Oil Crisis and What You Can Do About It

Oil Crisis: Peak Oil

Peak Oil is a term that not many of us have heard of but all of us should probably be aware of its meaning. It refers to when oil is at its maximum in production. After the peak, oil production enters decline. Some feel the peak has already been reached.

Oil is a finite resource and although there is no agreement as to when the peak is, there are alarming statistics looming as to the world's use of oil reserves. We are in an oil crisis whether we are at peak oil or not.

In 1950, the US produced all the oil we needed. By 1970, we purchased 1/3 of our oil outside of the US. Now, we currently spend $4 billion per week outside of our country for oil. Is it a good idea to continue this dependence on someone else for a resource that is at the heart of our country? This is why we have an oil crisis. We consume more than we produce.

The United States is the largest consumer of oil. Americans consume better than four times more energy and three times as much water as any other country. We produce more than twice as much rubbish and five times as much carbon dioxide. We have 5 percent of the world's population but use 23 percent of the energy, 15 percent of the meat and 28 percent of the paper. Maybe it's time we Americans took responsibility for what we do to the planet.

How Sustainable is Your Town in an Oil Crisis?

The real question is what happens to places like New York City, where the population is 8 million, when energy consumption far outweighs energy production as we are quickly reaching today? Is NYC sustainable? What happens if food can not be trucked into NYC? And what happens when companies don't have the energy to produce utilities for heating and cooling all of NYC?

Many places in the US are looking at these problems. Los Angeles only has 2 days food supply if something goes terribly wrong. And water is more of a problem in LA than food because their water is transported to them.

How Sustainable is Your Home in an Oil Crisis?

I believe a new model should be created that determines the sustainability of a given area such as cities and households. We could have homes with solar and air providing at least part of our utilities. Vegetable gardens are a far better investment over lawns and landscaping when looking at sustainability.

And even if oil reserves weren't in danger of being over-tapped, what do we know the impact is from sucking oil from beneath the earth? These fossil fuels take millions of years to create so once they are used up, there is no replacing them. And people already point to global warming as one problem from the use of these fuels.

What can I do in an Oil Crisis?

When looking at all the facts, it can be overwhelming to figure out what the individual can do about it. There are many things we can get involved in even if it's just to let your support be known to your representatives. Talk to people and share ideas. Read articles on how to go green and do some of them.

Meet with your neighbors and discuss ways the neighborhood can become more sustainable. Co-op gardens, carpooling, group purchases and neighborhood parties are some things people are already doing. Maybe neighborhoods can get together to purchase materials to build wind turbines for each home. You would save money on a bulk purchase, have fun working together and everyone saves money on utility bills.

We are a consumer nation that has gone way over its ability to produce what we consume. All the answers may not be apparent right now. And in any discussion there are many different viewpoints to take into consideration. One thing is clear though. Change is here and the less dependent we are as a county and as individuals, the better off all of us will be. We caused our oil crisis by consuming more than we produce.

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Documentary: Escape from Suburbia