Peak Oil: Transforming the Way We Live
Peak Oil: Transforming the Way We Live
By Jennifer Fix
How will we get to the grocery store if there is no gas to fill our tanks? How will the grocery stores stock the shelves with tomatoes in February if food cannot be trucked in from
While some argue that alternatives to oil and natural gas will be found, it is important to appreciate the importance of energy to our economy and social structure, and the powerful energy source that fossil fuels have been for humanity. Humans have always needed energy to survive. During the Paleolithic era (or “Stone Age”), humans’ primary energy source was accessed through human effort (i.e. hunting and gathering food). This changed with the rise of Neolithic culture and the domestication of plants and animals as a means to access energy; i.e. with the advent of agriculture. However, the actual amount of energy harnessed and used annually per person was the same in both eras, and remained fairly constant until the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th century (Sahlins 1972).
During and after the 30 Industrial Revolution, per capita energy consumption grew rapidly; first through the use of wood for fuel, then through the use of coal, and now through the large-scale exploitation of oil. Since the Industrial Revolution, per capita energy consumption has increased every year, with the exception of a minor interruption in the late 1970s because of a major increase in oil prices. To comprehend how intensive our food system, cities and lifestyles are, we can note that current global per capita energy consumption is large enough to equal the work done by 50 slaves. In wealthier countries like
Since our lifestyles have been designed around the availability of cheap fossil fuels, the ability to meet our basic needs - like eating and keeping warm during cold prairie winters – is dependent on affordable and easily accessible oil and natural gas. When supplies of oil and natural gas begin to diminish, a somewhat rough transition is likely to occur. We will see a sudden rise in the price of oil and gas followed by a drop in per capita energy consumption. While this will bring difficulty, society and the environment will likely benefit as fewer greenhouse gases will be produced, and our collective ecological footprint will be significantly reduced Nonetheless, it makes good sense to begin planning to soften the landing. Here are ways that each of us can prepare for the Peak Oil transition:
• Grow a garden and/or support local, organic agriculture. In the future, the land area from which we get our food will be much smaller and closer-to-home, so it makes sense to begin building a self-reliant food system now. Learning how to preserve vegetables and fruit for the winter months is also a good idea.
• Support local businesses. Due to a decline in oil-intensive transportation and trade, we will be more focused on a local economy. Building local networks and strengthening a local economy is an exciting process that can begin now.
• In deciding where to live, choose a neighbourhood that is self-contained and walkable. For example, select a neighbourhood that has a grocery store and other services within walking distance. Car-oriented neighbourhoods will be more challenging places to live in the coming years.
• Reduce consumption and try living with less. Watch where you “spend” your energy and make a point of reducing your ecological footprint. This process can be both fun and empowering.
Jennifer Fix is currently finishing her Masters degree in Community and Regional Planning at the
References and more informati on
Darley, J. 2004. High Noon for Natural Gas: The New Energy Crisis. Chelsea Green Publishing: White River Junction,
Heinberg, R. 2004. Powerdown: Options and Actions for a Post Carbon World. New Society Publishers:
