Peak oil theory is that oil production will not just peter out, it will fall catastrophically starting right now, and that no alternative energy source will arise to take its place. The result will be inevitable disaster, so they say. A book advocating peak oil theory starts by erroneously begins with a false application of the concept of a closed system. It’s worth setting straight.

Fred arrives home and goes into his heated TV room. He switches on two lamps that consume 60 watts of electric power each. He switches on his wide-screen TV that draws 300 watts. The environment outside the room stays precisely the same, which is typical of quiz problem weather. … When the room stabilizes again, how much electric power will be flowing into the room, counting all the devices?