How to Create an Oil-Free Economy

Daymer Bay, Cornwall (Whistlefish)

Oil (made up of the skeletons of creatures that are millions of years old) sits miles under our seas, where it’s pumped up to provide engine oil for cars, fuel for aeroplanes and energy to heat and cool our homes. However, the oil-drilling process is very polluting and harmful to marine creatures and fish. And as we all know, oil fuels many wars (nearly all the countries with nuclear weapons also have strong ties to the oil industry). Using fossil fuels also gives rise to climate change issues. So what are the alternatives – to create a clean economy and also help world peace?

Planting wind turbines everywhere is certainly not the answer. Not only are these harmful often to birds and bats, but installing and maintaining them means lots of trucks driving out and new roads being built. Ecologist Satish Kumar once said that the problem in the modern economy is that everyone just wants to carry on living the same, but replacing the old technology with new technology. But he quotes Einstein who said that you can’t solve a problem, created at the same level that caused it. You have to come from a different viewpoint and try something new. Not one that gives power to the big energy companies and governments, but from the people.

This can include solutions like Transition Towns (which install community solar panels on schools and larger buildings, that provide free or cheap locally-sourced and owned energy for the whole community). Shopping locally that eliminates 25% of road traffic (used to ferry supermarket food hundreds of miles from central distribution houses). Trying to holiday locally or taking the boat instead of the plane. And living simply – everything from avoiding disposable plastic bags (made from oil, like everything plastic) to taking simple steps to cut your energy bills with knowledge (no need to turn down the heat and give yourself hypothermia, there are far more intelligent ways to keep warm, that are more empowering too).

The main oil-consuming countries are the US (obviously) along with some of the bigger economies like China, India, Russia, Japan and Saudi Arabia. You’ll notice one country popped in there; although we get around 6% of our oil from Russia, Europe gets around 40% of energy from a country that has used its global economic power of having one of the world’s largest oil supplies, to fund weapons opposed by the countries that funded them. So you can see that by removing dependence on oil, we help to create world peace.

Another issue is the finite life of oil. At present use, current estimates is that the oil will run out in less than 100 years. There may be extra but at current rates, we’re due to run out in around 40 years (and that’s just 200 years after beginning to use them).

The more oil we use, the more oil spills there are. Most spills do not come from tankers (although the Exxon Valdex spill over 30 years ago is still problematic today). Most pollution is from ‘mini-spills’ like pouring oily untreated water down drains, from washing cars in driveways. Use a professional car wash that recycles the water (or waterless car wash product) and use funnels and spill kits, if changing your own oil (on boats too). Spilled oil does considerable harm to birds that eat oil as they preen their feathers (endangered water voles also suffer from oil spills). Oil scum harms fish and frogs, by stopping sunlight and oxygen getting to the surface, and oil spills can contaminate drinking water and make buildings unsafe, due to oil vapours.

Oil & antifreeze are lethal to pets (the latter has a sweet taste). If you can’t have your mechanic change both, use a funnel and choose antifreeze made with propylene glycol (think P for protection – not pet-safe just safer than ethylene glycol – keep both locked away). Read up on how to clean up spilled antifreeze.

Ways We Can Use Less Oil

1. Live simply. Buy less and become less consumerist. And if you buy items made from disposable plastic (made from oil), switch to reusables (grocery bags, toothbrushes, cutlery, coffee cups, water bottles etc).
2. Switch to a renewable energy company. Ecotricity is one of the best, as not only is it green and clean, but the only one that does not include animal by-products to create its gas. Run by the vegan owner of a football club, the company also runs EcoTalk, a phone company that you can switch to, which helps fund their green energy revolution.  The company also runs a fanastic service for businesses, including half-hourly billing and installing solar panels to generate your own clean energy.
3. If you drive a car, electric ones are best, but most people still drive petrol cars and likely can’t afford to upgrade. So drive less (you could join a car-sharing club if you don’t drive much) and look in stores or ask your mechanic about re-refined oil (engine oil doesn’t wear it, it just gets dirty). So by choosing brands that use recycled engine oil, it helps less new oil to be drilled out of the ground. Use and dispose of engine oil safely, which helps to prevent spills (good to use less oil and avoid pollution).
4. There’s no point being a party pooper and telling people never to fly abroad. But when possible, be a flightless traveller and find other ways of getting there (train, bus or ferry). Aeroplanes use a colossal amount of fuel, so flying less is one of the most powerful indirect ways to use less oil.
5. Choose biodegradable beauty and cleaning brands (avoid essential oils for pregnancy/nursing and keep away from pets/babies). You’ll have to visit the health shop to find genuine cleaning brands (Bio-D is good, often sold in farm shops with refill stations). Many of the big brands put oil in their products (like Vaseline that is made with petroleum jelly – switch to a natural lip balm made with plant oils like coconut). Many baby oils are also made with mineral oil, switch to a natural biodegradable unscented baby oil from the health shop instead. Avoid anything that lists petroleum jelly, paraffin oil or mineral oil on the ingredients list. These are all used to give a long shelf life, but have concerns over cancer.
6. Where you can, choose organic produce (often cheaper at markets and in farm shops, or grow your own food (see make your garden safe for pets to know toxic plants and mulches to avoid). Non-organic produce is usually covered in fertilisers and pesticides which are made from oil.
7. If you buy new clothes, look for ones made from natural fibres like organic cotton (again conventional cotton will use oil-derived chemicals), hemp or linen. Most cheap clothing is made from polyester or nylon, which are both made with oil. Natural fibres cost a little more, but tend to last longer, as the fibres have not been treated with chemicals. Or alternatively buy secondhand clothes from locally owned small charity shops, to avoid contributing to the oil industry.
8. Finally, change how you vote. We don’t have a fair voting system, but you can still make your vote count by voting tactically, and voting for your party of choice in local elections. It’s up to you who you vote for (there are many environmental candidates across all the parties). But don’t just vote for your own tax cuts or beliefs, vote in the best interests of the planet and all who live in it. Greens are good, but there are many others from different parties and independents, just do what you can to change the status quo, and avoid voting for any politician that promotes the oil industry or does lobbying work for it.

Switch to Rerefined Motor Oil

Hannah Cole for Etsy

Engine oil does not wear out, it just gets dirty. There are companiese that clean used motor oil, so it can be sold back and put in your car, which helps to avoid more drilling for new oil, if you drive a car that uses it. It also works out cheaper and is approved by major car manufacturers. Drilling oil is bad for the planet and causes massive pollution. So while still in use, switching to a rerefined brand helps enormously. Always use a funnel when changing motor oil, to avoid spills and pollution.

Billions of gallons of motor oil are used each year, and a lot of this is improperly disposed, which causes pollution to our seas and rivers, and harms marine wildlife. Rather than being dumped or burned as fuel, reclaimed motor oil simply recycles it round again, and helps to keep plastic out of landfills, by stopping the sale of new bottles. Making rerefined motor oil also uses 85% less energy to produce, and just one gallon of reclaimed oil produces the same amount of engine oil, as 42 gallons of crude oil, and removes so much greenhouse gases, it’s the same as taking 200,000 cars off the road each year.  As the oil is already refined, it has fewer contaminents so starts with a cleaner base, which means less chemicals.

Reading List

1. The Oil Depletion Protocol is by climate expert Richard Heinberg. This is a plan for nations worldwide to voluntarily reduce their consumption of oil production (and imports) to a consistent and sensible formula, with a long-term plan to go oil-free as soon as possible.
2. Oil Wars asks why oil-rich countries are always the main ones to go to war. The authors say that the main reason is because having oil-rich countries creates a different character to society and economy – focused mostly on money and economic growth, rather than peace and environmental stewardship. It looks at the relationship between oil and war in 6 regions (Angola, Azerbaijan, Colombia, Indonesia, Nigeria and Russia). Each country not only has big oil reserves, but a long history of conflict.

All of the easy oil is gone, and what’s left is requiring more energy and money. As oil becomes more expensive, we really need to start building an alternative economy, before we get caught in a trap of our own making. Richard Heinberg