Dear Colleague,

Natural resources and energy can be used as surrogates for a consumptive industrial economy.   Electricity and other fuels, such as fuel oil, should be used as surrogates to understand the consumptive practices of our industrial economy. Not only that, but it may also serve as a surrogate for the economy itself.   Along with that is the sustainability index, which determines how well an industry or a farm, for example, is contributing to sustainable practices and a holistic, adaptive economy.   The consumption of fuel oil, gasoline, natural gas, propane, and electricity will indicate where the major industries are based on their consumption patterns.   The data and cumulative knowledge associated with the surrogates will enable tracking progress if we use them as indicators over time.   Indices can be used for incentive purposes when an industry is doing very well, conserving the resources that it consumes.  Depending on the sustainability index, an organic farm may not have to pay for electricity or fuel oil, for example.  Overall, the surrogate indices will be able to track the economy and determine suggestions and ideas for improvement and continual adaptive striving towards the desired future condition on Earth. Not only that, but we will also be able to learn and explore different areas to generate new ideas and suggestions to continually improve.

I wish to outline a refined conceptual framework for understanding and steering our economic trajectory, one that places resource consumption at its analytical core. We propose a strategic approach where the metabolic flows of natural resources, electricity, and key energy commodities serve as primary indicators, offering unparalleled transparency into the operational mechanics and consumptive patterns of our industrial economy.

Specifically, the aggregate and disaggregated consumption data for vital resources such as electricity, fuel oil, gasoline, natural gas, and propane can function as surrogate indicators. These metrics provide a precise lens through which to gauge the intensity and character of economic activity, extending beyond mere financial indicators to reveal the fundamental resource demands driving our systems. Indeed, their holistic application could even serve as a foundational surrogate for assessing the overall health and direction of the economy.

Central to this framework is the development of a robust Sustainability Index. This index would objectively quantify the commitment and performance of various economic entities—from multinational industries to individual agricultural enterprises—in adopting and advancing truly sustainable practices. Its design would aim to foster a dynamic, holistic, and adaptive economy, moving beyond superficial greenwashing to measure tangible environmental stewardship and resource efficiency.

By analyzing the consumption footprints of these essential resources, we can pinpoint critical industrial hubs, identify sector-specific intensities, and understand the real-world impact of economic processes. The resultant rich data, when transformed into cumulative knowledge, becomes an indispensable tool for tracking progress over time, forecasting future resource demands, and identifying areas ripe for innovation and intervention.

Furthermore, this sophisticated indexing system presents a powerful mechanism for implementing incentive-based practices. Imagine an organic farm, for instance, demonstrating exceptional performance on its Sustainability Index; it could be granted significant reductions or even exemptions on its energy costs, such as electricity or fuel oil. Such targeted incentives would directly reward exemplary resource conservation and sustainable innovation, thereby catalyzing widespread adoption of beneficial practices across all economic sectors.

Ultimately, the strategic deployment of these surrogate indices will empower us not only to comprehensively monitor and understand economic dynamics but also to formulate data-driven recommendations. This continuous feedback loop will foster adaptive striving, guiding our collective endeavors towards the realization of a truly regenerative and prosperous future for both humanity and the planet.

Sincerely,

Richard Thomas Simmons