Sometimes, it's not easy being a tree-hugger

In a slightly similar vein, I was driving home in the evening a few weeks ago from work, in the right-hand lane of I-5 going south, north of Seattle. (About 6 miles north of Northgate).

At that place in the road, I-5 is 3 lanes wide (4 if you count the carpool lane). Traffic was light, and the lanes uncrowded.

I was driving between 55-and 59, in my usual Prius Zen mode driving. A truck has just merged in behind me, and is trailing me uncomfortably close.

He then starts to blink his lights on and off at me, as if he wants me to move to a slower lane.

We're in the right-hand lane. There is no one in the passing lanes -- both of them -- to our left.

So either he wants me to (a) pull over to the curb to let him pass, or (B) he wants to force me to drive faster.

I didn't. He got off I-5 two exits later -- plenty of time to pass me -- honking his horn and shaking his fist.
[hr:5c03399189]
It's times like this when I understand why it's a good thing that I'm not armed. A can of live hornets through his front winshield would have been a judgement from God.

But I calmed myself by remembering a line from an old Bill Cosby routine:

[align=center:5c03399189]"Come around, idiot, come around!!!"[/align:5c03399189]

 

Oh, I got SWEEET justice yesterday!!

I'm on my way to work, and hear the V1 begin to announce the presence of a local Southlake cop parked around a blind curve. I'm already only doing 55, of which the speed limit had just dropped to from 65, and this gal in a chevy minivan proceeds to blow by me like I'm standing still - right into the officers waiting radar. I actually had to get into the FAST lane in order to get out of the cops way as he put on his disco lights and headed after the van.

I've managed to be "in the right place" a few times in the last couple of days.

A full size chevy truck pulls up behind me as I'm travelling on I-35W northbound to go stop by the new housing development. Speed limit here is 65, and I have the cruise set accordingly. Chevy driver tailgates me for about a minute, before planting his foot to the mat to pass - only to have a southbound Northlake cop make an immediate "U" turn in the median, (yes, the V1 was announcing his impending arrival as well,) and chasing him down. He still hadn't stopped for the cop when I got up to my exit at FM 2449, and we had all covered quite a few miles by then.

 

Purchase good quality cloth bags (www.rei.com). When you go to the store and are asked "Paper or plastic?" at checkout, say "cloth!" and hand them your bags. Many grocers now charge for bags (up to US$0.17 per paper or plastic bag) and give you a US$0.05 credit for each bag you bring and reuse."

Regarding those who "substitute oil for knowledge," increase in oil prices is making people think more critically. When driving a multiple-lane highway, I generally drive at a reasonable speed using cruise control (66 mph) or drive in the farthest lane to the right (55-60 mph) - in every case trying to match my speed with the traffic.

I get quite a few "thumbs up" as others recognize they are passing a fuel-efficient, AT-ZEV Prius.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(skruse\";p=\"74319)</div>

We do that too. One of the nice advantages: cloth straps that are a lot sturdier than paper ones -- very sturdy.

 

change to more effiecient/less wastefull ways is not easy, but inevitable. Slowly, people WILL realize that the salad days are up ahead, not behind them. Meaning the frugal will win. Of course, I'm as optimistic as they come. Prius zen-speed, I love that!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bookrats\";p=\"74294)</div>

Jeff:

Maybe he was already near his truck's top speed, but still wanted to be ahead of you by 0.000217 seconds. Or maybe he was "drafting" you to ease his fuel bill??

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Wolfman\";p=\"74317)</div>

Other than a type of golf ball, what exactly is a "V1" ?

 

There are other simple steps in the vein of every little bit helps:

Use compact fluorescent bulds where possible.
Turn lights off when you leave the room.
Turn off TV, other devices when no one is watching.
Compost kitchen scraps (not meat products.) We gain a benefit of volunteer tomato plants each Spring.

Etc.

The main point in the previous messages is the impatience of many drivers, who accellerate too quickly and drive too fast (for fuel efficiency). I also drive the speed limit, and use the cruise control - and stay to the right or middle lane. No matter what speed you drive at, there might be a fruitcake who believes you are driving too slowly.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jeepien\";p=\"74406)</div>

Other than a type of golf ball, what exactly is a "V1" ?[/b][/quote]


It is a Valentine One radar detector. In addition to displaying signal strength and type, it will give you the number of radar sources up to 9, and point out where they are coming from (ahead, from the side, or behind). Once you learn not only where all of your typical false alarm points are, but how many sources of radar exist within them, you can then determine if a cop is using this "hot spot" to hide. While I'm not a speeder in the sense that most who willfully ignore the limits are, I do use it to give me advance warning of upcoming radar in instances where using my cruise control would not be ideal, as I do have a heavy foot, and tend to creep up over the limit. It will also do laser, and point out it's source as well, but not give a count. I've noticed better than a mile of advanced warning even with laser.

Pricey equipment, but worth every sent. It's saved my bacon a couple of times since I installed it, and have even used it to prevent one of our local towns with less than ethical speed trap antics from "scoring" any customers by pulling an entire line of 50 plus cars down to 10 under the limit going into town. Yes the "cop" noticed that I was deliberately way under, and he was NOT happy to see that line behind me. :mrgreen:

 

Anlther place for shopping bags to use forever.

http://www.reusablebags.com/store/

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Areometer\";p=\"74282)</div>

Plastic bags ought to be outlawed, they do not degrade, are floating in the ocean streams in quantity and choke the fish.

Many of you need to realize that replacement of plastic with paper is actually quite environmentally friendly, its all biodegradeable (some better than others, the slick stuff comes to mind) and is not part of the flotsam of modern living that kills the fish in the sea.

Face it, trees are a renewable resource and since a certain percentage of people are going to trash up the land and sea, paper would be better than plastic.

Ever think that a landfill with paper and construction tearout is going to be coal in a few hundred years? Its the stuff of chemicals, plastic, acids, etc. that scares me.

Most recycle programs do not account for the dangerous to the environment stuff, paint, pesticide, cleaners, chemical compounds, batteries, disposal of electronic stuff. We worry about the harmless like glass, newpaper.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jayman\";p=\"74402)</div>

Jeff:

Maybe he was already near his truck's top speed, but still wanted to be ahead of you by 0.000217 seconds. Or maybe he was "drafting" you to ease his fuel bill??
[/b][/quote]

:lolup:

That, or he was sending me a message in morse code with his headlights, alerting me to the presence of terrorists in the back of his truck. His later shaking his fist at me was to provide cover.

If only I had been as smart as Nancy Drew/The Hardy Boys/Sydney Bristow, maybe I would have gotten his message to the proper authorities by now.

Oh, well. :mrgreen:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bookrats\";p=\"74862)</div>

Jeff:

Maybe Toyota will offer the James Bond Option Package on the next Prius: the rear hatch will open and either the machine gun, the rocket launcher, or the flame thrower will take care of whatever pesky thing is behind you.

I'm kinda partial to the flame thrower, call me old fashioned. Of course, it would operate on recycled deep frier oil, with just enough dimethylether to keep the viscosity correct.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Areometer\";p=\"75970)</div>

I heartily agree on this! I use LED lamps from LEDTronics for non-task lighting in my condo and at my hobby farm. The biggest advantage - asides from the *huge* power savings - is the +100,000 hour lamp life.

They're not at the point where they can do task lighting, as the specific light output isn't high enough. There is a lot of promise with OLED's (Organic LED). The June 2004 issue of Laser Focus World has an article on this, but they require site registration.

When you compare that most filament lamps operate at under 20 lumens/W, most florescent lamps at +60 lumens/W, high pressure sodium at 100 lumens/W, and low pressure sodium - and most LED sources - at 150 lumens/W, that is a tremendous difference in lighting efficiency.

According to the DOE, around 20% of total US power consumption is for lighting. So every little bit that we do results in enormous savings.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Areometer\";p=\"75970)</div>

This is why our individual power consumption keeps creeping up despite the "fact" we have more efficient appliances. Those "brick" style power transformers are the absolute worst, they *always* use at least 1-2 watts even at 0 load.

When you sum it up for the entire country, those hidden power losses are outrageous. LIke you said, unplug those d*** things. If you simply can't wait 15-20 secs for a television to come to life, get an LED television.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Areometer\";p=\"75970)</div>

A house uses far more energy - on average - than an apartment. The duplication of effort (Individual heating, A/C, structure) of a standalone bungalow vs a high-rise apartment or condo is substantial.

Around 4 years ago I sold my house in the burbs. At the time it was only 2 years old, but being single I saw no need whatsoever for a 1,700 sq ft bi-level, a lawn to mow, and a much longer commute in to work.

Despite the most efficient HVAC I could find at the time, I was lucky to have utility bills under $100/month. The entire structure is exposed to the elements.

I'm now in a high-rise condo, around 1,600 sq ft. Admittedly it's still too big for me, but it was an estate sale and a d*** good bargain. The only catch I had to wait 6 months for possession as Probate was still creeping along.

My condo is sandwiched in with only one wall facing the elements - faces east. Everything is solid cement with foam insulation so it's *very* quiet and energy efficient. Tri pane windows too.

Oddly enough, it has an air handler for A/C, as there is a chiller on the roof, but baseboard electric heat. Seems odd they didn't package an electric element into the air handler. My highest electric bill is $45 in winter, around $8 in summer.

I think a MDU (Multiple Dwelling Unit) is far more efficient for heating, cooling may be a tossup unless there is a central chiller. One chiller that is professionally maintained vs individual window units, no comparison in unit and overall efficiency.

I built a super efficient ICF construction 1,400 sq ft bungalow at my hobby farm around 3 years ago, and my utility bills are far higher, at least 50% more.

I don't think we have to make painful sacrifices to enjoy higher energy efficiency. It takes a change of attitude. Of course, if the price of gasoline and electricity should double or triple, that would tend to enforce higher efficiency.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Areometer\";p=\"76012)</div>

Oh. I guess there are good ones and bad ones out there, and I'm lucky enough to be in a good one.

I just got sick and tired of all that extra work my burb home needed: snow shoveling, lawn mowing, leaf raking, noisy bastard neighbor kids treating my backyard like their own, dogs always squatting and ruining the lawn, noisy block parties, etc etc etc.

I think what I like best about the condo I'm now in is the very strict Association rules. Almost 4 years now and I've never been bothered by noise. If you want a party, fine, but you then reserve the specially-insulated "party room" next to the mechanical room.

If you have acerage and a house in BFE, then sure you can experiment with wind turbines, solar, etc etc. The average burb home that really isn't practical.

Of course, a home in BFE entails a very long commute too. All those long commutes in single-occupancy SUV's is part of the reason why we're now in the mess we're in.