Anyone see the CNN show last night on the coming energy wars?

I am shocked at the lack of movement in the march towards energy independence. Peak Oil looks like it's going to happen. Not many people seem to care, huh?

What's it going to take?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(The Amazing Arthur @ Apr 22 2006, 12:54 AM) [snapback]243531[/snapback]</div>

Unfortunately, it will probably take prices so high that they simply can't afford their large vehicles any longer. It's surprising to me that the price is $3 per gallon and a lot of people still drive like maniacs. A lot of people are undoubtedly locked in to leases for a while or bought their trucks and are deeply in negative territory on their financing. Out of necessity they may begin to realize that they save money by changing their behavior. It will happen gradually unless there's a big shock in which case even Prius drivers will have trouble because we'll all be in trouble.

 

Ever since the spike in prices last fall, it is very noticeable they the majority of drivers that commute from the south to the greater Boston area have reduced their average speed by 10 to 15 mph. We used to all average 75 to 85 mph. It's now 65 to70 for the majority. The80 to 85'ers are definately the exceptions.
I changed my habits at the same time and gained ~ 4 mpg in my Odyssey. I now us cruise 80% of the time during my 84 mile RT commute in my 06' Prius and just did 51.3 mpg on the 2nd tank. The display feedback is definately teaching me to drive to maximum efficiency.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(The Amazing Arthur @ Apr 22 2006, 12:54 AM) [snapback]243531[/snapback]</div>

Just did some reading at several of the "Peak Oil" websites that I am always reading.

There were 2 articles that talked about this same issue.

One of the articles indicated that the most recent spike in oil prices is due to the various producers bidding against each other. This is due to the decrease in production (not very much) with an increase in each producering country's use. So, decreased production along with increased demand at home equals less oil going into the open market which - basic economics - would mean higher prices.

Another article was confirming an estimate a few years ago by a Princeton University professor, that Peak Oil would occur in 2005. They wrote that all indications are that his prediction is looking correct. So there still is oil out there, but production will be decreasing.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(YBLee @ Apr 22 2006, 06:19 AM) [snapback]243578[/snapback]</div>

I'm glad to hear some people are changing their behavior. Sounds like your next step is to get a closer job however. Living 40+ miles from work is unfortunately common, but it's not a sustainable option over the long term. One of the requirements when I was looking for a better job last year was a job within 12 miles of home (I was laid off in 2003 and lucky to get a "survival" job nearby, but it was time to move on to something more meaningful). I got a job working on new medical devices 8 miles from home, which is bikable. Well, 3 miles of it has no shoulder, but traffic is reasonably light there, and people do jog/bike along it. When I start biking more regularly, and if gas prices remain high, as they probably will, then my wife can drive my Prius.

Speaking of whom, I mentioned the term "peak oil" last month, and she didn't know what it meant! So I quickly informed her, but I was surprised that someone who is smart and informed wouldn't be aware of this. However, she watches the evening news on TV for her information on the world. So I think there's a lot of reasonably smart people out there who think the whole reason for high prices is simply politics and greed. Even Time and PBS has focussed their reporting on global warming issues, not peak oil. National Geographic has put out a couple pieces on oil and energy, but that doesn't get the attention that their article on swimwear did.

Mowed my lawn for the first time last week. It really seemed like a noisy and polluting machine, even though it's a newer one with a 4-cycle engine. All my good feelings about saving fuel and emissions with the Prius evaporated as I pushed the mower, so that's my next target to replace. We unexpectedly needed to replace the clotheswasher last week so we spent an extra hundred or so and got a decent front loader - saves a bundle of electricity and water, gets the clothes cleaner and drier (so then the drier runs less as well). Already replaced the furnace with a higher efficiency model, and got better windows. Still need to replace the A/C and water heater (hopefully with solar thermal assist) as they approach end of life.

nerfer

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nerfer @ Apr 26 2006, 05:09 PM) [snapback]245688[/snapback]</div>

I think you are spot on there nerfer. I am around a lot of pretty educated people everyday, and I have never heard any of them talk about peak oil. I would be suprised if any of my fellow students had even heard of it. I am pretty sure my wife (with a Master's degree) hasn't heard of it either. Just so I don't sound all high and mighty, I had never heard of it either until I read of it on PC.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nerfer @ Apr 26 2006, 01:09 PM) [snapback]245688[/snapback]</div>

I hear they make some really nice and easy to push "push mowers" these days - nothing like the old fashioned ones that were hard to push and didn't cut well.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TimBikes @ Apr 26 2006, 08:48 PM) [snapback]245934[/snapback]</div>

The old ones cut well you just had to sharpen them real often. My Grandfather would do the lawn and I would help. I was 6 or 7 and I could still push the mower for a while. When he was do he cleaned the mower. Sharpened it and oiled it. I would glide through the lawn.

 

I saw it a month ago and posted about it at http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=17381&hl=cnn

 

Hey, choice between swimsuits and oil futures?? Hmmm. Swimsuits win. Not that I don't follow oil futures and drive an 06 Prius....