From an Oil-Based Economy to a Water-Based Economy
Moving away from an oil-based economy requires more than simply replacing petrol and gas with another source of energy. It requires us to rethink the speed at which we consume resources, spend money and expect the economy to grow.
A water-based economy can represent a different philosophy: slow down spending, conserve resources and grow at the rate of water.
Water moves continuously, but it does not need to rush. Rain falls, plants grow, crops are harvested and the cycle begins again. Our economy could increasingly follow the same renewable principle.
Grow Food Throughout the Year
One practical step towards greater sustainability is growing some of our own food.
During the summer, we can make use of free natural sunlight to grow vegetables, herbs and fruit. During the darker winter months, efficient LED grow lights can supplement the limited daylight and make indoor growing possible.
You don’t necessarily need acres of land. Depending on the crop and available light, windowsills, containers, greenhouses and indoor growing spaces can all contribute towards producing food.
Growing food locally also reconnects consumption with the natural resources required to produce it. Instead of expecting everything immediately, we learn to work with seasons, light, water and time.
Slow Down Consumption
Oil helped create an economy capable of moving enormous quantities of goods and people at extraordinary speed. Moving beyond fossil fuels doesn’t mean abandoning economic progress, but it does mean considering whether everything needs to happen at the same pace.
A sustainable economy can place greater emphasis on durability, efficiency, repair, reuse and renewable resources.
Spend carefully. Waste less. Grow steadily.
Just as a plant cannot be forced to grow indefinitely overnight, an economy ultimately depends upon the resources available to sustain it.
Renewable Energy Can Move Us Forward
Moving away from oil does not mean moving backwards.
Solar, wind, hydroelectric power, energy storage and other low-carbon technologies can increasingly provide the energy required for homes, businesses and transport. Electrification and greater energy efficiency can further reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
The transition will take investment, infrastructure and time. Oil cannot simply disappear overnight, but dependence on it can progressively decline as cleaner technologies expand.
Grow at the Rate of Water
The water-based economy is ultimately a simple philosophy:
Use what can be replenished. Grow what you can. Waste less. Spend sustainably. Harness renewable energy and allow progress to happen at a pace that can be maintained.
Oil gave the modern world tremendous speed. Renewable energy gives us an opportunity to think about sustainability as well as speed.
We can continue moving forward—powered increasingly by resources that are renewed by the world around us.
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