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Man, Chaka is dead-on again (I promise I'm not stalking you!).
Use less. Use less. Use less.
Our living arrangement (suburab sprawl) is a huge part of the problem. In most parts of SA (and Texas) driving is mandatory. We are driving incessantly. Drilling off-shore/ANWAR/etc., or exploring "alternative" energy won't change the fact that we need to change our behavior. Mostly, in the way we occupy the land.
Schemes like "mandatory mall closings" (compared to not shopping at malls, period) and "no gas on Monday" (as opposed to eliminating a car from your household) represent how juvenile our approach to this is. Most people really don't want to change their wasteful, destructive (and now, expensive) behavior. We want to continue shopping at CostCo/Wal-Mart, commuting 15 miles each way to work, and driving to shopping malls/The Rim/the Forum to be "entertained".
Compact, walkable, mixed-use communities offer a clear alternative, that would have a meaningful impact on the rising costs of energy.
Eliminate the discount postage rates for junk mail. this will force them to pay thier share or not send it. The reduction in the junk mail will reduce the paper, and the costs od transport and production. It will also mean we won't need such expensive stamps as we are not subsidizing anyones mail
Add solar and wind power to every viable home in America. reduce the use of electricity being generated from fossil fuels or nuclear. leave the hydo as it is.
Require hybrid cars within 1 year. and those cars must get at least 30MPG or they can not be sold or used in the US.
Increase recycling efforts, reduce trash.
Change office buildings to solar and wind power. require they not run all their lights when the place is empty
create mass transit that is eco friendly.
Stop urban sprawl
require all homes built to be self sufficient for their own power and waste systems.
recycle more commercial building materials. concrete, glass, metal, wire,
No more cutting of old growth trees. Only the fast growing farmed varieties may be cut. No importation of old growth materials... dry up the market and you affectthe demand on the trees being cut down in other countries
make the government more efficient with the products they use
There are many things that can be done.
I agree with you on most points but I think switching to hybids in a year is a little unrealistic. Unless you make it VERY affordable, I don't know a lot of people that can just go out and buy a new vehicle. I would probably set it at 5-10 years?
I have a hard time believing that we can send people to the moon but can't come up with a reasonable plan for cleaning up our planet. Conspiracy, anyone?
There is not much of a world energy crisis, there is a bit of shortage of gas. To combat that there is not alot we can do short term, but there is much we can do long term.
short term for consumer:
1. Slow down and it looks like alot of people are doing this.
2. Dont race between stop signs and start coasting as soon as you know you are going to get a red light.
3. Combine trips and use your most efficient vehicle.
4. get a more efficient vehicle, but realize someone is going to buy your less efficient vehicle, so this does little in the grand scheme of things.
Short term for industry:
1. Get more containers on rail and off the road.
2. Increase truck fleet efficiency(super singles, idle gensets, better aerodynamics)
3. reduce packaging(thus increasing capacity of a container)
Short term for auto industry:
1. Reduce weight of vehicles
2. Transition hydraulic systems to electric
3. Introduce engine shut off systems with enough battery to run accessories while the engine is off
4. increase number of hybrids( sorry you cant go all hybrid in a year)
As far as electricity goes, there is no real problems. However if you want cleaner plants. The answer is nuclear short term and rooftop solar in 20 or so years. Coal to gas is also another good option for generating power as it is very clean and very efficient.
I agree with you on most points but I think switching to hybids in a year is a little unrealistic. Unless you make it VERY affordable, I don't know a lot of people that can just go out and buy a new vehicle. I would probably set it at 5-10 years?
I have a hard time believing that we can send people to the moon but can't come up with a reasonable plan for cleaning up our planet. Conspiracy, anyone?
There are 17 million new cars sold in the US every year. There is no capacity to make that many batteries in that short of time.
We take the bus. It would be nice if others could do this, but I realize how long it can take.. sometimes even if you aren't going far! We live close to downtown and because of this there is a doctor/dentist/grocery store/lumber place/whatever we need, all within walking/biking distance or at least a short bus ride. We can't always guarantee that our jobs will be close but for now they are and my partner can get to work in 20 minutes on the bus, vs. the same 20 minutes in the car.
I would love to have a hybrid and love if everyone did but yeah, I agree, they are out of reach price-wise for many, myself included. We DO own cars that are as fuel efficient as was possible for our price range, and drive as little as possible.
Man, Chaka is dead-on again (I promise I'm not stalking you!).
Use less. Use less. Use less.
Our living arrangement (suburab sprawl) is a huge part of the problem. In most parts of SA (and Texas) driving is mandatory. We are driving incessantly. Drilling off-shore/ANWAR/etc., or exploring "alternative" energy won't change the fact that we need to change our behavior. Mostly, in the way we occupy the land.
Schemes like "mandatory mall closings" (compared to not shopping at malls, period) and "no gas on Monday" (as opposed to eliminating a car from your household) represent how juvenile our approach to this is. Most people really don't want to change their wasteful, destructive (and now, expensive) behavior. We want to continue shopping at CostCo/Wal-Mart, commuting 15 miles each way to work, and driving to shopping malls/The Rim/the Forum to be "entertained".
Compact, walkable, mixed-use communities offer a clear alternative, that would have a meaningful impact on the rising costs of energy.
i agree with you, it should boil down to changing behavior and lifestyle, it can be voluntary but i must say it will speed up the change if it will be supported by regulations.... one can still bypass but must pay the price...
like maybe:
1. new housing developments outside the city should be taxed more
2. 2nd and 3rd car of a given household should be taxed double and triple respectively
3. suvs and trucks should be taxed triple
4. smaller homes are taxed less
etc...
these are just examples, and details should be analyzed further, but im just saying things like this can force some change...
i agree with you, it should boil down to changing behavior and lifestyle, it can be voluntary but i must say it will speed up the change if it will be supported by regulations.... one can still bypass but must pay the price...
like maybe:
1. new housing developments outside the city should be taxed more
2. 2nd and 3rd car of a given household should be taxed double and triple respectively
3. suvs and trucks should be taxed triple
4. smaller homes are taxed less
etc...
these are just examples, and details should be analyzed further, but im just saying things like this can force some change...
Letting the government dig into your pocket more than it already is definitely isn't the answer.
Man, Chaka is dead-on again (I promise I'm not stalking you!).
Use less. Use less. Use less.
Our living arrangement (suburab sprawl) is a huge part of the problem. In most parts of SA (and Texas) driving is mandatory. We are driving incessantly. Drilling off-shore/ANWAR/etc., or exploring "alternative" energy won't change the fact that we need to change our behavior. Mostly, in the way we occupy the land.
Schemes like "mandatory mall closings" (compared to not shopping at malls, period) and "no gas on Monday" (as opposed to eliminating a car from your household) represent how juvenile our approach to this is. Most people really don't want to change their wasteful, destructive (and now, expensive) behavior. We want to continue shopping at CostCo/Wal-Mart, commuting 15 miles each way to work, and driving to shopping malls/The Rim/the Forum to be "entertained".
Compact, walkable, mixed-use communities offer a clear alternative, that would have a meaningful impact on the rising costs of energy.
You are free to live in a crammed city. I will take a little extra space and live in suburbia.
In a couple decades it wont matter as personal transportation will be cheaper and gas powered cars will be on their way out.
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