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But we will never know if we don't try. And when you think of the course of action that could make an impact, it isn't exactly challenging. For example, over the past few years I've made kinda-enviro sensitive decisions:
1) When my old car went to the giant scrap heap in the sky I bought a fuel-efficient car to replace it.
2) I've been replacing my incandescents with miniflouros, as the incadencet lights burn out
3) I'm moving at the end of October, and made a point of getting a place close to my work (no more f*&%%$#ing commutes, just a short bike ride away)
So my life is now cheaper and more convenient, and yet I've managed to cut my CO2 release by over 60%.
Obviously some of those are more difficult for most people (i.e. moving), but at the end of the day all three of those things save me money and time, and also cut CO2. Win-win for everyone.
If the problem is excess CO2, then reducing CO2 reduces the problem. We are now at the point where climate change is considered inevitable. All we're trying to do is limit the extent of the problem.
Take biofuels (to hijack another part of the thread). The carbon in those fuels comes from the CO2 in the air, so in a perfect world your net CO2 is zero. It doesn't work out this way, but at least for biodiesel you should end up releasing less CO2 then if you use regular diesel. Not a perfect solution, but it does have the effect of limiting CO2 release while we look for a better solution.
Bryan
Bryan,
I commend your efforts and have adopted similar measures, however I could not reconcile the problem of the mini-flours going into the local dump, breaking and leaching out mercury into the watertable. Being a diver, as you are, I am sensitive to the pollution that ends up in the ground and ultimately the ocean. I am not sure we haven't just diverted from one energy using convenience (incandescent lights) to a potentially more deadly alternative (flouro's) for the sake of feeling better about ourselves. Then there are the conspiracy theories that GE is pushing the flouro's to make big bucks, right?
I sure wish I hadn't polished up all those dimes with mercury when I was a kid!:11:
For example, over the past few years I've made kinda-enviro sensitive decisions:
I posted earlier about our solar adventures. The simple truth is that it doesn't actually cost a penny to do it, in fact you win a little where I live with the cost of energy as it is here.
The same is true for light-bulbs - they use less energy so are cheaper.....
Fuel efficient cars - less fuel......cheaper....
That's why it's strange to read the constant claims that the whole global warming thing is just a scare tactic.
The only scare tactic I can see is the one that is trying to tell people that doing things about your own carbon choices is going to cost you money.
Talking directly from experience I can say that that is pure rubbish.
__________________
............Kim.
"The time has come to set aside childish things." President Barack H. Obama. - Jan 20th, 2009.
I commend your efforts and have adopted similar measures, however I could not reconcile the problem of the mini-flours going into the local dump, breaking and leaching out mercury into the watertable.
Here (Canada) free disposable is available in most cities. Its just a matter of taking them in, rather then chucking them in the trash. I have a box where I toss my old batteries, miniflouros, etc, and when I get enough to make a trip worthwhile I take them in for proper disposal.
Bryan
__________________
I have no signature, as it detracts from the original message.
I posted earlier about our solar adventures. The simple truth is that it doesn't actually cost a penny to do it, in fact you win a little where I live with the cost of energy as it is here.
Unfortunately, solar isn't as good here in Canada. Some people heat water with it, but that's about as far it goes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kim
Fuel efficient cars - less fuel......cheaper....
No kidding, my new car cost about 1/3rd what replacing my truck would have been. The new one has a tank 1/2 the size of my old truck, and goes a tad farther off of one fill. The odd time I need a truck I now rent one - with the amount I'm saving I could rent a truck every weekend and still come out ahead.
Bryan
__________________
I have no signature, as it detracts from the original message.
I posted earlier about our solar adventures. The simple truth is that it doesn't actually cost a penny to do it, in fact you win a little where I live with the cost of energy as it is here.
Have to admit that the house I bought already had solar panels, but I am an absolute disciple of them now. The darn things (3 panels) work so well that we had to cover one panel, the water got too hot! Did not even know the water heater was busted until a couple cloudy days came by, they work that well.
With all the other "offset" BS clouding issues, solar power is simple and supremely effective. It would not be a stretch to mandate new house builds to incorporate the panels. Hell, the government mandates all sort of useless crap, might as well do something proven effective. They are not cheap, but the US has tax credits for them if you install them. I will not own another house without them, they are an eye opener, so to speak.
Unfortunately, solar isn't as good here in Canada. Some people heat water with it, but that's about as far it goes.
It's true, it doesn't work everywhere - but where it does it pays for itself.
Generally though, given that the whole idea is to cause less pollution by using less, or differently produced energy, it's normally going to save money to "go green". In the UK there have always been farmers running stuff off the methane produced by chicken-poop. That wins several ways - the methane doesn't escape to the atmosphere, diesel isn't burnt producing exhaust pollution, and it's virtually free for the farmer. What's not to like about it?
__________________
............Kim.
"The time has come to set aside childish things." President Barack H. Obama. - Jan 20th, 2009.
Have to admit that the house I bought already had solar panels, but I am an absolute disciple of them now. The darn things (3 panels) work so well that we had to cover one panel, the water got too hot! Did not even know the water heater was busted until a couple cloudy days came by, they work that well.
With all the other "offset" BS clouding issues, solar power is simple and supremely effective. It would not be a stretch to mandate new house builds to incorporate the panels. Hell, the government mandates all sort of useless crap, might as well do something proven effective. They are not cheap, but the US has tax credits for them if you install them. I will not own another house without them, they are an eye opener, so to speak.
There you go.......
There ARE ways to discuss this stuff that work. And there ARE solutions that can be implemented, albeit different ones in different places according to situation.
We've just started turning on the under floor heating that is part of the system we had installed as it's getting colder now. It's fantastic, and so far has totally replaced the gas heater we would otherwise be using by now. So we don't just win on the electricity side, we're winning on the gas bill too! Our system is knocking out around 30 kw/hrs a day.
__________________
............Kim.
"The time has come to set aside childish things." President Barack H. Obama. - Jan 20th, 2009.
Great discussion. Here in cloudy Ontario, the big thing is Geothermal heating, taking heat from the ground through recirculating fluid-filled loop underground. Of course, this still needs a pump to drive the fluid and something to power the heat exchanger, but this is minimal and perhaps covered by additional solar or wind, or just bite the bullet and pay the $180.00 electric bill. My neighbour installed such a system last year, and her house was pretty comfortable all Canadian winter long. Her system worked off harvesting the heat existing in her well water, which of course does not freeze deeper than about 2 meters/6 feet underground. Plus, in the summer, the system worked to cool her house, so no aircon....
I'm thinking about it, especially since heating oil (what we have out here in the country) has tripled in price. Should be able to pay the geothermal system off in 5 years. Plus, no tie to the oil company!
Oh, and Warthaug, the local municipality's recycling doesn't deal with the minifluoros, too toxic!?! So I'm just turning off lights when not used, for now.
It's true, it doesn't work everywhere - but where it does it pays for itself.
In the UK there have always been farmers running stuff off the methane produced by chicken-poop. That wins several ways - the methane doesn't escape to the atmosphere, diesel isn't burnt producing exhaust pollution, and it's virtually free for the farmer. What's not to like about it?
Some of my family do a similar thing, albeit with cows. Poop goes in a fermenter, methane is collected, and its used to heat the barn. The leftovers is pretty good for fertilizing the fields. Not exactly the most dramatic use for it, but it keeps the cows alive during winter, and the system paid for itself in about 2 years.
Bryan
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I have no signature, as it detracts from the original message.
Oh, and Warthaug, the local municipality's recycling doesn't deal with the minifluoros, too toxic!?! So I'm just turning off lights when not used, for now.
That's too bad. Where abouts are you - I'm moving to TO next week (Saturday to be exact), and was assuming that the same resources available here in Calgary would be available there... well everything except for all the wanna-be cowboys.
Bryan
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I have no signature, as it detracts from the original message.
............Kim. 
Our system is knocking out around 30 kw/hrs a day.
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