Why nothing that much as been to done to contain the demand side of energy prices?

Question

I mean is, why haven't we done more to improve efficenecy standards and promote conservation of resources. and show more how people can reduce their electricity intake as well. Even as we may be going through peak oil

Answer 1

If we succeed in controlling demand, prices fall, then demand resumes. Way back in 1973 we had an OPEC production limit that pushed prices up. It went up enough to cause us to start going for mini-cars, compacts etc. We eventually put in standards to b e met in future, but everyone switched from cars to trucks. The car companies had found a circumvention.

But OPEC also caved, and started selling into the high prices, bringing prices back down, and so telling Americans that it was OK to go back to high consumption habits.

The objective can not be to reduce prices. That will once again persuade us to get back to muscle cars, hummers, F350s. It might seem like a nice thing to keep that money in your pocket, but what you really need is to keep the pump price high, and use that high price to raise your taxes, instead of paying income taxes. You do not want to enrich those who own the oil, but you do need to ensure that those who use the  oil have to pay well for it... Those who do not use the oil get to save on income tax. (Well everyone saves on income tax.)

Answer 2

Are you watching the present economic slow down? If consumer spending slows down the economy collapses. The only way to get from here to green is through major economic upheaval and nobody is going to advocate that and stay in power.

Answer 3

Well, it depends on which country or countries you mean.   In America there is always ongoing discussion relating to conservation of electricity, fuel, land, etc.  

For example, here in the United States compact flourescent lightbulbs are being promoted because of their environment-friendly properties.  Yet, there's really no push for people to actually run their electrical appliances less.

As for water, another truly precious resource , there are enforced restrictions to conserve usage when a drought situation exists.  However, as a preventive and  conservation  measure,  analysts have explored the notion of converting waste water - yes, toilet water -  into tap water.  Of course, it's beside the point, I suppose, that many states have been utilizing this method for years and years.  In the meantime, no one is being urged to flush the toilet less or to do less loads of laundry.

The ethanol proposal (making fuel from corn), as you know, has been proposed as a way of making fuel from alternative, non-fossil sources.   But  this concept arose, just as you are suggesting, after the fact ---  e.g., after fuel prices skyrocketed due to high demand and low supply of oil.  In the heyday of minivans and SUVs, not many people were thinking, "green."

   With certain areas in  the U.S. as well as other places (China, for instance) having just emerged from housing and construction growth,  extra usage of resources seems inevitable.   Still, there appear to be few, if any,  valid reasons to justify squandering the earth's natural supplies of electricity, water, trees, and other natural resources.