Google for public transportation

Those who know me know that I like public transportation.  The American Public Transportation Association describes numerous benefits for individuals, companies, communities and the environment.  Public transportation allows me to:

• read more than I would ever have a chance to.
• avoid the frustration of dealing with rush hour traffic.
• save money on gas and car repairs.

One of the greatest challenges people talk to me about is understanding their local public trans system.  Where do the busses go?  How long will it take?  How do I know which train to get on?  Fear no more.  Google has developed a system to take the anxiety out of riding.  Based on the idea of Google maps, Google transit shows you exactly how to use transit to get from place to place.  It includes walking times (if necessary), and bus and rail schedules.  Check out this example in San Francisco.

Only a few months ago, Google had included a handful of cities.  There are now more than 30 cities in the US and around the globe.  As a full disclaimer, I haven't actually tried this yet since Atlanta is not yet included.  I do, however, use public transportation regularly, and I utilize Google maps and train/bus schedules to manually do what Google transit does automatically.  Have any of you used it yet?

And for you die-hard drivers: there's no need to sell your car... yet.  Try transit and see how you like it.  In fact, I still own a car because I tutor in various places throughout the city, and some students would be impossible to reach without a car.  Regardless, try riding to the store or a local restaurant.  One step at a time...

UPDATE:  For those of you in Atlanta, check out A-Train.  Entering the addresses gave me a bit of trouble, but it found a few nice options.  Thanks for the tip, Joe!

Rethinking sustainable design

People have often criticized me (rather, attacked me) in regards to sustainability and free enterprise. Take, for example, oil. If we all stopped driving and embraced solar energy and foot-power, what would happen to the employees of oil companies? They'd be out of jobs and a major pillar of our economy would collapse. Valid point. One rebuttal is the idea of adaption. Companies that have proven to be successful are able to adapt the changing times. They are willing to embrace new concepts and implement them.

Adaption and evolution of companies is the central idea in the book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. William McDonough and Michael Braungart suggest that we can maintain our current lifestyle with no ill consequences, given a little ingenuity. The book revolves around encouraging companies to consider the entire life of a product, from conception to consumer use to disposal to rebirth. They provide many tangible examples of companies that have embraced sustainable techniques, helped improve the environment, and saved money. One example is the waste water of a textile company. Initially, they were heavily polluting the surrounding environment with toxic chemicals from their dying process. After some careful thought and upgrades, their waste water is now as clean as or cleaner than the water that flows into the plant.

I found the book to be particularly refreshing. McDonough and Braungart reject the idea of choosing the least harmful alternative, rather they seek to find truly good solutions. They insist that recycling as we know it now is actually a bad thing. Even the "paper" of which the book is printed is unique. I urge you to read it to find out what I'm talking about. And don't forgot some of my favorite ways to get books!

Image: http://www.mcdonough.com/cradle_to_cradle.htm

Meat = oil

The New York Times published an article asserting that meat equals oil. While we are becoming aware of the issues surrounding fossil fuels, the meat industry poses some similar concerns.

Like oil, meat is subsidized by the federal government. Like oil, meat is subject to accelerating demand as nations become wealthier, and this, in turn, sends prices higher. Finally — like oil — meat is something people are encouraged to consume less of, as the toll exacted by industrial production increases, and becomes increasingly visible.

Here are some ideas to chew on:

• livestock production generates nearly a fifth of the world’s greenhouse gases — more than transportation
• 2.2 pounds of beef is responsible for the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the average European car every 155 miles, and burns enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for nearly 20 days
• it [routine antibiotic administration] can result in antibiotic-resistant bacteria that threaten the usefulness of medicines that treat people
• grain-fed animals, in turn, are contributing to health problems among the world’s wealthier citizens — heart disease, some types of cancer, diabetes
• as the horrors of raising meat in confinement become known, more animal lovers may start to react

And I could go on. But why don't you read the article for yourself, think carefully about it, then act. You might start acting by clicking here for your free vegetarian starter kit. There's no need to go 'cold turkey,' but each pound of meat you DON'T eat can mean big change.

Image: http://www.nytimes.com/

Does it make your potato feel better?

From companies to entire cities, people are beginning to realize that plastic grocery bags are wasteful. More bags lurk at your local grocery store, however. Conspicuously placed in the fresh produce section are rolls upon rolls of produce bags. But what good are they? Let me count the ways:

1. They keep my cherry tomatoes from rolling away.
2. They keep the florets of my broccoli from breaking off.
3. They keep my produce clean.
   

Granted, in some cases, these bags truly are useful. But too often, I notice people placing one apple in a bag. A bunch of bananas. A single sweet potato! What's up with that? Does your potato feel safer when nestled in an oil by-product sack? I really doubt it.

The third point is valid, I feel. You should, however, wash your fruits and vegetables before consuming them, even if you'll peal them. You don't know where they've been or who they've been with. Regardless, try skipping the bag next time you're at the store, and see how your potatoes feel when you get home. I know my potatoes feel just fine.

Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Various_types_of_potatoes_for_sale.jpg

In case you hadn't heard...

Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) were awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for

their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change

If you haven't done so already, or if it has been a while, I suggest watching "An Inconvenient Truth" by Al Gore. Instead of hopping into your SUV and driving 20 miles to Blockbuster, check out some of my suggestions to get what you want. I'm a little surprised it's not available through iTunes considering that Al Gore is on Apple's Board of Directors...

Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:AlGoreGlobalWarmingTalk.jpg

Bags: Paper or plastic... or neither?

We all know plastic bags are better than paper bags. They are light-weight, can be compacted, are water-proof, and are durable. What's more, the Institute for Lifecycle Environmental Analysis found that plastic bags beat paper in terms of energy and pollution. But there are plenty of other issues with plastic bags. They stick around for a long time, and they're made from oil. Check out this quote:

to make 100 billion plastic checkout bags per year, which is how many we use in the U.S. each year, it takes 12 million barrels of oil. No oil is used to produce recycled paper checkout bags

Overwhelmed with the choice of which to use? I say, don't use either... use a reusable bag! You might not have a choice soon, anyway. Cities and stores are beginning to ban the spawn of oil... I mean, plastic bags.

Fear not! Most stores than ban plastic bags sell reusable ones. Trader Joe's has quite a selection of handy sacks that can be used an untold number of times. My favorite is a trusty backpack. Sure, I've gotten weird stares from security guards, but cashiers reactions are priceless. Some seem shocked that I wouldn't take a free plastic bag. I do my best to educate them, but you can only teaching the willing, usually. You could even pick up a trendy and over-priced "I am not a plastic bag" bag.

Oh, and one last thing. Don't throw away those bags tucked into every cabinet in your kitchen. Check out some fun and exciting things you can do with plastic bags!

Image: http://treehugger.com/

Peak Oil: Watch these movies

Few people have probably ever heard of Marion King Hubbert, but his idea of 'peak oil' has profound implications. Put simply, he proposed that the rate of oil production follows a bell-shaped curved: first it increases, then it terminally decreases. In 1956, he predicted that America would reach its peak oil production rate around 1965-70. He was laughed out of a job, but America actually peaked in 1970. That means since then, our oil production rate continues to drop. But our demand for oil continues to increase. He predicted world peak oil production would happen about now. Below is a graph of expected peak oil production for many countries around the world. We're running out of oil.

Since our society essentially runs on oil (for energy and plastic), what are we going to do?! First off, check out these movies to learn more about peak oil. Everyone likes movies.

• A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash
  
• The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror
  
• The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of The American Dream

Each of them really made me think about our country's dependency on oil, especially the foreign variety. CO2 isn't the oil reason to lower our consumption of oil. Check it out for yourself, tell a friend, and leave a comment on ways you intend to reduce your dependency on (foreign) oil!

Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:GlobalPeakOilForecast.jpg

Think outside the car

Cars are great. They're reliable, safe and take you exactly where you need to go at any hour of the day. They make a statement about your personality, albeit not always a flattering one. (A friend of mine used to drive a car known affectionately as 'The Purple Dumpster.') I love my car, but it's a terrible thing. When considering car payments, gas, insurance and repairs, it's the most expensive thing I do, rivaling my rent. Unless you've been living under a rock (or in your car), you know all about the issues with green house gases. And when you consider peak oil, gas prices are only expected to rise. Is there anything you can do?! Of course there is.

• Internet. Don't go anywhere. Telecommute to work. Order stuff online. You can find anything, and many websites offer free shipping and don't charge tax (although your state might require you to pay it).
  
• Walk. Spend a couple hours one day and walk 15 minutes from your house in all directions and see what you can find. Exercise, fresh air and meeting neighbors are just a few of the potential benefits.
• Bike. Don your helmet and off you go. 'No bike' you say? Check craigslist for a cheap one.
  
• Bus. Fight the social stigma of riding the bus. You don't have to take it everywhere. Bring a book or some cell phone games.
• Carpool. Not only is the Internet good for connecting junk-dealers with junk-lovers on eBay, many cities are creating websites to quickly locate carpool buddies.
• Drive. If driving is absolutely necessary, try to combine trips.
  

No one single idea is meant to replace your car. But I encourage you to consider alternate means of getting from point A to point B. I typically walk to the grocery store, bike to Target or the park, and take the bus to school. My car, my wallet and the environment are all enjoying a well-earned rest. I'm trying to think outside my car and find new, cheaper, more enviro-friendly ways to get around.

Photo from: http://www.altenergystocks.com/

What is your walk score?

Walking can improve your health, reduce greenhouse gases, and help you meet people. According to Walk Score™, these are just a few of the reasons to factor in how walkable you next address can be. Walk Score™ uses any address to find local businesses, schools, parks, etc to assign a score between 0 and 100. 0 means driving is absolutely required and 100 means you can get most anything you need by walking. Walking is undeniably good, but check out the DOT's website on pedestrian safety for some useful information.

Before signing a lease at my current apartment, I surveyed the area for local businesses (I didn't know about Walk Score™ at that time). Immediately, I discovered three major grocery stores, dozens of restaurants (including one vegetarian!), an Office Depot, Starbuck's, hardware stores and many other businesses. Walk Score™ confirms this with a score of 83 (Very Walkable: It's possible to get by without owning a car). Over the course of a year, I expect to save hundreds of dollars in gas and many hours of driving time. I'll also get some decent exercise.

Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Crowd_Tokyo.jpg

State my assumptions:

1. The environment is worthy of reparation and protection.
   
2. People, when given useful information, will take action.
   
3. Sustainable living can easily be made part of one's life.
   

Wikipedia defines sustainable living as:

a lifestyle that could, hypothetically, be sustained unmodified for many generations without exhausting any natural resources ... [often involving] transport, housing, energy, and diet.

This blog will chronicle my exploration of this important concept. I will share stories, news and ideas. It is my intention to show that with some basic knowledge, it is possible to move toward a sustainable future. I hope that you can gain inspiration from this adventure and find ideas that can be easily incorporated into your daily life. I encourage you to leave comments about each of my posts. Please check back every Wednesday and Saturday for updates, or subscribe to the news feed to get updates automatically.

Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Earth_Western_Hemisphere.jpg