New Solutions 14: Food, Health and Survival | November 2007
The application of fossil fuels to our food system has been disastrous, affecting not only how we grow food but what we grow. This report looks at what we eat, the consequences to our health and our environment, who's to blame for this situation and what to do about it. Transitioning to a low energy diet could be the most important way to save the planet and to save ourselves.
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New Solutions 13: Food, Feed and Fuel | July 2007
Reliance on large-scale agribusiness, driven by vast energy consumption, has resulted in an agricultural monoculture that is simply not sustainable. But where are the tens of millions of small farmers who will be necessary if we are to return to locally grown food crops? And what about all the food that is being used for feed, and now, for fuel? This report looks at what we're doing now, and what we'll need to do to survive.
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New Solutions 12: Smart Jitney – Rapid, Realistic Transport | April 2007
After World War II the country made transportation via the private car the top priority at the expense of public transportation. The private car, regardless of its convenience, can no longer serve as the principle mode of people transport. Its high cost, the depleting of fossil fuels, and climate deterioration – along with high rates of deaths and injuries – make it unacceptable. A "Smart Jitney" ridesharing system could be developed rapidly, and provide for a very sizable (50-75%) reduction of gasoline consumed and greenhouse gases generated by transportation.
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New Solutions 11: The Energy Impact of Buildings | January 2007
The energy used (and CO2 generated) by the automobile or from food production is less than the energy used in our buildings and building energy consumption has been continually increasing in spite of improvements in building and appliance efficiency. This report delves deeply into energy consumption in the home component of the total building infrastructure, and what you can do to reduce your home energy use.
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New Solutions 10: Plan C – Curtailment and Community | September 2006
A basic societal transformation is needed to change from the three principle values of Competing, Hoarding and Consuming to values of Cooperating, Sharing and Conserving. To usefully "think globally-act locally" we must conserve here at home and we must cooperate at home and abroad in finding just and equitable solutions to the challenges of Peak Oil, climate change and inequity.
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New Solutions 9: Salting the Earth | June 2006
Today we have such greed that we are destroying our own children's future by our massive use of limited fossil fuel resources. Our scientists and engineers, who have brought us to this point with the best of intentions, don't propose cutting back our use but rather spur us on to find new ways to consume more.
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New Solutions 8: Post Peak – The Change Starts With Us | March 2006
We don't seem to realize the cost of our massive energy consumption on the poorer people of the world, on our own health, and the health of the environment. Although interest in Peak Oil is growing, most do not yet fully understand that this means the "American Way of Life" will be over within a few decades. This report explains what actions we can take now to reduce our energy use.
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New Solutions 7: Peak America – Is Our Time Up? | November 2005
Just as we threaten the stability of the world with our imperialistic tendencies, we also pose a threat to ourselves as our standards of care and community decline and it becomes more difficult for average Americans to attain or sustain well-being. How does this bode for our place in the world? Is the American Century over? When the impact of Peak Oil really hits, how will we deal with it?
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New Solutions 6: Peak Oil – Peak Empire | July 2005
When Peak Oil occurs, wars of national energy liberation are highly likely unless we allocate the remaining fuels based on a concept of fair trade rather than free trade. This requires a fundamental change in American values. Unless the tremendous inequity in fossil fuel usage is addressed, conflict is inevitable.
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New Solutions 5: Peak Oil – Peak Economy | May 2005
This issue examines the impact of Peak Oil on the world economic structure, one built on the confidence in ever-expanding markets fueled by technology, itself fueled by oil. Our analysis suggests that there is every reason for concern – and unless serious action is begun now, we may very well be headed toward another Great Depression. We are hovering on the edge of an unsustainable Peak Economy.
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New Solutions 4: Peak Oil – Peak Technology | January 2005
A serious societal problem is the lack of understanding of the energy options, their history and their limitations. Governments, corporations and scientists are not offering new creative solutions, not because they are failing to make strong efforts, but because energy itself is a very mature industry. It would seem that – in addition to Peak Oil – we are at a time of Peak Technology...there are no new technologies we can look to for solutions to the end of fossil fuels.
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New Solutions 3: Report from Germany and Hydrogen – Panacea or Hoax? | October 2004
This issue of New Solutions brings to our readers the latest information on Peak Oil, obtained when we attended the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas (ASPO) conference this May in Germany. It also explores if the proposed ""hydrogen economy" is a panacea or a hoax.
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New Solutions 2: Cuba – Life After Oil | May 2004
The Community Solution travelled to Cuba in 2004 to see how they survived after the loss of oil imports when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990. They found a people, optimistic and hopeful, who live with less but understand and appreciate the importance and inter-relatedness of community. In this issue we share our observations of this post-industrial society living with greatly reduced oil.
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New Solutions 1: Community Resurgence and Oil Depletion | January 2004
This first issue of New Solutions marks a major change in the strategy of Community Service, Inc. We recently began directing our energies towards the study of "Peak Oil," which led us to a heightened understanding of the need – not just the desire – for living in small, sustainable communities. In this issue we chronicle our path to this new awareness. We think you'll agree – small local communities are a vital part of the solution to what lies ahead.
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