<Peak Oil and Senegal The Oil Drum DrumBeat: April 14, 2007>

296 comments on The ELP Plan: Economize; Localize & Produce

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The Welsh Dwarf on April 13, 2007 - 11:41am Permalink | Subthread | Comments top

I must admit that I'm currently still in 2 minds about what to do.

I'm 26, engaged, and have 2000m² of land in the north of France, about 35km from where I work (but since I'm in IT, I can use teleworking to cut that dow if need be) and am currently debt free, and live on more or less half my income.

I'm currently investing in insulation/heat pump, and am considering trying to make a lot of the energy infrastructure I'd need post peak (passive solar heating on the south wall of the house, home made wind + looking at how I could jerry rig lights/fridge etc with what I would have on hand). It's fun and even if nothing happens CERAiously, I'll have almost no utility bills left.

The garden is planned for this fall.

I suppose that I'm already doing some things, but I can't help but feel that come post peak, I'll either be caught out by the economic downturn (even post peak, they'll be taxes to pay), or find that I haven't planned enough (food shortages etc).

Any ideas on what else I could do, short of leaving it all behind and becoming a subsistance farmer?

Also, as for post peak jobs, how would 'technologist' come in? ie someone who can take some wood, and some cable, and put an alternator together etc...

David aka The Welsh Dwarf

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AlanfromBigEasy on April 13, 2007 - 12:12pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

As long as France has her nuclear reactors and the Foreign Legion to help gather uranium, I would not fear for the French grid.

France has a lot of things going for her post-Peak Oil, not least of which is the Foreign Legion.

OTOH, political stability is a historic problem.

Best Hopes for France,

Alan

And thanks for the help after Katrina. If only Washington had the attitude of Paris... Viva la France :-)

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The Welsh Dwarf on April 13, 2007 - 12:44pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

The reactors are great short term, and it's true that the electric rail is a real bonus, OTOH, the country is fairly big, which means a large grid. ATM repairs are fairly rapid, but in a doomer scenario, the shear size of the thing would be it's undoing, so it's good to have, but also good to keep safeguards ready.

Also, you can't eat current, and France's economy is still largely services based, which is as anti-ELP as you can get.

I don't think anywhere will escape PO unscathed.

David

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alistairC on April 13, 2007 - 7:17pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Largely service-based economy, yet more than self-sufficient in food. Farming is not, in general, on a huge industrial scale, but likely to be sustainable as long as there's enough fuel to run modest sized tractors.

Alistair (living in the Massif Central)

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The Welsh Dwarf on April 14, 2007 - 5:15am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

True true,

Also the markets will help feed a lot of people (by market I mean small gathering of farmers in the town square, not the other kind ;) )

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TenThousandMileMargin on April 14, 2007 - 9:47am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

As long as France has her nuclear reactors and the Foreign Legion to help gather uranium, I would not fear for the French grid.

Let's not get carried away. The largest uranium reserves are in Australia and Canada. Neither country is likely to tell the French to keep their money.

If we are to believe in things we cannot see or touch, how do we tell the true belief from the false belief?

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Magnus Redin on April 14, 2007 - 7:14am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I think a good next step could be to convince your neighbours to do the same kind of efficiency investments.
You could perhaps even install them as a part time job.

And it would be good to get to know your neighbours. Trust and help each other. That also makes for better living regardless of peak oil and you will get help with your garden if you fall and break a leg.

Perhaps you also could get into municipiality politics? I dont know about how such things are arranged in France but maybe the nearest village is dense enough for district heating and a miniature combined heat and power plant. If that gets built you will have the local services working with heat and power if there would be a major grid disturbance. I know some municipialities in Sweden has such plans.

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296 comments on The ELP Plan: Economize; Localize & Produce

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