Have you ever been driving behind another vehicle that is traveling with their brake lights on? Unless this is a mechanical malfunction, you are watching a driver who is unconsciously resting their foot on the brake peddle.

Of course, this will result in greater fuel consumption and shorter brake pad life. The driver could choose to buy a more efficient vehicle with longer lasting brake components (a supply side solution), or a more sensible approach would be for them to become aware of, and change their wasteful driving pattern/habits (a demand solution). As this scenario illustrates, there are two ways to deal with resource use. One way is increasing supply (new, more efficient car) and another is reducing demand (eliminating wasteful behavior).

 

I mention this because a similar thing is happening at every moment in all of our lives. Everyday we consume resources; food, fuel and other consumable goods we think we need. In the home, waste could come in the form of heating with windows open or leaving lights and appliances on when not in use. Generally, resource prices are high enough to bring attention to the economic costs of supplying energy to power these perceived needs. As above, a supply side approach could be to have wars to try to obtain cheaper resources from other parts of the globe, or developing risky and environmental degrading domestic resources. Another supply side approach might be to install a massively oversized (often publicly subsidized) solar electric system to compensate for behavioral unconsciousness (kind of like driving a hybrid vehicle with your foot on the brake). The best answer is to look at root of the problem, namely the resource demand choices we make every moment of every day. Some demand side solutions might involve heating only parts of our homes in the winter, or lowering our thermostats and wearing more clothes.

Add to this supply/demand choice is a consideration that we live on a finite planet with finite resources. This brings an awareness that the more any of us consume, the less there is for others. In other words, the supply side solution also contains inherent limitations and negative political/environmental consequences. When we reflect on the big picture, behaving in a way that diminishes waste and unconscious consumption is not only wise, but also considerate of the other 7 billion people who share this earth and those resources. In addition, as the resource base continues to deplete and the population increases (what we are seeing now), this will become less of an option and more of a necessity. Therefore, to mitigate what is unfolding, it is prudent to change our lifestyles to one which is low consumption. So, obviously, job-one for all of us, is a greater consciousness of our levels of consumption and elimination of wasteful behavior.

After our behaviors have changed to mitigate resource use, next comes upgrading the true necessities of our lives to more efficient methods. To continue with the household examples mentioned above, some considerations might be; adding more insulation to our building, sealing against air infiltration, changing to better windows, switching to compact fluorescent lighting, growing our own food and so forth. There is another benefit to these changes. Less waste means a higher quality of life. For example, if I waste energy I will have to work more to pay those increased utility bills. This mandates less time with my family and friends and more time earning a living rather than living a life. Curbing waste also creates less pollution, and environmental degradation. So, improving efficiency is a win-win for everyone!

I am sure we would all agree that having renewable energy power waste is not green, so only after you have accomplished your demand side consumption changes is it time to think about supply side solutions, such as adding solar, wind or micro-hydro to supply some or all of your needs. The national average electric use in the United States is around 35 kWh a day. This equates to an electric bill of around $160.00 a month. Often this does not even include gas/propane/fuel oil/kerosene/firewood etc. Personally, through conservation and efficiency upgrades my consumption decreased by over 60%! I use only 14 kWh a day or around $60.00 a month (which includes winter heating). This reduced need is easily met (zero energy) with a small solar hot water system and small solar electric system. Again, this represents a win-win where less resources are needed to make the solar thermal and solar electric components and smaller public subsidizes are needed to help pay for the equipment.

If you would like detailed suggestions on how you can reduce your consumption behavior and increase your consumption efficiency, please see an article I wrote, posted at the Shasta Commons' web page: http://shastacommons.org/articles/54-picking-the-low-hanging-fruit-first