Peak Oil

Watch this interview with Richard Heinberg author of Power Down a book I am currently reading about how the world is going to have to adjust to a post carbon world,or otherwise face extinction as people fight for what few resources are left.

You can get his book from Amazon here:



The book makes for somber reading as the search for alternatives to oil and gas continues to yield up nothing that would equate to the energy that these two give us.

The alternative is a slow down in economic and population growth both unpopular to many.This problem will not go away and the more we are in denial about it the worse the problem will become.

Where is the power to come from?

We have seen the wild fluctuation in the price of oil over the past two years from a high of $150 per barrel to a low of $40.Now it is on the way back up again around $80 as I write this.

This has translated into a an average increase in domestic heating and lighting of 30% to £1300pa.With the decommissioning of nuclear power stations by 2025 clearly new sources of power must be found.

Not only that but domestic heating emissions account for 40% of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions.

So more energy efficient homes and new sources of power are needed if a reduction in greenhouse gases is to be achieved.

This is easy to achieve in new construction as new homes must be properly insulated according to building regulations but only some 4% of the UK housing stock is replaced each year,so most efficiency must be found in the existing stock.

This will come in the form over cavity and roof insulation.Grants are now available for this in households where benefits are received and where one of the occupiers is over 70 years of age.

Go to the Government Grants website here to see if you are entitled to a grant for cavity and loft insulation.