[MD]

Like an addict on one last sail before entering rehab, have you responded to peak oil by binging on energy or other activities?

In my case, I have taken six vacations in the last year.

[MD]

Same question applies to larger economies, all the way up to global.

Does PO awareness tend to increase or decrease energy use?
Regionally?
Nationally?
Globally?

[AgentR]

Not really done much different energy wise. Its just too dang cheap for now to worry about.

There are more important preperation steps that need my time and attention. Practicing permaculture designs, planting fruit trees, giving mushrooms a try; planting rice for the first time, etc.

[MD]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AgentR', 'N')ot really done much different energy wise. Its just too dang cheap for now to worry about.

There are more important preperation steps that need my time and attention. Practicing permaculture designs, planting fruit trees, giving mushrooms a try; planting rice for the first time, etc.

[WildRose]

Personally, PO awareness has caused me to do all I can to reduce energy use by using less hot water, electricity and gasoline. I'm doing what I can to plan errands in the most gas-efficient manner, even though driving has been cheaper of late. But I must admit that I'm thinking about the places (far away) that I'd like to go before it's no longer possible to do so.

As far as the larger picture goes, I'd wager that not much is being done to curtail energy use. I think the combination of developing alternatives and searching for more oil has got to be causing an energy binge. For a while it seemed the airline industry might be moving to reduce flights, etc., but now it just seems like business as usual. Another area of big concern is the electrical grid; I don't think usage is slowing down in this area either, what with more refrigeration, air conditioning and bigger TVs and such.

[Don35]

I've been working to reduce my energy consumption for many years. It's just what I have always believed (and saves me money). PO has made me consume less useless "stuff" and buy more PO prep stuff.

[Concerned]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MD', 'S')ame question applies to larger economies, all the way up to global.

Does PO awareness tend to increase or decrease energy use?
Regionally?
Nationally?
Globally?

[MD]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Concerned', '
')I read an article that essentially said high energy prices in the short term lead to economic growth. People get second jobs to pay for the increases in energy. Which leads to added income and spending..

[peaker_2005]

Should I gain employment and have spare money before the crash, I will probably travel.

Though it'll likely be by train (unless it's overseas). Don't ask me why, but I don't really care how long the trip takes... Planes at takeoff feel extremely unnatural.

[dissimulo]

The Irony of Peak Oil Awareness

Since I posted the above, I have continued to consume a much greater amount of energy than at any previous point in my life. If everyone reacted to PO as I have, we'd be doomed. Thankfully, everyone has not, and I am more self-sufficient all the time.

I figure my energy consumption will dramatically drop in about two years when I am done re-engineering. If I live another 80 years, my recent energy consumption might balance out, but the odds of living another 80 years are exceedingly slim.

[MD]

Expending additional energy now in order to reduce future needs is rational behavior.

Having an energy party now because it won't be available later is not rational.

I am doing both, and it appears I am not alone.

[smallpoxgirl]

I think it is very clear that has not happened on a societal scale. Production volumes have been flat for a couple of years, and prices are way down. That can only be explained by demand destruction. If everyone were binging, prices would be way up. I also don't think, though, that societally we are anywhere near a mass acceptance of peak oil. I think basically the splurging mentality boils down to "I've got to use lots of energy before everybody else figures this out and the prices goes up." Sort of like hurrying to sell a stock because you have inside info that the company is about to go bankrupt.

[Zardoz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MD', 'L')ike an addict on one last sail before entering rehab...

[Battle_Scarred_Galactico]

We stifle the growth of Chinese power by using up the resource that they would consume to grow on. We gulp it down and grow as much as possible before they do.


I think its' pretty obvious thats the plan. No dominant power ever gives up its' posistion willingly.

I think when it comes to it (and it will), the US would much rather destroy resources than lose them to a rising power.

[MD]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Battle_Scarred_Galactico', '
')I think when it comes to it (and it will), the US would much rather destroy resources than lose them to a rising power.

[Bytesmiths]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MD', 'L')ike an addict on one last sail before entering rehab, have you responded to peak oil by binging on energy or other activities?

[MD]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Bytesmiths', '
')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MD', 'I')n my case, I have taken six vacations in the last year.

[Bytesmiths]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MD', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Bytesmiths', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MD', 'I')n my case, I have taken six vacations in the last year.