Recently we’ve seen some interesting times in the market very many of us are directly exposed to in one way or another - Oil. 

The financial analysts are now crooning that after $147 per barrel, the bull run for oil is now over as it returns back into the mid to low $30s.  The oil companies, predictably, made a killing (…yes all of them).  So what happened?  And what can I do to stop giving cash to oil companies?

Many people were hit square and hard, and this peak price may have had an impact on driving our oil-fueled economy into recession, which we are likely set to enjoy for some time.  This may indicate how dependant we really are on energy.

In response to this, lots of people have started to make different choices.  I’m now into my 2^nd year of bicycle commuting, and many others are leaving the car at home and taking public transport.  Interestingly, here in Melbourne we’ve seen public transport usage peak with oil prices, and surprisingly as they’ve eased, the public transport users are still growing.

Why is this so?  Because people make the choice to change, and once people adjust to the change it’s hard to go back to the old ways.  For example:

• Cycling – it’s cheap, you get fit, get outside and enjoy nature, it’s fun!  And who wants to sit in traffic anyway?
• Train – it’s cost effective, it’s less stress than traffic, chance to meet new people, walk more.

What else can you do? 

Assess your situation, where you live, what you do, where you work and what’s really important to you.  The consequences of our decisions lead to supporting actions – which are the fundamentals of change.

• Consider moving closer to your work: a shorter commute uses less oil, saves time and gives part of your life back.  You may need a smaller home, but hey!  That’s less heating, lighting etc – and you can get closer to your family.
• Can you telecommute?  The interwebs is a magnificent tool that we will use more and more for communication and work.  This can only get better and more productive in time.
• Do you really need to catch that airplane to that other city and/or country for that 2 hour meeting?  We waste so much time flying about for what really are stupid reasons - I’ve been there and seen it – and frankly its just wrong and wasteful.
• Are you tired of what you do?  One thing a recession brings is the opportunity to do something else.  Consider retraining, get an online degree, invest in yourself.  Do this with a view to making a difference.

At the moment each and every one of us guarantees the oil companies’ fat-cat bonus cheques keep on rolling in.  So ask yourself, is that what you want? 

Change is all we need to live a better life.

Sam.

• peak oil
• energy economy
• public transport
• cycling

some other things you might enjoy?

An economy in recession burns less fuel