First, thanks all for the thoughtful replies.
Certainly don't mean to imply that there can be no intersection of technology and permaculture (definitely a much broader thought to consider that computing/permaculture). I guess much of my concern comes from seeing how addicted recent generations have become to cell phones, televisions, computers, and their derivatives. It's a bit hard to in my mind justify much of this energy usage (video gaming is an easy example). To me it's obvious that some of this for-pleasure energy usage is incompatible with a future of using less. Is it inevitable that our consumption will continue to grow as technology improves? I have a bit of skepticism towards thinking that says not if we get more efficient, find cleaner energy sources, etc.
Perhaps a better question is how to be deliberate about how we choose to use technology? Certainly permaculture ethics can provide some guidance on this? This all must come with the recognition that (especially in the case of digital) technology requires a long chain of energy to become available to the permies. This includes things like raising/educating/training engineers and factory workers, extracting and heavily refining raw materials, and building and maintaining the infrastructure to facilitate this (which in turn requires more engineers, administrators, buildings, cars, etc).
I'm cautious to praise things like solar panels as a solution to our problems. It's easy to say if I buy a PV panel it will pay for itself in 10 years-- but does this actually consider the full energy cost of a PV panel? I think not as long as we live in a world with artificially cheap energy.
Sorry to rant or ramble, but I feel like something is unaddressed here.
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