Energy efficiency needs more than hybrids, solar and wind

We often get too focused on panaceas for problems facing us. Case in point is the energy crisis. Improving fuel efficiency of cars will only go so far. That is when you get these Eureka moments like this study from the Pacific Institute.

The Pacific Institute estimates that in 2006: * Producing the bottles for American consumption required the equivalent of more than 17 million barrels of oil, not including the energy for transportation * Bottling water produced more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide * It took 3 liters of water to produce 1 liter of bottled water

The American fascination with bottled water - this in a nation that should pride itself on the best tap water availability anywhere in the world is taking a big toll on its energy independence. Plastic bags in supermarkets and grocery stores are another area of concern.

But before you start running out and replace plastic bags with paper - think about this - that paper is coming from a felled tree! So what is the solution - consider "moderation", "thriftiness" and other such words that have fallen out of our vocabulary. Consider using as few bags as possible to pack your groceries. Consider reusable water bottles and drinking tap water where available.

Click here for more from the Pacific Institute.

Earth Day, Going Green and the Little Things

The Earth Day went by this week. Lots of people talked about lots of big ideas and initiatives - good soundbytes, little action. Everyone's talking about energy related issues - the extinction of cheap hydrocarbons, the lack of progress on renewables, etc.

One of the thing that amazes me is the low attention that another environment issue - which is at least as important if not more - that is the amazing waste of water and drought affecting most of the highly populated metropolitan centers around the world.

At the same time, the green crowd goes around drinking Evian and Dassani and Perrier.

Drinkable tap water is a great asset that any developed nation has. USA has had the advantage of having this resource for over a century now. Yet, there is no stopping the trend towards bottled water. Most of it is driven by high visibility advertising that has made bottled water a part of the fashion cuisine. And it's partly driven by fear mongering - creating scare about municipal water; even though in many lab tests, tap water usually beats bottled water in all areas - not only purity but also taste.

I think the Dutch have the right idea about it - there a voluntary agency is selling empty bottles branded as Neau - patrons buy these empty bottles at about the same price that they would pay for a Dassani and then they fill up with refreshing tap water. The money generated by sales of Neau is being used to provide basic potable water infrastructure in poor countries.

http://www.finewaters.com/Newsletter/November_2005/Neau_-_No_Water.asp

http://www.slate.com/id/2165124/fr/rss/