tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32818328264866137902024-02-07T02:56:08.406-05:00Sustainable You, Sustainable MeProviding for Today's Needs without Depriving Our Grandchildren from Meeting TheirsChip Caruanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09128994431827702352noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3281832826486613790.post-80931682948365467532011-04-20T15:33:00.000-04:002011-04-20T15:33:20.113-04:00When To ChangeI just finished an interesting study concerning <a href="http://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/doe_h2_fuelcell_factsheet.pdf">hydrogen fuel cells</a>. A large client of ours was considering a switch to hydrogen fuel cells for their forklift fleet and asked us to make recommendations. It's not a large fleet and they don't use them 24/7 but thought it worth a study. Several nearby companies have made the switch and have found that they can reduce operating costs to a degree and reap some pretty big PR benefits as well. One, BMW, has even gone to using landfill gas to lessen the impact of hydrogen even further. They can take their momentum with their hydrogen cars and tout the strides they're making on other fronts as well.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh633hy9JUohGxQ_KPRYlQ9B2txDRr5GZbIadEoWCwT37S2KFDMKxFI-1QizA9ljTMKp932fGvv7Lo_NvFeZYhgvk9857rXiKfOo_worosoXI6wJZq-aTUCGcQbnVwtOmKcZVtMAYNYSfYy/s1600/forklift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh633hy9JUohGxQ_KPRYlQ9B2txDRr5GZbIadEoWCwT37S2KFDMKxFI-1QizA9ljTMKp932fGvv7Lo_NvFeZYhgvk9857rXiKfOo_worosoXI6wJZq-aTUCGcQbnVwtOmKcZVtMAYNYSfYy/s320/forklift.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
But what do you do when it doesn't make economic sense and the environmental and social impacts are negligible? Do you go ahead with an expensive retrofit, add an expensive refueling station and scrap all your old lead acid batteries? Or do you sit tight, continue to operate as efficiently as you can and plan for a point in the future that a change makes financial and environmental sense?<br />
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We told them to sit tight and find less expensive ways to save money and lessen their impact because sometimes knowing when to hold them is the smartest thing to do.Chip Caruanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09128994431827702352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3281832826486613790.post-68286366242264173022011-04-11T22:28:00.001-04:002011-04-12T09:36:22.662-04:00Where To StartIt happens all the time. Someone sees or reads someting that gets them thinking about the environment or the rising cost of energy and they decide to make their next project a "green" one. What's the first thing they think about if it's a home improvement project? Something sexy like solar panels or wind turbines. Of new windows or air conditioner. That will really make a big change and start saving some real cash, no?<br />
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Well, a better way to begin is to look at some simple (and free) things that make just as much of an impact. The <a href="http://rmi.org/rmi/">Rocky Mountain Institute</a> has put together a great paper on saving energy around the home and it starts with these five simple steps<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">1. Lower water heater temperature to 120°F</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">2. Increase AC thermostat by 3°F</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">3. Wash clothes in cold water</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">4. Air dry clothes during summer</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">5. Turn off unneeded lights</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQeod9SgsTGeKXnbo_zY-A2maGK9yTppfGqv1fBIc6q4R8WcNRdFGd5UPDAW3yQ0EGxyX7dwHAaRR8bi0C2tTGdZ5_P0vBhAbxrF2VheG8soaGLsO2agLo862b5bb0-2koCp6LF88i-bj/s1600/cost-effectiveness-pyramid.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQeod9SgsTGeKXnbo_zY-A2maGK9yTppfGqv1fBIc6q4R8WcNRdFGd5UPDAW3yQ0EGxyX7dwHAaRR8bi0C2tTGdZ5_P0vBhAbxrF2VheG8soaGLsO2agLo862b5bb0-2koCp6LF88i-bj/s400/cost-effectiveness-pyramid.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; line-height: 17px;"></span>Another great tool is the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/08/tthe-pyramid-of-conservation.php">Pyramid of Conservation</a> from Minnesota Power. Like the familiar food pyramid, it shows which things give you the most bang for the buck. In the "Sustainability" world it's known as going after the low hanging fruit.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;">Before you spend thousands saving hundreds try starting at the bottom. It's fruit that you'll enjoy the most.</span>Chip Caruanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09128994431827702352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3281832826486613790.post-12507930137902988272011-04-04T16:43:00.000-04:002011-04-04T16:43:59.771-04:00Buying AlternativesSomethings come and go so quickly that I hate having to buy them. Two that come to mind are textbooks and paperbacks. I've had my fill of both over the years and have been trying my best to lighten up around the house. In fact we've gone from four full bookcases as well as numerous boxes in the garage and attic to just part of one bookcase shared with the Wii and other games and such.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhwhw_LDIRJXMdv60coA_e_lHSusAI39m9yb44Ioub9QqAT9sVEhcvcxuuNfEQCLXUb6iJIOG2ybPild4r5CBx5WBU5DPJmXsSuAR5f2vUVIl4MJnYf8JboCkf11YP231eYAsYRjM5tRV/s1600/recycle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhwhw_LDIRJXMdv60coA_e_lHSusAI39m9yb44Ioub9QqAT9sVEhcvcxuuNfEQCLXUb6iJIOG2ybPild4r5CBx5WBU5DPJmXsSuAR5f2vUVIl4MJnYf8JboCkf11YP231eYAsYRjM5tRV/s1600/recycle.jpg" /></a></div>To ease the burden of textbooks I've been using <a href="http://www.chegg.com/?tpl=int">Chegg </a>to rent them for the semester and then just send back when done. Unless you have books that you know are going to stay current and that you'll constantly need to reference in the future, renting is a great way to save on the budget and clutter. When I can't find the book I need on Chegg or another rental site, you can find good used copies on Amazon then re-list when you're done.<br />
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The other site I've been using a lot lately is <a href="http://swap.com/">Swap.com</a> for all my book and CD trades. What's nice is that you're in a network with thousands of others so you don't have to wait to trade directly with someone; it can be a three or more person trade to make the connection complete. Try it and see if you like it as much as me.Chip Caruanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09128994431827702352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3281832826486613790.post-88771771046631614962011-04-01T23:05:00.002-04:002011-04-02T13:11:39.336-04:00It Can't Be Done, Can It?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjc3BgMmlA2ikHgI7E19CL6Dh9qU4fyLRIDbAstiaL6rL1qf-oj-ODftBCez8ODc9c1VBsR6isHL6fN_gelw92Hhkdcyli8WRymueJrPIqJ0hqAYcp9b41uaRTFlQclfA3YwEIVDHpLEo/s1600/468_pollution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjc3BgMmlA2ikHgI7E19CL6Dh9qU4fyLRIDbAstiaL6rL1qf-oj-ODftBCez8ODc9c1VBsR6isHL6fN_gelw92Hhkdcyli8WRymueJrPIqJ0hqAYcp9b41uaRTFlQclfA3YwEIVDHpLEo/s200/468_pollution.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>One of the biggest arguments you hear these days from people at least willing to agree that there are serious environmental and social problems is that that the issues are too big and there isn't enough time. And while it certainly seems from watching the news or listening to the radio that slowing the release of CO2 or eradicating poverty is just to difficult I'm reminded that we have faced other worldwide crises before.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUC-5kQ9FfEMLw__yW760PcKtfRnLQjoDtmfj9nJiCbdPn1BG6huoQsRG2MrgNw0capKnL7j79J4KTJ1UaEXeQeyB6yGS2Aw_FFVii3S6VUY4MTn_MCkJtF_D5RsZp4czouvnNBbZ8-76/s1600/hitler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUC-5kQ9FfEMLw__yW760PcKtfRnLQjoDtmfj9nJiCbdPn1BG6huoQsRG2MrgNw0capKnL7j79J4KTJ1UaEXeQeyB6yGS2Aw_FFVii3S6VUY4MTn_MCkJtF_D5RsZp4czouvnNBbZ8-76/s1600/hitler.jpg" /></a></div>The biggest hurdle in many peoples minds is that since these, and other issues, took decades to develop to this point it will take just as long or longer to solve. Or that we aren't strong enough to shoulder the burden. To put this into perspective let's look at the events surrounding our entry into World War II and how long it took us to respond. The first date is one that everyone knows: December 7, 1941 and the attack on Pearl Harbor. In response,one month later, President Roosevelt, in his State of the Union <a href="http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=16253#axzz1IKb2hOpl">address </a>on January 6, 1942, called for the production of equipment and material for the war effort. One month later all civilian automobile production <a href="http://www.fordmotorhistory.com/factories/richmond/war_production.php">ended </a>and factories began making the necessary planes, tanks and munitions to fight a global war on two fronts against better prepared adversaries. Total time elapsed to meet the challenge: two months.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHi5oZcl3TyPFZ5rWl2Yejc8g8qRnlRF3CHPLZZbCBIg10t3qFKTPKS4XC0imgwY9mftJ9fXRhqosQL5Uk-cMp-JN1bhZUppVDOfwcbMzGd-TfphXI2VpqwzQAbHc5XOCRdWLnu9Of9bfv/s1600/x225-government+motors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHi5oZcl3TyPFZ5rWl2Yejc8g8qRnlRF3CHPLZZbCBIg10t3qFKTPKS4XC0imgwY9mftJ9fXRhqosQL5Uk-cMp-JN1bhZUppVDOfwcbMzGd-TfphXI2VpqwzQAbHc5XOCRdWLnu9Of9bfv/s200/x225-government+motors.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Now, when people say we don't have the time, money or political willpower to tackle many of today's issues, remind them that it only took us two months to mobilize the entire auto industry to face that challenge. Funny that while the government actually owned both <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124385428627671889.html">General Motors</a> and Chrysler recently we didn't ask them to do anything at all. I know that I would have had a few suggestions for them.Chip Caruanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09128994431827702352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3281832826486613790.post-75266826318880320462011-03-31T18:01:00.000-04:002011-03-31T18:01:14.847-04:00The 29th Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48utbHdYRoWW0AhkvVLPOUFesLabnNHjaiMb-9FiK0_V3Yp_P4K3Kg6DGZBgF4AOEQzo9MS47aT0nw0MKu9jC_2vnEbnztY_cdD7JFa1fw8kqt8gioB3reVnCeKVP7ynphcHUVVpVuCED/s1600/lillypad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48utbHdYRoWW0AhkvVLPOUFesLabnNHjaiMb-9FiK0_V3Yp_P4K3Kg6DGZBgF4AOEQzo9MS47aT0nw0MKu9jC_2vnEbnztY_cdD7JFa1fw8kqt8gioB3reVnCeKVP7ynphcHUVVpVuCED/s200/lillypad.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Many of you have heard this story but it bears repeating. There is a pond that has one Lily pad growing. This Lily pad will split into two on the second day then split again into four on the third day and so on. This keeps happening until on the 30th day they have completely covered the pond and the oxygen is depleted, killing everything in the pond. Ok, here's the question: when was the pond only half covered? It seems logical to say the 15th day but actually it would be on the <a href="http://www.earth-policy.org/">29th da</a>y. One day the pond is only half covered and the next...death. Wouldn't give you much time to take action, would it?<br />
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We don't know how far along we are towards a tipping point where it will be very hard to reverse the effects of CO2 and other harmful gasses in the atmosphere. Or how much time we have to reverse the rapid melting of the polar ice packs or <a href="http://www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org/pages/glaciers.html">glaciers </a>that feed fresh water to millions of people in China or India or Colorado Springs. Or when the population of the earth will be too great to adequately feed everyone. We might be getting close to the 29th day.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQoeZ9u03tXiR5amhmyREaq0g04SP0Swq4MG_Bvwz_fO7fU6VtELAFizbY_ymMKael7XP4vrDL_S5TsDwzytIFvRtAwT7X-KhYqyTUG1kX7kzJnTw_QlqtXYpPDJuwSwpsYUF5VkLBaAy/s1600/AnasaziBuilders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQoeZ9u03tXiR5amhmyREaq0g04SP0Swq4MG_Bvwz_fO7fU6VtELAFizbY_ymMKael7XP4vrDL_S5TsDwzytIFvRtAwT7X-KhYqyTUG1kX7kzJnTw_QlqtXYpPDJuwSwpsYUF5VkLBaAy/s200/AnasaziBuilders.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Lost amid all the arguments about global warming, oil shale deposits or middle east military intervention is the fact that we just don't know how close we are to becoming another civilization, like the Olmec or the <a href="http://www.desertusa.com/ind1/du_peo_ana.html">Anasazi</a>, who depleted their resources before they could adapt to changes in their environment. If we are wrong and have plenty of time why not start now and save our children and grandchildren the burden of dealing with these issues. If we are closer than we'd like to admit then we have to start now before it's too late. Either way starting now is the only sensible thing to do.Chip Caruanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09128994431827702352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3281832826486613790.post-62793110551678038772011-03-29T21:32:00.003-04:002011-04-02T13:11:22.235-04:00It's The Little ThingsSometimes we think that we have to make big changes in order to be more sustainable, like waiting for a move or major renovation before we start. Nope, all you have to do is look at the small things that go on around your house in order to make real changes. This might be a good time to review the three "R's" of sustainability. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Notice that the one that seems to get the most attention is actually mentioned last and for good reason. If we can reduce what we buy and bring in to the house and then reuse anything that still has value or purpose there will be much less to recycle or throw out. <br />
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</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCx2ZTOvJscieeqc6oaG0xzDXSe-M_FXVjDJxnauuXAF2zT9oPV0uKYS7sCo3JwgGisUwi8OPVNOZstkYXLl3-0qyzswqma1OgrLDJb1rhuyB6dTkMqqArtktxlrSsIbc1zVdTcsTvl-Ie/s1600/Sustainable+Practices+-+Waste+Hierarchy+-+Reduce%252C+Reuse%252C+Recycle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCx2ZTOvJscieeqc6oaG0xzDXSe-M_FXVjDJxnauuXAF2zT9oPV0uKYS7sCo3JwgGisUwi8OPVNOZstkYXLl3-0qyzswqma1OgrLDJb1rhuyB6dTkMqqArtktxlrSsIbc1zVdTcsTvl-Ie/s200/Sustainable+Practices+-+Waste+Hierarchy+-+Reduce%252C+Reuse%252C+Recycle.jpg" width="200" /></a>I got to thinking of this earlier today as I opened a bag of chips and fumbled through the junk drawer for a chip clip to close the bag. You know, the big, ugly clips made from plastic that keep breaking. Why did I even buy them in the first place when I have perfectly good clothes pins in the house already? They never break, didn't come from oil and work much better. Look around the house next time you need something and see if you already have a good substitute just ready for double duty.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Okay, getting back to changes you can do right away. Like I mentioned above, start with what's coming in and try to make better decisions. Next, think about where things go and how their taken care of. Can you find things or is every drawer a "junk" drawer? Do you throw out a lot of food that's expired or toss unread magazines or newspapers because you're too busy or they ended up at the bottom of some pile? Did you buy something cheap or poorly made only to get rid of it long before its time? Things like that add up, not only in cost but also satisfaction. A few quality things bring so much more pleasure over time than just having lots of "things."</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieoDCu74jFvNZrGaoaZe5osc_cm3TJln_WRImKnYvPNxGqxjLgHUtWpxlUmvLpLE4MxKphLonNHXMfLgvLM2Iyz1poKvBrB_gUkX5u_2DCaqoiHDKKg_QqKrtTrxAsGarAwoDFG6Fl6BLC/s1600/2010-10-20-Space_Hoarders.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieoDCu74jFvNZrGaoaZe5osc_cm3TJln_WRImKnYvPNxGqxjLgHUtWpxlUmvLpLE4MxKphLonNHXMfLgvLM2Iyz1poKvBrB_gUkX5u_2DCaqoiHDKKg_QqKrtTrxAsGarAwoDFG6Fl6BLC/s320/2010-10-20-Space_Hoarders.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>We're called to be good stewards of this planet and it should start in our homes and our personal lives. Setting a good example for our children and our neighbors leaves a lasting legacy to be proud of. The one with the most stuff doesn't win when he dies, he just leaves a bigger mess for his kids to throw out after he's gone.</div>Chip Caruanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09128994431827702352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3281832826486613790.post-55330063035270687942011-03-28T11:41:00.004-04:002011-04-02T13:11:06.897-04:00Earth Hour, Who Knew?Boy, I completely missed it last Saturday. And so did a lot of others. No posts that I could find on <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/">Treehugger </a>or <a href="http://inhabitat.com/">Inhabitat</a>, websites that normally give me a lot to think about. What was it?<a href="http://www.earthhour.org/Homepage.aspx"> Earth Hour</a>. Well, if you missed it too, the gist of it is that every year we are supposed to turn off all non-essential power for an hour. And while its been reported that many utilities do in fact register a small decrease in electricity usage during that period, many critics question something that is more or less a publicity stunt. Others point out that many people light up candles during that period and that's just as bad as any other source of light. Still others say that fluctuations in power delivery can also cause damage in its own right.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nITKv9JJaNclLxkT1tNegCADvk7ByNBeIJyJhudwhmN7LVQZM3HnbKs9yxzkhumaIrHIpYePz7UBhLZcVW0K681k-RMrPxIMr0BIx87lO8InMNq67N3qTQc8fvdpbP6vyT-DU6k2_tDN/s1600/earth-hour-graphic-copy-450x338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nITKv9JJaNclLxkT1tNegCADvk7ByNBeIJyJhudwhmN7LVQZM3HnbKs9yxzkhumaIrHIpYePz7UBhLZcVW0K681k-RMrPxIMr0BIx87lO8InMNq67N3qTQc8fvdpbP6vyT-DU6k2_tDN/s320/earth-hour-graphic-copy-450x338.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Regardless of the pros and cons it does bring to light (pun intended) that many things are within our control and that we do have an impact, whether for one hour or throughout our day. I don't know about you but I can get overwhelmed with all the things I see or read that tell me to make changes in my life, from losing weight, to better health through fiber, to buying organic. It can all become a blur and fade into the background as just some white noise.<br />
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So what do you do? How do you keep from being pulled into every little fad or feeling guilty for not doing enough? The easy answer is just to start something, doesn't have to be a big thing, just movement in the right direction. For me it was a simple as putting a couple bins in the garage for plastic bottles and paper. Do I <a href="http://eartheasy.com/grow_compost.html">compost</a>? Not really, unless you count the banana peel I throw under the little Oak tree when I pull into the driveway every night. Do I wash out my <a href="http://www.gaiam.com/product/countertop+bag+dryer.do">Zip Lock bags</a> and reuse them like my more dedicated friends? Not one bit. BUT... I do throw my plastic and paper in those <a href="http://www.extension.iastate.edu/publications/pm1438.pdf">bins </a>everyday and take to the recycling center on my way to the grocery store and that's a start. Something. Anything to get you started, one step at a time. You'll see the difference and then maybe look around for something else you can do next. That's what sustainability is all about. Doing something, not doing everything.Chip Caruanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09128994431827702352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3281832826486613790.post-9312827278919101702011-03-26T16:31:00.001-04:002011-03-26T22:24:41.339-04:00When Growth Doesn't WorkUsually, when we talk about sustainability, we think of how we can keep doing things without hurting future generations. That's kinda its definition. It implies moving forward, smarter growth, doing more with less or with greener products, doesn't it? But sometimes it means just plain doing less. Do I need another pair of shoes, new car, bigger house (insert your next new thing here)? And sometimes it can mean doing less on a city wide scale.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8Pz3jIGzQQC-zfFgWuaaStvbbWNsnXy7cRj7utrL8msow4e4gMPNMyzEPO1jI0Ne21lmrGUyoJQ6M8T06m1LQnPTNfLCGsjlKCOUruAGCr9gGV_aRETMiiLeJzGh9yOaSsuhyphenhyphenRFsId7j/s1600/65arivertown_marv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8Pz3jIGzQQC-zfFgWuaaStvbbWNsnXy7cRj7utrL8msow4e4gMPNMyzEPO1jI0Ne21lmrGUyoJQ6M8T06m1LQnPTNfLCGsjlKCOUruAGCr9gGV_aRETMiiLeJzGh9yOaSsuhyphenhyphenRFsId7j/s320/65arivertown_marv.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I bring this up because I've been reading about the challenges for cities like Cleveland and Buffalo that have seen dramatic losses of population. What do you do when you're heyday was 100 years ago? How do you attract people to a city that has huge sections of neighborhoods vacant? What do you do when your city is <a href="http://shrinkingcities.wordpress.com/">shrinking</a>? Some, like Buffalo, continue to hope that somehow people will start coming back if you just keep moving forward. Others, like Rochester (my hometown) have started to move people out of sparsely populated neighborhoods into areas with more people (and services) and convert the empty areas into parks, greenways and gardens.<br />
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The city right now that's getting the most attention, due to the great Superbowl commercial by Chrysler among other reasons, is Detroit. They've embarked on a massive program to clear out whole sections of the city no longer viable due to so few inhabitants and convert the land back to community gardens and <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2009/12/29/news/economy/farming_detroit.fortune/index.htm">farms</a>, something the land was very good at before it was converted to urban use. Many critics argue that for-profits will benefit from these projects but nothing they've tried yet has been able to deal with that much land laying waste.<br />
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Will this and other experiments by cities turn the tide of urban decay in our Northeast? Only time will tell, but remember this, those old, dying cities up north, the steel and manufacturing towns like Gary, Buffalo and Detroit, are sitting on the only abundant source of fresh water in the entire country and when people in the south and southwest start to get thirsty in fifty years, those rust belt cities will start to look pretty attractive!Chip Caruanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09128994431827702352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3281832826486613790.post-85178305805538701312011-03-24T16:10:00.004-04:002011-04-02T13:10:38.413-04:00The Price of Gas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBMMi19ITVsMcOdVZ2C-CRY-bWm26gRbnH08kwTAIdGeeP5TYPwHIxUbX2pXERZ-z0in5FllwIJ5uv8VcwFpMFyHkSg4neoZpKP5AuVLSieaN_VMoD92pDnJVGBRq5Y4H7hmWxaCiQ3sw/s1600/293861093v1_480x480_Front_Color-KellyGreen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBMMi19ITVsMcOdVZ2C-CRY-bWm26gRbnH08kwTAIdGeeP5TYPwHIxUbX2pXERZ-z0in5FllwIJ5uv8VcwFpMFyHkSg4neoZpKP5AuVLSieaN_VMoD92pDnJVGBRq5Y4H7hmWxaCiQ3sw/s320/293861093v1_480x480_Front_Color-KellyGreen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I've got this tee shirt that shows a guy blowing his brains out with a gasoline nozzle. That shirt gets a lot of attention, usually a thumbs up or a snarky remark about the damn gas companies, but I wonder if there isn't a bigger question here. We all know how tough it can be for many people (myself included) to endure $50 fill ups or $500 credit card bills each month. And I've been hearing from the news that higher gas prices can <a href="http://www.americanmanufacturing.org/blog/infrastructure-deficit-hidden-costs">slow the recovery</a> as people cut back other spending to pay for gas, not a good thing, I know.<br />
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But, and it's a big BUT, when gas went through the roof back in '08 several really good things happened as well and might be happening again even as I write this. People started making better decisions about the car they were about to buy. And Amtrak and the bus lines were all reporting record ridership. And air quality started to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/weekinreview/16wald.html">improve </a>in many cities. And car companies rushed to redesign their big SUV's (just now hitting showrooms, getting much better mileage). Something happened that hadn't for a long time. People started to think about the cost of energy and how they used it. Sure it's a hardship when energy costs rise but we've been living with <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/03/do-americans-pay-too-little-for-gas.php">cheap gas</a> for forty years (look it up if you don't believe me).<br />
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Here's what I would propose. Slowly raise the gas tax, maybe a penny every month, so that we would know that the next time we have to make a car purchase decision fuel would be a little more. Now you may not like this proposal much and I can't blame you but realize that in '08 and again this year because of Libya and all, every cent of the increase went either to the oil companies or the dictators who control the oil in their little fiefdoms. Not one cent of these increases went to the US Government to make road and bridge repairs or pay for mass transit. Not one cent. So if we <a href="http://www.plugincars.com/states-consider-taxing-evs-make-lost-gas-tax-revenue-106946.html">raise the tax</a> a little at a time that increase stays with us to fix our crumbling infrastructure or help keep bus fares down for people without cheap transportation.<br />
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Finally, remember this. The Federal gas tax has stayed at 18.4 <i style="font-weight: bold;">cents since 1993! </i>Not one cent of the rising cost of gas has stayed here to help pay for all the things that need to be done and we keep fighting wars over it. Maybe a change in our habits will keep a few Americans from dying overseas to protect our supply of cheap oil, no?Chip Caruanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09128994431827702352noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3281832826486613790.post-18840508169257750312011-03-23T18:06:00.003-04:002011-03-24T17:02:51.129-04:00What Are We Talking About, Anyway?Several people have asked me about my site because I started with two posts about cars. I like talking about cars but there are many other topics to address when it comes to sustainability. So for those not as familiar with the term I'll give a quick refresher. When we discuss <a href="http://www.epa.gov/sustainability/basicinfo.htm">sustainability </a>we are usually talking about something that can or cannot continue. The recent debates about federal or state budgets are a case in point. Overspending catches up to you later and someone has to pay the bill. Whether it's about the environment or something else that can be depleted by overuse the outcome is the same. Using too much of something and not putting back or giving time to replenish can't continue.<br />
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<a href="http://www.wsd1.org/grantpark/staff/patenaude/envirothon/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2894KxVIN7wkygKzMAhbOBMdn7S5dZJlqCCVBATbDvmu1Y_R4J0cejjvIYzYy-r7xBM9mWCPTYTwiaHG1FLZZPiWcziWkOWhr5RDrW-w7SnxHS9wrFdeNKi5YerGum9yoTOKtr-2otC4A/s320/sustainability.jpg" width="320" /></a>In the case of money, we continue to borrow and hope that our children will forgive us when the bill comes due. If talking about oil, we hope we can find more before we run out and hope that future generations will solve the damage to the environment or find substitutes. When we damage our environment we hope that our grandchildren will remember to use more sunscreen or find cheaper ways to desalinate ocean water.<br />
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In its broadest terms<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Living-Green-Practical-Simple-Sustainability/dp/1893910474?ie=UTF8&tag=appcha-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"> "Sustainability"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=appcha-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1893910474" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> means finding ways to meet our current needs without screwing our children out of their future. Whether it's money, energy or education you can't continue to make withdrawals without deposits somewhere down the line.Chip Caruanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09128994431827702352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3281832826486613790.post-39914397380392294782011-03-22T10:18:00.005-04:002011-04-02T13:10:03.158-04:00To Buy New or Not To Buy New, That Is The QuestionAs the price of gas rises you may think of replacing your old car with a higher mileage new car. Last post I talked about what it takes to get your money back if gas prices are your only criteria. Another important point concerns the impact a new car has on the environment. Think of what happens when you purchase a brand new car from a dealer. His inventory is depleted so he places an order for another car, the factory places orders for all the parts needed for production of another car, suppliers place orders with steel mills, plastic companies, glass manufacturers, etc. Mining, cutting, drilling, smelting all kick in to supply the world with another brand new car. Tire companies, electronic component manufacturers, leather suppliers all begin the process again to get that new car built.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VfJUaVJCAmPoqLFv_sQ2a5IWXbo43-uAqvuzFBIvQENAak7LNE3eS6l1l3bs5JxOOR9EH05PD2cw-NdKDHCSP3OKlZHf4tUkJO0WF92lERtJ96OloMNVZBF2Jhee5-B09LBDt6HYRupL/s1600/1971_AMC_Ambassador_station_wagon_red_with_woodgrain_side_panels.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VfJUaVJCAmPoqLFv_sQ2a5IWXbo43-uAqvuzFBIvQENAak7LNE3eS6l1l3bs5JxOOR9EH05PD2cw-NdKDHCSP3OKlZHf4tUkJO0WF92lERtJ96OloMNVZBF2Jhee5-B09LBDt6HYRupL/s320/1971_AMC_Ambassador_station_wagon_red_with_woodgrain_side_panels.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Now, what happens when you buy a nice used car that has already had its impact on the earth accounted for. Not much. No one digs another hole, cuts another tree or kills another cow. They just go out and clean up another used car that's been waiting for a new home.<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=appcha-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=076459902X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> No additional damage, no chain reaction, just a good home for a nice used car that's been waiting for you all the time.<br />
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As you pass the hundreds of used car lots on your way to work or school today, think of all the great, existing cars out there just waiting for you to give them a chance. You might even learn a little car repair on your own!Chip Caruanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09128994431827702352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3281832826486613790.post-28142489524644459002011-03-21T19:52:00.000-04:002011-03-21T19:52:05.044-04:00Saving gas with a smaller car?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCkZNKyy60EIRbmahnCZWy2KdvNJBzmeaROJDry2XwLDf6MawK4rAb4AEjMdhKQO2zBUJIZkLUMsR4FKSCqN09vI2AXo5vdZYtOPywfm6i0enJ7MkdxhHQoXeS4c1qg3BksHTR1AtuI12/s1600/prius1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCkZNKyy60EIRbmahnCZWy2KdvNJBzmeaROJDry2XwLDf6MawK4rAb4AEjMdhKQO2zBUJIZkLUMsR4FKSCqN09vI2AXo5vdZYtOPywfm6i0enJ7MkdxhHQoXeS4c1qg3BksHTR1AtuI12/s320/prius1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So I was watching the local news tonight and they had a story of a guy that had just traded his Jeep Wrangler that gets about 15 mpg for a Prius that gets around 50! Sounds like he'll save some serious change, no? Well, using a site I really like from Edmunds <a href="http://www.edmunds.com/calculators/gas-guzzler.html">http://www.edmunds.com/calculators/gas-guzzler.html</a> I plugged in a brand new Prius and a 5 year old Jeep (my assumptions) and it shows that it will take him almost 8 years to realize a savings base on the price of gas at around $3.50. Granted, I'm making a few assumptions here but you can go to the site and plug some different cars and gas prices in yourself and see if you ever get a decent return on investment by trading a used car in for a new one based solely on the price of higher gas prices. In most cases you'd be better off keeping your old car tuned up and properly inflating your tires than by buying a new car.Chip Caruanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09128994431827702352noreply@blogger.com3