When you’re looking at ways to be more environmentally conscious, and lower your carbon footprint, you’ve probably come across the idea of energy conservation. Energy conservation, or efficient energy usage isn’t a single thing. There are energy efficient appliances, lights, heating, even building materials. But conserving energy covers a lot of different habits, big and... Continue Reading →
Firstly, let me get this off my chest. The New novel by Sonia Faruqi is the Avatar of the Oceans! The highly anticipated novel is more than just a "captivating blend between fantasy and environmental activism". No it is a thriller like Grisham and as detailed in learning about each person and the scene like Tom... Continue Reading →
Firstly, Urban farming is a rewarding way to connect with nature and grow your own crops in a city environment, and it can also be an effective method of providing fresh food in urban areas. Growing your own plants can also reduce your carbon footprint and help benefit the environment around you. Yet planting food... Continue Reading →
Septic Tanks VS Sewage Treatment Plants Plus How Do They Affect Our Environment? When it comes to managing household wastewater, two main systems dominate the conversation: septic tanks and domestic sewage treatment plants. While both are designed to handle sewage from homes not connected to municipal systems, their environmental impacts are vastly different. Understanding these... Continue Reading →
This story first appeared in The Financial Times on May 9, 2011
It is tempting to say that the headlines about rising fuel prices, Libya and other events in the Middle East will be a wake-up call to the dangers of oil dependence. But such calls have been repeated for almost 40 years, and yet the vulnerability – both in the US and across the globe – remains.
Our mobile economy remains defenseless against oil-price shocks and supply interruptions. In the US, transport accounts for 70 per cent of petroleum consumed. 97 per cent of transport fuel in the US is derived from oil, and there are no plausible substitutes. When prices go up, there are only two choices: drive less or pay more. If supplies are disrupted for any reason, the choices are even worse. This must change.
Every American recession over the past 35 years has been preceded by – or occurred concurrently with – an oil-price spike. The last time this happened, just a few years ago, the average retail price of gasoline in the US increased from $1.46 to $3.27, costing typical households $2,115 a year in increased fuel expenses. That price spike contributed greatly to the recession and financial crisis which the world is still struggling to recover from.
