Suburban Practices of Energy Descent. (22nd July 2020)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Suburban Practices of Energy Descent. (22nd July 2020)
- Main Title:
- Suburban Practices of Energy Descent
- Authors:
- Alexander, Samuel
Gleeson, Brendan - Abstract:
- Abstract: This article proceeds on the basis that the cost of energy will rise in coming years and decades as the age of fossil energy abundance comes to an end. Given the close connection between energy and economic activity, we also assume that declining energy availability and affordability will lead to economic contraction and reduced material affluence. In overconsuming and overdeveloped nations, such resource and energy "degrowth" is desirable and necessary from a sustainability perspective, provided it is planned for and managed in ways consistent with basic principles of distributive equity. Working within that degrowth paradigm, we examine how scarcer and more expensive energy may impact the suburban way of life and how households might prepare for this very plausible, but challenging, energy descent future. The article examines energy demand management in suburbia and how the limited energy needed to provide for essential household services can best be secured in an era of expensive energy and climate instability. After reviewing various energy practices, we also highlight a need for an ethos of sufficiency, moderation, and radical frugality, which we argue is essential for building resilience in the face of forthcoming energy challenges and a harsher climate.
- Is Part Of:
- American journal of economics and sociology. Volume 79:Number 3(2020)
- Journal:
- American journal of economics and sociology
- Issue:
- Volume 79:Number 3(2020)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 79, Issue 3 (2020)
- Year:
- 2020
- Volume:
- 79
- Issue:
- 3
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2020-0079-0003-0000
- Page Start:
- 907
- Page End:
- 940
- Publication Date:
- 2020-07-22
- Subjects:
- 305
- Journal URLs:
- http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ ↗
- DOI:
- 10.1111/ajes.12337 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0002-9246
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 0824.350000
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 15272.xml