This article proceeds on the basis that the cost of energy will rise in coming years and decades as the age of fossil energy abundance comes to an end. Given the close connection between energy and economic activity, we also assume that declining energy availability and affordability will lead to economic contraction and reduced material affluence. In overconsuming and overdeveloped nations, such resource and energy “degrowth” is desirable and necessary from a sustainability perspective, provided it is planned for and managed in ways consistent with basic principles of distributive equity. Working within that degrowth paradigm, we examine how scarcer and more expensive energy may impact the suburban way of life and how households might prepare for this very plausible, but challenging, energy descent future. The article examines energy demand management in suburbia and how the limited energy needed to provide for essential household services can best be secured in an era of expensive energy and climate instability. After reviewing various energy practices, we also highlight a need for an ethos of sufficiency, moderation, and radical frugality, which we argue is essential for building resilience in the face of forthcoming energy challenges and a harsher climate.

中文翻译：

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能源下降的郊区实践

本文的依据是，随着化石能源丰富时代的结束，能源成本将在未来几年和几十年内上升。考虑到能源与经济活动之间的紧密联系，我们还假设能源可用性和可承受性的下降将导致经济收缩和物质富裕程度降低。在过度消费和过度发达的国家中，从可持续性的角度来看，这种资源和能源的“枯竭”是可取的和必要的，只要以与分配公平的基本原则相一致的方式进行规划和管理即可。在这种消融模式下，我们研究了稀缺和更昂贵的能源可能如何影响郊区的生活方式，以及家庭如何为这个看似合理但充满挑战的能源下降未来做准备。本文研究了郊区的能源需求管理，以及在能源价格昂贵和气候不稳定的时代如何最好地确保提供基本家庭服务所需的有限能源。在回顾了各种能源实践之后，我们还强调了一种自给自足，节制和节俭的精神，我们认为，面对即将来临的能源挑战和更严峻的气候，这对于增强适应力至关重要。