Yes the system was aimed at more consumption and more mileage. It's hard to unplug one self from this. For some it will be impossible even, to those well don't sweat it if you're stuck.
I think that unplugging may not be enough, we need to smash the systems that disallow people from unplugging. My partial unplugging may let me feel slightly less guilty, but on the absolute scale it does nothing at all to help the climate. I can wash my hands a bit morally, but the world is none the better for it. So what have I done, really? Not much. The people who have done something are the people who have made solar super cheap, who have mode wind super cheap, those that are building the battery technology that will help get to a carbonless grid, and the politicians that have enabled the tech growth through tax subsidies. My personal contribution is nothing, and it makes me sad.
Our electrical grid is slightly behind pace for decarbonization, but nowhere near as far behind as all the rest of society.
The bad part of society that has my greatest attention lately is single family zoning; this necessitates massive energy use, massive car use, and disallows anybody from creating a low-energy alternative that has all the amenities that people need in order to live. Single family zoning should be illegal. Nobody should be prevented from building an apartment building next to a small grocery store. Big-box stores should be highly restricted, instead of highly restricting apartment buildings.
Our electrical grid is slightly behind pace for decarbonization, but nowhere near as far behind as all the rest of society.
The bad part of society that has my greatest attention lately is single family zoning; this necessitates massive energy use, massive car use, and disallows anybody from creating a low-energy alternative that has all the amenities that people need in order to live. Single family zoning should be illegal. Nobody should be prevented from building an apartment building next to a small grocery store. Big-box stores should be highly restricted, instead of highly restricting apartment buildings.
(apologies for the long rant!)