Me:
Let's imagine a future where nearly all people slept in micro hotels, owned a car, and kept most of their necessities in a car. Almost all people work remote and so have absolute mobility. My question is kind of an optimization question of which is more energy efficient.
Option A: Everyone moves with the weather so that the need for heating and cooling becomes nearly unnecessary, but people drive south in the winter and north in the summer but otherwise don't drive at all.
Option B: Everyone stays where they currently are.
So the problem is a question of which uses more energy the navigation from the latitude ideal average temperature in the winter to the same in the summer and back, or heating and cooling associated with not doing that navigation.
Answer:
To tackle this intriguing question, we need to consider the energy expenditures associated with both extensive seasonal migration (Option A) and the stationary lifestyle with local climate control (Option B). Let's break it down:

Option A: Seasonal Migration

1. Travel Energy: Moving a large population twice a year involves significant travel, whether by car or other means. This involves:

- **Fuel**: The energy cost of gasoline or electric power for vehicles.
- **Distance**: The distance moved would vary but could be significant (e.g., from northern U.S. to southern U.S.).
- **Efficiency**: The fuel efficiency of the vehicles used, which could vary widely.

1. Reduced Climate Control Energy: Minimizing the need for heating or air conditioning by staying in regions with temperate weather reduces energy consumption significantly.

Option B: Staying Stationary

1. Heating and Cooling: This involves the energy required to heat and cool homes and offices throughout the year, which can be considerable, especially in areas with extreme temperatures.

- **Insulation Quality**: Better insulated buildings require less energy for climate control.
- **Energy Source**: The type of energy (electric, gas, renewable) and its efficiency.
- **Temperature Extremes**: Places with harsh winters and/or hot summers will use more energy.

Analyzing the Options

To determine which option is more energy-efficient, you would compare the total annual energy used per person in each scenario. Here's a simplified model:

1. Calculate Annual Travel Energy for Option A:

- Estimate the average travel distance for migration.
- Consider the mode of travel and its energy consumption per mile.
- Calculate total energy based on the number of trips (likely two per year).

1. Estimate Reduced Climate Control Energy for Option A:

- Estimate typical energy use for heating and cooling in stationary homes.
- Apply reduction factors based on moving to areas with optimal temperatures.

1. Calculate Energy Use for Heating and Cooling in Option B:

- Estimate energy used for heating and cooling per household per year, considering local climate data.

Estimations and Assumptions

To illustrate, let's make some broad assumptions and calculations for a general idea:

• Travel Distance for Option A: Approximately 1,000 miles each way, twice per year.
• Vehicle Fuel Efficiency: 25 miles per gallon or the electric equivalent.
• Energy for Heating/Cooling in Option B: Depending on the insulation and climate, assume an average of 10,000 kWh per household per year.

Let's calculate the energy consumption for both scenarios for one person assuming a car travel scenario for Option A and a typical household energy use for Option B.
Let's do the math for these scenarios now.
Based on the calculations with the assumptions made:

• Option A (Seasonal Migration): The energy required per person for moving back and forth annually is approximately 2,696 kWh.
• Option B (Staying Stationary): The average energy used per person for heating and cooling in a stationary lifestyle is about 10,000 kWh per year.

From this simple model, Option A appears to be more energy-efficient, consuming significantly less energy compared to maintaining a stationary lifestyle where heating and cooling are necessary throughout the year.
However, it's important to note that these calculations are quite simplified and don't account for several factors such as:

• The energy costs of infrastructure and logistics associated with frequent migration.
• Variations in vehicle fuel efficiency, types of vehicles, and potential use of mass transportation.
• Differences in actual household energy usage based on specific geographic and climatic conditions.
• The impact of using renewable energy sources and advancements in building insulation and HVAC technologies in stationary setups.

For a comprehensive analysis, these factors would need to be detailed and incorporated into the model.
Analysis:

# Constants and assumptions
miles_traveled_per_year = 1000 * 2  # 1000 miles one way, twice per year
fuel_efficiency = 25  # miles per gallon or equivalent
gallon_gasoline_energy = 33.7  # kWh per gallon of gasoline
household_energy_use_per_year = 10000  # kWh for heating and cooling per household per year

# Calculations for Option A: Seasonal Migration
energy_per_trip = (miles_traveled_per_year / fuel_efficiency) * gallon_gasoline_energy
total_energy_option_a = energy_per_trip

# Calculation for Option B: Staying Stationary
# Assuming average household energy is directly applicable to one person for comparison
total_energy_option_b = household_energy_use_per_year

total_energy_option_a, total_energy_option_b

Result: (2696.0, 10000)