⚡ The Solar Scale Fact (Ember)

Q: What is Ember's core solar vs. fossil fuels comparison?

A: The sun delivers as much energy to Earth every 5 days as all fossil fuel reserves — tapped and untapped — combined, for the rest of time. This isn't a future projection. It's physics. Ember, Reframing Energy 2024

Q: How did solar perform in 2025 specifically?

A: Solar alone met 75% of all electricity demand growth globally in 2025. Solar + wind combined met 99%. Solar generation rose 30% year-over-year to 2,778 TWh — the highest growth rate in 8 years. Ember Global Elec. Review 2026

Q: When did renewables surpass coal in global electricity?

A: In 2025 — for the first time in 100 years. Renewables hit 34% of global electricity generation; coal fell to 33%. Fossil fuel generation edged down 0.2%, the 5th year this century without growth in fossil electricity. Carbon Brief, Apr '26

Q: How much more efficient is electrotech vs. fossil fuel systems?

A: Electrotech is roughly 3x more efficient. Fossil fuel systems waste two-thirds of primary energy inputs (~380 exajoules) as heat, at a cost of $5 trillion per year. Solar also gives access to 100x more energy than fossil fuels. Ember, Electrotech Revolution

Q: How does electricity investment compare to fossil fuel investment today?

A: Electricity sector investment hit $1.5 trillion in 2025 — roughly 50% higher than total spending on bringing oil, natural gas, and coal to market. Total clean energy investment is projected at $2.2 trillion. IEA World Energy Invest. 2025


🏠 Saul Griffith: Homes & the 42%

Q: What share of US emissions come from homes and personal vehicles?

A: 42%. Households and personal vehicles are the single largest addressable emissions category — and the one most directly in reach of individual action. Rewiring America, Oct '20

Q: What is Griffith's core thesis in Electrify?

A: We need to swap 1 billion fossil-fuel-burning machines for electric ones — cars, furnaces, water heaters, stoves, etc. — using technology that exists today. The strategy: electrify everything. Don't wait for better tech. Start swapping when your gas stuff breaks. MIT Press, Electrify (2021)

Q: What is Griffith's "1B Machines" framework?

A: The US runs on roughly 1 billion fossil fuel machines. Visualize the grid not as wires and plants, but as the aggregate demand of a billion devices. Electrifying them is the transition. The machines are the policy. Griffith, Medium, 2019