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I know that "going green" is the new trend (and a noble one it is) but is there nothing more we can do besides riding a bike? The below editorial from the Vancouver Sun is yet another disappointment. Someone else, if you can believe it, has written a book telling us to get a ceiling fan. Thanks, I feel better already. Why are we not focusing our energy on seriously cracking down on industry emissions? Truth be told it's not my air conditioner destroying the planet so stop writing books on it merely to capitalize on those feeling guilty enough to buy it. But yes I agree, wear a condom. It's best for all of us.
Seven common little wonders that can save the planet
Craig McInnes, Vancouver Sun
Published: Thursday, May 08, 2008
Save the planet, wear a condom. Kind of catchy, don't you think? But it's not a slogan I ever expected to see. Yet the humble prophylactic gets star billing in a new slim volume from Sierra Club Books, Seven Wonders for a Cool Planet.
The book by science writer Eric Sorenson and the staff of the Seattle-based Sightline Institute celebrates seven ordinary things that ascend to the status of the fabled hanging gardens of Babylon in the context of climate change.
The "wonders" are all touted as antidotes to everyday activities that are poisoning the atmosphere with climate-altering greenhouse gases primarily associated with energy consumption. The villains include the car, the air conditioner, clothes dryers, factory farming and disposable products of all kinds.
The wonders represent opportunity, simple things ordinary people can make to make a difference in their own lives and in their communities, things that collectively hold the hope of surprising benefit.
The first wonder is the bicycle, a simple machine that is more efficient than any other form of transport -- including walking -- at converting fuel to forward motion.
The authors readily concede pedal power is not a replacement for the car in every situation. They note, however, that while advertisers pitch the lure of the open road, most driving is done in "Errandsville," the land of short trips back and forth between home and work, the store and school.
The bicycle covers short distances in almost the same time with none of the pollution. It rewards virtue by the mile for the American audience at which this book is largely aimed, or by the kilometre for Canadians who at least get frequent mention.
The ceiling fan is another engineering marvel, providing cooling for a fraction of the cost of air conditioning. The fan reigned in North American homes until fairly recently. In 1975, only 12 per cent of Canadian homes had air conditioning. That number is now over 40 per cent.
I'd bet that this particular message will go over better in temperate Seattle than in the American south, but the authors point out that just as we can save on our heating costs with homes designed to keep the heat in, centuries-old techniques such as light-coloured roofs and cross-ventilation can be combined with fans to curb cooling costs.
Simply changing the dress code so that men are not required to wear a jacket allows air conditioning to be turned down by 3 C.
That may not sound like much, but consider that in the peak summer heat, air conditioning accounts for about 40 per cent of the electricity consumed in the U.S.
In the same vein, the authors nominate the clothesline, which has all but disappeared -- in fact it's banned in some communities -- in the six decades since the introduction of the dryer.
The benefits are obvious -- free energy from the sun and no lint trap; but for all the energy the dryer consumes, it is also one of the freedom machines for women, who still do the majority of housework in most homes.
The next nominee is less contentious. The public library is a wonder because it embodies the principle of re-use. Every time a book goes through the checkout desk, the value of the paper used in its production increases. It's one of the last bastions against our largely disposable society.
The one natural item on the list makes it for what it is not. The real tomato, the old-fashioned, deep red and squishy fragrant variety from your garden, is not one of the thick-skinned, pale hardballs that were bred for their ability to travel, not for their taste.
Long-distance produce from factory farms keeps the markets full of (sort of) fresh produce year round but at considerable energy costs compared to locally grown food.
The only high-tech wonder on the list is the microchip. Despite the failed promise of the paperless office, the authors argue that the microchip deserves mention because of the way it has enabled telecommuting and any number of smart energy-saving devices.
And the condom? It makes the list for what doesn't happen when it's used properly. Population growth continues to be one of the biggest unmet challenges in the global strategy to combat climate change.
So wear a condom, save the planet.
cmcinnes@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2008
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