Sustainable Linfield

by Jonathan Chikamoto

Facing the Peak and Looking down From the Top of the Peak

As we face peak oil, it important to remember that we may have already approached or entered peak oil. If we have not entered or approached peak oil, we do not have much time. Much of our fossil fuel usage in the United States goes towards transportation. Current trends in the price of oil reflect the opinion that we are getting close, or we have already entered the decline and are facing peak oil. However, there are everyday steps we can all take to ease the cost and effects of peak oil such as using public transportation, walking and bicycling, and if possible living near your ultimate destination.

Living Near Your Destination

Although not practical or economically possible for everyone, living near your ultimate destination greatly reduces your carbon footprint. A carbon footprint is the total amount of green house gas emitted per person. There are many ways that different organizations and government agencies have attempted to measure a carbon footprint. To calculate your own carbon footprint, you can go to the Carbon Footprint Calculator website at: http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx. Living near your work or your ultimate destination will reduce your driving time, stress associated with driving, cost of gasoline, and many other external costs that driving might cause.

New mixed communities such as the Pearl District in Portland, Oregon are an example of living near your destination. In the 1950’s through the late 1960’s, there has been a mass exodus of wealthy and middle class people from the city out to the suburbs, some historians refer to this event as suburbanization or the “white flight” as it left many minorities in the crowded and polluted cities.

However, cities are slowly making a come back and many wealthy and middle class people are moving back into cities due to the rising costs of fuel while many minorities and those in the lower class are moving out of cities to the suburbs where housing is cheaper, but spending more money on transportation to commute.

Ideally, people would be able to live near shops and their work, they could walk, bike, or use mass transit to get to their destination with little to no cost to themselves. It is expected that more people will be moving back to cities in the coming years to reduce the cost of commuting and to take advantage of the sophisticated transit infrastructure in cities (Newman).

Walking, Biking, and Using Public Transportation

There are three strategies associated with walking, biking, and using public transportation. The first is planning cities to be less car dependent, the second is based in policy, and the third is to promote localism.

Portland, Oregon is among one of the many states and countries that have and are taking steps to create peak oil strategies. Portland designed a task force that included peak oil activists, members of different industries, and government officials. The plans to expand the Portland MAX system are a good example of steps that are being taken as a result of peak oil strategizing.

Many other cities and countries have added alternatively fueled public transportation and renewable energy policy legislation in preparation for the effects of peak oil. City planning has also aided in the formation of reducing the reliance of cars in the city. Transport infrastructure, land-use policy, and household education can also add to reducing the use of cars. We can also encourage localism. With cheap oil, we promoted a more global world and economy, now with peak oil we can encourage localism. We can work, live, and shop within our community rather than import goods from across the globe (Newman).

It should come as no surprise that walking and biking have one of the lowest additions to one’s carbon footprint. If you live near your place of work or where you do most of your shopping, it makes sense to walk or bike to your destination rather than fight traffic in your car. Not only does walking and biking lower your carbon footprint, but it also is a healthy alternative to get exercise. If your destination is farther than you are willing to walk or bike, most cities have adequate public transportation options that one could easily walk or bike too as well.

The city of McMinnville has a fairly new and functioning public transportation system. A link to their schedule and bus route can be found at: http://www.yctransitarea.org/schedules.html. Other cities have more sophisticated forms of public transportation such as light rail, ferries, trains, metro systems, and many others. With the rising cost of fuel, walking, biking, and public transportation are looking more appealing. If you must drive, there are many alternatives such as carpooling. Not only will it help you to lower the cost of gas for you, but will often encourage community and interaction with your neighbors and others.

Another option if you are in the market for a new car is to downsize and buy a more fuel efficient vehicle.  As we have seen, there are many viable alternatives to driving, we must be willing to forgo our cars and be open and willing to think about these options (Newman).

Adapt or Pay

The four suggestions outlined above to reduce fossil fuel consumption are only a few possible options we can all take everyday. An important question to ask yourself as fossil fuel prices increase is how much you are willing to spend for a gallon of gasoline. Would you be willing to spend six dollars a gallon, eight dollars, or would you stop driving after five dollars?  Rather than driving to a store in town and paying four dollars a gallon or more, try biking or walking if, it is practical. If it is not, try using public transportation of carpooling with neighbors or friends. We can choose to either adapt or pay the increasing social as well as economic price of dwindling resources of fossil fuels.

Works Cited:

Newman, Peter. “Beyond Peak Oil: Will Our Cities Collapse?.” Journal of Urban Technology 14.2 (2007): 15-30. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 22 Apr. 2011.