The Demise of the Oil Economy

Climate change and the demise of the oil economy are the driving forces behind this module.

The demise of oil affects everything. 

Dr Hubbert produced the Bell Curve where he estimated that America would reach their peak of extraction of oil.  Slowly the major oil producers have been finding it more difficult to find resources.

Reserves have been located beneath the Arctic Ice and consequently conflicts are starting to emerge over resources.

The demand for oil is huge.  The big corporate are aware of this, hence that is why they are looking into sustainable alternatives.

The situation will only change with Government legislation.

Oil is scarce, hard to get, expensive energy and is dependent on nasty regimes where keeping the world dependent on oil is important.

It is precious and non renewable

Oil is an outcome of millions of years.  Plants and animals died in the ocean, this matter became compacted and cooked and chemical reactions turned it into oil.

One barrel of oil is equivalent to 25,000 hours of human labour.

We use oil for everything.  There are millions of oil products that we rely on.

70% of the barrel of oil is refined for transportation energy

98% of transportation energy comes from oil

·      From Boom to Bust:

Venezuela discovered oil in 1914 and was the leading producer.  In 1930 McCamey Texas, 1930 was also affluent in oil.  Today, there resources are depleted.

·      Oil is a magnet for war and it can be argued it starts wars. 

The Sudan war was over a struggle about major oil find in the South of the Country.

Both WW1 and WW2 continued as it was a way for securing oil supply.

The first war that was purely over oil was Sudam invading Kuwait to seize an oil field. 

The US secured an oil field in Iraq.  Iraq wanted rid of Sudam.  After this was achieved Iraq was made stateless and conditions for conflict have been created.

Oil fuels, prolongs and intensifies war. 

·      The numbers don’t add up

The classification of reserves - the more oil that is reported, the more production is permitted.  This has resulted in deceit about the true amount of reserves

Today 58 countries are physically producing less oil.  All promising oil areas have been explored.

·      An insatiable demand

In the early seventies half the globe did not use any oil.  Only Europe, Japan, USA, Canada and the Former Soviet Union used oil.  Today everyone uses it.  China is expanding their need for energy and therefore demand for oil is increasing.

·      The End of the American Dream

The States use 25% of the world oil.  Gasoline is cheap, cheaper than bottled water.

The political system is controlled by major corporations. 

Bush had a close association with oil.  The way to secure oil supplies is to democratise the Middle East.  Secure cheap oil in exchange for the Leaders of Saudi Arabia.  The stability of Saudi Arabia is questionable.  We may be looking at multi generation resource wars, militarising the taking of oil. OR alternative forms of energy that are more environmentally friendly need to be invested in.

o   Hydrogen is a good idea but faces challenges.  There is no infrastructure in place and this will take 30 – 50 years to establish.

o   Biomass – more fossil fuel is needed for its production

o   Nuclear energy – expensive, risk of explosion and terrorists.  10,000 nuclear plants would be needed and Uranium plants would be depleted in two decades.

o   Solar energy – large areas of land are needed

v KEY TEXT: Designing Sustainable Packaging by Scott Boylston

v Cradle to Cradle by Michael Braungart.  Is about products that have a second use.

v The Eco design Handbook by Alastair Faud-Luke.  This includes the Eco design manifesto (a set of points Designers try to consider when designing something sustainable).

v The Transition Handbook.  This is about what communities can do.

v Packaging Design by Bill Stewart

The A380’s fuel efficiency is better than most modern small passenger cars in terms of fuel economy per passenger kilometer – this is a key advantage in reducing our emissions and maximizing eco-efficiency

The Airbus A380 is one of the most environmentally advanced aircraft in the sky. With fuel efficiency as low as 3.1 litres per 100 passenger kilometers, ultra quiet engines, and a host of lightweight components,

A380s fly more passengers further and more efficiently than other large commercial aircraft. Emirates worked closely with Airbus to make the A380 dream a reality, and the result is a green giant.

The A380’s fuel efficiency is better than most modern small passenger cars in terms of fuel economy per passenger kilometer – this is a key advantage in reducing our emissions and maximizing eco-efficiency..

A380 Environmental Facts

• The A380 burns up to 20% less fuel per seat.

• This is the most significant advancement in reducing fuel consumption and emissions in four decades

• Lower fuel burn means lower CO2 emissions. The A380 produces less than 75g of CO2 per passenger kilometre, almost half of the European emissions target for cars manufactured from 2008 onwards

• The A380 uses a range of lightweight materials that account for 25% of its structure

• A380s feature digital inflight magazines, entertainment guides and shopping catalogues, saving 2kg per seat or almost one tonne of weight per aircraft

• Emirates fleet, including 13 A380s in service, has a fuel efficiency 30% below the ICAO global fleet average

• Larger aircraft mean less takeoff and landings (in passenger terms, this would be the equivalent of flying up to seven smaller aircraft types, for certain versions of the A380)