“Just go. Go. Go! I don’t care how. You can go by foot. You can go by cow.” – Dr. Seuss
We are in the middle of an adventure and we have reached a fork in the road. Let’s look at the bright side and how we can change. You may be surprised how far we can go!
Pax et bonum
Peace and all good is a greeting of love and friendship known around the world. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Ecology and Animals, had a very close relationship with nature and all living creatures he called brothers and sisters. Francis understood we were all connected, sharing a common home. First Nations and indigenous people have a culture of survival, respect for Mother Earth, and a loving Creator.
Trophy hunting, nuclear weapons, lies and hate threaten world peace. Let’s open our hearts again and find peace and respect for all.
Energy without fear
Fossil fuels have provided many benefits and caused many problems. This limited and diminishing source of energy comes from dead plants and animals. The black gold provided power to build cities and make great economic progress. When the genie was out of the bottle, oil fostered wars, weapons, and destruction.
Let it shine
When the power grid goes down you don’t want to be left in the dark. At the Eureka Springs Solar Tour, the conversation was mostly on energy storage, energy resilience, and avoiding emissions. Smart solar providers and some electric cooperatives offer no money-down solar systems.
According to the Department of Energy, a zero-emissions, all-electric vehicle (EV) is 90 per cent efficient, whereas a conventional gasoline powered car is only 20 percent efficient, the rest of the energy is lost as heat. If you park in a closed garage after driving a gasoline car, you can measure how long it takes to cool down and for the fumes to dissipate.
EVs excel in stop-and-go driving, with regenerative braking and start-stop technologies. There is no need to wait for the oil in the engine to warm up in cold weather. Get an EV even if you don’t have solar panels. EVs outshine conventional cars with superior handling and safety features, minimal maintenance, high resale value, and low cost-of-ownership. Some cooperatives offer rebates and special deals on EVs.
Sources of carbon dioxide
Natural CO2 is a part of life. Prior to the discovery of fossil fuels, carbon dioxide was kept in balance by natural carbon sinks like trees, plants, oceans, and soil.
Man-made CO2 is a byproduct of combustion from burning fossil fuels – creating massive amounts of additional CO2 that remains in the atmosphere for hundreds of years.
There are many ways to avoid man-made carbon emissions, use webinars instead of flying for business meetings, try to stay home on the holidays and visit online with your family. Turn off the volume if you like. If you drive, car-pool, and drive friendly and safely.
Lost energy
More than 60 percent of the total energy generated in the U.S. is lost, creating additional emissions. More than 80 percent of our energy comes from burning coal, oil, and gas. Energy efficiency would reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels!
Reducing your carbon footprint
Edison’s electric light bulb was a brilliant invention. But 95 percent of electricity is lost as heat, increasing the energy needed to cool your home, a challenge in a hot planet.
Replacing light bulbs with long-life LEDs gives you better light without the heat. Every bit helps. Your lifestyle choices determine your carbon footprint. Having one more child has the greatest footprint, a difficult personal choice.
By foot or by cow we are on the go
Now is the time to re-examine our relationship with nature. We have the solutions and the knowledge right now to transition the world to a 100% clean energy future. Together, we the people have the power to stop the madness. No more wars, no more weapons, and no more fracking.
What do we have to lose?
Dr. Luis Contreras
Get a great deal on an electric car:
“A few years into the nascent age of EVs, many cars are coming off two- or three-year leases. Plenty are available for under $10,000, and still carry warranties on the batteries and drivetrains. They need less maintenance than a gas-powered car, and charging is cheaper than filling up, especially as fuel prices rise.”
Sure, the specs aren’t quite up there with a fancy new all-electric, but even if a 0-60 mph time looks slowish on paper, most EVs still feel super-responsive, with the full torque of the motors available from a standstill.
And they handle surprisingly well, because the heavy batteries are often low in the body or built into the floor, lowering the center of gravity. “If you tune your suspension to that, you can have a very rigid platform to build off and provide good dynamic capabilities,” says Burns.
https://www.wired.com/story/ode-to-the-dinky-electric-car/
Some say “solar power works only during the day when the sun is shining.”
With the new digital inverters and solar batteries, solar power will keep going at night, and even when the Grid goes down!
Solar is also the lower cost alternative and the only way to stop carbon dioxide emissions – go solar
Using electricity generated by sunlight makes all your appliances “solar” powered. If you have a 1949 refrigerator, get solar panels to keep your food cool without carbon emissions.
Newer devices like the Instant Pot are superior to traditional gas stoves, and electric ranges. An Instant Pot is a Programmable Pressure Cooker. It speeds up cooking by 2~10 times using up to 70% less energy.