27 July 2008 - It’s not easy being green
I’m not what one would call a tree-hugger. I’ve never demonstrated against development or threw my body in front of a Hummer. However, I do believe in conservation. I have a heavy enough footprint on the landscape, so I figure it’s the least I can do. Here’s what I and DT due to promote energy and environmental efficiency.
1. No oil or solvent has ever been thrown away at the shop. Instead, I have separate containers for oil and coolant and take them to recycle centers. Likewise with old batteries.
2. My workshop and the Ark are equipped with super energy efficient ductless A/C units. The Workshop is insulated to R-10 (next year to be boosted to R-30), and the Ark is insulated to R-39 in the ceiling and walls.
3. I drive a hybrid, which gets better fuel economy than most of my Ducs.
4. I take steps to maintain the habitat on my property, and the only chemicals I use are organic lime to neutralize the acidity wrought by the damn oak trees.
5. I water the lawn with stream water instead of city water.
6. We now recycle most of our trash. This part of the country is pretty backwards in this regard, and we have to haul our paper/plastic/aluminum to a recycle point. Doing so has reduced our trash output 75%.
That’s about it, and about as far as I go. I’m not about to throw out my “pave the planet” t-shirt or eschew development or drilling in Anwar. I’m a moto-journalist, not an environmental activist. But that doesn’t mean I can’t plant a tree with the same degree of enthusiasm as working on a Ducati valvetrain, or do something to reduce what is otherwise a pretty big carbon footprint.
The woodwork in the Ark is now 100% complete now that the stairs and bannister have 2 coats of urethane. Zachary and I picked up 2500 pounds of ceremic Italian tile today, so that’s the next challenge in my life.
I’m not what one would call a tree-hugger. I’ve never demonstrated against development or threw my body in front of a Hummer. However, I do believe in conservation. I have a heavy enough footprint on the landscape, so I figure it’s the least I can do. Here’s what I and DT due to promote energy and environmental efficiency.
1. No oil or solvent has ever been thrown away at the shop. Instead, I have separate containers for oil and coolant and take them to recycle centers. Likewise with old batteries.
2. My workshop and the Ark are equipped with super energy efficient ductless A/C units. The Workshop is insulated to R-10 (next year to be boosted to R-30), and the Ark is insulated to R-39 in the ceiling and walls.
3. I drive a hybrid, which gets better fuel economy than most of my Ducs.
4. I take steps to maintain the habitat on my property, and the only chemicals I use are organic lime to neutralize the acidity wrought by the damn oak trees.
5. I water the lawn with stream water instead of city water.
6. We now recycle most of our trash. This part of the country is pretty backwards in this regard, and we have to haul our paper/plastic/aluminum to a recycle point. Doing so has reduced our trash output 75%.
That’s about it, and about as far as I go. I’m not about to throw out my “pave the planet” t-shirt or eschew development or drilling in Anwar. I’m a moto-journalist, not an environmental activist. But that doesn’t mean I can’t plant a tree with the same degree of enthusiasm as working on a Ducati valvetrain, or do something to reduce what is otherwise a pretty big carbon footprint.
The woodwork in the Ark is now 100% complete now that the stairs and bannister have 2 coats of urethane. Zachary and I picked up 2500 pounds of ceremic Italian tile today, so that’s the next challenge in my life.
