<DrumBeat: December 10, 2008 The Oil Drum Introducing: TOD: 'Campfire'>

103 comments on A Resilient Suburbia 4: Accounting for the Value of Decentralization

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jeffvail on December 10, 2008 - 11:58am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I agree that, as presently structured, suburbia and urban settlement are roughly equally hierarchal. I do think, however, that the very distributed land ownership model present in suburbia (which, admittedly, is far to vague a term here) is critical. I think, ultimately, the peak oil crisis will render most present institutions untenable, and as a result those areas currently characterized by more distributed land-ownership will trend toward more decentralized (and, in my mind, more sustainable and fulfilling) replacement structures, whereas those areas currently characterized by more concentrated land-ownership will trend toward a more feudal replacement structure...

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Iaato on December 10, 2008 - 7:35pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Great thesis, Jeff. The question is just how "very distributed" the land ownership model is in suburbia? While there is surplus energy for personal transportation, suburbia may represent the best of both worlds in terms of natural resource contributions/green space and urban concentrations of energy, materials, and specialized jobs (Odum). But without surplus energy, there is no personal, private transport, and the green space may not be an adequate footprint to support the dispersed, decentralized type of lifestyles that the future will require. Maybe inner suburbs won't make it, and outer, more dispersed suburbs and exurbs will do OK?

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103 comments on A Resilient Suburbia 4: Accounting for the Value of Decentralization

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