As part of being a responsible reefer and global citizen, and to put my money where my mouth is so to speak, I have resolved to decrease my "carbon footprint" to borrow an Al Gore term and become more "carbon neutral" (see http://www.climatecrisis.org/). So recently I have added new insulation to the attic, replaced some windows, changed out all incandescent bulbs for flourescent bulbs, and this week I traded in my Toyota Forerunner for a Toyota Prius Hybrid (rated at 51 to 60 mpg). My next challenged is to eliminate my 75 gallon softy tank (for which I have a potential buyer) and think of ways to decrease energy utilization in my 125 gallon SPS tank. I have even consdered takng that off line. The energy consumed by our tanks produces thousands of lbs of CO2 emmissions. I know one alteration is to replace halides with T-5's. Any other suggestions on how to (cheaply) reduce power consumption in reef tanks? I don't want to come off as a cusader, and I don't want to tell or judge others by their choices, but I figure any little thing we can do as individuals just might make a difference.
Decreasing "Carbon Footprint"
- Thread starter drbronx
- Start date
fatrip
Yup That Stuff
hi drbronx, well i admire your sacrifces to help our environment greatly. But please dont refer to al gore or what he says about the environment. One of his jet plane rides puts more carbon into the atmosphere than ever person's aquarium that belongs to the upstate reef society will put out in there life time. How many plane rides do you think Gore takes in a given week???
dreaminmel
New member
I'm actually going to be calling RG&E Monday to look into an alternative. I received a brochure from them last week offering the ability to purchase hydrosomething-or-other electricity (don't have the brochure handy at the moment). That way I don't have to alter my consumption on my tank as it'll be eco-friendly electricity to begin with.
Fatrip: I agree with your statement regarding Al Gore. Sometimes the message is better than the messenger. I wished he led more by example rather than mere words. By the way, I don't recall your name. Are you new to these boards. If so, welcome. If not, then I guess I'm not very observant. In either event, always great to see another So. Tier reefer.
dreamnmel: I assume RG&E is yor power supplier? Down here we have NYSEG. Please let us know what you find out. Perhaps NYSEG has similar programs.
dreamnmel: I assume RG&E is yor power supplier? Down here we have NYSEG. Please let us know what you find out. Perhaps NYSEG has similar programs.
fatrip
Yup That Stuff
yes i am fairly new, i had just found the upstate reef society within the past few weeks. thank you for your welcome and i am glad to see you doing so much to help our great environment. i am also curious on where you get your salt water things? i have found that the stores around all have very horable selection as well as fish.
dreaminmel
New member
I'll definately let you know... I do know the brochure from RG&E also mentioned NYSEG throughout so I would think they also have the option. I'll have to find that brochure as it also showed the percentages of how their electricity was generated for all of 2005... oil vs. nuclear, etc. Nuclear was the largest... I think it was about 80% range... It also said that both RG&E and NYSEG had a much higher than normal yield of the hydro electricity in 2006 due to a higher rainfall.
bosborn1
In Memoriam
Oh my God....Please don't tell me you all buy into this hippy crap.
Jerry that Prius that you drive create so much carbon in the production that you would have to drive it for 10 years to equal that of a high effiency gasoline car like a Toyota Yaris. If you want to reduce carbon emissions than get a hydrogen car and produce all your hydrogen through electrollice(sp...can't think with all this nonsense in the air) Honda is coming out with a home power unit that does just that. In addition those CF bulbs everyone loves contain outrageous amounts of mercury. You will all see that this will be another "plastic grocery bag" type blunder. As for you improving the effeciency of your home thats a great idea. We all need to live a conservetive life and be good stewarts of the earth. We only have this one and I for one would like to see it remain pristine. If you want to do something proactive create a way to block the ever increasing solar radiation that is plaguing our entire solar system with high temps right now. Carbon production is a red herring of sorts. While we need to keep taps on it (Especially China and 3rd world nations) Our primary cause for increased upper atmospheric temps are result of increased solar radiation. The University of Hawaii just concluded research that finds that all planets in the System are seeing increaing levels of heat in the atmosphere. Please don't be fooled by surface temps. If those were important than we wouldn't put the most senstive equipment into the xenosphere..
If you folks want the most green power than you need to look no further than Nuclear Fission or Wind power. I am also excieted about the prospects of tidal engery production as well.
When it all boils down to it the best way to reduce carbon is to do something about the 3rd world nation and China that seem to think that the enviroment have no meaning. Out of the 10 most polluting cites not one of them is in the US. However the number 1 is in North America....Mexico City.
Don't take anything to offense please. I just get troubled by what I think are misguided intentions. Believe me I believe that God is the ultimate punisher for our transgression against the paradise he put forth for us to live on.
For all those who would like to Flame just be forwarned that I am educated on what I say and can cite work by respected scientist that can back my claims
Thanks and God Bless
Scott
Jerry that Prius that you drive create so much carbon in the production that you would have to drive it for 10 years to equal that of a high effiency gasoline car like a Toyota Yaris. If you want to reduce carbon emissions than get a hydrogen car and produce all your hydrogen through electrollice(sp...can't think with all this nonsense in the air) Honda is coming out with a home power unit that does just that. In addition those CF bulbs everyone loves contain outrageous amounts of mercury. You will all see that this will be another "plastic grocery bag" type blunder. As for you improving the effeciency of your home thats a great idea. We all need to live a conservetive life and be good stewarts of the earth. We only have this one and I for one would like to see it remain pristine. If you want to do something proactive create a way to block the ever increasing solar radiation that is plaguing our entire solar system with high temps right now. Carbon production is a red herring of sorts. While we need to keep taps on it (Especially China and 3rd world nations) Our primary cause for increased upper atmospheric temps are result of increased solar radiation. The University of Hawaii just concluded research that finds that all planets in the System are seeing increaing levels of heat in the atmosphere. Please don't be fooled by surface temps. If those were important than we wouldn't put the most senstive equipment into the xenosphere..
If you folks want the most green power than you need to look no further than Nuclear Fission or Wind power. I am also excieted about the prospects of tidal engery production as well.
When it all boils down to it the best way to reduce carbon is to do something about the 3rd world nation and China that seem to think that the enviroment have no meaning. Out of the 10 most polluting cites not one of them is in the US. However the number 1 is in North America....Mexico City.
Don't take anything to offense please. I just get troubled by what I think are misguided intentions. Believe me I believe that God is the ultimate punisher for our transgression against the paradise he put forth for us to live on.
For all those who would like to Flame just be forwarned that I am educated on what I say and can cite work by respected scientist that can back my claims
Thanks and God Bless
Scott
dreaminmel
New member
Scott - Something (occupation/interests) tells me you like to debate. 
To each their own and debate is good as it can spur progress. I personally don't care what actions in particular people take to make a difference... I am more impressed that they take any action at all. So much of humanity is stuck in a rut when it comes to important issues. And what is important to one person is not always important to another. I personally admire a lot of the "hippie" ideals and get a little agitated when people use the hippie word in a derogatory way. Granted I shave my armpits, wear bras and take showers but there is more to life than looking good for other people. Sometimes actions alone change the way people look at you and sometimes they may even get them to stop and consider all angles of a scenario rather than walking through life with blinders on. People tend to shut their ears and get indignant when someone starts preaching the "correct" answer to it all. I prefer open discussions where all opinions are welcome and no one feels like they're being attacked. Hopefully this thread will remain open-minded and free for all to chime in. 
To each their own and debate is good as it can spur progress. I personally don't care what actions in particular people take to make a difference... I am more impressed that they take any action at all. So much of humanity is stuck in a rut when it comes to important issues. And what is important to one person is not always important to another. I personally admire a lot of the "hippie" ideals and get a little agitated when people use the hippie word in a derogatory way. Granted I shave my armpits, wear bras and take showers but there is more to life than looking good for other people. Sometimes actions alone change the way people look at you and sometimes they may even get them to stop and consider all angles of a scenario rather than walking through life with blinders on. People tend to shut their ears and get indignant when someone starts preaching the "correct" answer to it all. I prefer open discussions where all opinions are welcome and no one feels like they're being attacked. Hopefully this thread will remain open-minded and free for all to chime in.
fatrip
Yup That Stuff
scott, i am very intreged by what you say with the lithiumion batteries, i would love to ready more about the proccess on how they produce them if you could give me a link, it would be much apreciated. i wish that they could make the transfer of hydrogen safer so we intern could be driving hydrogen powered cars.
bosborn1
In Memoriam
Yep totally agree about the hydrogen...Unfortunately creating it with Natural Gas makes it a moot point. I am kind of embarssed but I lost the link to that great prius article. I was just trying to find it. Google "Prius TCE" lots of great reading...Dont get me wrong I am a Toyota Man. Infact I lust over the new 350hp Lexus Hybrid...Cause its way cool.
Mel, I certainly hope the idignate comment wasn't directed at me! I would not think that I am indignate. What I question is the commercial drive towards enviromentalism (see Kyoto Treaty). I find it troubling that people seek to profit in such "cause" driven manner. Following the hippie idealology should not one resist capitalism? I say that word with mixed feeling. While I dont agree with the grass-root ideals of that movement I dont deny that some good points were made.
In addition people are so in a rut they don't even understand. I just wan't all to relize that there are two (if not more) sides to every story. After all I think we can all agree that theres no consensus in science.
And yes I enjoy a good debate. That stuff is about making people think. We far to often just accept idealology that is recopitchalated by others. I endorse free thinking!!
Mel, I certainly hope the idignate comment wasn't directed at me! I would not think that I am indignate. What I question is the commercial drive towards enviromentalism (see Kyoto Treaty). I find it troubling that people seek to profit in such "cause" driven manner. Following the hippie idealology should not one resist capitalism? I say that word with mixed feeling. While I dont agree with the grass-root ideals of that movement I dont deny that some good points were made.
In addition people are so in a rut they don't even understand. I just wan't all to relize that there are two (if not more) sides to every story. After all I think we can all agree that theres no consensus in science.
And yes I enjoy a good debate. That stuff is about making people think. We far to often just accept idealology that is recopitchalated by others. I endorse free thinking!!
bosborn1
In Memoriam
Sorry I had to post again....Man I am right on with your statement about apperances Mel. I can't tell you how irrate I get by seeing that people are so concerned about how they are percieved by others. I consider myself a spiratual person and I am only concerned about the way my heart looks to God.
I believe in the end we are all judged by the worth of our lives. Not by the things we own and the people we know. I believe this in a christian fashion but it ould seem to apply to even a non-believer. You as a person are measured by your worth. I think that by informing other that we need to protect the paridise that we have that I can get a good measurement by my exsistance. I hope that everyone feels that way.
I like a clean and orderly debate. I would hope that others can keep it this way. This is a great topic to talk about as I feel that sulight is the best disinfectant.
I believe in the end we are all judged by the worth of our lives. Not by the things we own and the people we know. I believe this in a christian fashion but it ould seem to apply to even a non-believer. You as a person are measured by your worth. I think that by informing other that we need to protect the paridise that we have that I can get a good measurement by my exsistance. I hope that everyone feels that way.
I like a clean and orderly debate. I would hope that others can keep it this way. This is a great topic to talk about as I feel that sulight is the best disinfectant.
thriceanangel
Active member
Didn't you hear Gore has a solar powered plane to decrease the carbon footprint of his gazillion sq ft house! He and his family have to shine flashlights on the wings though if it's dark or cloudy. ME? Well I'm even more rich so I shoot baby seals, burn tires, sink tankers, clearcut forests, and tease spotted owls, but I gave $140,000 to the nature conservancy so I think that I am square... But Gore is just a matard.
Bosborn: No offense taken. I always appreciate your blunt and irreverent style. You could be from the Bronx
Maybe your right, maybe I did go to too many Grateful Dead concerts. You make some interesting points. Hydrogen holds terrific promise as an alt fuel source. Are any hydrogen powered vehicles yet commercially available at affordable prices? As far as China: They are certainly some of the worst offenders of resource management. However, at least of present, given that their population is about 2 billion vs. ouir 300 million, on a per capita basis we consume far greater levels of energy. But given their current growth trajectory, we will all certainly be in trouble. Something does indeed need to be done about environmental mismanagement in third world countries. However, we won't have much influence if our own practices are substandard. For example we can't very well tell Brazil to stop raping the Amazon basin when we have destroyed 98% of our own prime growth forests. As far as solar radiation, I'll have to read up on that. Any good references? I'm not sure there is a lot we can do about that. However, a healthy atmosphere should be able to modulate the effects of cosmic anomolies as it has throughout the millenium. One thing we can conclude is no one solution is perfect or complete and some may even have unintended consequences. All we can do is make some small steps to do what we can given the information and resources at hand.
Now back to reef tanks, any ideas to decrease energy consumption. Even if I don't save the world, maybe I can lower my NYSEG bills. Then maybe i can afford that hydrogen car. LOL.
Maybe your right, maybe I did go to too many Grateful Dead concerts. You make some interesting points. Hydrogen holds terrific promise as an alt fuel source. Are any hydrogen powered vehicles yet commercially available at affordable prices? As far as China: They are certainly some of the worst offenders of resource management. However, at least of present, given that their population is about 2 billion vs. ouir 300 million, on a per capita basis we consume far greater levels of energy. But given their current growth trajectory, we will all certainly be in trouble. Something does indeed need to be done about environmental mismanagement in third world countries. However, we won't have much influence if our own practices are substandard. For example we can't very well tell Brazil to stop raping the Amazon basin when we have destroyed 98% of our own prime growth forests. As far as solar radiation, I'll have to read up on that. Any good references? I'm not sure there is a lot we can do about that. However, a healthy atmosphere should be able to modulate the effects of cosmic anomolies as it has throughout the millenium. One thing we can conclude is no one solution is perfect or complete and some may even have unintended consequences. All we can do is make some small steps to do what we can given the information and resources at hand. Now back to reef tanks, any ideas to decrease energy consumption. Even if I don't save the world, maybe I can lower my NYSEG bills. Then maybe i can afford that hydrogen car. LOL.
dreaminmel
New member
I was not directing the indignant comment towards you. I was more directing it towards the idea that anyone who comes on RC claiming they know it all usually ends up getting ignored and/or flamed because it leaves a bad taste. No one knows it all and I just wanted to get that out there before anyone came onto this thread trying to claim that they know everything and got everyone all riled up. I've seen a lot of nasty discussions on this website over the environment and it makes me sick that our civilized society doesn't always act civilized.
As far as following any one ideology, I do not. Just like I do not follow any one religion or any one political party. I follow my conscience. No one person or group has all the answers. There is always some part of their movement that goes against their goal. Hypocrisy irritates me.
My personal standpoint on the environment... if I DO take actions to keep from harming the planet I at least can rest easy knowing I did my part even though it probably won't make a difference. If I don't take action and one of the doomsday scenarios does happen, I will feel absolutely horrible and sick. So what can it hurt if I make some changes in my lifestyle? I'm not pushing it or my unique religion on others and have found I get asked more questions and have a positive influence on others by "making sure my glass windows are clean rather than throwing stones at others."
Not being nasty or anything... hard to portray expression with typed words... merely blabbing on. =)
As far as following any one ideology, I do not. Just like I do not follow any one religion or any one political party. I follow my conscience. No one person or group has all the answers. There is always some part of their movement that goes against their goal. Hypocrisy irritates me.
My personal standpoint on the environment... if I DO take actions to keep from harming the planet I at least can rest easy knowing I did my part even though it probably won't make a difference. If I don't take action and one of the doomsday scenarios does happen, I will feel absolutely horrible and sick. So what can it hurt if I make some changes in my lifestyle? I'm not pushing it or my unique religion on others and have found I get asked more questions and have a positive influence on others by "making sure my glass windows are clean rather than throwing stones at others."
Not being nasty or anything... hard to portray expression with typed words... merely blabbing on. =)
nwrogers
Got gorgs?
This is a great thread! I think it is important to talk about these things and I am hope to learn a few things from everyone. I am somewhat ashamed to say that although I feel this subject if very important I am not very educated about it. After reading the above I did come up with one idea. I am not sure if it is feasible but I believe NYSEG lets us choose out electricity supplier. I did a quick search on their site for suppliers and got this…
http://www.nyseg.com/nysegweb/webcontent.nsf/doc/ESCOEligibleElec
I decided to check out a few of these suppliers out and I found that this company has pollution-free electricity for residential customers…
http://www.conedsolutions.com/residential/greenpowermain.htm
Why not just choose them as your electricity supplier? It may cost a little more but it seems like if you felt bad about the pollution created by traditional electric power plants this would be a very good way solve that. This is just an idea and like I said although I am interested in this subject I am not very knowledgeable about it at all. I am interested in hearing your responses…
http://www.nyseg.com/nysegweb/webcontent.nsf/doc/ESCOEligibleElec
I decided to check out a few of these suppliers out and I found that this company has pollution-free electricity for residential customers…
http://www.conedsolutions.com/residential/greenpowermain.htm
Why not just choose them as your electricity supplier? It may cost a little more but it seems like if you felt bad about the pollution created by traditional electric power plants this would be a very good way solve that. This is just an idea and like I said although I am interested in this subject I am not very knowledgeable about it at all. I am interested in hearing your responses…
Similar threads
