by Free » Wed 07 Sep 2005, 21:30:44
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Leanan', 'C')NN this morning showed a line of cars over a mile long in Biloxi. They were waiting in line for gas. And get this: there was no gas. The gas station was dry, but somehow, a rumor spread that the station had gas, and the line formed.
Today many newspapers had an anecdotal story (sort of to cheer up the price-shocked refuelers), how in belgium, due to a mechanical misfunction of the pump, it was alledgedly possible to get gas for "free",
and then the word spread immediately and within minutes there where very long lines.
Generally it is to say that apart from the usual stupid moaning (price gouging oil majors, evil taxes from evil politicians, yadda yadda yadda), there emerged a new kind of energy-story both in newspapers and television here: The energy saving tips.
Whole features about how much electricity one can save with energy saving lamps, switching off electronics when they are on standby and so on. Also about alternatives (biodiesel etc.) to gas. Obviously we have reached a point already where people seriously consider alternatives and cut back on consumption.
But the best part of the energy-saving stories is always the end: "Now that this family has saved a couple of hundreds of Euro for electricity, they can easily afford a nice holiday..." Jevons paradox anyone?