This is kinda disturbing... (Environmental ramblings)

[abditus]

http://www.celsias.com/2007/11/04/earth-clock/

Specifically the number of TONS of CO2 emissions that go by each second - it really makes me regret buying the condo over my yacht idea.

I've always known that the amount of CO2 released was large, and the number doesn't

Comments

[slothman]

If you’re really earnest about it, you could always get a used diesel automobile and get it retrofitted for biodiesel, and drive that until new technology comes out. Driving a motorcycle is pretty good, though; you probably get better mileage than I do in my Prius (45mpg). I’m really looking forward to some of the results coming from synthetic biology and thermal depolymerization; we may be able to produce gasoline where the carbon came out of the atmosphere in the past few years.

I go with the Union of Concerned Scientists when lobbying my representatives to fix things.

[abditus]

Thanks for the link.

Heh, my motorcycle actually only gets about 45mpg (50 on a good day). It's not the most efficient out there. Scooters are really where the efficiency is, coming in at about 100mpg.

Afik, you don't have to convert diesels to run biodiesel, only if you want to run straight vegetable oil. As far as used diesels go, a VW Jetta TDI would probably be my first choice. But I've heard that a whole slew of diesels are going to start being introduced post 2008.

Another promising technology is one that can produce biodesel out of algae. I'm particularly excited about that one, especially since it starts to go against the arguments that biodesel isn't viable large scale.

[slothman]

Algae, used diapers, synthetic bacteria, fungi, and even anything from turkey guts to old tires.

[abditus]

:) Cool. (You're obviously more up to date on the subject than I am.)

[aelfsciene]

One reason I really wish I had a high-paying job was that I want to trade my car in for a hybrid. It has gotten me through many a tight spot due to its sheer size, but I just feel guilty driving it, half the time. I should also start riding my bike into work, if I can figure out a way to be non-disgusting once I'm here (no showers).

Thanks for posting the "100 Things" link; I do many of those already, but some were new to me, and I'll definitely try to implement more of them.

[zhaneel69]

Devil's Advocate:

Actually walking & biking have a CO2 impact as well. You power those by eating food, and food is produced and transported to you in such ways that have a CO2 impact. California is pretty okay on the transportation issue, but some places (Britian, Midland USA, etc.) actually have a very high CO2 cost for beef imports that are eaten by most people to fuel their calories.

Now, you know I'm an environmentalist and I'm in favor of reducing overall personal stuff, but I also try to be a realist and recognize that my footprint is not going to be small if I want to have things like LJ.

Zhaneel

[abditus]

Alright, to play along with your advocacy

[zhaneel69]

I know the article did assume all beef diet and exceedingly high transport costs. However, it did bring home to me that a lot of the 'green' suggestions don't necessarily take into account the whole cycle, and I find it odd. Even assume a high carb diet, much of that carb is highly processed, so it isn't 'free' CO2 biomass in terms of production & transportation that is then used by your body to walk. I'm not knowledgeable enough to say whether it is still CO2 cheaper to walk/bike instead of your car, but I just want to make sure it isn't thought as free

[deirdremoon]

You probably already know this, but Toyota is working on a plug-in version of the Prius which will hopefully be around in 2009 in the States. Sure, batteries are ugly polluters too, but it's at least *less* petroleum-based. :P

Speaking of, how's the new place working out?

[abditus]

Cool, yeah, I heard. I'm also concerned about the batteries and that often electricity production produces more waste than gasoline usage. (you might have seen the Energy commission reports of sources - coal bleh). Like I said, I'm waiting to see what comes up in diesel.

The new place is great. I'm still unpacking and finding places to put things away. I finished putting the floors in before the move, but I still have to do the molding. Hopefully I'll be settled some time next month, but I don't have the energy to rush it with everything else that seems keep popping up.

[farmount]

It makes me glad I have a hybrid. Yes, I'm still polluting, but less. It may be such an insignificant amount that it amounts to virtually nothing, but it makes me feel happy and as if I'm doing something for the environment.

I do use biofuel for heating the home. It's called the woodburning stove.

[abditus]

You've had your hybrid for a while now, haven't you?

Heh, yeah, wood burning stoves are cool, if you don't mind dealing with the wood. My new place has a wood burning fireplace. I just don't know if I want to deal with the ash.