Open letter to the USA: Be careful what you ask for

Because even if you get it, you may not like paying the bill.

The US energy situation is suffering — actually suffering — not from too little oil, but arguably too much.  The costs of getting what we have are far greater than the pump price, and going upwards.

But that's not the biggest problem.  The main problem the USA has isn't an immediate lack of oil or natural gas.  It's a lack of imagination.

Imagination?  Yes.  What other other name is there for a situation where people refuse to reconsider what they desire in light of what it costs, and what they actually need?  When people head closer to bankruptcy every time they fill the tank on the 3-ton vehicle they bought, and demand cheaper goods from others instead of changing their own habits?

This is not just a psychological problem.  It leads to escalation of failure, which can be disastrous.

All of this could be fixed relatively easily if people would use their imagination to figure out what they really want, and how best to get it.  Consider:

• Most people don't really want gasoline.  Gasoline is the means.  Their goal is to get around in relative comfort.  This can be done mostly with electricity or by other means, using far less or even no gasoline.
• Most people don't really want natural gas.  What people want is to cook food and supply warm air and hot water.  These desires can be met with far less gas, or even none.
• Most people don't want coal.  Most people would call the police if you put a ton of coal at their door.  They don't even particularly want the electricity made from the coal; what they want is the lights, the TV, and the computer run by the electricity.  That's the only use they have for coal:  twice removed in causes, and a long way in distance.

So let's exercise that flabby imagination and consider what we'd ask for to get just what we want, without all those pesky consequences.

When I'm at home, I don't give a rat's ass about electricity per se.  It's a means to an end.  One thing I want is for my house to remain comfortable in the summer.  I can do this with an electric air conditioner, or I could pump cold water out of the ground and use it to cool the air in my house.  I could use solar heat to dry a dessicant and use that to remove the clammy humidity.  My electric needs would decrease to what's needed to run some fans and a water pump.  Good architecture (roof overhangs on sun-facing walls, awnings or other exterior shades, windows which can replace hot stagnant air with cool outside air) can make the house far more comfortable without any energy use at all.  Demanding lots of electricity would cost me a bundle; a little imagination would make me comfortable for a lot less money.

Same thing about natural gas.  If my hot water tank and house stay toasty without burning gas, do I care whether it comes to my house or not?  If I don't need any, why would I care what it costs?  With good insulation and the right architecture, I could be comfy without natural gas and pay a lot less money.  I'm sure spermaceti candles cost a king's ransom these days, but I don't care; I have more and better light without burning a thing in my house.  Neither do I need "rock oil" except perhaps to establish a mood.

Gasoline?  Technically I don't use it any more, but my diesel car still burns petroleum.  I'd have the same utility and a lot less expense and inconvenience if most of my driving was powered by electricity.  Plugging in every night or two would be less hassle than going to a filling station once a month to pump smelly liquid into the car's tank, and it would be quite a bit cheaper.

The pursuit of petroleum and natural gas is costing us a huge amount of money, and building up debts which will be with us for generations.  A little imagination could give us the same or equivalent goods and cost us a lot less (in several different ways).  Isn't it time to get our minds out of their ruts and ask for something a little different?

¶ 12/07/2006 11:58:00 PM