However looking through ODAC's (Oil Depletion Analysis Centre - a UK based charity) document for Local Authorities it seems it would be probably at least worthwhile to start raising awareness there, if nothing else. If we got the council to adopt some of ODAC's suggestions then that could be very worthwhile.
Since Chris suggested getting housing stock insulated that's actually covered in their document: Preparing for Peak Oil: Local Authorities and the Energy Crisis (see points 1 and 3 below). Below is from the executive summary of that document.
A review of peak oil initiatives across the United States, Canada, and Britain
suggests local authorities should consider the following actions:
- Conduct a detailed energy audit of all council activities and buildings.
- Develop an emergency energy supply plan.
- Introduce rigorous energy efficiency and conservation programmes.
- Encourage a major shift from private to public transport, cycling and walking.
- Expand existing programmes such as cycle lanes and road pricing.
- Reduce overall transport demand by using planning powers to shape the built environment.
- Promote the use of locally produced, non-fossil transport fuels such as biogas and renewable electricity in both council operations and public transport.
- Launch a major public energy-awareness campaign.
- Find ways to encourage local food production and processing; facilitate reduction of energy used in refrigeration and transportation of food.
- Set up a joint peak oil task force with other councils and partner closely with existing community-led initiatives.
- Coordinate policy on peak oil and climate change.
- Adopt the Oil Depletion Protocol.
If we wanted to at least do some preliminary awareness raising in the Council then maybe hosting the Transition Conference might be useful to us after all. I suspect the Green councillors would be keen even if none of the others.
The Lib Dem survey revealed people were worried about energy now so they may be keen to get on board too.
