Low Carbon Diet

I recently had the opportunity to present a short talk to a group of business women in Santa Cruz. I spoke on Green Tips to help with a more green-conscious lifestyle. What I found out was that this timely topic was not only well received, but the information or tips were actually put to use by several of the people. This inspired me to share some of the same information with our savvy Rock, Paper, Car readers.

In the automobile world people are concerned with the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of their vehicles. CO2 is one of the green house gasses related to global warming. There are, however, many things we use in our daily lives besides cars which also contribute to high CO2 emissions.

For those of you who really wish to look at your carbon footprint there is a great Low Carbon Diet Calculator online.

What is a Carbon Footprint? Carbon Footprint typically refers to the amount of emissions generated through the actions of people – primarily from the energy used in the home and in transportation. But it also comes from the result of goods and services consumed. All of this is calculated over a period of one year.

Being Green Business Owners Henry & I are always thinking, “Reduce, reuse, recycle!” We support other business owners in their efforts in becoming green certified. And we take our business to businesses who are green certified.

Car related Green Tips: Whenever possible ride a bike, skateboard, rollerblade, walk, jog or run. Consider carpooling; connect with other commuters at Ride Share. Use the local metro systems. Make a game of consolidating the number of trips to different stores and plan the most efficient route.

Consider a car sharing program like the Zip Car Program.

Consider using biodiesel or vegetable oil in your diesel vehicle or ethanol in your gasoline powered car. (FYI: Ethanol can be made from other things besides corn – like algae, food processing plant waste, day-old donuts, etc. See Alcohol Can Be A Gas by David Blume.)

If it is time in your life for a different vehicle take a look at the other technologies available. For example: Triac Electric Vehicles, hybrids, fuel cell cars, etc. How about the beautiful Tesla car?Or take your current vehicle and convert it to an electric car.

Turn off your car if you are going to be idling for longer than one minute.

It seems to me that the inhabitants of the Santa Cruz area are a bit more forward acting when it comes to reducing their carbon footprint. I challenge you to compare notes with your loved ones who visit from other communities. And encourage them to change a habit or two or take on any of their green practices which you have not thought of yet.

Carbon Footprints, Credits & Cars!

Carbon Footprints, Credits & Cars!

Water Star Motors   Your Serene, Green Auto Repair Team
Written by Henry & Lisa Carter

Thankfully the auto industry is not the biggest polluter out there. The report, “Carbon Emissions – Measuring the Risks,” finds that the auto industry falls well below other sectors when it comes to the environmental impact and future cost of carbon based emissions.

Right now, green is top of mind, especially for the new administration in the U.S. Tighter regulations of carbon dioxide emissions and fuel-efficiency regulations are imminent, which is putting manufacturers under intense pressure to make green a reality on the showroom floor. And despite all of the recent achievements in power train technology, there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution, which means we’ll be seeing a variety of technologies showing up in the aftermarket.

By delving into clean diesel (which can deliver up to 40 percent better fuel economy than gasoline and can reduce emissions by about 20 percent) and compressed natural gas, among other systems, manufacturers can focus on addressing governmental mandates while advancing vehicle technology.
CNG (compressed natural gas) will gain popularity since it is a cheaper, cleaner-burning fuel than standard gasoline that can achieve up to 90 percent in emissions reduction and 40 percent less cost than gasoline vehicles. It is also available in the U.S. The technology is not new, but the proper infrastructure is necessary to support its widespread use here. More than 70 percent of U.S. homes have access to natural gas, and with a simple compressor unit installed in the garage, drivers could refuel overnight.”

Manufacturer DENSO also has made a vow to develop eco-friendly products, like diesel particulate filters and a starter generator, which starts the engine and generates electricity that’s used to power the other parts in a vehicle.

Other companies, like CARDONE, have long maintained the environmental benefits of remanufacturing products, which conserves carbon dioxide and overall energy use.
As people tend to use more energy services such as travel, this activity can be offset by more energy-efficient vehicles, appliances and other consumer products.

The automobiles and parts industry ranks third from last in carbon intensity range, according to the report. The NSF study’s authors analyzed an array of S&P 500 companies, including Ford, GM, Genuine Parts, Harley-Davidson, Goodyear Tire and Johnson Controls in the automotive and transportation sector.

Another interesting finding is the importance of factors such as water, as water is three times more significant than greenhouse gas emissions to the environmental impact of the food & beverage sector. Water also has an impact in the chemicals, personal household goods and retail industries. The environmental impact of water usage by companies in general cannot be understated.

Carbon credits
The NSF study bases its cost and effect scenario around a proposed carbon credits system, wherein more energy-efficient companies can sell carbon credits to their less-efficient competitors.
Some say cap-and-trade carbon credits will amount to nothing more than one of the highest U.S. taxes in history, which could reveal itself as a cost increase in manufactured goods across-the-board. The Heritage Foundation found that Waxman-Markey Bill would cost $1,870 annually for a family of four in 2020, and $6,800 for a family of four by 2035. 

Water Star Motors is at 318-A River Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. 831-457-0996
We want to answer your car questions through Rock, Paper, Car.
Send questions and comments to:  Henry&Lisa@WaterStarMotors.com