As Earth Day approaches and we find ourselves still trying to get across the point that climate change is occurring I thought it might be interesting to discuss what we can do as individuals to help keep our planet a little cleaner.
More after the jump...
I was out this afternoon, working on my car. There were some pesky scratches from another Michigan Winter that needed buffing and filling and tire rims that needed scrubbing. I was careful not to leave behind any debris from my work and brought the dirty water inside to put down the kitchen sink instead of dumping it into the storm drain. Sure, these were small gestures but every little bit counts in my opinion.
I drive a 2009 Ford Focus SES. I keep her in good working order to avoid any more pollutants than necessary from being released into the air and I combine chores and errands so I don't have to be out driving too much and wasting gas. My car gets between 27 and 31 miles per gallon depending on the weather. I would love to have a hybrid but on my budget it was just not feasible so I went with the most fuel efficient car that was within my means.
However, as I finished up all of this and took the girl for a run to grab some groceries I couldn't help but see all the SUVs and trucks on the road. It was discouraging to think that my efforts get cancelled out by people who have big vehicles for the sheer reason that they can.
Don't get me wrong - some people need trucks and such for work. We do have quite a few farms around here and even some logging industry. Sometimes, you can't do the job without a large vehicle. Still, that doesn't account for even half of the behemoths I see on the road everyday that seem to take great delight in intimidating smaller cars. Disheartening trends from other countries like India do little to combat the feeling one gets that we are fighting a losing battle.
But I continue to try my best to do what I can for the environment. Why? Because even if it feels futile at times the cause is worth it. This isn't about politics or money - this is about the place we all live.
One good thing that may come from gas prices skyrocketing is it will force people to start considering alternatives to large vehicles. If we turn away from SUVs and trucks in favor of smaller, more fuel efficient cars then auto manufacturers will put more time and effort into fuel economy and hybrids. The reason manufacturers continue to build gas guzzlers is that people continue to buy them. If there is no market for them then we will see fewer of them being produced.
I look forward to the day when I am no longer the smallest car on the road. Until then I will continue to keep my car in good working order. Investing time and money in regular maintenance saves gas and saves me money in the long run. Also? It helps you vehicle last longer thus saving you from buying a new one and reducing the waste of producing more vehicles.
Cars and driving are only one way to do your part. Check out the Nature Conservancy for more tips and tricks.