Energy Efficient Living including the "Smooth Pedal" Fuel Efficiency Strategy, Methodology, and Game This approach is based in preventative maintenance and knowing where and how to put your metal to the pedal (instead of the other way around) Related Resources/Links (this page) |
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For years I've been using A FUEL EFFICIENCY STRATEGY which can create a fun and self-challenging game out of traffic - while actually making it safer for all - and we're talking about what would be bumper to bumper, temperment challenging, rush-hour traffic. This is not "Hypermiling" - does not include inappropriate slow driving.
 But if you drive an automatic (especially w/o a color-coded tach) then, IMHO, you're either not in touch with the road, or you've got road-feel skills I can only imagine.
And there's the idea about replacing most stop signs with yield signs - to drastically cut energy use (via reduced deceleration and acceleration) and brake wear, as well as to increase defensive driving levels due to the resulting increased caution at intersections (I was actually a defensive driving instructor in the service). Of course, if you're going to do it legally, that one requires some grassroots action at city hall. | |||||||
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The Home as an Efficient Vehicle for Recycling: Before I put some links, I just want to remind you that your imagination is one of the greatest tools, that "object permanence" doesn't need to be. Permanent, that is. Because if we are attached to seeing things in only the standard defined way, relative to it's "normal" usage or purpose, then we may be limiting our use of a thing. Re-Use is the most efficient means of recycling -- cost-wise, energy-wise, time-wise, etcetera-wise -- provided that the re-use doesn't cause danger to someone's health. If "that would be tacky" is your best excuse for not re-using something, then maybe you could employ your artistic potential, or trade your (other) skills for the craftsmanship required to give the object it's retainability or re-usability. If Home Remodeling is not a tacky trade, then "object redesigner" or "adaptation technician" might also become official employment nomanclature some day. Ok, we can just call them artists if you want <grin>. But given our apparent economic directions, well, we may not be laughing at that one very long [noted 11'08]. Besides, if you don't mind them stealing (or inefficiently recycling) YOUR job some day, there's always Walmart - for getting BRAND spanking new plasticware and state of the art "knic knaks" - well, at least in every state of the nation (by the thousands). <OUCH> How many cassette tapes do you have? Are you aware that it doesn't take a great deal of work to repair and recondition them (at least until they suffer a certain amount of wear, which amount is actually quite far beyond most people's imaginings)? OK, they don't have the quality that more recent technology does. But maybe you still have cassettes. Or maybe you still have a cassette player. Or you have one or both and do not have one of the more recent sound devices. Maybe all you need is readily and freely or cheaply available, including tips for reconditioning the cassettes (which you can get from me, by the way). If you read this before I've put those tips into writing, just email me or call me (see author info section). Otherwise the cassettes are not terribly recycleable (as far as I know), simply because... why? Right, because Re-Use is the most efficient way to recycle.
Long Term (Energy-Related and Other) Problem Solving: We've been developing computers that are several trillion times faster than before, and are getting faster. Are we ready for faster answers? That is... Haven't so many of our current conundrums resulted from way too fast answers to way too wrong questions - even with slow computers ? The point here is that of the importance of the question when it comes to getting the solutions we truly need. You might find this interesting: "The Use Of Questions In Effective Affirmation Therapy" - Theory and Examples for Practical Application - developing Pragmatic use of "the right question" So... Before we can achieve Planetary Sustainability, we have to attain 'Citizenry Sustainability.' A military "solution" or "revolution" (quoted because what would be so revolutionary about that?) - large enough to make any difference - will also reap more pain, confusion, and denial. More than we can heal then regain sufficient capacity for planetary healing - before Global Warming takes the rest of us. We're going to have to outsmart that unevolved part of us - and those who represent it politically. That means, IMO, we need to vote with our our dollar (Coop America makes the "for Dummies" book on that one, and on many other sustainable oriented finance solutions), and with our pen or keyboard, and maybe with our feet - as well as with the ballot. |
of PAGE=== More Ideas Found (that we might help get off the ground): ===  Reactivation Of The US Civilian Conservation Corps) -cp, 11/10/09]
A GREAT PETITION TO SIGN ...by those who know we don't have much time to turn this our mothership Earth around: because where we can boost the economy, build community, AND make great gains for the environment - like with the Reactivation, refunding, and revamping of the USCCC - well, it only makes good sense to get this under way - ASAP! ... Thank you for your consideration! * http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/national-petition-for-the-reactivation-of-the-us-civilian-conservation-corps * Home Org. Site: http://www.wecantakeit.org/ Question: How much of the WATER SHORTAGE can be replaced by rainwater conservation? -cp, 3/20/09] For rainwater storage I found the Oasis Rainwater Harvesters site (Waste Tech Environmental Ltd. of Yorkshire, UK) to have a more than representative set of different types and apparently useful info for each type -apparently good pics and very good general info, including FAQ's on Rainwater Harvesters. Not having "shopped" the subject I'll leave it to you to find the best or least expensive, most local, etc. The "FullHouse" systems page is here. Other pages there cover Rainwater Tanks and water buttsGrants, 'INTERFLUSH' cistern kits, SUDS - Sustainable Drainage Systems, "RainBrain" for schools, Units for Developers, Sustainable Homes, etc. Pretty exciting, eh?: Elsewhere there's a page with a "Simple collection system you can build": "All you need is a couple of plastic containers (for example, new rubbish or similar type containers will work); some pvc tubing; some pvc valves, pvc cement, a few boards to build some stands; some downspout fittings; a razor knife or jig-saw; and a few other items..." Scientific Assistance For Watersheds "A [watershed] is an area that [captures and accumulates rainwater] and channels the resultant surface water and groundwater into an ocean, sea, or bay. The drainage system of a watershed begins with a spring or a single water channel and progressively increases in size and complexity as the drainage system flows downstream. It is a dynamic system, and the integrity of the system is essential to the quality of life of its inhabitants. [The Consortium for Scientific Assistance to Watersheds (C-SAW at USGS)] is a team of scientists and service providers available to provide free technical assistance to your watershed/conservation group" Keywords for Water Resources/Conservation Research - "Rainwater" often does not bring good results from the larger world/Govt. management or research organizations. Suggestion: also try the following in combo with "rainwater conservation", etc: precipitation, groundwater recharge, self-supplied or self-supplied domestic water withdrawals; Ground-water withdrawals; Watershed, evapotranspiration, transpiration, Aridity; Saline, Thermoelectric Power & Saline;
=== Resources for Resources: === E. F. Schumacher Society Links - in short, some of the most essential core resources on sustainability, including Microcredit, Educational Programs, Magazines & Newsletters, Films & Videos, Land Reform, Worker/Ownership Cooperatives Global Stewards Links Page Include * Greasecar.com, * Veggie Van * Biofuels of Marin * Retail Fueling Stations in U.S. - biodiesel in the form of used cooking oil * How to make your own biodiesel from new vegetable oil * Biodiesel (Alternative Fuels Data Center) * National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium * U.S. National Biodiesel Board * Biodiesel (U.S. Department of Energy) * Biodiesel Association of Australia * Biodiesel Industries * Biodiesel Research (University of Idaho) GREEN America .Org, Economic Action for a Just Planet(Pre Jan 2009 is/was "Coop America") many great resources, lots of information available; ie: "Green Living Web Resources," "Five Things You Should Always Buy Green," "Ten Fair Trade Products to Look for," "Eight Body Care Toxins to Avoid," "10 Things You Should Never Buy Again," etc [More Related Below] === Perspectives: === *Hope for a Heated Planet - How Americans Are Fighting Global Warming and Building a Better Future*
A critically acclaimed book by Bob Musil, Executive Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility from 1992 - 2006: Rejecting cries of gloom and doom, Hope for a Heated Planet shows how the fight against global warming can be won by the grassroots efforts of individuals. The future depends, Musil insists, on what changes ordinary citizens make. Through personal choices and political engagement, he shows how readers can cut carbon emissions and create green communities where they live. With practical and realistic solutions, Hope for a Heated Planet inspires readers to be accountable and enables them to usher in an age of sustainability for future generations. "Robert Musil has had a bird’s eye view of the climate debate almost from its inception, and he has paid careful attention to both the problem and the solutions. This is a masterfully comprehensive account of both where we are and we sure better go." —Bill McKibben, author of *Deep Economy* "Hope for a Heated Planet offers a clear-eyed assessment of the unprecedented challenge that climate change presents for today’s Americans. Musil is a hardheaded yet hopeful Washington insider who is well-positioned to make the case that with a new generation of clean energy—and the energy of citizens across America—there is hope, indeed, for our heated planet." —Chris Flavin, president, Worldwatch Institute *The Great Turning - From Empire to Earth Community* by David Korten Summarized in YES Magazine. Find more at PCDForum Bulletin #5. Two more of his books include "When corporations rule the World" and "Post Corporate World" - insightful and important when contemplating responding to current challenges and the healing of the planet. You might also enjoy the transcript of Korten's keynote address at the 2002 EARTH CHARTER COMMUNITY SUMMIT. Timely articles include "What to Do Now That the War Has Started." A related sites include www.davidkorten.org and The Fourth Freedom .Org/. Co-Globalizing Earth - "gaia's children birthing a future of partnering human kinship with all life." (A great many links to perceptions on the topic, organized, most excellent quotes to break up the exhaustive bibliographic-link feel) "There Are Many Worlds . . . of being and awareness" - Contrary to what those of us who were raised in Industrial Culture have been conditioned to believe, there are many worlds, actual and accessible, other than the incoherent, fragmented, and divided one continuously displayed in the majority of print and electronic media forms. It is expanding and life-affirming to one's own existence, and all one touches and relates to, to be congnizant of more of these. (Various perceptions on the topic, and/or links to same) Ratical.Org - Rat Haus Reality Gallery - "living life passionately - birthright of all life" (This is where I got the above Co-Globalizing Earth & Many Worlds Links) The Alliance for a Caring Economy (ACE)
The newest (2007) of initiatives from Riane Eisler and The Center for Partnership Studies, ACE is a network to develop the foundations for a caring partnership economics is being formed with representatives from government, business, civil society, and academic sectors. Economic rules, measures, and policies that recognize the real value of the essential work of caring for children and the elderly, keeping our families healthy, and maintaining a clean and healthy environment, are foundational to the construction of an economics that can meet the challenges we face. ...will lead to the higher valuing of caring and caretaking in our homes, schools, and workplaces, as well as to the more caring economic and social policies needed to move toward a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous world. ACE will bring together representatives from academia, government, business, and civil society to ...Collect information on what is already happening to give economic value to caregiving, such as paid parental leave and economic measurements that, unlike GDP, take into account the essential economic contribution of caregiving in both the formal and informal economies. ... Riane Eisler's speech to the World's Women Forum Plenary July 29, 2004 was *Revisioning The Economic Rules: Empowering Women And Changing The World* === On Efficiency From UCS: === the Hybrid Blog for fuel saving ideas. A project of UCS. A few of the "Recent Posts" include: # What would YOU call “compelling and extraordinary?”; # Debate "Flows" on EPA Blog; # Helping the EPA’s Blog with “Openness and Transparency” [11/24/08]
Tips For Fuel Efficiency from Global Stewards .Org
UCS Hybrid Center Hybrid Technology Center UCS Hybrid Watchdog
Clean Vehicle Solutions * Cleaner Cars, Pickups, and SUVs
...Solutions: * Advanced Vehicles and Fuels ...Solutions: * Cleaner Diesel
The Impacts of Gasoline & Diesel Vehicles * Cars, Pickups, and SUVs The Impacts... * Diesel
=== On Bio-Fuels From UCS: === The Role of Food Crops as Transportation Fuel. (References the next three articles)
Land use changes and biofuels
The 2007 Renewable Fuel Standard Issue brief: Low carbon fuel standard
=== From Global Stewards .Org === from Global Stewards on Bio-fuels: Biodiesel Links
Biofuels Library (great list of links, including links on how to make your own biodiesel)
GrassRoots Biodiesel Home Page
=== Other Sustainable Planet Resources === Washington Toxics Coalition activists alerts, a great variety of health protection information; ie: "Healthy Holiday Gift Guide," & more www.realmoney.org offers advice on fostering sustainability in the ultimate local environment -your own home and hometown. A Bi-Monthly Newsletter available with Co-op America membership or by newsletter-only subscription ($20/year)
Green Pages .Org Fair Trade Action .Org
Responsible Shopper .Org Climate Action .Org
=== Related Resources === Favorite Solution links at Political References Page
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