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From Peak Oilers to Citizens for Sustainable Living

Posted by Glenn on September 14, 2005 - 8:36pm in The Oil Drum: Local
Topic: Demand/Consumption

I want to add some balance to some of the supply-side conversations we have had here at TOD. I think Stuart has done some great analyses of potential depletion curves, physics and predictions of future supply. If we can sharpen up these analyses and get people to start taking a harder look at these numbers, we will continue to see prices rise to more appropriately value this extremely precious commodity.

But then what? Demand destruction can happen two ways: (A) loss of economic activity or (B) a shift toward a more sustainable economic system.

That is why I would like to start reframing the peak oil issue from one that focuses on the negative doom and gloom consequences of inaction into one that presents a positive vision of creating a sustainable society with healthier lifestyles for all citizens. However negative the consequences, we must focus on what we are for, not just what we are against.

Here's a brief summary of what I have collected that we as peak oilers (Citizens for sustainable living?) are for:

  1. Insist on complete transparency of the world's oil reserves and production on a well by well basis.
  2. Make national energy independence a national economic and security goal
  3. Create an energy efficiency ethic in society that abhors wasteful behaviors
  4. Raise fuel economy standards for passenger cars and trucks - encourage adoption of hybrids, electric plug-ins and other more sustainable automobile designs
  5. Re-institute the 55 mph speed limit for maximum efficiency
  6. Decrease traffic through better design, congestion pricing, more telecommuting, staggered start hours, off-peak commuting incentives carpooling, etc.
  7. Invest in building and maintaining mass transit systems to connect as many communities as possible.
  8. Invest in the national passenger and freight rail infrastructure
  9. Revise building codes for maxiumum energy efficiency
  10. Encourage walking, biking, line skating and all forms of self propelled transportation through clearly marked lanes and public awareness campaigns.
  11. Encourage local food production, urban green gardens, farmer markets.
  12. Generate as much local power as possible from solar, wind, biomass, hydro/tidal and other sustainable forms of energy

I invite others to post their own ideas, elaborate on those listed above, debate which are the most important.

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