Sharon asks…
What would environmentally sustainable transportation look like?
What would environmentally sustainable transportation look like?
Seems like Global Warming might be real. Cars and Planes are two sources of Carbon Emissions that might have a technological solution.
What would an Ecologically Appropriate Transportation System look like?
If, after the Moon Landing in 1969, NASA (or similar gov agency), had spent an equal amount of time, money, and passion to build a clean air transit system; what would it look like?
The Expert answers:
There’s a lot of ways to have environmentally sustainable transportation. Given our current installed base of gasoline and diesel vehicles, the logical solution would be to synthesize gasoline and diesel from bio-mass waste and utilize the existing distribution networks and existing vehicles. The DoD does this with the Diversified Energy Hydromax gasifier and the Velocys Micro Channel Fischer Tropsche reactor to produce diesel and jet fuel from the waste generated at military installations. This is technology dating back to the 19th century so it doesn’t take a NASA Apollo effort to achieve environmental sustainability (Don’t get me started on the Apollo killing off 1950’s era Project Orion issue). However this does not sell more cars.
Just as with tail fins and the concept of model years, the introduction of new vehicle categories such as the Hybrid, Fuel Cell and before that the SUV, Mini-van, and station wagon lineages prompts the public to replace their vehicles earlier than would be justified on purely utilitarian and environmental considerations. This has driven the economic growth, generous employment and population redistribution that we have seen in the last century and arguably isn’t sustainable.
The question should be is economic sustainability even possible given our current expectations of continued economic growth? Can our expectations be changed? Unfortunately, the free market suffers from the parable of the commons and periodic economic collapse is inevitable in such a system.
Jenny asks…
How do we ethically reduce the population to a sustainable level?
The world presently has 6.5 billion inhabitants, a number that far outstretches the capability of this planet to provide resources for so many people. We are headed for a malthusian catastrophe which will lead to great suffering in many regions of the world. How do you think we can ethically reduce the population to a sustainable level?
The Expert answers:
People take personal responsibility for their sexual behaviour and limit the number of children they have. Contraception should be free to all in every country. Sex Education is key, but so is normal education and training for work throughout the world. The better life chances a woman has, the better life chances and lower unwanted pregnancy rate her children have.
Similarly, there are a lot of people, elderly, frail, disabled or terminally ill people, who would chose to shorten their life if it was legally possible to do so in their country. Changes in legislation could prevent a lot of unnecessary and UNWANTED suffering by artificially extending life through medical intervention. In my opinion,. Assisted suicide should be legal (with strict supervision and legal safeguards) for those with life limiting illnesses and those terminally ill etc. IF that is THEIR choice.
David asks…
How to approach the school district to change to sustainable bio diesel?
I watch a really good documentary and want the best for my children. The film is called Fuel. I recommend it. It has a lot of good info in it. I would like to know how would I go about going to the school district and ask them if they could change to sustainable bio diesel in the school buses?
The Expert answers:
Be consquent.
Mary asks…
What are some ways to make a community environmentally sustainable?
i have a geography assignment of which i have to write all the possible ways i can make a community environmentally sustainable and all this crap.
Something like solar energy and stuff, anyone know stuff like that?
The Expert answers:
To make a community more environmentally sustainable you can get a Greenhouse kit http://www.organicmechanic.com/product/greenhouse-kit so that you can produce your own vegetables. Producing your own vegetables is far better environmentally than buying them. The vegetables are shipped to the store which uses fuel as well as plastic, because the vegetables were likely packaged when they were shipped to the store.
Wind turbines are a effective natural source of energy. Such as the Micro Wind Turbine. Http://www.organicmechanic.com/product/micro-wind-turbine
There’s also a way to filter water and vegetable oil into fuel using a Oil Filtration Centrifuge. Http://www.organicmechanic.com/product/oil-centrifuge
Carol asks…
Do you have any good ideas for a basic sustainable home?
By that I mean a basic setup idea for a eco-friendly home. I plan on remodeling my house and I want some good ideas to create a sustainable home.
The Expert answers:
You didn’t mention how old the house is, but here’s a good perspective on going green in an older home. You do have to balance cost and the goal of being green, but oftentimes you can do a lot by just reusing materials and being careful about where new materials come from (how far they are moved to get to your site or if they are made from recycled materials)
http://www.oldhouseweb.com/green-guide/green-remodeling-for-historic-houses.shtml
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