This post is the second in a series related to 11 simple things we can do to reduce environment impact (and save money). As I mentioned in the original post, this idea was inspired by the movie 11th hour. Today's post focuses on how we can reduce our energy consumption.
11 simple things we can do to reduce our energy consumption.
1) Turn off the lights. It's really simple. When leaving the room, turn off the lights--both at home and work.
2) Turn off appliances or electronic devices. If a TV emits a signal and no one is there to hear it, does it really make a sound? Ask a philosopher, but the TV certainly uses energy. Turn it off when you're not watching it.
3) Unplug the electronic devices and chargers. If your electronic devices are plugged into a power strip, it's really easy to "unplug" them by turning off the power strip. Cell phone chargers? Plug them in only when you're using them. If you have appliances that you use only occasionally, consider unplugging them. This article provides useful information about appliance "vampires" that use energy needlessly.
4) Set the computer to sleep or hibernate. In Windows, the power management settings are within the control panel. For Macs, use the Energy Saver within the system preferences. This article describes power management with Linux. Consider turning off your computer at night.
5) Use revolving doors. Yup. We can save energy by using revolving doors. I'm not even getting into the disconcerting trend that an increasing number of revolving doors have become motorized, or that perhaps we could harness energy from revolving doors (or merry-go-rounds?). Less air is exchanged when using revolving doors, which means less air conditioning or heating required to moderate temperature.
6) Use curtains, blinds or shades strategically. During the summer, consider closing them on days when you're using the air conditioner. During the winter, open the blinds to capture heat and sunlight (but close them at night to retain heat).
7) Clean the filters. In particular, clear the dryer's lint filter after each use, and the clean the air conditioner's filter regularly. Some new air conditioners have a light that comes on when it's time to open up the front panel, remove the filter and dust it off and clean it. A clean filter ensures peak performance and efficiency.
8) Use cold water to wash your clothes. I suppose there might be some stubborn stains that require extra attention (or maybe hot water), but perhaps those could be dealt with separately in a pre-wash effort? Clothes can be washed perfectly well using cold water, which will use less energy. If you can combine clothes into fewer, larger loads, you'll save even more energy.
9) Adjust the thermostats. There are many recommendations for cooling and heating, but since this is a "simple things" list, I will make the following recommendation: adjust the thermostat by one degree (make it one degree higher when using the central air conditioning and one degree lower when using the central heating). If you can manage this simple adjustment, consider adjusting it another degree. Try the same approach for your refrigerator. If your milk has icicles in it, you can probably turn down the thermostat.
And now the items that take some more effort (but offer greater benefits)...
10) If you can afford it, buy compact fluorescent light bulbs. From the Energy Star website:
"If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars."
If you can believe it, WalMart has launched a new Green campaign that includes an emphasis on compact fluorescent light bulbs. BTW, WalMart includes a "10 Easy Things You Can Do to Help" list on their WalMart Green website. I am aware of WalMart's poor track record with labor practices. Only you can decide if you want to support their Green movement.
11) If you can afford it, buy energy efficient appliances. The Energy Star website has information on such appliances and WalMart has listed all their energy efficient appliances into one category.
All of these ideas focus on reducing demand for electricity, but it's also worthwhile to think about the supply as well. We generate most of our electricity from burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil, which is a major contributor to air pollution. If you're feeling really motivated, consider purchasing renewable energy credits in the form of wind energy at Renewable Choice Energy. You can also ask your electric utility company what percentage of their energy they generate from renewable sources. If their answer is zero, you might ask them what their plan is for increasing this percentage. If they don't have a plan, you might ask them why not.
Thank you for reducing our impact on the environment.
Showing posts with label environmentalism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label environmentalism. Show all posts
Sunday, August 26, 2007
11 Simple Things We Can Do to Reduce Environmental Impact
Arguably, the documentary movie 11th hour picks up from Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth. I believe the latter movie was a cohesive, even more compelling offering, but 11th hour certainly offered food for thought. My previous post focused on a specific quote reflecting the vicious cycle most Americans seem to experience: work to earn more money to spend more money to manage more things to work to earn more money...
I once heard that there are an estimated 60,000 storage facilities in the US. People pay money to store things they do not use on a regular basis? Maybe it's time to create an eBay account, sell something on Craigslist, or better yet, check out Freecycle.
One of the principals in 11th hour described the "anesthesizing" effect of wealth and consumerism in the US. Specifically, that our escalating consumerism insulates us from nature, and our isolation from the world leaves us woefully unaware of how other people live (and arguably unaware of the impact of our lifestyles). I'm not convinced that we're anesthetized, which to me implies a state of (albeit artificial) peace. Given the amount of stress, anxiety, violence, etc. in US society, it hardly seems that we're at peace. Perhaps "brainwashing" is a better term.
While it's easy to belabor such points, the movie includes a helpful sequence about personal choices we can make to reduce our impact on the environment. In this spirit, I've decided to offer my own set of "11 things" lists that anyone can do to reduce environmental impact (and save money). Each list will emphasize a specific theme such as reducing our energy or water consumption.
Today's list: 11 simple things we can do to reduce your gasoline consumption.
1) Reduce the warmup period. Even 30 seconds of warming up an engine will suffice on a cold day. The best way to warm up your car is to drive it.
2) Accelerate and brake gently. "Jackrabbit" or sudden acceleration and hard braking use more gasoline.
3) Drive at the speed limit, or even below the speed limit! There are many good reasons for doing this, including saving gas. Driving at 55mph offers about 20% better gas mileage than driving at 65mph or 70mph.
4) Turn off the engine instead of idling it. If you plan to be parked for more than 10 seconds, it's generally a good idea to turn off your engine rather than let it idle (i.e., ten seconds of idling can use more gas than turning your engine on and off).
5) Use the walk through. Instead of using the drive through, consider parking, taking a brief walk and ordering your food at the counter.
6) Park quickly. I'm amazed at the number of times I note people driving around in circles looking for that "ideal" parking spot right near the entrance, when there are plenty of parking spots 100 feet away or one level below or above the entrance level. Parking quickly will also save you time, and offer another chance for a brief walk.
7) Clean out the trunk. It's certainly a good idea to keep emergency supplies in your trunk, but if you're carrying around extra weight for no reason, you're wasting gas.
8) Inflate your tires to the maximum recommended pressure. It takes only a few minutes to do so, but it makes a big difference in your gas mileage.
And now the items that take some more effort (but offer greater benefits)...
9) Carpool. Haven't you always wanted to use those high-occupancy vehicle lanes (at least legally)?
10) Use public transit. If you already use public transit, great. Consider getting off one stop early and taking a walk. Walk whenever possible.
11) If you must keep driving, consider using a Flexcar. If you can afford it, consider buying a vehicle with high fuel efficiency or even a hybrid.
Thanks for reducing our impact on the environment.
I once heard that there are an estimated 60,000 storage facilities in the US. People pay money to store things they do not use on a regular basis? Maybe it's time to create an eBay account, sell something on Craigslist, or better yet, check out Freecycle.
One of the principals in 11th hour described the "anesthesizing" effect of wealth and consumerism in the US. Specifically, that our escalating consumerism insulates us from nature, and our isolation from the world leaves us woefully unaware of how other people live (and arguably unaware of the impact of our lifestyles). I'm not convinced that we're anesthetized, which to me implies a state of (albeit artificial) peace. Given the amount of stress, anxiety, violence, etc. in US society, it hardly seems that we're at peace. Perhaps "brainwashing" is a better term.
While it's easy to belabor such points, the movie includes a helpful sequence about personal choices we can make to reduce our impact on the environment. In this spirit, I've decided to offer my own set of "11 things" lists that anyone can do to reduce environmental impact (and save money). Each list will emphasize a specific theme such as reducing our energy or water consumption.
Today's list: 11 simple things we can do to reduce your gasoline consumption.
1) Reduce the warmup period. Even 30 seconds of warming up an engine will suffice on a cold day. The best way to warm up your car is to drive it.
2) Accelerate and brake gently. "Jackrabbit" or sudden acceleration and hard braking use more gasoline.
3) Drive at the speed limit, or even below the speed limit! There are many good reasons for doing this, including saving gas. Driving at 55mph offers about 20% better gas mileage than driving at 65mph or 70mph.
4) Turn off the engine instead of idling it. If you plan to be parked for more than 10 seconds, it's generally a good idea to turn off your engine rather than let it idle (i.e., ten seconds of idling can use more gas than turning your engine on and off).
5) Use the walk through. Instead of using the drive through, consider parking, taking a brief walk and ordering your food at the counter.
6) Park quickly. I'm amazed at the number of times I note people driving around in circles looking for that "ideal" parking spot right near the entrance, when there are plenty of parking spots 100 feet away or one level below or above the entrance level. Parking quickly will also save you time, and offer another chance for a brief walk.
7) Clean out the trunk. It's certainly a good idea to keep emergency supplies in your trunk, but if you're carrying around extra weight for no reason, you're wasting gas.
8) Inflate your tires to the maximum recommended pressure. It takes only a few minutes to do so, but it makes a big difference in your gas mileage.
And now the items that take some more effort (but offer greater benefits)...
9) Carpool. Haven't you always wanted to use those high-occupancy vehicle lanes (at least legally)?
10) Use public transit. If you already use public transit, great. Consider getting off one stop early and taking a walk. Walk whenever possible.
11) If you must keep driving, consider using a Flexcar. If you can afford it, consider buying a vehicle with high fuel efficiency or even a hybrid.
Thanks for reducing our impact on the environment.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
11th Hour
From the documentary movie about the impending environmental crisis and methods for sustainable design and living 11th hour...
"Things are the thieves of time."
- Nathan Gardels, Editor, New Perspectives Quarterly
"Things are the thieves of time."
- Nathan Gardels, Editor, New Perspectives Quarterly
Saturday, April 21, 2007
FlexCar
I am a member of the Johns Hopkins University Sustainability Committee. The Chair of this Committee has led an effort to bring Flexcar to our neighborhood. A local publication describes Flexcar as "a planet-friendly car-sharing program designed with cost savings, convenience, and conservation in mind."
There are four cars within the campus area. For the period when I wanted a car, three of the four cars were reserved, so I had to rent the most remote car, with "remote" meaning a fifteen minute walk (interesting mindset, eh?). It was a beautiful, warm, sunny, breezy day, so I welcomed the walk. I doubt I'll feel this way when it's cold and blustery (breeze seems to become bluster on cold days).
I was surprised--and disappointed--to note a Mini Cooper upon my arrival. It was my understanding that all of the Flexcars in our neighborhood were hybrid vehicles. One of the reasons I find Flexcar so appealing is the "sustainability" aspect of the program. The Flexcar instructions for activating the car, finding the key, initiating the session, etc. were excellent. Within no time, I had the car started. Getting moving was another matter...
I've rented cars dozens of times. I'm completely comfortable with a range of vehicles, but I found the Mini Cooper unusually disorienting. Why was the tachometer in front of me while the speedometer was in the center of the dashboard? At one point, I tried to raise the volume on the radio, but ended up downshifting while I was driving. After hearing the engine rev up, and noting the tachometer rise sharply (good thing it was in front of me), I quickly shifted up again. After some trial and error, I figured out the radio, and other features of the car. When I thought about why this particular car was disorienting, I realized that the Mini Cooper is a car aimed at the young and hip...I let go of that thought pretty quickly. I was pleased to note that a Flexcar email newsletter included a section on how to start the Mini Cooper, and how to navigate its instrument panel and dashboard. Maybe a lot of older folks are using Flexcars :-)
I drove the Flexcar to the pet store, the mall, and a local Trader Joe's. At the mall, I noted a sign about extended hours and a statement "Defining You." Before I sat down to eat, I returned two of the sauce packets that were given to me, only to receive a strange look. After I finished eating, I returned one of the sauce packets, only to receive an even stranger look. While I was eating, I saw another sign about "Defining You" through "Fabulous stores, great food." I left the mall after eating because, as much as I enjoy their food, I'm not sure I want to be defined by Chick-fil-a.
I parked the Flexcar in prominent locations so that the logo was easily visible. I wondered if anyone would ask me about it. No such luck. Given the ongoing attention to the price of gas, I was surprised that no one asked about this alternative, community-based approach to driving. On subsequent occasions using Flexcar when driving a hybrid vehicle (the Mini Cooper must have been there temporarily), there was still no reaction. I've rented FlexCars several times, but no one has ever said anything to me. Putting aside the sustainability aspects of Flexcar, I thought someone might ask out of sheer curiosity. Maybe Flexcar should make its logo larger on the side doors.
But then again, as I notice the typical range of cars on the road, the way people keep driving around the mall parking lot looking for that spot 30 feet closer to the entrance, or the fact that almost every car has one occupant, I realize that gas prices will have to be much higher before people in the US change their behavior. And gas prices will go up, and there will be a need for adjustment in behavior, and Flexcar will probably become much more popular.
I guess it's not surprising that people don't see the writing on the doors of the Flexcar given that they don't seem to see the writing on the wall.
There are four cars within the campus area. For the period when I wanted a car, three of the four cars were reserved, so I had to rent the most remote car, with "remote" meaning a fifteen minute walk (interesting mindset, eh?). It was a beautiful, warm, sunny, breezy day, so I welcomed the walk. I doubt I'll feel this way when it's cold and blustery (breeze seems to become bluster on cold days).
I was surprised--and disappointed--to note a Mini Cooper upon my arrival. It was my understanding that all of the Flexcars in our neighborhood were hybrid vehicles. One of the reasons I find Flexcar so appealing is the "sustainability" aspect of the program. The Flexcar instructions for activating the car, finding the key, initiating the session, etc. were excellent. Within no time, I had the car started. Getting moving was another matter...
I've rented cars dozens of times. I'm completely comfortable with a range of vehicles, but I found the Mini Cooper unusually disorienting. Why was the tachometer in front of me while the speedometer was in the center of the dashboard? At one point, I tried to raise the volume on the radio, but ended up downshifting while I was driving. After hearing the engine rev up, and noting the tachometer rise sharply (good thing it was in front of me), I quickly shifted up again. After some trial and error, I figured out the radio, and other features of the car. When I thought about why this particular car was disorienting, I realized that the Mini Cooper is a car aimed at the young and hip...I let go of that thought pretty quickly. I was pleased to note that a Flexcar email newsletter included a section on how to start the Mini Cooper, and how to navigate its instrument panel and dashboard. Maybe a lot of older folks are using Flexcars :-)
I drove the Flexcar to the pet store, the mall, and a local Trader Joe's. At the mall, I noted a sign about extended hours and a statement "Defining You." Before I sat down to eat, I returned two of the sauce packets that were given to me, only to receive a strange look. After I finished eating, I returned one of the sauce packets, only to receive an even stranger look. While I was eating, I saw another sign about "Defining You" through "Fabulous stores, great food." I left the mall after eating because, as much as I enjoy their food, I'm not sure I want to be defined by Chick-fil-a.
I parked the Flexcar in prominent locations so that the logo was easily visible. I wondered if anyone would ask me about it. No such luck. Given the ongoing attention to the price of gas, I was surprised that no one asked about this alternative, community-based approach to driving. On subsequent occasions using Flexcar when driving a hybrid vehicle (the Mini Cooper must have been there temporarily), there was still no reaction. I've rented FlexCars several times, but no one has ever said anything to me. Putting aside the sustainability aspects of Flexcar, I thought someone might ask out of sheer curiosity. Maybe Flexcar should make its logo larger on the side doors.
But then again, as I notice the typical range of cars on the road, the way people keep driving around the mall parking lot looking for that spot 30 feet closer to the entrance, or the fact that almost every car has one occupant, I realize that gas prices will have to be much higher before people in the US change their behavior. And gas prices will go up, and there will be a need for adjustment in behavior, and Flexcar will probably become much more popular.
I guess it's not surprising that people don't see the writing on the doors of the Flexcar given that they don't seem to see the writing on the wall.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
An Inconvenient Choice?
A few days ago, I went to visit a friend in need. This friend, and others who know about my trip, have said "it was good of you to do this." I have told them that if visiting a friend in need has become a heroic act, then we are truly lost. Or, as is more likely the case, that our lives have become so chaotic and "noisy" that we don't even have the capacity or ability to decide what to do with the time that has been given to us. When visiting friends becomes an inconvenience, we have a serious problem on our hands.
A few days before I went to visit my friend, I saw "An Inconvenient Truth." When I was in grad school in the 1990s, I had access to the results of the general circulation models that examined climate change. It isn't as if I'm ignorant or unaware of these issues. I knew the science has progressed since then. These early models had grids the size of the US, and one of them had sunlight 24 hours a day. But I had no idea about some of the most compelling--and frightening--topics and findings discussed in the movie.
The Larsen B Ice Shelf disintegrated in less than a month?
So I headed off to the airport to visit my friend with a renewed sense of reflection and respect for relationships--with people, with the environment, with myself. I decided to walk to Baltimore Penn Station, and then take the light rail to BWI Airport. Usually, I will drive to the airport or take a taxi. As I walked to the train station, I noticed very few people walking. Lots of cars whizzed by, but very few people walked by.
When I arrived at Penn Station, I went to the light rail stop, which is not well marked or identified. I guess if something is rarely used, it's unlikely that someone will complain about poor signage. As I emerged onto the platform, I saw a light rail car at the end of the tracks. I learned that there is a separate spur that connects Penn Station to the regular light rail line.
Fine. I bought my ticket for $1.60 and waited for the light rail to come back to the main portion of the station. Another person appeared and asked me about the light rail to the airport. This was encouraging. Maybe I was being too cynical in assuming that no one used this service. He started talking on his cell phone, while he paced around and smoked a cigarette. In the time it took for me to wonder when the light rail would come back in our direction to the time I looked back at him, he had disappeared. And he did not come back.
At this time, I noticed that the light rail had also disappeared. I was sincerely hoping that it would come back.
And it did within a few minutes. Apparently, it does not come into the main part of Penn Station. This time I walked to end of the platform. When it returned, I immediately boarded. Since I was standing in the sunlight, noting those first annoying beads--and then streams--of perspiration that form and run down one's back, I was glad for the air conditioning. As I cooled off, I began to wonder...
I'm the only person on this light rail. Does it run all day? It only took a few minutes to return from the main line. Couldn't I just walk to the main line station? How much energy is this thing using?!? As the light rail operator walked by me, I asked him how many people ride this particular light rail on a daily basis. He said "You're probably the only one for today..." We waited a few minutes, air conditioning and lights full blast, for people who would not come. Not even the anxious individual I had seen a few minutes earlier.
Once on the main line, the BWI light rail came within a few minutes. But it took more than a few minutes to get to BWI. My entire journey took nearly two hours. Almost everyone else who used the light rail to BWI was wearing a retail uniform or an airport badge, and almost certainly welcomed an inexpensive form of transportation. I noted one fellow air traveller who looked like she could have afforded to drive or take a taxi; that is, she made a choice to use the light rail.
When I drive or take a taxi, it takes about 20-25 minutes. It costs a lot more, not in only direct dollars. But it is sooooo convenient. One of my other friends and former colleagues used to take the light rail to BWI airport when she would go on business trips. I remember having several conversations with her about this choice. I would argue that since she would be reimbursed for her taxi fare or mileage costs, she might as well forgo the light rail. She would tell me that she chose the light rail for other reasons. I would argue that she was not considering value of time. My Economics professors would have been proud of me. Of course, economists also believe that the value of human life is tied to one's wage rate. So much for the unemployed and retired folks (and remember you're only unemployed if you don't have a job, but are actively seeking one...if you've stopped looking for a job...well, uh, I guess you're not part of the statistics anymore). It's only now that I begin to realize why she felt so passionate about her choice.
What about the value of the environment? Putting aside moral, ethical, spiritual, religious, etc. considerations, from a purely economic perspective, it's irrational to expend natural resources so carelessly and thoughtlessly. Would you invest in a company that told you it was planning to burn through its machinery without any plans for the next phase?
If someone doesn't have the means to have choices, then the light rail is wonderful. But I confess that I kept asking myself...isn't it worth the $35 to take a taxi? Isn't the light rail an inconvenient choice?
But what if gasoline becomes $8/gallon? What if more ice melts in Greenland, the Arctic, or Antarctica, and Europe starts to cool off? What if the severity and frequency of hurricanes intensifies? What if we have more wildfires, more power failures, more wars?
I can imagine a lot more inconvenience in the future if we don't start making some of these "inconvenient" choices today.
A few days before I went to visit my friend, I saw "An Inconvenient Truth." When I was in grad school in the 1990s, I had access to the results of the general circulation models that examined climate change. It isn't as if I'm ignorant or unaware of these issues. I knew the science has progressed since then. These early models had grids the size of the US, and one of them had sunlight 24 hours a day. But I had no idea about some of the most compelling--and frightening--topics and findings discussed in the movie.
The Larsen B Ice Shelf disintegrated in less than a month?
So I headed off to the airport to visit my friend with a renewed sense of reflection and respect for relationships--with people, with the environment, with myself. I decided to walk to Baltimore Penn Station, and then take the light rail to BWI Airport. Usually, I will drive to the airport or take a taxi. As I walked to the train station, I noticed very few people walking. Lots of cars whizzed by, but very few people walked by.
When I arrived at Penn Station, I went to the light rail stop, which is not well marked or identified. I guess if something is rarely used, it's unlikely that someone will complain about poor signage. As I emerged onto the platform, I saw a light rail car at the end of the tracks. I learned that there is a separate spur that connects Penn Station to the regular light rail line.
Fine. I bought my ticket for $1.60 and waited for the light rail to come back to the main portion of the station. Another person appeared and asked me about the light rail to the airport. This was encouraging. Maybe I was being too cynical in assuming that no one used this service. He started talking on his cell phone, while he paced around and smoked a cigarette. In the time it took for me to wonder when the light rail would come back in our direction to the time I looked back at him, he had disappeared. And he did not come back.
At this time, I noticed that the light rail had also disappeared. I was sincerely hoping that it would come back.
And it did within a few minutes. Apparently, it does not come into the main part of Penn Station. This time I walked to end of the platform. When it returned, I immediately boarded. Since I was standing in the sunlight, noting those first annoying beads--and then streams--of perspiration that form and run down one's back, I was glad for the air conditioning. As I cooled off, I began to wonder...
I'm the only person on this light rail. Does it run all day? It only took a few minutes to return from the main line. Couldn't I just walk to the main line station? How much energy is this thing using?!? As the light rail operator walked by me, I asked him how many people ride this particular light rail on a daily basis. He said "You're probably the only one for today..." We waited a few minutes, air conditioning and lights full blast, for people who would not come. Not even the anxious individual I had seen a few minutes earlier.
Once on the main line, the BWI light rail came within a few minutes. But it took more than a few minutes to get to BWI. My entire journey took nearly two hours. Almost everyone else who used the light rail to BWI was wearing a retail uniform or an airport badge, and almost certainly welcomed an inexpensive form of transportation. I noted one fellow air traveller who looked like she could have afforded to drive or take a taxi; that is, she made a choice to use the light rail.
When I drive or take a taxi, it takes about 20-25 minutes. It costs a lot more, not in only direct dollars. But it is sooooo convenient. One of my other friends and former colleagues used to take the light rail to BWI airport when she would go on business trips. I remember having several conversations with her about this choice. I would argue that since she would be reimbursed for her taxi fare or mileage costs, she might as well forgo the light rail. She would tell me that she chose the light rail for other reasons. I would argue that she was not considering value of time. My Economics professors would have been proud of me. Of course, economists also believe that the value of human life is tied to one's wage rate. So much for the unemployed and retired folks (and remember you're only unemployed if you don't have a job, but are actively seeking one...if you've stopped looking for a job...well, uh, I guess you're not part of the statistics anymore). It's only now that I begin to realize why she felt so passionate about her choice.
What about the value of the environment? Putting aside moral, ethical, spiritual, religious, etc. considerations, from a purely economic perspective, it's irrational to expend natural resources so carelessly and thoughtlessly. Would you invest in a company that told you it was planning to burn through its machinery without any plans for the next phase?
If someone doesn't have the means to have choices, then the light rail is wonderful. But I confess that I kept asking myself...isn't it worth the $35 to take a taxi? Isn't the light rail an inconvenient choice?
But what if gasoline becomes $8/gallon? What if more ice melts in Greenland, the Arctic, or Antarctica, and Europe starts to cool off? What if the severity and frequency of hurricanes intensifies? What if we have more wildfires, more power failures, more wars?
I can imagine a lot more inconvenience in the future if we don't start making some of these "inconvenient" choices today.
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