Momentous movements in our electricity use are occurring as a result of the global economic recession (depression?).
The International Energy Association will release figures at Sunday’s (23rd May 2009) meeting of European community’s energy Ministers that project the lowest global electricity consumption level since 1945.
The IEAA says electricity consumption will slow by an average of 3.5%. In OECD countries this is even lower, 5%. About three-quarters of this change is ascribed to lower industrial production of goods.
Why is this momentous? Because electricity consumption is considered an even more accurate measure of industrial activity than oil consumption.
I don’t know why we are still talking about a recession and avoid the “D” word.
Clearly, the old consumerist thinking is not capable of getting us out of this hole. But government’s stimulus packages still try to prod us into spending us out of the economic dip. When was the last time you spent yourself out of a time of poverty, or lack of money?
No, electricity consumption should probably go lower, when people apply strategies that really work for a long-term sustainable life:
Grow your own (vegetarian) food
How to build a wind energy generator
Convert your car rather than buy new
Help your neighbor as if she were yourself
Source:
IEA-economist Fatih Birol in the Financial Times.
