We can reduce waste and still have fun
November 16th, 2007 by Jim JustWhen we think about how to go about reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we first should consider our energy usage – after all, it’s the burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity and run our transportation system that is responsible for most of our emissions.
In the U.S., we consume a lot of energy – much more per capita than most other developed nations. And what to we have to show for it? My wife and I have lived in Europe. We know from our own experience that Americans don’t enjoy a better quality of life than our friends in Germany, France, Britain, and Denmark.
When it comes to transportation energy consumption per capita, Oregon is just a little better than the national average – nothing to brag about, at least not too much.
I’ve been looking for data comparing countries’ energy consumption by sector (i.e., transportation and buildings) but haven’t yet had much luck this morning. The point is that we can cut way back on our energy consumption and our emissions without sacrificing quality of life.
The problem we face is that we’ve already constructed an infrastructure that requires lots of energy – our existing land use pattern demands it. The decisions we’ve made in the past about where and how we live within the landscape drive our energy consumption now. European cities arose when people mostly got around on foot and when heating and cooling required more than flipping a switch. Our cities have mostly been built on the premise that fuels for transportation and for powering our buildings would always be cheap and abundant, and that there were no ecosystem consequences from burning fossil fuels.
The United States, with 4% of the world’s population, is responsible for 25% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. That’s way more than our share – and we’re not any better off or happier for being so thoughtless and self-indulgent. Shortsighted land use practices are responsible for a large part of our profligacy.
Addressing our energy and climate crises can’t be done by embracing “smart growth.” It requires that we rebuild within our existing footprint, take our existing infrastructure and make it more energy efficient while at the same time providing a better quality of life for all of our people.