Random Thoughts on Going Green

From time to time I feel the need to get some of thoughts out of my head to make room for others. Though my wife claims I am slowly going insane because I read to much, I prefer to think of it as a hard drive that is filled up to capacity and must be maintained periodically to avoid system failure. I like to think of myself as a pretty green individual. Don’t mistake that for concern for my fellow man. As a former backpacker, I just live by the motto “pack out whatever you packed in”. I don’t know from carbon footprints, just common sense. And though I am considered to be a numbers guy, I like to think that logic dominates my actions. I move in a green direction because it’s the logical think to do and logic dictates my life in most areas.

Windmills – if they put up as many as they are talking about, couldn’t we through off the rotation of the earth? I mean, I no rocket scientist, but it seems to me if you add propellers to a boat it goes faster. Wouldn’t the same hold true for the earth? Think about this, the DOE is estimating that we would need in excess of 132,000 windmills by the year 2020 to reduce our energy by a full 5 % in that year. To reduce our consumption by 20% we will need close to a half million turbines. And that’s just in the U.S. Think about what will be needed n countries like China and India. Someone better install a brass ring on the moon.

Battery Power – I’m all for it but here is something to think about. What are we going to do with all these used up batteries in 10 to 20 years? I mean give me a break, the average American has no idea on the correct way to dispose of used flashlight batteries, what makes people think that they will do a better job with one the size of a suitcase? Recent studies ( such as this one on Canadian habits) indicate that as a society, we are falling far below what I would accept as reasonable for simple household batteries. Canadian numbers, according to this survey, indicate that 6 in 10 simply throw out dead batteries in the trash. Ever look at what makes up a battery? And what heavy metals do to a water supply. I have yet to see a proposal which includes a plan for disposing of used batteries. Come on people, let’s start thinking logically. Than maybe some of these plans will begin to make sense.

Compact Fluorescent lighting - Believe it or not, most people are unaware of the fact that these energy saving light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury. Mercury is a heavy metal that is a confirmed carcinogen and few heavy metals out there are considered to be more lethal. Now consider this fact. We are exponentially replacing standard lightbulbs with these potentially lethal time bombs. Consider this, over the last three years, the biggest manufacturer of CFL’s (China) has up its production from 750 million units to 2.4 billion units and still growing fast and furious. Now lets employ some logic here. If we can’t, as a nation, dispose properly of batteries, then how are we going to do with light bulbs? At least batteries are in a pretty sturdy, wrapped container. In my neck of the woods, the proposed rules for disposing of CFL will require taking them to the local recycling center on proscribed dates. Once or twice a month. Raise your hands if you think that is going to work for more than ten percent of the population. Can’t we put our heads together and come up with a better plan of action? Once again, I’m wondering if logic is soon to be a lost attribute of human nature. At least that’s the way it seems to me.

Well, that clears up the section of my brain housing “green” inadequacies. I hope to clean up some of the other sectors in future blogs. Not complaining mind you, but it beats screaming in a closed room. And if I don’t free up space occasionally, I’m afraid that’s where I am destined to wind up.