Suburban sprawl cancels carbon-footprint savings of dense urban cores (Philadelphia: homes, neighborhoods)

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by doo dah

?? Our apartment is not packed to the ceiling with made in China products, care to provide a cite?

Uh... you want me to cite a source for what you have in your apartment? Sorry, I don't have that information readily available...

Willing to bet that keyboard/mouse/device you typed that post on was made in China though.

[sparrowmint]

Most people aren't aware of how much they own is made overseas. To feed off "made in the USA" desires, sometimes final production is done here, but every other component was produced overseas and then shipped to the US to be put together. There are a TON of loopholes with the whole "Made in <location>" stamps. As an educated, aware dog owner, this comes up a lot, for example. Many dog foods, products, treats have been hiding the location of production. They will simply say "Distributed by _________" and give the US head office location. Or they'll produce in the US but their meat and other ingredients come from China. This doesn't just apply to the pet product industry, it comes up in the human food industry as well (see the recent honey controversy), among other things. The average person has no damn idea how many products they are using from developing and undeveloped nations. You just don't.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by sparrowmint

The average person has no damn idea how many products they are using from developing and undeveloped nations. You just don't.

There are lots of things I have no idea about, including why having stuff made in China is worse for greenhouse emissions that having stuff made here. It could be the case, but I don't see it as obvious.

[Kippy]

I got a soulless 13.

[LIRefugee]

The glasses used at Square Cafe are made in the USA. Therefore, to reduce one's carbon footprint, one should take the bus to Regent Square and have drinks at the Square Cafe.

Buying items such as electronics or computer peripherals NOT made in the USA is much easier said than done. Such movements to buy American only have failed largely because of the one reason why items are made in India, China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, etc. in the first place: they are significantly cheaper. If they were made in the USA, they would be much, much more expensive, to the point where it makes little economic sense from the point of view of a company to manufacture high-volume consumer items here anymore.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

There are lots of things I have no idea about, including why having stuff made in China is worse for greenhouse emissions that having stuff made here. It could be the case, but I don't see it as obvious.

You have to ship things from the others side of the world, which is hardly carbon neutral.

That said, if the manufacturing process itself becomes "cleaner" it could cancel out.

Things like food I almost always try to get locally, for this reason though. I refuse to buy apples from New Zealand in the spring and the like. It's more fun only eating fruit when it's in season anyway.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by eschaton

You have to ship things from the others side of the world, which is hardly carbon neutral.

That said, if the manufacturing process itself becomes "cleaner" it could cancel out.

Things like food I almost always try to get locally, for this reason though. I refuse to buy apples from New Zealand in the spring and the like. It's more fun only eating fruit when it's in season anyway.

But the shipping, if by boat, uses very little carbon and when you figure transporting raw materials to the manufacturing point, it might not be much less shipping involved. Shipping fruit is very different because that usually has to be done by air and at a greatly increased energy cost.

And, while Chinese manufacturing is notoriously polluting, it is usually less mechanized and therefore more carbon neutral.

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

Uh... you want me to cite a source for what you have in your apartment? Sorry, I don't have that information readily available...

Willing to bet that keyboard/mouse/device you typed that post on was made in China though.

You said "I find it hilarious that people that shout down anyone who has to drive on a regular basis while their houses are packed floor to ceiling with made in China products."
That is what I was requesting a cite for.

I can't help where my employer buys their computer equipment from.


We can't compost, as we are apartment dwellers also.

[Kippy]

Originally Posted by doo dah

We can't compost, as we are apartment dwellers also.

Sure you can, get some worms and vermicompost!

[pman]

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

But the shipping, if by boat, uses very little carbon and when you figure transporting raw materials to the manufacturing point, it might not be much less shipping involved. Shipping fruit is very different because that usually has to be done by air and at a greatly increased energy cost.

And, while Chinese manufacturing is notoriously polluting, it is usually less mechanized and therefore more carbon neutral.

this is not correct. fruit can and does travel by boat, Philadelphia's port specializes in perishables such as fruit which generally get shipped in smaller boats. I agree with echaton's approach (buy local which is usually superior anyway, particularly when it comes to things like apples) where applicable but PA oranges, avocados, and bananas (among others) can be a little hard to come by ; )