Greetings, Would you care to figure our time into that equation? Yes, I am serious about the environment and yes, I do travel by plane. If I am traveling from Houston, Texas to Vancouver, British Columbia it is the best method since you also have to figure in all our meals and the energy and cost that they incur, as well as the travel. I would like more than 3 hours out of a 2 week trip to actually get to know my future daughter-in-law, on this trip, which is about what I would get if I traveled by train.
While I can understand your point with the daily shuttles between major cities, and yes there is some abuse, there is far more to the equation than you have presented. There are things like driving fatigue accidents to consider for business trips. The cost in energy of running motels, where the sheets have to be washed everyday because there are different people in the bed everyday. Meals in restaurants are really abusive of energy and not very healthy. And the biggy, time with family that the slower methods of travel eat up. I agree conservation is something to go after, but tele-confrencing not travel should be used more. If travel is really necessary, the planes do have saving to offer sometimes. Bright Blessings, Kim At 12:15 AM 5/6/2004, you wrote: >Hi Lyle, > >What I am saying is that it is socially irresponsible to promote >biofuels without at least an equal effort to promote a SIGNIFICANT >reduction in consumption on the order of 1/5th the current amount, >BY ALL OF US. > >For example, Jet Air Travel. I am amazed at the number of so-called >environmentalists that refuse to give up this particular bad habit. >Here we have an industry subsidized with over 18 times the amount >allowed for super efficient train travel. > >Average BTU consumed Per Passenger mile by mode of travel: > >SUV: 4,591 >Air: 4,123 >Bus: 3,729 >Car: 3,672 >Train: 2,138 > >Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics >http://199.79.179.77/publications/nts/index.html > >Another example, folks insist on racing from red light to red light >as fast as possible, and when on highways and freeways routinely >speed 20 to 30 mph above posted speed limits. The cops have given up >trying to enforce speed limits (a whole other rant) so the race is >on. Now everyone knows the faster one goes the more fuel is >consumed, yet bring up the idea of restoring the 55 MPH speed limit, >and enforcing existing speed limits, and watch the so-called >environmentalists scurry for cover like roaches when the lights come >on. > >This one simple measure could reduce consumption, emmissions & >reliance on imported oil 20% to 50%! Visit the Drive 55 Conservation >website to read several reports and articles in support of this >claim: http://drive55.org/pn/index.php > > >So, all that said, and seeing as you "fundamentally agree" with >my "conservation message" - what commitments are you prepared to >make to reduce your personal consumption of energy? > >I refuse to fly in jet airplanes now. I plan better and stick to >surface transportation. > >When I drive my 78 300D, I obey speed limits, rarely exceeding 55 >MPH. By staying in the right lane I have found this very easy as >that is the maximum for trucks here in California. Guess what, >McDonalds BRAGS about sticking to 55 MPH with stickers on their >trucks! > >I have replaced every light bulb in my home with 13 watt >flourescents and installed dual pane windows among the ongoing >efforts. > >I ride my bike whenever possible for most trips to the store, bank, >and other errands. I even take it on the light rail when I go >downtown. > >When I shop I pay close attention to the source of the products I >buy, and always choose locally produced goods if possible. > >I share this message with everyone I meet, along with the >information I have about cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel, and other >types of biofuel as a PART of the equation. > >I will say this very plainly again now: It is socially irresponsible >to promote biofuels without AT LEAST an equal effort made to promote >conservation. The offense is compounded when someone claiming >concern for the environment refuses to acknowledge this in their own >life, and joins in the funding of petroleum warlords. > >Peace, > >Tim > > >--- In biofuel@yahoogroups.com, Lyle Estill <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Tim, > > > > I fundamentally agree with your conservation message, and your >mantra > > of social responsibility and sustainability, > > but I think questioning feedstock capacities at this point is a >straw > > argument. > > > > Saying we can't grow enough to meet our fuel needs is a little >like > > saying we shouldn't make electricity from wind--after all, the >wind > > doesn't always blow. > > > > Lyle Estill > > V.P., Stuff > > Piedmont Biofuels > > www.biofuels.coop > > > > >Biofuel at Journey to Forever: >http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > >Biofuels list archives: >http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ > >Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. >To unsubscribe, send an email to: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Yahoo! 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