Energy | The Simplicity Collective

Currently Browsing: Energy

Aug 9, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Sufficiency Economy: Enough, for Everyone, Forever

I’ve just published my second book of collected essays, Sufficiency Economy: Enough, for Everyone, Forever. This is the companion volume to Prosperous Descent: Crisis as Opportunity in an Age of Limits, published earlier in the year. The paperback of Sufficiency Economy is available here. Your support is greatly appreciated. For those unable to pay, the pdf is available on a ‘pay what you... read more

Jul 31, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Beyond Extinction: Transition to Post-Capitalism is Inevitable

Below is an article by Nafeez Ahmed discussing the transition to post-capitalism, which features my latest book, Prosperous Descent: Crisis as Opportunity in an Age of Limits. The article was originally published here. Beyond Extinction: Transition to Post-Capitalism is Inevitable In Margaret Atwood’s powerful essay on the reality of climate change — and its implications for the future of... read more

Jul 22, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

My Interview with Nicole Foss

Earlier this year I interviewed Nicole Foss as part of the documentary I’m making with Jordan Osmond of Happen Films. The interview is quite long but it is well worth a watch: read more

Jul 14, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Low-Tech Living as a ‘Demand-Side’ Response to Climate Change and Peak Oil

I’ve just published a new Simplicity Institute Report, co-authored with Paul Yacoumis, entitled “Low-Tech Living as a “Demand-Side” Response to Climate Change and Peak Oil”. I’ve posted the abstract and the introduction below and the full essay is freely available here. LOW-TECH LIVING AS A ‘DEMAND-SIDE’ RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND PEAK OIL Simplicity is the... read more

Jun 28, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

If everyone lived in an ecovillage, the Earth would still be in trouble

Here is my new article which was published in The Conversation on Friday: We are used to hearing that if everyone lived in the same way as North Americans or Australians, we would need four or five planet Earths to sustain us. This sort of analysis is known as the “ecological footprint” and shows that even the so-called “green” western European nations, with their more progressive approaches to... read more

May 20, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Introduction to ‘Prosperous Descent’

A paperback of my new book, Prosperous Descent: Crisis as Opportunity in an Age of Limits, is available here and a link to a free pdf copy of the book will be sent out to subscribers of the Simplicity Institute in a week. Please sign up to the Simplicity Institute here to receive the link. INTRODUCTION TO ‘PROSPEROUS DESCENT’ By Samuel Alexander I sometimes tell my students that I am an... read more

May 18, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Prosperous Descent: Crisis as Opportunity in an Age of Limits

I’ve just published a new book, Prosperous Descent: Crisis as Opportunity in an Age of Limits, which is the first volume of my collected essays to be published this year. The cover and endorsements are posted below. A second book of collected essays, Sufficiency Economy: Enough, for Everyone, Forever, will be published in a couple of months. The paperback of Prosperous Descent is available here.... read more

Apr 16, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Divesting from Commonwealth Bank – or, why I just cut up my bank card

This morning I cut up my Commonwealth Bank card, and it felt good. I’ve been meaning to do it for ages. When I first moved to Australia in 2006 I didn’t give much thought to which bank I should bank with. But now I know that Commonwealth Bank invests heavily in the fossil fuel industry at a time when we all know carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels is destabilising our climate. Commonwealth Bank... read more

Mar 31, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Our Renewable Future, by Richard Heinberg

Richard Heinberg, one of the world’s premiere energy analysts, recently wrote an excellent essay called ‘Our Renewable Future’ which he has now published as a Simplicity Institute Report. It’s a fascinating discussion that reviews the current state of our energy predicament and reminds us that how we use energy is as important as how we get it. The introduction is posted below and the full essay is... read more

Feb 24, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

The Paradox of Oil: The Cheaper it Is, the More it Costs

I’ve just published a new Simplicity Institute Report, ‘The Paradox of Oil: The Cheaper it Is, the More it Costs’. I’ve posted the introduction below and the full paper is available here. There will be oil, but at what price? – Chris Nelder and Gregor Macdonald THE PARADOX OF OIL: THE CHEAPER IT IS, THE MORE IT COSTS 1. Introduction It would be fair to say that the timing of the... read more

Invitation / Incitation

The Simplicity Collective is founded upon the idea that a 'simpler life' of reduced resource and energy consumption is a viable and desirable alternative to consumer culture.

Our position is that simple living will improve not only our own lives, but the lives of others, as well as help save our planet from the environmental catastrophe towards which we are so enthusiastically marching.

We must not just fall in line, then, and continue the march ‘business as usual.’ We must explore alternative ways to live. We must experiment creatively, like the artist. We must be the poets of our own lives and of a new generation.