55mph speed limit and energy sense

I like driving fast. Here in Florida, if you're not doing at least 10-15 mph over the speed limit, you're almost a hazard on the road. Quite often, I'm driving 75-80 mph.

Well, as much as it pains me (for multiple reasons), I must admit that Nixon was correct in implementing the 55 mph national speed limit. Driving more slowly save gas, and saves lives. If we are serious about conserving fuel, reducing pollution, restoring at least a little sanity to our lives ...we will drive more slowly. So I've taken a first step of trying to hold my speed limit to no more than 5 mph over the limit. Believe me, that is not very cool during the morning commute! For the parts of the drive during which traffic is flowing, I have to be very careful. Folks get pretty pi$$ed - even with me in the 'slow' lane - if I'm 'only' doing 5 mph over the limit.

Well, most people are self-absorbed enough that I do not think we'll achieve more sensible driving without legislating it. OK, so who out there among the elected officials has the balls to take a stand and make a positive difference?

In a related vein, many are touting bio-diesel, ethanol, and/or hydrogen fuel. Well currently, it takes more energy to produce these fuels than the energy we get out of them once produced. So the process needs attention. How about using renewable energy sources - solar, wind, wave, geothermal - to supply the energy needed to produce these fuels for transportation?

We're taking baby steps here at home. Solar-powered battery chargers that I don't use often enough (I tend to not plan ahead enough and use a plug-in charger more often); a solar powered attic fan, which has reduced the attic temperature by 10 degrees, but we need to add another fan yet; keeping the thermostat adjusted to 78 or so to help reduce cooling; converting the back yard to mostly xeriscaping to minimize the water and fertilizer that a traditional lawn would consume; slowly converting the indoor and outdoor lights to fluorescent; taking advantage of my employer's allowance and telecommuting a day or two a week and carpooling some of the other days. And I'm going to call the company that did our solar pool heat and see what they can do for us with photovoltaic on the roof. We already pay a small extra charge each month to get 25% of our power from renewable sources, but we need to take advantage of being in the SUNSHINE State and generate some of our own electricity. No, it won't 'pay for itself' in 5 years or whatever using current economic models, but that's not the point. The point is that we all need to do what we can to make some progress. If I'm just sitting on my a$$ hoping things will change, then I'm not really helping anything.

So we'll see what we can get the local and national government to do, and I'll report back on progress here at home. Cheers :)

Comments

[Barry in Portland]

Bravo. I use my solar battery charger every day, and I also bought a nifty dynamo (crank) radio, on which I listen to crank callers to talk-shows. It all makes sense.

Also trying to reduce my energy-consumption footprint, by doing as many errands as possible on each car trip. It's not that hard to reduce one's consumption, but first you need to realize WHY it's necessary.

Looking forward to widespread buzz from Al Gore's new movie, coming out in a couple of weeks. Of course, it's up against 'United 93', wherein Hollywood perpetuates our official 9/11 myths.

Ed Shultz today played a cut from a Jimmy Carter State of the Union address, back in the late 70's. Man, what a prophetic guy - he was saying all the right things about energy and technology, and the Reaganites simply reversed everything he tried to do. Bastards.

[madmarine]

And here's how the paragon of the left responds to "green" in his backyard. From the Boston Globe, not exactly a member of the vast right-wing conspiracy: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/04/27/kennedy_faces_fight_on_cape_wind/

[Joe Litton]

The "paragon of the left"? Sheesh, you have to quit watching Fox News. Just as I've stated many times that I have little respect for Clinton personally, as far as Kennedy goes, there are too many unanswered questions about Chappaquiddick for me to be happy with the guy. Dishonesty, lack of integrity, selfish motives and the like are undesireable regardless of the source.

You seem to think that if I label myself as a liberal, then I fall into lock-step with some stereotype. Is it not possible that one who thinks of himself as a liberal might actually consider ideas based on their merit?

Yes, there are people who would agree with whatever they hear Kennedy say. And there are people who would agree with whatever they hear Bush say (or whoever might be the paragon of the right). Blind acceptance, devoid of critical thought, is foolish.

Now back to the POINT OF MY POST... if we are to save our planet, provide a peaceful home for future generations, and grant ourselves a little more sanity, there are many steps we can take. Less selfishness in general is one of them.