The problem with 1 and 2 is political.
When will there be political will to invoke number one and when will the NEB feel politically un-encumbered to act on the mandate. Number two will happen after one I would guess.
For the first the question is: "When will be willing to risk the USA locking our manufacturing, other resource areas and sevice sectors out of their economy?" Any answer would be a guess but I think the debate must be joined in Canada at the political level to even hope to raise the prospect. No matter what political party or position we have we need to get people in all parties and provinces discussing it ASAP. Maybe there will be enought political weight in the new ASPO Canada to begin?
Not in this government. That would mean returning the EnerGuide program. (The one that was home made, accountable and cost effective)
Having an anti-urban sprawl plan
Getting banks involved to help add plans for people to renovate their homes for efficiency, add geothermal pipes , and solar/thermal panels.
We have nothing. We don't value the money it would take. It's too expensive we say, but it just means it's not free. But getting these add-ons would reduce load and make houses powerplants, creating cottage industries. During a crisis the costs will soar.
The timescales are too short for government policy to act with prudence and priorities. I wish I was more optimistic but in the end, they will just blame each other.
I would rather look at your local community. What are they doing? some links for ideas. Basically, when the global and national systems fail, go local.
I agree local is where we can start and have some effect. And many things are beginning to appear here in terms of local economic and energy intitatives. However, the debate must go up the political food chain if we are to have a hope of avoiding much of the chaos and suffering that will accompany economic recession or worse. In Ontario the province has begun very tentative initiatives on energy while pretending there is no economic disaster looming. And the more I read on TOD and elsewhere I am beginning to believe that the movers and shakers of the economy and politics KNOW how bad it could be. They, however, believe the population is generally stupid and should be kept in the dark lest we panic and stop buying toys and vote them out of office for stating reality. If credible people begin to discuss PO it might put it on the agenda. This seems to be happening in baby steps elsewhere but so far not a murmur in Canada.
When will there be political will to invoke number one and when will the NEB feel politically un-encumbered to act on the mandate. Number two will happen after one I would guess.
For the first the question is: "When will be willing to risk the USA locking our manufacturing, other resource areas and sevice sectors out of their economy?" Any answer would be a guess but I think the debate must be joined in Canada at the political level to even hope to raise the prospect. No matter what political party or position we have we need to get people in all parties and provinces discussing it ASAP. Maybe there will be enought political weight in the new ASPO Canada to begin?
Having an anti-urban sprawl plan
Getting banks involved to help add plans for people to renovate their homes for efficiency, add geothermal pipes , and solar/thermal panels.
We have nothing. We don't value the money it would take. It's too expensive we say, but it just means it's not free. But getting these add-ons would reduce load and make houses powerplants, creating cottage industries. During a crisis the costs will soar.
The timescales are too short for government policy to act with prudence and priorities. I wish I was more optimistic but in the end, they will just blame each other.
I would rather look at your local community. What are they doing? some links for ideas. Basically, when the global and national systems fail, go local.
http://sustainable.ie/powerdown/index.html
http://www.ibiblio.org/tcrp/pres/tcrp-intro.pdf