World stocks of fuel are running out and industrial society is doomed. So ran the apocalyptic warnings from the environmental movement in recent decades, charged by books such as Blueprint for Survival and Limits to Growth. Now on Scare Stories, Running on Empty the authors are interviewed and their message reevaluated, on BBC 2, Thursday, 9.25 p.m.10.15 p.m.

Sounding a more positive note, By Design assesses how recent developments in telecommunications can benefit rural areas, focusing on Tarlach de Blacam, of knitwear company, Inis Meain, and Dara Molloy, an Inis Morbased publisher, who circulates the Aisling on the Internet, on RTE 1, Thursday, 10.40 p.m.11.10 p.m.

A domestic rubbish compactor and freshly baked savoury bread swirls are among the diverse business proposals which have earned students a place in the finals of the Forbairt Student Enterprise Awards. A documentary featuring the projects of the four finalists, and the presentation of the awards by the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, will be broadcast on Network 2, Sunday, 8 p.m.8.35 p.m.

Pest control company, Terminix, has four founding principles: "To honour God in all we do, train and develop people, pursue excellence and grow profitably." Peter Cottee, who aims to double the company's business in Britain, is determined to see if the company lives up to its ideals. He starts by spending a day with the pest control team on a Peckham council estate in what could be termed a cockroach-on-the-wall documentary, Back to the Floor: Crawling About, BBC 2, Tuesday, 9.50 p.m.10.20 p.m.

Finally, a new initiative involving sheep farmers, meat processors and marketeers offers the prospect of "spring" lamb allyear-round for consumers, Ear to the Ground reports on Tuesday, RTE 1, 8.30 p.m.9 p.m.