Conservation 101: the Compete to Conserve Blog

photo credit: kke227

This Tuesday, San Francisco officials will consider the feasibility of congestion pricing as part of an ongoing effort to ease traffic and reduce pollution in some of the city’s busiest areas.

Congestion Pricing a Tough Sell

Congestion pricing, which requires motorists to pay a toll to drive in heavily trafficked areas, is already at work in London and Stockholm. But starting congestion pricing in the United States is a tough sell: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg had suggested charging drivers $8 to enter certain parts of Manhattan, but his ambitious plan was killed the the New York state Assembly in April.

The idea of congestion pricing has the support of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, as well as some of the 11 elected county supervisors who make up the San Francisco County Transportation Authority’s board.

But when city planners present various pricing and zone scenarios to the board this Tuesday, a wide-ranging group that includes business owners and motorists will be ready to voice their dissent. Even San Franciscans who might otherwise support the idea of congestion pricing may be leery of imposing an obstacle to business in these challenging economic times.

Voice Your Opinion on Congestion Pricing

The public is invited to attend meetings in San Francisco to learn more about the city’s congestion pricing plans, Tuesday, December 2, 2008, and Monday, December 8, 2008. City planners are also hosting an online meeting Friday, December 5, 2008, for those unable to attend the other sessions in person. For details and to register for the online event, visit: http://www.sfcta.org/content/view/302/148/

Local thoughts on San Francisco’s congestion pricing study that kicked off last year:

“Congestion Pricing in the News,” Transbay Blog, September 17, 2007:
http://transbayblog.com/2007/09/19/congestion-pricing-in-the-news/

“Baby, You Can Charge My Car,” SFist, September 19, 2007:
http://sfist.com/2007/09/19/baby_you_can_ch.php

photo credit: stevelyon

CEOs of some of the world’s most prominent companies are floating the idea that the U.S. “consider raising taxes on gasoline,” according to Real Time Economics on The Wall Street Journal Online.

Idea “Tucked Away”

The idea, which according to Journal editors was “tucked away” in a proposal on long-term tax policy, came about during a two-day session this week in which nearly 100 CEOs of global companies gathered to define the priorities they believe President-elect Barack Obama and the new Congress need to tackle when they take office in January. (Finance and the U.S. economy; energy and the environment; health care; and America’s role in the global economy were the four key issues the CEO Council discussed, underscoring that there will be no dearth of work Obama’s administration will face.)

Proponents of raising the gas tax say that it will lower gasoline consumption, encourage both the production and market for fuel efficient vehicles, lower imports, and decrease polluting emissions.

Critics argue that increased taxes unfairly burden consumers, especially the poor, and that reduced consumption hurts industry. (I haven’t found anyone yet that says pollution is good, but I’m sure there’s someone out there!)

Support Gaining Steam?

Raising the gas tax, of course, is nothing new. But until now its support has been limited. Because most Americans are dependent on cars to get to work, school, and every else, opponents have been able to build a broad coalition that makes politicians think that championing the cause would be certain political death.

But now something different is happening. There is an increasing awareness of the interconnectedness of energy use, economy, the environment, and public health. And when CEOs of companies that collectively employ 5.9 million people and $2.2 trillion in annual revenues say officials should consider raising the gasoline tax, my bet is that this idea won’t go away quietly this time.

The Wall Street Journal will report results of the CEO Council Monday, November 24, 2008.

More resources:

The Wall Street Journal CEO Council:
https://ceocouncil.wsj.com/index.html

photo credit: :: Suwaif ::

MPG, or miles per gallon, is a major selling point for cars, but as the website RealClimate pointed out recently, there’s a lot of confusion as to what MPG really means for consumers and for public policy.

Take RealClimate’s example:

Which driver will reduce fuel usage and emissions more?

A. The driver swapping an old 12 MPG SUV for a hybrid 18 MPG SUV

B. The driver swapping a 25 MPG compact for a new 46 MPG Prius

I subtracted 12 from 18 and got 6; then subtracted 25 from 46 and got 21 and compared the two. I assumed the correct answer is A. WRONG! The correct answer is B, the driver swapping the old SUV for a hybrid. (Of course, a driver who swaps a gas-guzzling SUV for a compact hybrid would reduce his/her own fuel usage and emissions the most.)

The mistake, which the writers assure me is common, arises because most people think of numbers linearly and assume that a reduction in MPG has a similar impact on fuel usage. It doesn’t. Assuming a driving distance of 100 miles, example B saves just 1.8 gallons (100/25 - 100/46 = 1.8), while example A saves 2.8 gallons (100/12 - 100/18 = 2.8).

This is an important point, because it demonstrates that efficiencies gained at the low end of the scale can have a much bigger impact than efficiencies gained at the higher end.

Read RealClimate’s column at: http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2008/09/the-mpg-confusion/

photo credit: WTL photos

A recent article published by the Los Angeles Times about Air New Zealand’s new eco-conscious initiatives has gotten me really excited about the future state of air travel and its impact on the environment.  

The carrier has developed new technology and procedures in tandem with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to save fuel and cut down on carbon emissions on each flight.  They are experimenting with various alternative fuel sources and are planning to fly a Boeing 747 partially powered by jet fuel refined from the seed of the jatropha weed plant later this year.  Air New Zealand is aiming to use these alternative “biofuels” including fuel refined from algae for approximately 10% of its needs by 2013.

Air New Zealand has also begun installing electric blow dryers in the ceiling of its planes, enabling the reduction of cabin condensation that can weigh down an aircraft with more than 440 pounds of water, thereby allowing each aircraft to cut down its fuel usage.

While New Zealand may not be on top of your list as a vacation or business trip destination, the airline is raising the bar for other airlines in the battle to cut down on carbon emissions across the aviation industry.  And by the way, Air New Zealand has a service route between Los Angeles and London - something to consider the next time you are booking a flight into Europe, whether you are flying to London or stopping over for a connecting flight.

In the mean time, for those of you that rely on air travel and are worried about your carbon footprint, there are several organizations that you can donate to that invest in “clean energy” projects to off-set carbon emissions:

CarbonFund.org - Calculate your carbon footprint for a particular trip and then donate the specified amount of money needed to offset that amount of carbon emissions.

e-BlueHorizons.com - They will donate 50 percent of the net proceeds from your transaction to The Conservation Fund.

TerraPass.com - In addition to flights, you can purchase carbon offsets for home energy and dorm rooms.

photo credit: Rob!

Prepare to be mad, elated, or maybe a little of both. HybridCars.com reports that last week’s controversial $700 billion Wall Street bailout also includes tax credits up to $7,500 for U.S. buyers of electric cars and hybrid plug-in vehicles.

Read the full story at: http://www.hybridcars.com/incentives-laws/congress-throws-cash-plug-hybrids-25093.html

photo credit: WTL photos

The crunch of fuel prices has driven airlines to charge extra fees for everything from baggage to blankets. Tired of rising fuel costs, Virgin Atlantic head honcho Richard Branson announced plans to start building cellulosic ethanol plants to make biofuel. The hope was to offset the 700 million gallons of fuel Virgin uses annually to power its fleet by replacing some or all of it with ethanol.

In theory, biofuel can be produced from any biological carbon source. Although many different plants or plant-derived materials are currently used in biofuel processing, the most common option tends to be photosynthetic plants that capture solar energy. While Branson aimed to accomplish this feat in 5-6 years, nearly three years after his announcement plans are still in the works.

Meanwhile, others have joined the fray, including Solazyme of South San Francisco, CA. This renewable oil production company claims to have created the “world’s first microbial-derived jet fuel” by genetically modifying algae to consume a wide range of feedstocks, including wood chips and sawdust. When the algae have, in a sense, overeaten, they produce oil as a storage mechanism. The result: non-toxic, renewable oil that can be “leveraged across a wide variety of industries and applications.”

(more…)

photo credit: Nicholas_T

According to a recent report from iSuppli, U.S. automakers are falling behind foreign suppliers in the manufacturing of eco-friendly electronics for cars.  While it is a shame that our country is behind the curve in this area, it is comforting to know that our options for ecologically friendly, fuel-saving driving have expanded beyond the hybrid car.  And let’s not forget - this isn’t the first time foreign carmakers have been ahead of the Americans in the realm of fuel economy.   Remember the Toyoto Prius? 

I’m sure the automakers in Detroit will eventually catch up on the latest technological advances to meet the demands of the American consumer.  But until they do, here is a glimpse into some of the latest options their foreign counterparts are bringing to the market place:

Better Gas Mileage Tools:

• The 2009 Kia Lotze is the first domestic vehicle in South Korea to feature an eco-driving system on the instrument cluster that color-codes driving patterns to help drivers get better gas mileage. This system is similar to the solution from Japanese OEMs, such as Nissan and Honda.
• The new-generation Honda Accord features an eco-driving system with an eco-lamp on its instrument cluster. The engine’s Engine Control Unit (ECU) calculates the Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) information, variable cylinder information and torque-for-MPG information, and the eco-lamp turns on when the vehicle is in its most fuel-efficient mode.
• Nissan just recently debuted the Eco Pedal, the world’s first system to actively monitor fuel consumption and encourage more efficient acceleration by adjusting back pressure on the accelerator pedal (See Craig’s HyperMiling posting).

Instruments That Monitor Your Driving Habits:

• The Fiat Blue&Me-based system records the consumption and emissions of each trip taken. The data then is recorded on a USB pen drive and can be analyzed on a home PC via EcoDrive software that conveys detailed information on the performance of the car, including carbon dioxide emission levels. After analyzing the driver’s style, the software generates recommendations on how to modify that style to achieve carbon reductions.
• Audi has a new application that allows drivers to choose not only the fastest or shortest route but also the most fuel-efficient path.  According to Audi officials, by avoiding upward slopes, city streets and stoplights as much as possible, overall gas consumption can be lowered by up to 5 percent.  Audi recently announced that this feature will first be built into the navigation system of its next-generation Multimedia Interface (MMI) slated for the A8, A6, and Q5.

In the mean time, before you run out and trade your car in for the latest eco-technologically advanced automobile, check out some simple driving and car maintenance tips from EcoDrivingUSA.org to start reducing fuel and carbon emissions today.

For those of you who read Green Cinematic Happenings Coming Your Way, posted on August 23rd, I have updates for you:

The title for FIELDS OF FUEL has been changed to FUEL.  The film will be released in Los Angeles on October 12th so look out for it!

Also, as a part of Slow Food Nation ‘08, Participant Media unveiled clips from the upcoming FOOD, Inc. To learn more, check out this report from The Daily Table.

Cyclists and pedestrians take to Sunday Streets SF.

Yesterday, San Francisco hosted its first Sunday Streets event, providing Bay Area residents and visitors nearly five miles of car-free road to bike, walk, and play. Stretching from Portsmouth Square, which borders Chinatown and the Financial District, to the Embarcadero, down through South of Market and the Bayview, streets normally choked with automobiles were filled with cyclists, baby strollers, and lots of leisurely pedestrians.

Next Sunday Streets SF Is September 14

A second Sunday Streets SF event is planned for Sunday, September 14, 2008. City organizers say that if the event proves popular and doesn’t negatively impact businesses, they would like to continue and expand the program. They hope it will bring more people to the city, enhance life for residents, get people out of their cars, and promote physical fitness.

It’s also a fabulous opportunity to people watch. I saw people riding unicycles, old-fashioned high-wheel bikes, tandem bikes, and more. I also saw one pedicab driver smoking on his break and thought that it might not be the best habit for a pedicab driver.

Some Merchants Worried about Business

Despite the event’s apparent success, Sunday Streets SF isn’t without critics. I heard more than one toddler beg to be carried as we continued along the route. The parking lots that charge $15-30 to park for the day sat empty, and I’m guessing their owners were not happy.

Fisherman’s Wharf merchants, especially, were worried that street closures would hamper business. Funny, I thought only selling Alcatraz shot-glasses and “I Got Crabs at Fisherman’s Wharf” t-shirts might be bad for business, but we’ll have to wait and see until Sunday’s sales figures come in.

Many Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, and North Beach merchants similarly opposed the demolition of the Embarcadero Freeway after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The controversial freeway, which blocked beautiful views of the bay and turned the area into a pedestrian no-man’s-land in the 1950s, was reviled by many city residents. Now that retail and dining business is booming along the waterfront and the area hosts wide sidewalks and bike lanes, you’ll find few people who want the massive old freeway back.

In my own walking-induced euphoria this Sunday, I paid $8.50 for a small Icee and cotton candy, so hopefully that will help put skeptical merchants in the black. My family also bought lunch at the Ferry Building, which was packed with hungry diners and shoppers.

Popular Car-Free Events Spreading Worldwide

Modeled on Bogotá, Colombia’s 25-year-old Ciclovía events that close 70 miles of city streets every Sunday and major holiday, Sunday Streets SF is just one of a growing global phenomenon. Worldwide, Guadalajara, Mexico; Santiago, Chile; Ottowa, Canada; Tokyo; Paris; and Kiev have hosted similar car-free events. This summer, New York City and Portland, Oregon, also freed up roads for cyclists and pedestrians.

More resources:

Videos of Ciclovía and other Sunday city street closures:
http://www.sundaystreetssf.com/PortlandSundayParkways.html

“Thousands Enjoy SF’s Sunday Streets Event,” September 1, 2008, San Francisco Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/01/BAC212M16J.DTL

“Ciclovia New York City” on the WashCycle blog:
http://washcycle.typepad.com/home/2008/07/ciclovia-new-yo.html

“Ciclovia Comes to North America,” on CommuterPageBlog: http://www.commuterpageblog.com/2008/06/cyclovia-comes.html

Environmental issues took center stage in Hollywood when Al Gore’s AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH came out in 2006 and won the Oscar for “Best Documentary” the following year.  It wasn’t the first film to draw attention to the alarming ecological issues our world is facing today and certainly not the last.

For all you eco-enthusiasts who are hungry for more ”green” cinematic fare, here is a glimpse at some of the latest offerings to hit theaters soon:

FLOW

Opening in NY and LA on September 12th (then rolling out into other markets)

Salina builds a case against the growing privatization of the world’s dwindling fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human rights, and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel.

FLOW Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGd9D4J0lag

FIELDS OF FUEL

Opening this Fall/Winter 2008/2009 (TBD)

This documentary, directed by environmental activist Josh Tickell, exposes the problem of America’s dependence on foreign oil and explores the use of biodiesel as an economical and sustainable alternative fuel as a solution to the looming energy crisis we are facing. 

This highly anticipated film, won the “Audience Award” for Best Documentary at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and is sweeping the film festival circuit across the nation on its way to a theater near you.

FIELDS OF FUEL Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAqmw0cyRco

Also, be on the look out for Participant Media’s FOOD, Inc. which will have its world premiere at the 2008 Toronto Film Festival. 

In FOOD, INC., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that’s been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government’s regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA.

Featuring Eric Schlosser (”Fast Food Nation”), Michael Pollan (”The Omnivore’s Dilemma”) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield Farms’ Gary Hirschberg and Polyface Farms’ Joe Salatin, FOOD, INC. reveals surprising — and often shocking truths — about what we eat, how it’s produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.