Building a Future Without Oil Dependency
Having just finished reading 'A Declaration of Energy Independence: How Freedom from Foreign Oil Can Improve National Security, Our Economy and the Environment,' by Jay Hakes, my mind is spinning with all of the issues that he brings up. Hakes was the head of the Energy Information Administration at the U.S. Department of Energy during the Clinton administration, so he's a pretty reliable expert on the topic.
In the book, Hakes makes a strong case that not only will weaning the U.S. off foreign oil dependency benefit the country in the long run, but that it is very much possible. Hakes points out that measures enacted by the U.S. government during the 1970's energy crisis, helped the country cut its reliance on foreign oil by nearly half for a sustained period of time. This was accomplished through a combination of the government's determination to solve the crisis and the public's willingness to adopt some simple conservation measures. During 1970's oil shortage, people actually drove less and at slower speeds; they turned down their thermostats in the winter and up in the summer; they began to install solar water heaters.
Understanding the past to build the future
Of course times have changed, and now we are painfully aware of the costs that we face from not having continued to boldly deal with these issues. The true cost and burden of our reliance on oil —not just foreign oil — will be paid by future generations. There is little doubt that the Iraq War is a battle for control of oil resources, for which we are paying dearly in dollars, blood and tarnished reputation.
Our reality today is one of global climate change, which has been directly impacted by the burning of fossil fuels. These changes are wreaking havoc with rising sea levels, loss of crops, loss of biodiversity and increasing severity of storms. It is important to note that we didn't get into this environmental mess overnight.
Historically, Homo sapiens have roamed this earth just fine without burning fossil fuel. Even during the great leap into agriculture from hunting and gathering, we relied solely on our labor, with the help of a few beasts of burden. Ecologist, William Catton, wrote that, 'Homo sapiens attained a kind of superhumanity by learning to convert the heat energy from fire into mechanical energy by means of various engines.' This discovery has jettisoned humanity into the industrial age, and we have comfortably settled into this new way of life, congratulating ourselves on our modern ways.
Up we go
Now, with the peaking of fossil fuel supplies and increasing world-wide demand, there is only one direction for the price of oil to go— up. With spiraling prices, all aspects of our economy will be affected. The cost of living in this modern world will continue to increase.
But this simple fact may ultimately be our salvation. Economics will force us to find alternative ways of living, and these will inevitably lead us to cleaner, renewable forms of energy. The inexorable laws of economics will eventually force us to address these thorny issues, even when politicians and an unwilling public dig in their heels to avoid change. It will cost too much to do otherwise!
We can choose to cushion the blow of economic and climatic upheaval by making wise decisions now. We can invest in renewable energy now. We can drive cleaner, more fuel efficient cars now. We can walk. We can grow more of our own food. We can make our homes more energy efficient. We can buy only what we really need. All of these things are possible, and we will be much healthier for it!
Kelly Hart is the producer of GreenHomebuilding.com and DreamGreenhomes.com.
Equal Housing Opportunity