Peak Oil Action

Small Powerdown support groups - track energy and other resource consumption and challenge and assist group members to improve. Organized locally and meets outside regular meetings at individual residences.
Stephen's plan for the Durham group: Instead of organizing the main NC Powerdown events, I want to dedicate my time to individuals and families who are interested in taking contrete action to wean themselves from all fossil fuels as quickly as possible. I want to propose creating a group that is willing to pledge to cut their fossil energy use by 50% in three years and by 90% in five. This group would form a labor and knowledge sharing network that would work on each others' projects and share advice about their particular areas of knowledge and expertise. Part of the idea would be to create not only living examples of powered down homes and lives but a group of skilled and knowledgeable folks who could be an asset to the communities they live in as peak oil breaches the consciousness of the wayward over the next few years.

The first step would be for those interested in taking the pledge to perform a fossil energy audit of their existing lives, primarily home, food, and travel. The next step would be to figure out what areas would be the easiest to convert to renewable and sustainable methods. Members of this group would meet outside of any standard NC Powerdown meetings. The potential exists for other community-building, energy-saving relationships such as car cooperatives, community gardens, etc.

• Durham - Contact Stephen
  
• Carrboro - Abraham Palmer and Randy Dodd would like to form a group. Contact one of us if you are interested.
  

• Kill-a-Watt meter (to check power consumption of individual appliances)
  
• Other ideas?