What have you actually done to reduce "greenhouse" gas emmisions?
In the last 23 years, I have used commuter rail trains over 9,000 times, subways over 1,500 times, busses over 2,000 times, and carpools over 500 times. I have also used my bicycle many times for local errands. What have you done to reduce "greenhouse" gas emmisions?
Austin[/QUOTE]
I have owned two Geo Metros in the last 10 years, one was an xFI which was rated at 58mpg highway and 53 city.
The second one was rated 48 and 43 and I put a fuel bubbler system on it with an O2 sensor fooler to add 10% better fuel economy.
I slowed down to 60mph on the highway with my present car which is a 98 Buick Park Ave Ultra and get 30+mpg with the supercharger belt removed and running on regular gasoline (don't use the truck to commute, TV & Home Depot only). This is a 95 mile daily commute.
I use solar panels on my hybrid instead of running a generator.
I ocassionally use the battery and panels to power the television and lighting in my bedroom at home.
I have replaced 99% of my household lighting with CFL's.
My area of the world isn't crowded enough to have commuter rail trains, subways or buses.
Quote from: chasd60My area of the world isn't crowded enough to have commuter rail trains, subways or buses.
What counts is that you have done something significant, which is more than most. Although I feel some of the "science" surrouding global warming is dubious, I am convinced those who do something to save a pound of carbon-based fuel have done more than those who talk and talk and talk, and whine and whine and whine, about global warming.
Austin
I've used my backround in science and research to conclude that since global climate change has no proven statistical impacts from man, but rather is controlled by natural cycles and precipitation patterns, I'd best avoid the (a) nutballs easily swayed by the latest fad or (b) those scientists whose livelihood depends on government grants for studies to show man-made climate change. Mankind emerged from the last 6 ice age/warming periods, we'll be okay this time too. Being a chemist has its advantages, but a little common sense goes a long way. Oh yeah, we had the global freeze fad 30 years ago and it helps that I recall that hysteria too. In any event, a natural warming cycle means increased crop yields and more rapid forest growth, which mean a positive impact on that two-footed creature of nature, homo sapiens. I'll just pass the Kool Aid.
Quote from: tplifeI've used my backround in science and research to conclude that since global climate change has no proven statistical impacts from man, but rather is controlled by natural cycles and precipitation patterns, I'd best avoid the (a) nutballs easily swayed by the latest fad or (b) those scientists whose livelihood depends on government grants for studies to show man-made climate change.
Avoid, yes. Ignore? Well, only a fool woul ignore them - they may yet prove to be right.
But in answer to the question (and the unspoken question "What have you done to reduce our dependence on foreign oil?") I'll take your answer as NOTHING.
The point of my signature isn't that we need to brace for the inevitable catastrophy that the fearmongers are declaring, but that even though I think global warming via "greenhouse gasses" is a crock, I've done more than the typical noisemaker to to reduce my "carbon footprint" and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. I've saved myself more than just a bit of pocket change in the process.
Austin
A large volcanic eruption can release more green house gases into the atmosphere in a single day than man could ever do on purpose. Why are they never mentioned???
Quote from: Old GoatA large volcanic eruption can release more green house gases into the atmosphere in a single day than man could ever do on purpose. Why are they never mentioned???
Because they are a natural occurrence.
Quote from: tplifeI've used my backround in science and research to conclude that since global climate change has no proven statistical impacts from man, but rather is controlled by natural cycles and precipitation patterns, I'd best avoid the (a) nutballs easily swayed by the latest fad or (b) those scientists whose livelihood depends on government grants for studies to show man-made climate change. Mankind emerged from the last 6 ice age/warming periods, we'll be okay this time too. Being a chemist has its advantages, but a little common sense goes a long way. Oh yeah, we had the global freeze fad 30 years ago and it helps that I recall that hysteria too. In any event, a natural warming cycle means increased crop yields and more rapid forest growth, which mean a positive impact on that two-footed creature of nature, homo sapiens. I'll just pass the Kool Aid.
I totally agree
I will admit the things I have done were done to save $$$ as the primary reason.
I stopped eating wheat and beans..........the world is a happier place and my house is not quite as green. :sombraro:
I have done virtually nothing. I guess I'll get slammed if I say that there aren't opportunities. However, I did try to keep my old Nissan pickup with 4 cylinder motor (for commuting) when I bought my new truck, but I did a spread sheet, and the savings in gas couldn't even pay for the insurance.
Yes, I live near an urban area with bus routes. But I don't want to drive 10 miles, only to get on a bus anyway.
I will say that I am easy on the throttle, and get every bit of mileage out of every drop of fuel that I can. I cruise A LOT, and drive the speed limit, or just over. That helps more than the average person, I feel.
I could probably walk/run/bike to the grocery store instead of driving. Might try that this summer. However, after baby arrives, a good habit might go away anyway. Then again, jogging stroller, already purchased, has a big place to put groceries.
Larry
Quote from: waveryI stopped eating wheat and beans..........the world is a happier place and my house is not quite as green. :sombraro:
We know. :D
Austin
Quote from: Old GoatA large volcanic eruption can release more green house gases into the atmosphere in a single day than man could ever do on purpose. Why are they never mentioned???
For the record, the United States alone (not inculding the 160+ other countries in the world) produces more than ten times the carbon dioxide emissions of all the world's volcanos (in an average year). People spout this stuff off, but hte truth is volcanos are almost irrelevant when it comes to CO2.
I think this goes back to a different gas, sulfur dioxide (the primary pollutant involved with acid rain), where volcanoes do far surpass what we have or likely ever will produce. But sulfur dioxide is NOT a greenhouse gas, and may have the opposite effect.
Austin
"For the record, the United States alone (not inculding the 160+ other countries in the world) produces more than ten times the carbon dioxide emissions of all the world's volcanos (in an average year). "
Can you sight where you are getting this information?
Thanks.
Quote from: fourkids"For the record, the United States alone (not inculding the 160+ other countries in the world) produces more than ten times the carbon dioxide emissions of all the world's volcanos (in an average year). "
Can you sight where you are getting this information?
Thanks.
I lost that exact reference, but a simple Google search turned up this:
"Present-day carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from subaerial and submarine volcanoes are uncertain at the present time. Gerlach (1991) estimated a total global release of 3-4 x 10E12 mol/yr from volcanoes. This is a conservative estimate.
Man-made (anthropogenic) CO2 emissions overwhelm this estimate by at least 150 times." from
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/Gases/man.htmlThe article is well written and has numerous sorces sited.
It has been reported that Winston Churchill once said "Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened."
Do you want a reference for that too?
Austin
Nice try. A half-page guesstimate from some "scientist" does not make it so. Nor does the fact that you can quote Churchill. You are in way over your head on this one. Don't let the facts get in the way of your propaganda.
"If intelligence were the key to this argument, you'd be locked out."
Unknown
Quote from: fourkidsNice try.
And at least a thousand times better than what you have.QuoteA half-page guesstimate
The estimate was only for undersea volcanoes. We know very well what comes from exposed volcanoes.
Learn to read.Oh, and I apologize for assuming you could handle URL's properly. I sited a specific page in a much larger paper so you could find the line I quoted. Here's the table of contents:
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/Gases/Quotefrom some "scientist" does not make it so.
Oh, that's right. The fact that the single referenced "half page" itself referenced ten sources is irrelevant.
The average joe knows more about volcanoes than people who have spent their entire lives studying them.
And what are your qualifications?QuoteNor does the fact that you can quote Churchill. You are in way over your head on this one.
You have absolutely nothing - nothing - to contribute, and yet you say I'm over my head?
QuoteDon't let the facts get in the way of your propaganda.
Sorry, but you don't know me or where I come from. If you even bothered to read
this thread, you would have known that my first post included the statement "Although I feel some of the "science" surrouding global warming is dubious..." I do not buy the greenhouse effect hook, line, and sinker, and I am convinced that some of the bigest forces involved with global warming are totally out of our control. But the "volcanic eruption" statement is just plain wrong.
And as far as propaganda is concerned, at least mine has a basis in science. Your propaganda - and it is propaganda - is just innuendo and lame attempts at defaming character. It won't work.
I'm interested in facts. Can you site
anything that has any scientific basis whatsoever that says I'm wrong? I have little doubt that you tried, but were unable, so you just shot off your mouth.
The link I posted was just the
very first link in the
very first search I tried. Put your money where your mouth is.
Where are your references?Austin (not expecting any real reply - just noise)
Quote from: AustinBostonAvoid, yes. Ignore? Well, only a fool woul ignore them - they may yet prove to be right.
But in answer to the question (and the unspoken question "What have you done to reduce our dependence on foreign oil?") I'll take your answer as NOTHING.
The point of my signature isn't that we need to brace for the inevitable catastrophy that the fearmongers are declaring, but that even though I think global warming via "greenhouse gasses" is a crock, I've done more than the typical noisemaker to to reduce my "carbon footprint" and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. I've saved myself more than just a bit of pocket change in the process.
Austin
To reduce dependence on foreign oil, I've lobbied my reps to build more refineries, drill for oil offshore and open that tiny part of ANWR that has huge oil reserves just waiting to be cracked and fed into my 95" Harley-Davidson engine (with a boost of toluene for the octane rating). Within about five years the whole "global warming" scare will blow over. These things always go in cycles, and Al Gore will still have all his daddy's Occidental Petroleum dividends to keep him in flat-screen monitors and Gulfstream 5 jets.
I believe that any scientist worth his salt will tell you not to sweat it and just do as your mother told you and everything will be fine.
tplife, I agree with you. This whole global warming thing is strictly another political ploy in order to raise taxes..Global Warming tax? You betcha, it's already being talked about....
china india and russia are laughing at us....."green house gases hah".they love Al Gore didn,t the chinese finance that movie ..oh no that was the campaine they financed.....i get them two mixed up all the time
Well everyone should have know that this thread would result in an argument. Personally, I haven't done a thing to eliminate my CO2 production and I'm frankly sick and tired of people asking about my "carbon footprint". We are not going to burst into flames because my GMC Sierra with a HUGE V-8 only gets 18 miles to the gallon! I remember when I was a kid and everyone was terrified that we were going to freeze to death from the coming ice age in the 80s. Well that didn't happen now did it. This is all a bunch of unsubstantiated garbage. And Yes, I said unsubstantiated. Everyone knows that you can make numbers do whatever you want them. Statistics are easily manipulated to prove whatever point you are trying to make.
As for our dependency on foreign oil, here
Quote from: Twolarsonsmy GMC Sierra with a HUGE V-8 only gets 18 miles to the gallon! [/I][/B]
Wow! How do you do it? I can only get about 16mpg in my 06 Silverado with 5.3L V8. Of course, a lot of it is city driving.
Larry
Quote from: brainpauseWow! How do you do it? I can only get about 16mpg in my 06 Silverado with 5.3L V8. Of course, a lot of it is city driving.
Larry
I average 18mpg and drive mostly highway miles. I rarely have to sit in traffic. If it's strictly highway miles, I get closer to 20mpg unless I'm towing the PU. All I do is keep the engine tip top with clean air and fuel filters and regular 3000 mile service. I love my truck - especially when those Toyota Prius drivers glare at me.
:U
Remember our fallen brothers and sisters today :U
Quote from: chasd60I have owned two Geo Metros in the last 10 years, one was an xFI which was rated at 58mpg highway and 53 city.
The second one was rated 48 and 43 and I put a fuel bubbler system on it with an O2 sensor fooler to add 10% better fuel economy.
I slowed down to 60mph on the highway with my present car which is a 98 Buick Park Ave Ultra and get 30+mpg with the supercharger belt removed and running on regular gasoline (don't use the truck to commute, TV & Home Depot only). This is a 95 mile daily commute.
I use solar panels on my hybrid instead of running a generator.
I ocassionally use the battery and panels to power the television and lighting in my bedroom at home.
I have replaced 99% of my household lighting with CFL's.
My area of the world isn't crowded enough to have commuter rail trains, subways or buses.
Followed OwlGore's example and put in a couple thousand lights and set my house to use a few megawatts of power 24/7, because I can. Then preach to everyone about the evils that they are doing.
I eat a lot of red meat. That comes from cows. Cows give off methane gas. So, in a small way by slaughtering cows for my red meat, I'm helping out, too!
Check out this link:
http://www.carboncreditkillers.com/
No offense to anyone, but I don't believe, based on science, that mankind is doing anything to change the global climate. The earth naturally does that on its own and we can't stop it or change it.
On the other hand, if you want to argue foreign dependence on oil as a national security concern, then we might find ourselves agreeing on some things concerning energy conservation.
Don't get me wrong. I don't want myself or others to pollute the earth unreasonably to endanger people's health, and I believe in cleaning up after myself to keep the great outdoors nice looking for others. But I don't make decisions or change my lifestyle based on global warming fears. The term "global warming" has been given a new meaning to make folks believe that it is all man's fault. Hogwash. It is the natural cycle of the earth designed into it by our Creator. I heard on the radio just yesterday that some recent research has led some scientists, or a scientist (I'm not sure), to conclude that the warming cycle may have actually ended a few years ago and the average global temperatures have leveled off. Whether that's true or not, I would bet that within the lifetimes of the younger members of this board, a cooling cycle will begin.
I've used my backround in science and research and my career as an Engineer to build more powerful and fuel efficient jet engines, turbine engines, rocket motors, and use less CFCs for industrial processes. I also promote the research of fusion nuclear reactors, fuel cells, and economical solar and wind power. Oh, and I drive a Prius! :D
Quote from: fallsriderNo offense to anyone, but I don't believe, based on science, that mankind is doing anything to change the global climate. The earth naturally does that on its own and we can't stop it or change it.
On the other hand, if you want to argue foreign dependence on oil as a national security concern, then we might find ourselves agreeing on some things concerning energy conservation.
Don't get me wrong. I don't want myself or others to pollute the earth unreasonably to endanger people's health, and I believe in cleaning up after myself to keep the great outdoors nice looking for others. But I don't make decisions or change my lifestyle based on global warming fears. The term "global warming" has been given a new meaning to make folks believe that it is all man's fault. Hogwash. It is the natural cycle of the earth designed into it by our Creator. I heard on the radio just yesterday that some recent research has led some scientists, or a scientist (I'm not sure), to conclude that the warming cycle may have actually ended a few years ago and the average global temperatures have leveled off. Whether that's true or not, I would bet that within the lifetimes of the younger members of this board, a cooling cycle will begin.
I agree and here is a good book to read if anyone is interested:
Unstoppable Global Warming by S. Fred Singer and Dennis T. Avery
What ever happened to the hole in the ozone layer that was going to give us all skin cancer?
And what happened to everyone wanting to save the whales, save the rainforests, and all the other causes du jour. Have we solved those issues already?
And then there was Y2K to change civilization as we all know it.
And now global warming...
Quote from: ptbrauchWhat ever happened to the hole in the ozone layer that was going to give us all skin cancer?
And what happened to everyone wanting to save the whales, save the rainforests, and all the other causes du jour. Have we solved those issues already?
And then there was Y2K to change civilization as we all know it.
And now global warming...
There are a lot of people that have to have a crisis, in their mind, to survive, I guess. They just can't enjoy life as it is.
Quote from: ptbrauchWhat ever happened to the hole in the ozone layer that was going to give us all skin cancer?
It's MUCH bigger now, and yes, you can get skin cancer much easier if you live near the Northern latitudes. Try RELECTIX or Gizmos! The noisemakers are older now, and gave up.
Quote from: ptbrauchAnd what happened to everyone wanting to save the whales,
Large Whales are now virtually extinct. The protesters sometimes still go out there in their Greenpeace boats. But, they have virtually given up. Kinda pointless to protect something that no longer exists.
Quote from: ptbrauchsave the rainforests,
Some rainforests are now supporting sustainable, profitable, and legal crops like coffee. The rest are still dissapearing. And the protesting folks are now older and gave up!
Quote from: ptbrauchand all the other causes du jour. Have we solved those issues already?
Nope. The people are older and gave up.
Quote from: ptbrauchAnd then there was Y2K to change civilization as we all know it.
OK, now that one was a big fiasco from the get go! It made alot of I.T. contractors rich!
Quote from: ptbrauchAnd now global warming...
You can choose to call it a natural event or cycle. But it is happening.
.
Is there a way to stop getting phone books? I bet I actually pay for that service and rarely use them. It's rediculous. I get three books probably twice a year. Lame.
You know what else. Newspapers should be banned. I don't see them being around in the future. Just read the news on your I-phone!
Quote from: DrayYou know what else. Newspapers should be banned. I don't see them being around in the future. Just read the news on your I-phone!
My DW PJay is currently contracting for a newspaper. Their subscriptions have dropped by 30% in the last couple years.
Personally, I would not want them banned; otherwise, how would we light campfires, or charcoal for dutch ovens?
Austin (who has not subscribed to a newspaper in 3 years)
What would I put in the bottom of the bird cage? :yikes:
Quote from: fallsriderNo offense to anyone, but I don't believe, based on science, that mankind is doing anything to change the global climate. The earth naturally does that on its own and we can't stop it or change it./QUOTE]
I agree completely. 13,500 years ago, Chicago was blanketed by a thick glacier, which extended into central Illinois and left many moraines as it receded. Despite ample evidence of the glaciers, not one set of fossil remains of the SUV's that caused the glaciers to recede has yet been found!