Recycling glass

Did you know that by recycling one glass bottle, enough energy is saved to light one 100 watt light bulb for 4 hours.

Cost of Earth Safe Living

When it comes to Earth Safe Living, people need to use their common sense.

Lately Translink has proposed another tax on the car drivers to fund expansion of the Skytrain system. The new line will be called Evergreen. The hopes are that it will connect Coquitlam with the downtown core and reduce cars on the road.

In today's economy when people are having trouble keeping their jobs and paying their mortgage bills, it's incredulous to think that burdening them with more taxes is the answer.

Yes, using Skytrain "seems" more environmentally friendly than individuals using their cars to get to work. Seems is the operative word. However when the cost of such a system is more than the taxpayer can handle, then it needs to be rethought.

There is no built in accountability structure in Translink. That's why the trains built in 2000 are 1.5 inches higher off the platforms and make it hard for wheel chairs to get in and is also a tipping hazard at the platforms. Seems like someone wasn't paying attention to the proper design and execution of it. This is just an example of misuse of public funds by Translink.

If Translink wants public support then they need to trim their costs and streamline like everyone else has to do.

The case for getting cars off the road is becoming somewhat hard to endorse when so many car companies are making hybrids, electric and high MPG vehicles.

The cost of earth safe living has to be tempered with what the people can afford. Listen if taxpayers can't pay then who will? There has to be a sustainable plan that we all can live with instead of the stupid plans of Translink.

Gas Prices Making You Think?

Have gas prices made you change when it comes to driving? Years ago in the mid 1990's when I had my own business, I was paying about $800 per month on fuel. Today that would translate into about $1600.  Wow that is a lot of money.

Today I don't drive for my business but I'm very cognizant of my personal fuel costs for my car. I've changed.  I wouldn't buy a vehicle with a large V8 engine in it. In fact the VW turbo diesels and the Toyota Hybrids are very appealing. Imagine driving 1100 Kms on one tank of fuel for $100. This price is with today's fuel costs.

I like to drive and don't want to go to the poor house to do so.  If my vehicle produces less pollution and gives great gas mileage then I'm happy.

Oddly enough I know people who will go out of their way to find a "sporty"and "powerful" vehicle that sucks gas like an alcoholic sucks booze. Burnouts are their specialty. These same people complain about not getting ahead financially. Well you and I know the answer. Stop driving something that is killing your finances and harming the environment!

Oil Oil Everywhere

We all know that our motor oil comes from the earth. Have you checked lately under your car to see if it is leaking any oil? Go to a shopping mall parking lot, you'll see oil stains on almost every parking stall. Now that's a lot of oil being returned back to the earth. Problem is that the oil ends up being washed by the rain into the drains and if you live where I do it gets sent out into the ocean. This is called pollution and causes environmental damage.
Birds and fish alike get affected negatively.
Just think that the fish we eat are swimming in the stuff that lubricates our car engines. You wouldn't drink the oil yet your food is swimming in it and consuming it!
If you see your car leaking oil get it checked and repaired. Your contribution to keeping the earth safe will be greatly appreciated.

A Recycling Challenge

Challenge yourself this new year to recycle more than you did last year. Even if you did a great job of it in the past see if there are ways you could improve. Maybe one way of improving is to remind and or educate friends, neighbors and work colleagues to do more. For me this year I want to make sure any old electronics make it to a proper recycling facility instead of the garbage can. We are fortunate to live in such a pristine region of this country called Canada. It's not just the natural scenery it's also how we deal with garbage and recycling that sets us apart. I've been to other countries were things are quite dirty and polluted because people don't deal with garbage and recycling properly. Let's keep up the good work and find ways to do it even better.

Recycling

Recycling takes time but if you work it into your regular routine it will only take minutes.

In Vancouver we can see recycling taking place everywhere even our city street side garbage receptacles have slots for plastic bottles and aluminum cans. At least this allows the homeless or street people to take these recyclables to a local facility for some extra pocket change.

Strangely enough when we visit the United States it seems as though they aren't as studious about recycling. There seems to be less opportunity to drop recyclables into appropriate containers. The malls are a for instance. Their malls usually only have garbage cans and no recyclable cans.

Do you agree with me? Let me know.

Environmentally Friendly and its different faces

So much is made of being environmentally friendly. If someone buys a SUV they're branded as being cruel to mother earth, unless it's a Hybrid of course. But buying new energy efficient stuff doesn't necessarily mean that mother earth is better for it. The manufacturing carbon footprint of Hybrid vehicles is enormous as compared to regular gas or diesel vehicles. And what happens to the batteries in the Hybrids when they need replacing? Keeping an older model car in tip top shape will keep it from the landfill; stop you from buying a new vehicle; keep your hard earned money in the bank!