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10/23/13 Midterm Part 2

https://sunyocc.sln.suny.edu/Section/Content/Dropbox.aspx?EntryId=BCF9982BCD4043BFA916041B7665E249&caller=%2Fsection%2Fcontent%2Fdefault%2Ea… 1/2

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In the lesson on Peak Oil, I did not often refer to the Revenge Effect. This was on purpose. I was
saving the idea of Energy and Revenge Effects for this occasion.

Remember, Revenge Effects are when the things around us tend to “get even” or when or our
cleverness works against us.

As you may have discerned during the lesson, even the most optimistic of petroleum advocates do not
dispute the fact that there will be a peaking of oil production. After all, it’s a finite planet and there WILL
be a time when we pass an all-time peak of oil production. The only question really open for debate is
the timing of the peak. Some experts think it has already occurred and others think it is far into the
future. In the interest of full disclosure, do think that at this time we are probably past peak. I do think
that we are currently on the “undulating” plateau of production where there are small increases and
decreases. As Kunstler has written, we will only know for sure that we are past peak by looking in our
petroleum rearview mirror.

For this exam, I would like you to pick some aspect of Energy/Peak Oil and think (yes, I know it’s hard)
of two different ways that the Revenge Effect has, might, or will come into effect when the worlds
passes into the post-peak time of petroleum production. This might seem pretty broad so I would like
for you to make it personal for you.

Here are a couple of (short) examples to help you focus in on what I want you to do. Your examples
should be a bit longer. I suspect that around half a page per example would be adequate. However,
take as long as you need to make your examples clear. I do not want to have to “guess” that you
understand this point.

Example #1 – In the old days, oil would often come out of the ground because there was
so much there and it was under pressure. Over time, as we exploit individual oil wells,
the pressure naturally drops. Think of it like a balloon. When you blow a balloon up to
nearly bursting, and then let the air out, it comes out quickly at first, but as the pressure
decreases, the last bit of air comes out much more slowly. Because we are so clever, we
have learned to increase oil production by injecting other materials into faltering oil well to
help re-pressurize them and get more oil out quickly. We usually inject Natural Gas or
even water/seawater (depending on location and local conditions). The Revenge Effect of
this clever process is that because we get the oil out faster, the well is actually depleted
sooner. And, for this oil well, the game is over sooner.

Example #2 – I have a Toyota Prius which was the highest mpg production car (I usually
get around 54 mpg) being sold in the US in the Spring of 2007 when I bought it. Since I
now use less gas than when I drove my Nissan Pathfinder (usually less than 20 mpg), it
means that there is now MORE gas available to other SUV drivers to keep burning. Since
I (and other Prius drivers) reduced total gasoline DEMAND, there is less price pressure on
pump prices and the days of Happy Motoring in the US can continue on a little while longer
than if I had NOT gotten the Prius. The Revenge Effect is that by me buying a fuel
efficient car, there is actually less incentive for others to do the same and my personal
effort actually counts for little.

Example #3 – Recycling is thought to be (as Martha Stewart used to say) a good thing,
right? Well, if the idea is to conserve natural resources, what about all the energy we use
to recycle paper, glass, plastic, etc.? Do you think it is possible that even though we
intend that recycling is supposed to help “save the planet” might all the following
processes actually use MORE energy than other alternative?

C onsider:

– The truck picking up your recyclables at the curbside. How is it propelled? What is the
cost of a new truck every few years?
– The sorting facility. (Heated, labor force or automated, pollution from runoff, rodents
need to be controlled with poisons and traps, etc.)
– The transport to the actual recycling plant (where is it anyway? How far away? Truck
transport? Train transport?)
– Energy at the recycling plant (heating, lighting, machinery, pollution control, etc.)

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Undulating

10/23/13 Midterm Part 2

https://sunyocc.sln.suny.edu/Section/Content/Dropbox.aspx?EntryId=BCF9982BCD4043BFA916041B7665E249&caller=%2Fsection%2Fcontent%2Fdefault%2Ea… 2/2

– The salaries and compensation of all the folks in the chain (How do THEY get to work?
C ar? Bus? Walk?)
– Others?

In other words, is recycling really the answer to our solid waste problem? Maybe
REDUC ING our waste is the real solution. Perhaps we can demand less packaging and
not purchase so many consumer items?

Anyway, one Revenge Effect of recycling is the possibility in general that it might not
actually save any energy. This is not to say that it is not important TO recycle. There are
other things to look at besides energy. For example to create new aluminum cans for
beverages, the mining and refining of bauxite (the ore that is the source of aluminum) is
very destructive and a very energy intensive process. So, I am definitely in favor of
recycling aluminum cans. But, recycling may not be a panacea for environmental
problems. We have to learn to look at the bigger picture and go about things like
recycling in a smarter way.

The two different aspects energy/peak oil Revenge Effects are entirely up to you. You can choose from
any aspect of your life. Professional, Personal, Recreational, etc.

Since I am asking for only two examples, you should make them very GOOD examples of the Revenge
Effect and explain them clearly.

You should compose this essay in your word processor and then create an attachment to put in the
midterm Angel drop box. All the usual rules apply. This is a college essay and you must use correct
sentence structure, spelling, margins, etc. If you cite a source, make sure I can easily find your citation
(links embedded in the essay work well for me), although if you use traditional library resources, a
bibliography is also appropriate. Just make sure that I can find any sources you use.

Good luck and this is definitely NOT an easy exam. I am asking you to apply what you have learned to
a new situation, not simply serve as a transcription service as in many college classes.

Regards,

Professor Klein

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