...very slowly. Next year, UPS is planning on deploying seven, yes, a whole 7 hybrid diesel delivery trucks. UPS has about 90,000 vehicles in it's fleet. I understand that the hybrid delivery trucks cost about $7,000 more, but still..geez...only seven? Is this blatant green-washing?
UPS currently employs 2,129 low-carbon vehicles in it's delivery fleet. If you add in those 7 hybrid trucks next year, that should bring the total to 2,136 "eco-friendly" delivery trucks (electric, hybrid electric, CNG, LNG & propane-powered vehicles), or 2.3% of its fleet. I suppose it's a start.
This hybrid technology is estimated to improve the the fuel economy of these delivery trucks by 45% to 50% and decreased carbon emissions by 30% when compared with traditional diesel vehicles. I'm just waiting for this technology to spread to a wider audience before getting too hopeful. There are a whole lot of diesel delivery & work trucks out there that start and stop constantly. Buses, garbage trucks - just think - whatever you get stuck behind the next time you are late - could all potentially be a significantly healthier. And less stinky.
Here's an article I found from February 2007 with regards to prototype hybrid diesel trucks. Several corporations that use large diesel work trucks were running trials of hybrid diesel trucks - but the cost was prohibitive, which keeps production down, which keeps demand low. Ah, the double edged sword that is mass production. Apparently, this technology isn't that new - it was around at least as early as Feb. 2007. UPS just finally decided to buy a whopping SEVEN of these trucks.
Did you know that a garbage truck, on average, gets 4 miles/gallon? Lets see... my giant SUV (seats 8), which I am about to take to the dump (fully loaded- I go about once a month), gets 20 miles/gallon. From that transfer station, I'm sure the waste & recycling gets loaded on a large truck and transported...somewhere...far away... but at least that truck isn't starting and stopping every 100 feet and idling while it gets filled up.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Disappearing plants
A slide show in the online edition of the Boston Globe caught my eye last night. Studies have been done that indicate a substantial decline in the plant diversity at Walden Pond since the mid-1800s when Thoreau decided to "live simply" at the pond (I believe on land owned by Emerson, in fact). After poking around a bit more, this is what I've discovered:
This study was published in the journal of Proceedings of the Natural Academy of Science. Which of course, I'd like to read, but I am not made of money, and therefore have to rely on other people's summaries of the study (I'd go broke trying to get my hands on all the studies I want to read). Which brings up a whole different topic - what good is scientific research if access to such publications is restricted to the few individuals who can afford to subscribe to every scientific publication known to man? It's elitist, and it's archaic.
From what I can tell, a similar study was originally published in the journal Science in July of this year by Elizabeth Pennisi. Not entirely sure, as I don't have access to that journal either (although I have asked a friend with access to track it down - so I may update this later).
So what plants are going, going, or gone? Wood Anemones, buttercups, asters, campanulas, bluets (we still have bluets in my yard - they change color based on the mineral composition of the exact spot where they grow - vary in a matter of feet), bladderworts, dogwoods (7 were observed by Thoreau, 5 are now locally extinct or rare), lilies (the Canada Lily is now a goner at Walden), mints, orchids (I wonder if the Globe author was referring in particular to lady slippers which I seem to have a harder time finding now - used to be in my parents yard some 8 miles or so from Walden - no more), roses, saxifrages & violets (particularly the sweet white violet).
Here's what the local television station had to say about this study by Charles C. Davis of Harvard University. Its basically the same information that the globe had, with the added benefit of a quote from Mike Frederick, Executive Director of the Thoreau Society in which he describes how Walden hasn't frozen solid the past two winters (it "usually" does - or perhaps "used to" is more accurate). When I was a kid, there used to be ice fishing on Walden. I don't think thats very popular (or even possible) there anymore.
The frustrating thing about coming across references to scientific publications when I can't get my hands on the article itself is that I have NO idea whether Pennisi or Davis looked into the local deer population explosion, increased carbon dioxide levels at ground level, changes in the forest habitat around Walden Pond due to management techniques or natural forest succession, or increases in foot traffic due to tourists. It seems like there could be many other factors that may affect the proliferation (or lack thereof) of these wildflowers. I'm hoping they've somehow ruled out other factors scientifically & proven that. The skeptic in me is strong, however...
- Over the past 100 years, the average temperature in Massachusetts has increased by 4.3 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 27 % of the plant species that Thoreau documented are extinct, at least locally
- An additional 36% of plant species at Walden are classified as having a imminent disappearance
- The plant species that remain are the plants that have been able to adjust their flowering time, on average, 7 days earlier than 100 years ago; the plants that were unable to shift have died off, at least locally.
This study was published in the journal of Proceedings of the Natural Academy of Science. Which of course, I'd like to read, but I am not made of money, and therefore have to rely on other people's summaries of the study (I'd go broke trying to get my hands on all the studies I want to read). Which brings up a whole different topic - what good is scientific research if access to such publications is restricted to the few individuals who can afford to subscribe to every scientific publication known to man? It's elitist, and it's archaic.
From what I can tell, a similar study was originally published in the journal Science in July of this year by Elizabeth Pennisi. Not entirely sure, as I don't have access to that journal either (although I have asked a friend with access to track it down - so I may update this later).
So what plants are going, going, or gone? Wood Anemones, buttercups, asters, campanulas, bluets (we still have bluets in my yard - they change color based on the mineral composition of the exact spot where they grow - vary in a matter of feet), bladderworts, dogwoods (7 were observed by Thoreau, 5 are now locally extinct or rare), lilies (the Canada Lily is now a goner at Walden), mints, orchids (I wonder if the Globe author was referring in particular to lady slippers which I seem to have a harder time finding now - used to be in my parents yard some 8 miles or so from Walden - no more), roses, saxifrages & violets (particularly the sweet white violet).
Here's what the local television station had to say about this study by Charles C. Davis of Harvard University. Its basically the same information that the globe had, with the added benefit of a quote from Mike Frederick, Executive Director of the Thoreau Society in which he describes how Walden hasn't frozen solid the past two winters (it "usually" does - or perhaps "used to" is more accurate). When I was a kid, there used to be ice fishing on Walden. I don't think thats very popular (or even possible) there anymore.
The frustrating thing about coming across references to scientific publications when I can't get my hands on the article itself is that I have NO idea whether Pennisi or Davis looked into the local deer population explosion, increased carbon dioxide levels at ground level, changes in the forest habitat around Walden Pond due to management techniques or natural forest succession, or increases in foot traffic due to tourists. It seems like there could be many other factors that may affect the proliferation (or lack thereof) of these wildflowers. I'm hoping they've somehow ruled out other factors scientifically & proven that. The skeptic in me is strong, however...
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Hiatus
So... The last post was on my birthday. Since then I have had a few big accomplishments. Rode a bicycle UP a mountain. Rode 112 miles on a bicycle in a day. Both while...pregnant (unbeknownst to me). Then the morning sickness kicked in with the shock, and I kind of lost track of my self for, well, the entire first trimester. Just became completely self absorbed. A little overwhelmed. Feeling better now, and have checked back into reality. I also have more energy now, which makes a huge difference.
But, I'm now back on track. It's now full-on fall. The low tonight is 23 degrees - the garden is pretty done (I'm leaving the cold weather root crops in the ground a little longer, though).
I've installed the freewatt-ready boiler. I'm pretty happy with it - although it recently developed an annoying whistling, which didn't used to be there, so I'll be calling Climate Energy about it as soon as I remember during business hours. The oil tank will be removed next week.
Ran across an article today that made me remember my long-lost blog here. The Massachusetts Oyster Project is dropping 100,000 seed oysters into the Charles River this Saturday to help filter out the nutrients that are dumped into the river from sewer outflow pipes. The best part is that this is a citizen-based initiative; neighborhood folks came up with this idea - not some politician. Each oyster will filter up to 30 gallons of water per day. I'm assuming that since these are "seed" oysters, they are small, but will grow and multiply over time. Oysters are native to the Charles River Basin, so no conflict there - they've only died out because of all the damn dams and previous overfishing (I believe). This should vastly increase the food web and biological diversity of the Charles River Basin (and the Boston Harbor) over time, which will overall create a healthier river, a healthier city, and a healthier Massachusetts Bay.
On Saturday at 2 p.m. we're all invited to attend the oyster placing off the Constitution Marina near the mouth of the Chuck. This could be the beginning of something big.
Funny, how now that I've got an invested interest in the future (my child's future), I keep looking for hope. Everywhere. I've found a wee bit of it in this plan, so I thought I'd share.
But, I'm now back on track. It's now full-on fall. The low tonight is 23 degrees - the garden is pretty done (I'm leaving the cold weather root crops in the ground a little longer, though).
I've installed the freewatt-ready boiler. I'm pretty happy with it - although it recently developed an annoying whistling, which didn't used to be there, so I'll be calling Climate Energy about it as soon as I remember during business hours. The oil tank will be removed next week.
Ran across an article today that made me remember my long-lost blog here. The Massachusetts Oyster Project is dropping 100,000 seed oysters into the Charles River this Saturday to help filter out the nutrients that are dumped into the river from sewer outflow pipes. The best part is that this is a citizen-based initiative; neighborhood folks came up with this idea - not some politician. Each oyster will filter up to 30 gallons of water per day. I'm assuming that since these are "seed" oysters, they are small, but will grow and multiply over time. Oysters are native to the Charles River Basin, so no conflict there - they've only died out because of all the damn dams and previous overfishing (I believe). This should vastly increase the food web and biological diversity of the Charles River Basin (and the Boston Harbor) over time, which will overall create a healthier river, a healthier city, and a healthier Massachusetts Bay.
On Saturday at 2 p.m. we're all invited to attend the oyster placing off the Constitution Marina near the mouth of the Chuck. This could be the beginning of something big.
Funny, how now that I've got an invested interest in the future (my child's future), I keep looking for hope. Everywhere. I've found a wee bit of it in this plan, so I thought I'd share.
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