Go carefully when going green
I, and Backbone, the magazine I edit, are big proponents of using technology to reduce pollution and save energy. But not all green tech delivers, as both the TTC and I learned recently. Take the new hybrid electric-diesel buses purchased…
I, and Backbone, the magazine I edit, are big proponents of using technology to reduce pollution and save energy. But not all green tech delivers, as both the TTC and I learned recently.
Take the new hybrid electric-diesel buses purchased by the Toronto Transit Commission. In its initial announcement, the commission said it expected to achieve fuel savings of 20 to 30 per cent. In use, the real savings have been in the 10 per cent range and, just to add insult, many of the big batteries that sit on top of these buses are only lasting half as long as the manufacturer Orion VII promised.
More details would be available here except that the Globe and Mail charges for access to its archived stories.
According to that Globe article, TTC chief general manager Gary Webster said the fuel efficiency shortfall is likely caused by the use of the buses on higher-speed suburban roads, as opposed to in stop-and-go traffic. It is the latter in which hybrid technology delivers the most benefit.
But — and here’s my point — this was a known issue. Back in December of 2004 the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported the exact same issue. From that article: King Country Metro concluded that "…the expected fuel efficiency has not been there. One apparent culprit is stricter federal emissions standards. Another could be that the hybrids are used on routes — suburban express routes with more highway mileage — where their advantages don’t shine."
In other words, in faster traffic the hybrids don’t do as well as when they are driven in stop-and-go downtown congestion. Sounds familiar?
Now, I am sure the TTC investigated all this and made what it believed was the best decision, but it does illustrate that going green is rarely as easy as it seems.
And here’s another great example: in my editorial in our March/April issue I wrote that — for now, anyway — the only truly successful consumer-level green initiatives will be those that deliver a benefit while not imposing significant lifestyle changes on us. I suggested compact fluorescents would be a huge success, because you just screw in a different bulb and hey presto! Less pollution.
And then I got a great letter from Nick MacKinnon, president of OneLight in Vancouver. He pointed out that any time you are heating your house (which is often in Canada) a regular light bulb pumps out heat in addition to light, and extra heat may mean your furnace doesn’t have to work quite as hard.
I am not ready to give up on CF bulbs, but both this and the TTC’s experience are good reminders that we should look both ways before embarking on environmental initiatives.
Filed Under: Web/Tech
You are right many things that proclaim green do it only for what is in it for themselves not because it will save the planet. This is especially true for our governments. They want to save the planet but their friends who contribute the dollars must become rich in the process.
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I am once again disappointed with decisions the TTC make with out coming being a loss which effects the service.
My suggestion is use these buses on express routes so we can get what was paid for.
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The hybrid buses should primarily be used in "rush hour" on congested routes in urban areas only — better efficiency and less pollution. The anticipated benefits will not be realized and the additional capital cost is wasted. What about those old fashioned electric trolly buses; modified to use regenerative braking (don't need heavy and expensive batteries)?? BTW do the new street cars/subways use regenerative braking?
Regarding CF lights, with global warming, even in the south urban part of the Great White North, we are facing more days when air conditioning is required. It's all very interesting considering summer heat generated by acres of asphalt roads, parking lots and roofs (worth a few degrees plus higher percent humidity).
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re go carefully green good perspective, other published problems with the cf bulbs -unless mounted vertically they over overheat and life is cut cosiderably ,dratically in enclosed fixtures. Also they the frequency of the radiation they emit can disturb many electronic controlled devises including power generation facilities.Also they are very toxic and will become a majore disposal problem. How about eco fuels? Well suprise surprise!The UN world hunger czar has just stated that the diversion of land and resouces out of food production and into feed crops for eco fuels is nothing less then a world wide disaster in it effect on feeding the worlds hungery. Since eco fuels are hugly subsidized due to pressure groupes on the looney left including UN supported groupes ,land owners have switched from food production and into feed for eco fuel plants.This was also forseen.The scenario goes as follows high profits on eco fuel means max production out of land is obtained by max fertilzer usu, means fertilizers have quadrupled in cost means that land costs have tripled means that feed for livestock has doubled means that less livestock is raised.Also for many of the world poor they can no longer afford to raise their own food due to high fertilizer cost but also can no longer afford to buy food at todays high costs. the eco crazies must be very proud of themseleves.I know yhey all feel warm and fuzzy over there sucesses. I could go into the negative results of restricting oil exploration in the most oil rich areas in the USA . Such as the drop in american influnce in the word due to their depedency on outlaw regimes for oil, the reduced value of the dollar etc.etc.again the dems and their far left loonies are denial and i suppose they will manage to blame it all on pres. Bush, with the help of most of the print and tv media anf the far left agenda of most university teachers throughout the country. But the unintended cosequences of left wing indoctorination is is almost to far to imagine, I guess one could start by reading the novel 1984.
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Interesting, how the government decides to work. I live in BC, and we now have a 2.4 cent carbon tax added to each litre of gas out here. Most cars drive all over town with no passengers, but they are considering RAISING the fares… wouldn't it make more sense to reduce the fares to encourage the use of public transportation?
On the same note, green (or greener) transportation would be using something like the Segway – recharge using cheap electricity at night, zero emissions (NOTE: not LEGAL for sidewalk use in BC.)
What were they thinking…
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Peter, just so that you are aware like your friend said the wasted heat isn't going to waste here in Canada. Another thing is that most people don't dispose of CFL's in the proper way (which is taking them in to be recycled) they throw them into the garbage and then the go into our landfills where they more than likely get broken leaking harmful merucry into ground water and land. If you are truely set on helping the environment and saving energy buy a dimmer switch. Contrary to popular belief dimmers do help save energy (Only the old dimmer don't save energy, check out Lutron and they can hel you find a dimmer solution suitable for your lifestyle) If you really want to be environmentally friendly buy a dimmer and wait until LED technology is better.
Thanks
Denise
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