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mountainlion
Trad climber
California
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 25, 2013 - 09:05am PT
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The climate change thread is about the science of climate change. Maybe it would be helpful to have a more positive discussion with people giving examples of what THEY are doing and how the rest of us could easily also do what they are doing.
I've already posted most of what I have/am doing on the climate change thread.
Let's keep this one POSITIVE!!!
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Reeotch
Trad climber
4 Corners Area
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May 25, 2013 - 09:12am PT
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I ride my bike to work every day.
This week I'm putting in a garden.
When I worked at an environmental science camp we used to play a little thought game called "what if?" What if everyone were to engage in the activity you are discussing? What would that look like?
If everybody would just do the above 2 things, I think it would make a noticable difference.
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mountainlion
Trad climber
California
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Topic Author's Reply - May 25, 2013 - 09:47am PT
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Good idea REEOTCH!! I like the bike to work thing.
On gardening if you have enough space make sure to plant Camote (sweet potatoes) they grow quickly and you can eat the leaves in a salad prior to the potatoes being harvested (the leaves are full of nutrients). It takes 90-100 days for the Camote to produce the potatoes ( I had really good luck once the soil had been fertilized well--my first batch didn't turn out as well since I hadn't had time to compost well but after that compost HO MAN!!).
Totally agree if we all did a little bit we could make a HUGE difference!!
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patrick compton
Trad climber
van
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May 25, 2013 - 10:02am PT
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I don't have kids.
Fewer consumer is the ONLY way real change is going happen. Do it ourselves, or the planet will take us out through disease, drought, famine.
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tooth
Trad climber
B.C.
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May 25, 2013 - 10:10am PT
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Not eating animals or fish. No need to cut down the rainforest for grazing land for me. Or dairy.
I buy and eat local. If I eat out, it is usually a local restaurant that uses locally-produced food. At home we can hundreds of jars of food and freeze 1+ freezers of food for the year.
Don't eat GMO.
Plant and cultivate healthy trees on my acreage. Don't fence out the wildlife, don't mow the 1 acre lawn so that the deer and moose can graze (built a pond where water flows anyway).
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bobinc
Trad climber
Portland, Or
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May 25, 2013 - 10:18am PT
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Starting/continuing discussions with friends and others on the need for meaningful carbon taxes on both transportation and site energy fuels. Riding my bike and recycling make me feel a little better but price signals are the only way I see to cause big changes on a short time horizon.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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May 25, 2013 - 11:05am PT
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Here's how I'm making a difference.
I used to ride my bike all the time. Now, it's just once in a while. So my respiration is at a normal level all day long, instead of being elevated for several hours while I'm on the bike. Therefore, I'm blowing way less co2 into the atmosphere than before.
All you people should do the same, if you care about our future.
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orle
climber
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May 25, 2013 - 11:24am PT
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Sounds like a solid plan, Chaz. Seems like you are also asking less of the planet in terms of food consumption now that you burn less calories.
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mountainlion
Trad climber
California
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Topic Author's Reply - May 25, 2013 - 11:28am PT
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Let's keep it positive DMT
Here is what I am doing and have done to help combat climate change.
1)Pumping my own water from a deep well for my garden, showers, dishwashing, food preparation and drinking daily and have for the past year. It does take a little time but it also gives me exercise.
2)Planted a garden of hot peppers, chile peppers, camote (sweet potatoes), ampalaya, sayote, gabi (taro) and basil. When I ran out of garden space I went and dug up dirt from a local farm (took it home about a mile using a dolly)and made a small planter about 4 inches deep 6 foot wide and 10 feet long that I placed on concrete--filled masonary bags with dirt and planted camote in the bags so they could spread out on the planter, also planted chile peppers in bags.
3)I walk everywhere regardless of how much the grocery bags weigh or the distance (under 5 miles). I even hiked a wooden table 4 foot by 4 foot (made of cocoa lumber weighs about 90 lbs including the 2 by 4 legs about 3 miles home, I take the bus to my climbing area of Cantabaco wich is a 20 minute bus ride but would take me all day to hike and is unsafe to bike (IMO).
4)I have helped the locals to use cardboard boxes, black spray paint, and aluminum foil to make solar ovens that can be used for heating food and water instead of lighting a fire (does take more time but once you know how to use it is convenient).
5)I compost all trash that can be composted. I recycle the trash that can be recycled.
6)Things I have done in the past but don't do everyday--- shopped and donated clothing and other items to Goodwill.
7)I like to have productive conversations in person regarding climate change and other sciences. I am good at doing experiments with whatever we may have at the campground to back up my points. For example using two containers, ice, and water you can illustrate the difference of what happens when continental ice melts as opposed to sea ice melt in terms of sea level---hard for a climate denier to run thier mouth around the campfire when we all see what happens in the experiment.
8)I read scientific articles daily (and always have--I love science).
9)My wife and I stopped eating chicken, fish, and meat daily--now we eat chicken or fish twice a week---vegetarian the rest of the week. It helped me lose weight and I feel great!
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mechrist
Gym climber
South of Heaven
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May 25, 2013 - 11:38am PT
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Nice ml.
Most recently I have made a pledge to myself to use human power to get to climbing areas for at least 1/2 of my climbing days. It may not sound like much, but it is usually the only reason I fire up my petroleum eater. I am working on a 30 boulder problem circuit along a nice 6 mile bike loop. Did about half of it the other day with a bouldering pad in high winds... great workout.
I will also be riding my bike 15 miles round trip EVERYDAY for my next job starting in about a month. I turned down 3 jobs this year because of the commute. The gf already rides to work 3-4 days a week... gotta keep up!
On that same note, I will be volunteering for some trail restoration and wetland restoration.
Food production and transportation is a HUGE consumer of petroleum. I recently put in ~150 square feet of cold frames for our vegetable garden, all watered with an artesian well I installed. On the food note, we have a bunch of bunnies living around here who will no doubt multiply rapidly at the expense of our garden. When their numbers increase, some may be eaten.
We live in a house designed for passive solar heating. We try to use wood (carbon neutral) as our main heat source, which is only on cloudy days. Since October we used just under 1/3 cord. What few lights we use are CFL or LED to conserve electricity.
It is all about reducing consumption of the 3 big CO2 producers...
https://flowcharts.llnl.gov/
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mechrist
Gym climber
South of Heaven
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May 25, 2013 - 12:02pm PT
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Yes Randisi, food in the US is usually shipped huge distances. Many people don't realize how much petroleum goes into getting food on their table.
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Lambone
Big Wall climber
Ashland, Or
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May 25, 2013 - 12:16pm PT
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We just put solar panels on our roof. Last month it provided for 70% of our electrical consumption.
Was a big investment (close to 20 grand), but our city subsidizes it with credits. Also it adds value to the home in the long run.
I feel a bit better about running errands in my oversized V8 suv that gets 15mpgs
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mountainlion
Trad climber
California
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Topic Author's Reply - May 25, 2013 - 12:42pm PT
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I like the point about buying from local vendors to cut down on the amount of petroleum used to ship produce...eveybody could be doing that and help their local farmers out!!
Good for you Lambone...I have always wanted to get into solar power and expected it to be a mainstream energy source after reading about it in "ranger rick" and "boys life" as a kid. Whatever happened to it...
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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May 25, 2013 - 01:02pm PT
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I'm not gonna get a new F150 for a while - this one is running too well.
How do you get 8 sheets of plywood in a Prius?
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Wade Icey
Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
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May 25, 2013 - 01:13pm PT
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no kids.
shop local, organic.
eat less animal
bike or walk any distance less than 5 miles
drive cars from the 20th century
grow edible stuff.
vermiculture
upcycle.
recycle
small recycling business- http://alohashirtrescue.com/ -Wall shirts anyone?
wear a hat and a sweater instead of bumping the thermostat.
exercise consumer awareness
laundry less often
greywater into the garden
low/no water use landscaping
doesn't seem like nearly enough.
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AP
Trad climber
Calgary
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May 25, 2013 - 02:23pm PT
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Bike or bus to work every day, then blow my karma by driving to the mountains on days off.
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mechrist
Gym climber
South of Heaven
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May 25, 2013 - 02:34pm PT
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wear a hat and a sweater instead of bumping the thermostat
Yes! Bugs the sh#t out of me when people reach for the thermostat rather than a jacket. A nice pair of slippers, a nice hat, and a nice house coat are the bomb dizzle!
greywater into the garden
Working on that, but can't get a straight answer from the regulators around here. At the very least, I should have the shower hooked up to the toilet soon. That way the tank will get filled while waiting for the shower to get warm. We only flush a couple times a day... if it's yellow be mellow, if it's brown flush it down.
low/no water use landscaping
Unfortunately I know people who spend hundreds of dollars using municipal water to water their huge lawns. Sucks when people move somewhere (desert, mountains, etc) and opt for the cookie cutter lawn/yard rather than integrating their existence with their surroundings.
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McHale's Navy
Trad climber
Panorama City, California & living in Seattle
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May 25, 2013 - 04:15pm PT
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5 years ago I started riding scooters. That has been interesting. THAT can include a dangerous learning curve. First accident was on an unmaked curve at night in the mist. I also have an electric bicycle that compliments my bicycle stable. The old Honda CH80 scooter does about 90 MPG and the Aprilia Atlantic 200 does about 70 MPG.
My Partner put quite a few solar panels on her roof that feed the grid. There are too many trees around me to do that or I would in a heartbeat.
I love to hyper-mile all the vehicles to get the most mileage. Most recently I purchased new tires for my Chevy Aveo and decided to splurge on the high pressure / high mile tires that TOYO makes. Right out of the chute it's obvious they will pay for the extra cost and more. Those things roll forever - it's very cool and fun. If you see old farts driving slow, it's not because they are old, they are hyper-miling!
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mechrist
Gym climber
South of Heaven
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May 25, 2013 - 04:22pm PT
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That reminds me...
Anyone have an old fairing they want me to reuse? Any size, I'm pretty sure I could make it fit.
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McCfly
climber
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May 25, 2013 - 04:28pm PT
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Don't eat animals..
Buy local produce when it is in season..
Eat organic only food 99.9% of the time..
Keep the heat low skip the AC
My climbing stuff is about all i really own other than a car kinda own a house but not really..
recycle..
High efficiency heating system. Converting from oil to natural gas..
Same for hot water. I know i know much more i could do in regard to household utilities...
Use as little water as possible other than for drinking and growing..
Turn off light behind me...
Find things to stimulate me that require little in the way of material possessions. Climbing, art, meditation, yoga, reading, so forth and so on. I used to like stuff like allot. Now i mindfully resist most of it other than climbing gear...
Sure i could think of others as much of it just come down to a matter of perspective.
Also think i should add is most of what i do is for selfish reasons as this has just come to be the way i enjoy living.
Ow yeah no kids but that mostly i would be a shitty parent. Convenient that it works in favor of my desire to take less..
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Erik
Trad climber
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May 25, 2013 - 05:41pm PT
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Not having kids is probably the single most important thing anyone can do at this point to save the Earth.
Not that it really matters in the long run anyway -- I'm sure that ten or a hundred million years from now the earth will have fully recovered from the cancerous scourge known as homo sapiens sapiens that was directly responsible for its last great extinction event.
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mechrist
Gym climber
South of Heaven
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May 25, 2013 - 05:50pm PT
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I don't know about the whole not having kids argument.
Obviously overpopulation is THE big issue. But what is the better solution: 1) semi-intelligent people who would raise a fairly conscientious child or two with the hope of making the world a better place, or 2) letting the next generation be dominated by the offspring of ignorant fuktards?
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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May 25, 2013 - 06:13pm PT
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I have been hyper-miling since i started driving...I've been pulled over by the PMFers for driving too slow...I was coasting down this hill on hwy. 6 into Bishop recently when some guy with an 84 IQ on a dirt bike went rocketing by me....He must have been in denial and doing a hundred...?
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McHale's Navy
Trad climber
Panorama City, California & living in Seattle
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May 25, 2013 - 06:57pm PT
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That's funny. I've been pulled over twice driving from Big Pine to Bishop going too slow. I wasn't even hyper-miling.....just hyper mellow! I even got pulled over once near Tutle creek for driving out of state.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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May 25, 2013 - 11:09pm PT
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Not having kids is a bad idea. Take a look at countries with a negative growth rate, not good. You can have sustainable families, responsible people tend to have responsible kids. We need fresh meet to pay for our Medicare an Social Security
Hey mechrist - I think I have a Vetter fairing in my attic that was on a 1985 BMW RS650, you are welcome to it, where are you
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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May 25, 2013 - 11:30pm PT
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awesome thread
My last VW JETTA diesel,4 fillups of biodiesel b80 ,round trip steamboat colorado to near rochester,ny.,carbon reduction from all ready relatively clean burning low sulphur diesel ,80%.hypermiling ,cruise controlled, ski trip luxury.48.5 MPG AVG.
Near carbon neutral
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Snowmassguy
Trad climber
Calirado
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May 25, 2013 - 11:42pm PT
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I preach about environmental consciousness and promote a green lifestyle. I then I hop in my private jet to head across the country for the weekend. Oh wait...I dont have a jet but it seems to be what the majority of our politicians and celebs heros do.
Joking aside, I try to eat foods that are not packaged, drive a high mpg car, buy produce local when in season/available, be conscious of all electricity and gas use etc . The no processed/pre-packaged food philosophy also seems to lead to health eating.
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Snowmassguy
Trad climber
Calirado
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May 25, 2013 - 11:48pm PT
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^^^I put my water heater on a timer so it only comes on in the AM and PM. It sits idle all day and most of the night. Seems to work well.
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rick sumner
Trad climber
reno, nevada/ wasilla alaska
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May 26, 2013 - 01:29am PT
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I'm buying up, by your standards, vast tracts of land and fencing them to keep the likes of you off. I thin the trees to keep the fuel load down (so as not to release huge quantities of co2 in a disastrous fire) and shoot all varmints that are overpopulated to keep the ecosystem in balance. I drive one of my fleet of eco boost 3/4 ton ford diesels way the hell back and gone then wash the dust off in my nonsubsidized solar assisted hot water system shower. I didn't have my nuts cut off, and if my wife was still fertile would love to have more children who i would make damn sure were educated to a high degree and have enough ambition to never be like you.
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia
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May 26, 2013 - 07:36am PT
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I think the folks here that consider not having children as a way to help fight 'global warming' should stick with this idea and not contribute to the gene pool.
While we contribute in a minuscule way to depleting our ozone, this is not the reason for increased annual temperatures throughout the planet. 'Global warming' is not caused by anything mankind is doing and there is absolutely nothing we can do to change this global cycle. Deal.
Ride a motorcycle or bicycle, sell your tv, recycle, keep your carbon footprint to a minimum because that is conservation, not because of a myth.
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Sierra Ledge Rat
Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
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May 26, 2013 - 08:27am PT
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What am I doing?
I vote anti-republican
Buy carbon offsets when I can
When driving, I coast in neutral as much as possible (lots of hills here)
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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May 26, 2013 - 09:25am PT
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way to be Harry.
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Sierra Ledge Rat
Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
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May 26, 2013 - 09:37am PT
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I think the folks here that consider not having children as a way to help fight 'global warming' should stick with this idea and not contribute to the gene pool.
Population control is the only solution that is going to work.
Everything else that we do is irrelevant unless the population can be controlled.
You wanna talk about environmentalism? Cliimate change? Hunger? It's all about population control and everything else is fluff.
Yeah, I can feel good about using less gasoline, but it's like spitting on a forest fire and congratulating yourself for helping to control the flames.
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mountainlion
Trad climber
California
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Topic Author's Reply - May 26, 2013 - 10:29am PT
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Great to see all the things people are doing and hopefully giving other people ideas of what else they can do that they aren't.
Good point about population control.
Empowering Women has proven to be the most effective way to control how many children they have.
Societies that educate and treat thier women with respect illustrate that point. The women choose to have fewer children.
Living in the Philippines this past year I have seen families with 8-10 children on a daily basis (regardless if they have the resources to support such a family). One reason is lack of education (if you can't afford to go to school you don't go to school...thier is public school but you do have to pay for materials, clothing, transportation to the school--and most families can't afford to pay so school becomes what the "wealthy" kids do.
Same thing with birth control (it is predominantly a Catholic country where I am living but has some islands that are Muslim). Birth control is expensive here (condoms cost more than the average family can afford).
They love and have respect for the women in the Philippines but the men seem to control the money---and property---(my experience and opinion but could be wrong).
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Sierra Ledge Rat
Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
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May 26, 2013 - 10:55am PT
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Empowering Women has proven to be the most effective way to control how many children they have.
You hit the nail on the head. Global empowerment of women is one of the most important tasks of the 21st Century, and is the only way to control population growth.
Then we must work on separating church and state so that people actually have choices in their lives - like chosing to use birth control.
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patrick compton
Trad climber
van
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May 26, 2013 - 11:22am PT
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Pud, the earth is also flat.
The 'we are having smart, sustainable kids to save the planet' is total BS. I have watched my freidns with kids immediately dump all pretense of limited consumption as soon as the kids pop out. Everything is for the kids. Huge suv? Buy it. $1000 monthly trips to Costco? Do it. Expensive daycare that happens to accoss town? Drive it. Plastic sh#t to keep them happy for a day. Get it. Didn't used to watch TV, but if makes them shut up for 20 minutes. ...
Americans replicating themselves is the worst thing one can do for the planet.... and what a sh#t show of a planet they are being handed.
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mountainlion
Trad climber
California
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Topic Author's Reply - May 26, 2013 - 11:23am PT
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That's awesome Chris!!! The technology for solar cells exists in so many different forms it is unbelievable (solar films on windows, solar paint on cars etc. etc.)
thanks for SUPERTOPO GOING SOLAR!!!
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mechrist
Gym climber
South of Heaven
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May 26, 2013 - 11:27am PT
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it seems to be what the majority of our politicians and celebs heros do.
You have celeb heros?
Global warming' is not caused by anything mankind is doing and there is absolutely nothing we can do to change this global cycle. Deal.
Wrong.
I really enjoyed using these for teaching. They show just how much we rely on fossil fuels and how those fossil fuels are used. Transportation is the HUGE emitter, along with electricity from coal.
Better infrastructure is key. Places like the Salt Lake Valley have absolutely atrocious infrastructure! Impossible for the average citizen to go ANYWHERE without a car, except for those in select neighborhoods.
It also shows how little solar, wind, and geothermal we use.
Anyone done research on biomass? It is carbon neutral on a reasonable time scale (30 yrs), unlike any of the fossil fuels which release vast amounts of carbon that have been stored for millions of years. As Dick pointed out, clearing biomass from forests helps reduce the impact of large fires. Anyone know places where the FS offers up those ugly fuel piles for firewood?
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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May 26, 2013 - 12:17pm PT
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Sierra RAT...Judging by the excess number of baby strollers rolling up and down the street beneath my window , i'd have to say that our government is doing a pitiful job of solving the population control issue....It's also disheartening to see the yuppy tourists hop out of their shiny low-mileage SUV with 3 kids in tow... I think we are screwed as long as the religious right keeps encouraging the 3rd world population to over-produce while ensuring that the slave-labor- pool will be filled with willing accomplices....
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mechrist
Gym climber
South of Heaven
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May 26, 2013 - 12:26pm PT
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birth control in the water
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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May 26, 2013 - 01:39pm PT
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United States is about 4.5% of the worlds population, however we consume 19% of the worlds energy. Third world countries have the highest birth rates and the lowest per capita energy consumption. As nations become more developed the birth rate tends to drop and energy consumption goes up. The birth rate in Mexico dropped 20% over the last decade,
http://www.indexmundi.com/g/g.aspx?c=mx&v=25
wanna guess what hapened to energy consumption in Mexico? yes, it went up
http://www.geni.org/globalenergy/library/national_energy_grid/mexico/LatinAmericanPowerGuide.shtml
Can you see how population control is not the answer?
It is all about how we generate energy and how we use it. It is similar to economics. A household has x amount of disposable income. Having a child does not create more income. It change how income is spent. Instead of taking long trips, a couple now buys diapers and spends more time at home. The carbon footprint is essentially the same.
The only reason United States has population growth is from immigration, We need illegal imigration to provide the muscle in our economy. Not everyone can study hard and get a good job, we need cheap labor or our economy will wither and die.
I bought a used solar system a couple of years ago for 4k dollars, 2.5kW. New would have been maybe 8k dolalrs Same system five years ago cost me 16k dollars. I am charging a GEM electric car off my solar and driving it 1500 miles a year in it. Electric transportation is the key to conservation of our fossil fuels.
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mountainlion
Trad climber
California
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Topic Author's Reply - May 26, 2013 - 02:02pm PT
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I like the solar power charging station idea Jon. I think the technology exists for areas that have good sunshine to have solar power on rooftops of existing buildings, carports, houses as well as many other types of solar power cells that technology has been suppressed.
We need to put pressure on the politicians who are allowing the suppression of this readily available technology (the technology already exists). The power companies and big oil don't want solar power UNLESS they can profit off of it. The world be damned (is their opinion).
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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May 26, 2013 - 02:09pm PT
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Jon thats great man,I bought my solar used, from a guy in Ohio who after i paid him, got right in my face with Dick Sumner talking points.
Turns out to be a god squad christian ,just doing what he does to his fellow man.
He had just bought the house,and could not wait to get rid of the solar.
His twenty something son told me this after apologizing and spending a few minutes loading the panels and hardware on my friends truck.
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Sierra Ledge Rat
Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
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May 26, 2013 - 03:14pm PT
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..technology has been suppressed...
Yeah, that's a big problem.
The big power companies don't want the masses to be energy independent. The big power companies want the masses to be withholden to them.
It's a national security issue that remains unaddressed. Until some courageous president can get break free from the pocket of big oil, we will continue to have centralized power that requires consumers to purchase their energy instead generate their energy, and we will continue to have wars over energy.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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May 26, 2013 - 05:52pm PT
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The big power companies have all the business they can handle.
The big power companies are running ads on the radio telling people to quit using so damn much of their product.
The days of Reddy Kilowatt encouraging people to use as much electricity as possible are history.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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May 26, 2013 - 07:27pm PT
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Chief....Yabba dabba doo....
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crunch
Social climber
CO
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May 26, 2013 - 07:35pm PT
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Great responses.
No children here.
Lifesyles might suffer in the short term adjusting, but 7 billion people? We have wean our economies off growth and expansion
Here's how they have reduced the birthrate in Brazil:
5. Introduce electricity and television at the same time in much of the nation's interior, a double disruption of traditional family living patterns, and then flood the airwaves with a singular, vivid, aspirational image of the modern Brazilian family: affluent, light skinned, and small.
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/09/girl-power/gorney-text
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mechrist
Gym climber
South of Heaven
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May 26, 2013 - 07:49pm PT
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The big power companies are running ads on the radio telling people to quit using so damn much of their product.
Doesn't mean they want people to find a new product.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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May 26, 2013 - 08:23pm PT
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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May 26, 2013 - 08:27pm PT
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I'm wondering how many people notice that the picture uploaded by the Chief is fake? It is a replicating image that takes a small image, then replicates it.
Why would one do that?
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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May 26, 2013 - 08:29pm PT
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Chris Mac----nice video. One thing I'm very interested in was how your house did with cooling, with the new white roof.
White roofs are something I'm very interested in.
In terms of this thread, white roofs appear to represent a significant opportunity. If you haven't checked it out, you all should.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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May 26, 2013 - 08:34pm PT
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hey chef,you told me to walk the walk .So where is your bicycle made?
This one has 3 overseas made parts on it,brakes ,tires,pedals.Nothing from china,so tell me how are you walking.
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mechrist
Gym climber
South of Heaven
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May 26, 2013 - 08:37pm PT
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Good eye on the photo. I did a spot check on 10 random locations and found an EXACT match for each one!
Apparently this dude is fabricating his art.
http://www.marcuslyon.com/artworks/brics
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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May 26, 2013 - 08:44pm PT
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I am somewhat leery of the impact that individuals can have on the big picture. A lot of than seems more feel-good, that anything else.
However, the old adage that if you take care of the ounces, the pounds take care of themselves, may apply.
For example, in Los Angeles, the water usage now is virtually identical to 20 years ago, in spite of millions in growth. This has mainly to do with changes that millions of individuals have made. Sometimes through influence of rate structures, sometimes education.
I decided a few years back, to become involved with LADWP, with some of the initiatives they were undertaking for water use. After going to a lot of meetings, and reading a lot of reports, I'm something of an expert on the issues involved with water recycling (ALL water is recycled). We dump 50 mill gal of water A DAY into the ocean. That is actually a resource that can be reclaimed..NOT for growth, but to replace sources from the Central Valley, Colo. River, Owens Valley....all of which are likely to diminish with time.
The 80-some people who serve along with me have actually persuaded LADWP to
ACCELERATE their planned diversion and treatment of this resource, by DECADES. The issue, of course, is money. However, I think of this in terms of water security.
By the way, the largest use of energy in Ca is from the transport of water.
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hobo_dan
Social climber
Minnesota
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May 26, 2013 - 08:47pm PT
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I am going to turn off my computer right now
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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May 26, 2013 - 08:50pm PT
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A word about biodiesel:
There is a concept floating around out there that biological fuels are not cost-effective.....that they actually use more fuel than they produce.
This was based upon a paper written by David Pimental, that is widely quoted, often without attribution.
The problem with Pimental's paper, were his assumptions, and how science has moved on, since. His efficiency numbers are now way off, due to technological advancement.
so you will run into that argument all the time, and that is the basis for it.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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May 26, 2013 - 08:58pm PT
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He was stating biological fuels,ie methanol.
I have read his stuff years ago,It was not about todays biodiesel.
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rick sumner
Trad climber
reno, nevada/ wasilla alaska
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May 26, 2013 - 09:00pm PT
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I'm watching lots of zombie movies in preperation for when the gravy train goes off the tracks and the "government provided cradle to grave safety net and welfare in exchange for surrender of minds" project ends and the recipients are forced to fend for themselves.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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May 26, 2013 - 09:01pm PT
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wilbeer...I got the same IF rig with the Vicious fork...
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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May 26, 2013 - 09:08pm PT
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RJ,Sweet.We[The Mendon Cyclesmith] deal with Carl at Vicious now and then.
Both IF and Vicious are great american rigs.
Thats a Groovy cycles fork.
14 miles of singletrack ,today,the North Country Trail.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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May 26, 2013 - 10:39pm PT
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Amen brother...
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mechrist
Gym climber
South of Heaven
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May 26, 2013 - 10:53pm PT
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Ken M, the LA water story is pretty awesome. I TAd a course with required readings from Cadillac Desert. It was fun to watch the (mostly) NoCal kids hating on SoCal for the first half of the quarter... the hit them with the results of water conservation efforts over the last couple decades.
Great work. Thanks.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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May 27, 2013 - 02:35am PT
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Ken M, the LA water story is pretty awesome. I TAd a course with required readings from Cadillac Desert. It was fun to watch the (mostly) NoCal kids hating on SoCal for the first half of the quarter... the hit them with the results of water conservation efforts over the last couple decades.
Great work. Thanks.
The great thing is that LA water remains so messed up, in terms of what it COULD be, that there is tremendous room for improvement!
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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May 27, 2013 - 09:58am PT
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I bicycle to work because it feels good
I grow my own food because it tastes better.
I use things till they no longer are repairable because I'm cheap.
I re-purpose what's left when I can because it's conservative
Give me one of these connected to the sun's output and I'll do something about climate change.
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mountainlion
Trad climber
California
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Topic Author's Reply - May 27, 2013 - 01:04pm PT
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Good for you TGT!! I am glad your doing healthy things for yourself and our environment!!
It doesn't matter what the motivation is, or the reason we do things that help out the planet.
It really is no different than picking up trash while hiking...leaving it on the ground just doesn't make sense...
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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May 27, 2013 - 01:14pm PT
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Something i have been employing in the last couple of years is the advent of rechargable /solar lighting.Both for night bicycling and for van/camping.
Call me what you want,i loved coleman lanterns ,but i hate using more fossil fuel,especially when im in the great outdoors.
Firstly,the Soladyne lantern,made in the usa,hand crank,rechargable,solar lantern.Around 40 bucks.There are 5 ways to charge this bomber lantern.
Sure it may not have the power of a fuel lantern but 3 minutes of hand cranking provides 2 to 3 hours of lighting.
And then there is the Lupine Piko 3 smartcore,made in germany,it is one of the most powerful units for its size made.Rechargable.900 lumens.2 1/2 hours of full 900 lumen use on one charge.LED lighting has come a long way.
Just saying.
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mountainlion
Trad climber
California
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Topic Author's Reply - May 28, 2013 - 07:48am PT
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Really good examples Wilbeer...I gotta get the lantern (who uses it more than 2-3 hours at a time) I would use it to eat at the crag but usually my headlamp will do--but for campground scrabble, chess, dominoes, cards, etc!!
This past year a gun named "Doc" had a solar cell at the campground that he used to recharge the battery in his Van...he used the radio and all sorts of stuff at night and recharged the Van battery in the daytime using the solar cell at JTREE!! It was super cool he also showed me how to make a solar oven.
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mountainlion
Trad climber
California
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Topic Author's Reply - May 28, 2013 - 05:51pm PT
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I also like the tip about putting on a coat or sweater instead of adjusting the thermostat.
I really wish we could get a movement started of providing a full lane for biking and stiffen the penalties for harassing bikers with cars.
The philippines has an excellent public transportation system and it gets USED for most all travel, very few people own vehicles. This is one of the things the car companies and oil companies dismantled here in the U.S. (just check out what happened to public transportation in California--google and check out the history--we used to have a good system).
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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May 28, 2013 - 06:12pm PT
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No kids
Hybrid Civic, drive less
Solar electricity, supplanted with windpower when
needed
R100 insulation in my attic
Keep thermostat low
Eat organic, grow some, eat mostly chicken & veggies
Close shades during day to keep house cool, use
evaporative cooler when necessary, no A/C
My lawn is about dead, water it very sparingly, though
I do water my food.
Walk more, bike more, car pool, use public transportation
Get more stuff from the library (don't buy so much stuff)
Just my little part.
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guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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May 28, 2013 - 06:23pm PT
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I really wish we could get a movement started of providing a full lane for biking and stiffen the penalties for harassing bikers with cars.
Move to LA dude, our ex mayor is down with that.
Anyone want to sell me some carbon credits??????
I wish to drive to the valley and go climbing for the weekend.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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May 30, 2013 - 07:29pm PT
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COMMUTE ,There are a lot of riders here,how is your rig?
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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May 31, 2013 - 11:57am PT
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AWESOME
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bookworm
Social climber
Falls Church, VA
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May 31, 2013 - 12:06pm PT
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"I'm blowing way less co2 into the atmosphere than before..."
yes, i encourage all of you to exhale less...and challenge you to stop exhaling altogether
that should take care of about half the population
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lostinshanghai
Social climber
someplace
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May 31, 2013 - 07:38pm PT
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Chief has the picture that explains part of the problem but wrong answer to the solution.
Who cares if it is photo is a fake it is reality of the large cities we live in:
Here is a shot of a development in Mexico.
What does Chief’s picture and the above have in common?
It is Heat Sink or the lack of it. No trees, no vegetation to absorb the heat generated by the sun bouncing on the walls of the structures. The material heats up and rises making it even worse.
Heat Sink: correct Behind the other buildings you would find trees and the same.
Why is that you do not see anyone climbing the Nose or on the walls facing south in the Valley when it is over 100 degrees F: is the granite hotter or is it cooler than the ambient air around you or being at the bridge next to the river.
The way residential/commercial development in Los Angeles is like living in a toilet bowl [hills surrounding the basin], ever fly and when you come in to Burbank or LA International the hills around it look brown and orange all the way to Riverside, all freeways, houses, malls, and streets; sure you will find grass in Beverly Hills but that is it. There is no way that the air can circulate even if it is windy because it is trapped. Go north 75 miles and it seems to disappear and get cooler.
These cities from all the non-absorbing material creates its own added heat and rises with the chemicals along with it, Burping, farting, gas fumes, smoking cigars, cigarettes, pot, lighting the pot, cigar, cigarettes, all the smoke generated by Mc Donald’s, Burger King, Taco bell, thousands of trucks from Long Beach going to Palmdale to unload overseas goods/supplies for storage to later to go back to LA for distribution. Trucks coming south that brings in agricultural filled with pesticides well the list goes on and on………………
So some solutions: Hardcore
You can use 15% co2 in concrete mixes; it enhances the material properties in the concrete making it stronger. Best examples are bricks, stucco mix, roof tiles and roads. The only thing you cannot use or mix if you are using steel reinforcement, if that steel is coated with a polymer than yes.
20% in Solar products to heat and run electricity in your house and using salts to freeze water overnight when electricity [or your batteries] is not at its peak for cooling or air conditioning your house or commercial buildings.
20% in electric cars, battery bikes and motorcycles.
20% + 20% + 15% =55% reduction in carbon use; it can be done. About 0.05% is being used now but maybe one day can get to that 55%. Just let our Congressman/woman in Washington know about this and for sure it will get done faster.
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ms55401
Trad climber
minneapolis, mn
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May 31, 2013 - 07:53pm PT
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I fart less often.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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May 31, 2013 - 07:54pm PT
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Well said,Lost.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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May 31, 2013 - 08:48pm PT
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Yep Bruce ,blown in,with foamboard.
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lostinshanghai
Social climber
someplace
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May 31, 2013 - 09:49pm PT
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Yes and Insulation being # 1. NetZero thinking where you use 0 or no outside utility companies to warm or cool your house. Thermal Storage using the ground next to your house, a little expensive but if you do use it and go down a few more meters can be your own utility by selling the energy to three-eight houses.
If you can have every house use the right insulated materials not the old fiberglass stuff in the joists and proper air flow you could bring down heating and cooling 50%-70%. Problem we move a lot but if you plan to make this your home for the next 10-20 years worth it.
Designing one now. Going for -10 that is minus.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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May 31, 2013 - 10:11pm PT
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Foam board on ceiling joist or bottom chord of truss with high performance fiberglass blown in insul. Proper baffling and venting is a prerogative. Cellulose is to heavy to achieve r80-100. Different framing /design methods allow for better ventilation at eaves[i.e. raised heel rafter/truss,continuous vent].It can be done and i can attest ,even in our winters in WNY ,it works well.
It actually turns out to be somewhere about 3 foot deep.
Also ,where i live ,they call it r 80-100.
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Bad Climber
climber
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I love these discussions, but since most of us drive a lot to crags and mountains, doesn't that negate all the other efforts? Not that those things are bad, of course, but driving seems to trump everything. I'll bet most of us don't live within walking/biking distance of climbing.
Note: Local grass-fed beef rocks. Sustainable and VERY tasty. We're lucky to have an excellent local rancher just ten miles away. She runs a small herd, and those animals don't spend one second on a feed lot. We have a good garden and just got some chickens, which I'll like better after we fence them off our patio--too much chicken sh#t, don't ya know.
I think to make maximum impact more people have to go car free. I don't see that happening.
BAd
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More Air
Trad climber
S.L.C.
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"I love these discussions, but since most of us drive a lot to crags and mountains, doesn't that negate all the other efforts? Not that those things are bad, of course, but driving seems to trump everything. I'll bet most of us don't live within walking/biking distance of climbing."
Solution: Stop Climbing!
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BASE104
Social climber
An Oil Field
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I am finding a lot of oil for you to all burn.
Look up the statistics of our per capita use of oil, then compare it to someone in Bangladesh.
Oil is involved with everything. It powers factories, it transports your goods, but by far the biggest use is as a transportation fuel.
I work for a company 2 hours away, and it is a twelve foot walk to my office. I rarely actually NEED to drive. Much of it is a choice, and the choices are simple. Get a high mileage car, carpool if you commute, and get that transportation level down.
I don't want to hear any crap about living in Seattle and using only hydropower. They don't use hydro power to drive.
Flying is by far the least efficient use of petroleum transportation.
Sorry. I'm driving to Austin to get a sailboat right now....that is going to be my biggest trip.
I know that a lot of people own big trucks with 4WD, but do you really NEED it? My plumber needs a big truck. I do not need a big truck. Ask yourself if you really NEED something.
Oil is nasty stuff even if you don't believe in climate change. It makes us strategically vulnerable from our supply, which is mainly exporting nations. That is the main reason that we have a massive military. Does anyone really think that some country is going to invade our borders? Our military exists to keep the jobs flowing and to f*#k with other countries, mainly over oil.
I hate having this huge military that we don't need. We need a much smaller military. All of the tea party types don't even consider cutting the military budget, but do we really need every one of those Nimitz class aircraft carriers?
Anyway, I follow the oil markets and understand them. The oil companies are very competitive with each other and there isn't a big conspiracy to snuff new technology. Whoever gets some new technology is going to rule the world!!
Until then, our society is hobbled by this addiction to oil. Flip the bird to every bit 4WD pickup truck with one person in it every chance you get.
Of course you will need to know how to flee to avoid a beating.
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rick sumner
Trad climber
reno, nevada/ wasilla alaska
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I've been building homes for you all to live in for decades now. By the way, today's average homes use 60% less energy and fuel for space heating/cooling than those of 25 years ago. We try to exceed that 60% by another 10-15%.The future in this field is bright.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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Well said ,Rick.
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tinker b
climber
the commonwealth
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I love these discussions, but since most of us drive a lot to crags and mountains, doesn't that negate all the other efforts? Not that those things are bad, of course, but driving seems to trump everything. I'll bet most of us don't live within walking/biking distance of climbing.
i don't own/ rent house
don't own a car
camp in my friend's yard or in the campgrounds of my favorite climbing areas
bike or walk to most climbing (occasionally get rides with partners who won't bike, or hitch hike)
i work taking school kids back packing-i get to work by bus/train/hitchhiking/car pooling/biking or hiking
i put in my mom's garden and help out with friends' gardens
buy vegis from csa or farmers market when possible
i try to buy organic whole foods researching the sources, trying to avoid coorprate organics
get most of my clothes (except rain gear, underwear, and down jacket) as hand-me-downs
try to source things i buy from the u.s.
solar panel powers all of my electonics-ipod, phone, batteries for headlamp and bike lights.
i do visit my parents twice a year across the country. i have taken amtrak a few times, but mostly i fly. i feel super guilty about this, but i can't live full time in the east and i love my family and they need my help. when i am here i don't climb much, because i can't justify the drive and the biking is too dangerous.
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Bluelens
climber
Pasadena, CA
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Oct 20, 2013 - 04:31pm PT
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I am saving/investing to replace my 14 year old car with a Tesla. I can't afford a luxury sports car (Tesla's current model) but in a few years when the company's new midrange model is available, I should be able to buy one. Will need to rent a car maybe once a year to access remote, off the grid areas without charging stations.
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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Oct 20, 2013 - 04:49pm PT
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Just wait till they have the spontaneous combustion problem solved.
A REAL off the grid life!
http://vimeo.com/76364379
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