the quantum of energy used. For example, improving the
cooling efficiency of air conditioners to reduce electricity consumption or improving
the heating efficiency of electric heater or the efficiency in mobility provided by
vehicles that use gasoline to convert heat energy to mechanical, and so on. In other
words, it was the energy efficiency that took precedence over all other considerations. The new paradigm, while agreeing with the prevailing approach of substantial