MIT released a study in their Autumn 2011 Energy Futures magazine, that states that current energy regulations are not cost-effective and a better way to solve this would be to apply a "moderate tax on gasoline" that would "elicit the same reduction at a sixth of the cost." The study also states that it is currently not politically feasible to establish this tax within the USA.
I have no argument that people should be more conservative with their driving. It's believable that if people drove less then gas emissions would be reduced. Think global act local concept 101.
Putting a mandatory gas tax to force a person to drive less where I have mixed feelings.
The Environmental News Network released an article yesterday titled: What really are the best ways to cut gasoline use? This article really pushes for the gas tax.
Though it's true that people tend to react to the loss of money from their own pocket but I grew up in the country, where the public transportation system was unreliable at best and nonexistent on a bad weather day. On the flip side, almost every family I knew growing up had a pickup truck. Pickup trucks are necessary for farm life, there is no way a Toyota Camry can handle driving through the field or pull machinery. But a fair few didn't require the pickup truck's abilities, why do they insist on having them? The gas mileage is horrible, they're expensive and they're downright uncomfortable for long distance trips.
Trusting people to reduce their car usage on their own is naive. Some people won't care regardless of the tax and won't adjust their driving accordingly. Some people can't because they have a long commute. The last thing we need is to create legislation to solve a problem only to have it removed a few years later.
This problem only cries louder for the USA to develop reliable public transportation.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Think local
It's now safe to blog about the Christmas presents that I bought for my family. And I managed to find almost all of them either at local stores in downtown Manistee and the Marquette Co-op.
I bought my dad a bottle of local organic maple syrup at the Marquette Co-op. Though I hadn't ever tried the syrup before, I'm looking forward to finding out how delicious it is.
The real find for this holiday season was an apron for my sister. Its chartreuse with various cats printed on it. If my sister isn't a crazy cat lady then my skin in naturally purple. I found the apron in this little store in downtown Manistee called The Ideal Kitchen. Honestly when I bought the apron I wasn't so sure but as soon as my sister unwrapped it I knew I had chosen well. Her face light up and I just now got my hearing back.
I bought my dad a bottle of local organic maple syrup at the Marquette Co-op. Though I hadn't ever tried the syrup before, I'm looking forward to finding out how delicious it is.
The real find for this holiday season was an apron for my sister. Its chartreuse with various cats printed on it. If my sister isn't a crazy cat lady then my skin in naturally purple. I found the apron in this little store in downtown Manistee called The Ideal Kitchen. Honestly when I bought the apron I wasn't so sure but as soon as my sister unwrapped it I knew I had chosen well. Her face light up and I just now got my hearing back.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Kitty Litter: third time's a charm
Finally I've found a suitable ecofriendly litter thanks to a recommendation from a friend. The World's Best Cat Litter can completely mask the smell and clumps so that it's easy to clean up.
It's a corn based formula. No clay or artificial ingredients are used. It's light and in a pebble like form just like normal litter, which makes the transition between the two brands easier for Pudge (my cat). I've noticed that Pudge has had no problem using this litter long term, unlike the Feline Pine.
The company suggests that 1 bag that weighs 34 lbs. should last 72 days with 1 cat, but I've been able to use that 1 bag for 5 months.
The largest downside of this brand is that it's rather expensive and not sold just anywhere. It's not carried at most supermarkets. But I have found it at the local pet stores. I guess that removes temptation from spending all of my money at the supermarket. One 34 lbs. bag cost $40. At the company's suggested use the litter costs $13.34 a month and I've been able to reduce that to $8 a month.
Getting use to the smell took a while. I bought the lavender scented by accident. It's wee bit different than the typical smell, kind of a strong sweet not so lavender smell. But after a few days the smell dissipates. Pudge was somewhat hesitant to use the litter at first because it smells so different than the normal litter but now she has no problems digging in.
None of the drawbacks are enough to stop me from using this brand. The biggest challenge is the price and to alleviate that problem I just have to cut out some of my junk food to allow for the litter in my budget.
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| Scented Multiple Cat Formula |
It's a corn based formula. No clay or artificial ingredients are used. It's light and in a pebble like form just like normal litter, which makes the transition between the two brands easier for Pudge (my cat). I've noticed that Pudge has had no problem using this litter long term, unlike the Feline Pine.
The company suggests that 1 bag that weighs 34 lbs. should last 72 days with 1 cat, but I've been able to use that 1 bag for 5 months.
The largest downside of this brand is that it's rather expensive and not sold just anywhere. It's not carried at most supermarkets. But I have found it at the local pet stores. I guess that removes temptation from spending all of my money at the supermarket. One 34 lbs. bag cost $40. At the company's suggested use the litter costs $13.34 a month and I've been able to reduce that to $8 a month.
Getting use to the smell took a while. I bought the lavender scented by accident. It's wee bit different than the typical smell, kind of a strong sweet not so lavender smell. But after a few days the smell dissipates. Pudge was somewhat hesitant to use the litter at first because it smells so different than the normal litter but now she has no problems digging in.
None of the drawbacks are enough to stop me from using this brand. The biggest challenge is the price and to alleviate that problem I just have to cut out some of my junk food to allow for the litter in my budget.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Reducing water waste
Alexandra Cousteau visited NMU a few years ago. During this visit she talked about her connection to water, its importance and its misuse. For some reason I've really been thinking about this today...my theory is that it's due to the fact that I've been cleaning up the kitchen and finding a lot of half drunken pops and water bottles. But it's just a theory.
There are two things that I specifically remember from Cousteau's presentation was that water isn't as abundant as I presume and one person changing their habits may not make that big of a difference but a group of people changing their habits can make an impact.
I live by Lake Michigan, grew up on the shores of Lake Huron, and attend school located on the shore of Lake Superior. The Great Lakes contain 21% of the world's fresh water supply. When I studied abroad, the school/dorms were on the shores of Biwako (Japan's largest freshwater lake). Deserts, however, don't have the luxuries of high water abundance. Not everyone gets a shower every day or knowing that when they wanted a drink it would come without fail.
Two ways to save water that Cousteau pointed out that stuck with me were: when making coffee only make that which is proportional to what you are going to be drinking at that point and empty your pop/ice out before pitching it in the trash when out at a restaurant. Never have these methods of wasted water before crossed my mind.
At that point in my college career, I wasn't that much of a coffee drinker. But now that I can't really survive without it, I only make it by the cup on a consistent basis. This is done by putting only one mug of water into the coffee maker. Yes, I measure it by the mug that I'm using that day. Unless I know that it's going to be a long night then I make a whole pot. If there are leftovers, I refrigerate them. Not a particularly ideal situation but none of it gets wasted.
Throwing away bottles that still have water in it is problematic because you are removing that water from the ecosystem. This process puts it into a system that cannot reuse or reintroduce the water into the ecosystem.
I'm still working on dumping out the pop/ice before I toss/recycle the cup. Old habits die hard. But I've also found an alternative that removes me from this problem. Don't order a drink. Most of the time I carry a reusable water bottle, that way I always have something to drink and when it runs out I simply refill it along the way.
Anyone else have any other ideas of how to reduce water waste?
 |
| Alexandra Cousteau |
I live by Lake Michigan, grew up on the shores of Lake Huron, and attend school located on the shore of Lake Superior. The Great Lakes contain 21% of the world's fresh water supply. When I studied abroad, the school/dorms were on the shores of Biwako (Japan's largest freshwater lake). Deserts, however, don't have the luxuries of high water abundance. Not everyone gets a shower every day or knowing that when they wanted a drink it would come without fail.
Two ways to save water that Cousteau pointed out that stuck with me were: when making coffee only make that which is proportional to what you are going to be drinking at that point and empty your pop/ice out before pitching it in the trash when out at a restaurant. Never have these methods of wasted water before crossed my mind.
At that point in my college career, I wasn't that much of a coffee drinker. But now that I can't really survive without it, I only make it by the cup on a consistent basis. This is done by putting only one mug of water into the coffee maker. Yes, I measure it by the mug that I'm using that day. Unless I know that it's going to be a long night then I make a whole pot. If there are leftovers, I refrigerate them. Not a particularly ideal situation but none of it gets wasted.
Throwing away bottles that still have water in it is problematic because you are removing that water from the ecosystem. This process puts it into a system that cannot reuse or reintroduce the water into the ecosystem.
I'm still working on dumping out the pop/ice before I toss/recycle the cup. Old habits die hard. But I've also found an alternative that removes me from this problem. Don't order a drink. Most of the time I carry a reusable water bottle, that way I always have something to drink and when it runs out I simply refill it along the way.
Anyone else have any other ideas of how to reduce water waste?
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Communicating with the 'Rents
Being home has forced me to realize that my parents and I have a hard time communicating the meaning of "green". And the goals I have set for myself.
They support my major (Environmental Science), even if they don't understand it. But my dad seems to think my major is ecology and I'll be working in the Michigan DNR for the remainder of my life. Working directly with wildlife and yelling at poachers during deer season. Now that is an option, however it's not the only path for my major.
A friend of mine, who has the same major, wants to work on urban planning. He wants to work on protecting the habitat within urban areas and restore habitat like buried rivers.
Another friend of mine is student teaching in Peru this winter. He's found a school that has a nice program that combines his love of Spanish and alternative energy.
I've been volunteering at a nonprofit called the Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Trust (SWP). My work mostly consists of calling participants in an energy program about how they felt about their participation. I also input data into an online database and various other odd jobs around the SWP.
As awesome as these other opportunities are, it's hard to translate to my parents. My dad thinks I'm a telemarketer asking for money. Not a good impression.
The biggest difference, while at home, for me has been food. I've recently become obsessed with cheese, most particularly smoked Gouda. But I try to get locally made cheese, non-name brand/mass produced or at least cheese from a co-op.
I asked my mom to drop me off at the local co-op while she was on her way out. And was immediately asked why I was going to that store?
After stating what I was after my father replies with, "And you think you're going to find it cheaper at the Organic Store?"
Yes it may be a bit more expensive but more of my money stays local. Cheese seemed a healthier alternative to high calorie, high sugar chocolate cookies. Cheaper doesn't equal better.
In the end they humored me and gave me some cash like I was a small child heading off to the ice cream stand.
They support my major (Environmental Science), even if they don't understand it. But my dad seems to think my major is ecology and I'll be working in the Michigan DNR for the remainder of my life. Working directly with wildlife and yelling at poachers during deer season. Now that is an option, however it's not the only path for my major.
A friend of mine, who has the same major, wants to work on urban planning. He wants to work on protecting the habitat within urban areas and restore habitat like buried rivers.
Another friend of mine is student teaching in Peru this winter. He's found a school that has a nice program that combines his love of Spanish and alternative energy.
I've been volunteering at a nonprofit called the Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Trust (SWP). My work mostly consists of calling participants in an energy program about how they felt about their participation. I also input data into an online database and various other odd jobs around the SWP.
As awesome as these other opportunities are, it's hard to translate to my parents. My dad thinks I'm a telemarketer asking for money. Not a good impression.
The biggest difference, while at home, for me has been food. I've recently become obsessed with cheese, most particularly smoked Gouda. But I try to get locally made cheese, non-name brand/mass produced or at least cheese from a co-op.
I asked my mom to drop me off at the local co-op while she was on her way out. And was immediately asked why I was going to that store?
After stating what I was after my father replies with, "And you think you're going to find it cheaper at the Organic Store?"
Yes it may be a bit more expensive but more of my money stays local. Cheese seemed a healthier alternative to high calorie, high sugar chocolate cookies. Cheaper doesn't equal better.
In the end they humored me and gave me some cash like I was a small child heading off to the ice cream stand.
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