Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
The world is facing “an approaching storm” fueled by an impending energy crisis, and Americans need to drastically change their lifestyles to survive. That was the message delivered by Richard Heinberg in his keynote speech for the “First U.S. Conference on Peak Oil and Community Solutions”…
Unless demand plummets, world oil supplies are nearly certain to remain tight through the rest of this decade, according to a study by the Oil Depletion Analysis Centre in London.
So, we thought it was important to once again take a look at the current and future oil situation, and its pertinence to design. More importantly, we want to offer some ideas that you as designers can use right now to make a difference.
China says its oil imports will jump by nearly 10 percent this year to 100 million metric tons (700 million barrels), making up 40 percent of its consumption.
China, the world’s second-largest consumer of oil after the United States, has plenty of cash to secure sources of petroleum and natural gas. But as aggressively as any nation, it is also cutting deals and forging alliances to get the energy it needs.
China said its supplies of coal, electricity and oil remained insufficient despite increases in production and imports.
Community Services, Inc., is a small organization with a big agenda. Concerned with what it perceives as an impending energy crisis, the Yellow Springs group wants to help lead the country toward sustainable living. (Coverage of First U.S. Conference on Peak Oil and Community Solutions).
As China’s economy expands, so does its thirst for oil, gas, coal, and electricity. Today, China accounts for 12.1% of the world’s energy consumption.
In a few decades, many OPEC nations in the Middle East will have such large populations that they could end up consuming much or all of the energy they now export, suggests Matthew Simmons, an oil consultant in Houston.
China imported 76 million tons of crude oil in the first eight months of this year, making up 40 percent of the total domestic demand, a six percent rise over 2003.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (Reuters) — OPEC president Purnomo Yusgiantoro said Wednesday he had urged the United States to use its strategic petroleum reserves (SPR) to bring down oil prices.
The old homestead – and not just the kind with seven baths – is increasingly filled with multiple refrigerators, plasma TV sets, and lap pools. The result is that this year’s energy woes, more than ever, are hitting the American middle class and upper middle class as well as the poor.
