Are automobiles a major cause of global warming?

gagrice

We taxpayers give FAR more money away to Big Oil than we do to Green Solar or Green Wind.

Not even close on a BTU or KWH per buck basis. The so called subsidies to oil companies are very difficult to actually prove. Most are tax deductions for expenses involved with exploration and production. The war angle is hardly realistic. Unless you just don't believe we should have the niceties that oil has provided US. You have been reading the Huffington Post and Daily Kos again.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/05/about_those_oil_subsidies.html

stever

Like the redwood that fell on a SUV several years ago, global warming strikes again. Okay, bit of a stretch but the video accompanying the story is more fun than the recent Hot Wheels Double Dare Loop.

Heat buckles Highway 29, video captures airborne SUV (jsonline.com)

gagrice

Here is the thinking of another AGW cult Nut.

Euthanize Your Old Pet

Pets have become a common feature in most homes and are an attribute of the modern, Western lifestyle. We all love our dogs and cats, but really, when you think about it, pets are a major producer of excess carbon. One of the best ways to reasonably enjoy your pet and reduce your overall Carbon Footprint is to determine in advance how long your pet should live. As a family, set a date when your pet will be euthanized. One great way to teach children the value of pet euthanasia is to turn the occasion into a family celebration. Let's say you've set March 10, five years from now, as your pet's euthanasia date. For the next five years, celebrate March 10 as your pet's special day, with a family party and perhaps a visit to your pet's future burial spot. Teach your children to think of the occasion as a birthday in reverse. A predetermined euthanasia date will encourage your family to love and care for your furry friend while it's still young and playful. What's more, pre-planing for pet termination not only works towards reducing your family's Carbon Footprint, but guarantees long term reduction in veterinary expenses.

How about Mom and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa, Soylent Green anyone?

xrunner2

We all love our dogs and cats, but really, when you think about it, pets are a major producer of excess carbon.

So, less is more. On gas emissions. Size and quantity (low or none) matter. Maybe a chiwowa (SP) is a better pet than a German Shepherd per epa types. Given that our govt can regulate all/most matters environmentally, maybe our nanny state US congress will legislate one pet per household and a penalty, er tax, for dogs over a certain weight (10 pounds?) and scaled to size/weight of dog. Seeing eye dogs would be exempt.

Next. Beans. Chili with beans would be illegal to sell in stores and restaurants. And, a special tax in stores on cans of beans.

gagrice

Then you have folks on welfare with 19 kids, 9 dogs and 1 cat. Now there is a carbon footprint the size of Al Gore's, all being subsidized by the Tax Payers.

Police authorities in Bowling Green, Ky., say 19 children were left inside a filthy home unsupervised for a week with no food or air-conditioning.

Deputies said the children ranged in age from 8 months to 14 years old and were taken to a nearby medical center Monday before they were released into protective custody, according to ABC News station WBKO.

On Tuesday, Jackie Farah was arrested and charged with 14 counts of criminal abuse and five counts of wanton endangerment, according to WBKO. She is being held without bail. Police are still looking for Irving “Joe” Smith, who they believe is the children’s father.

Police said nine dogs and one cat were also found in the home.

monksterman

Good for them! Just b/c they don't play it (yet) doesn't invalidate that the states are still nation states, but thanks for the red herring.

As for global warming news related to automobiles, it all does relate vis-a-vis A21 and the fraud being perpetuated for transfer of wealth on the American, nay the world's population that is other than 3rd world.

You do know A21 language abolishes all private property ownership do you not? Automobiles are private property.

And I and everyone else notice that you have not responded to where in Article I Section 8 of the constitution it mentions anything about environmental regulation.

As far as bogie men got a little visual for everyone:

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/2304/puppeteer.jpg

and

http://theyrule.net/

Just sayin' ...

stever

Texans' threats to leave the US reminds me of a friend who was asked what part of Mexico he was from. He said the occupied part. (He was a native San Antonian).

You know no one owns anything anyway right? Just try taking it with you. Not to mention you don't own stuff, it owns you. I'm not lying in bed losing sleep over A21 or ET from Area 51 using my minivan when I need it to get to the store.

Just sayin'

monksterman

Ah, you're waxing philosophical on us...great!

Any other platitudes you wanna share?!?

Sleep well. It's always the vigilant few that protect the majority.

Both you and your San Antonio friend should watch the movie End of the Road...

stever

Lost track of him after he moved back to TX from ID.

Platitudes? I like "Everything you think you know is wrong". You can look it up. :shades:

Just learned a new word you'll enjoy - "globaloney".

In more topical stuff, "One could argue that Honda's reputation is largely based on the various clean air and fuel economy technologies it has promoted over the years. From CVCC to HF to VTEC, NGV to IMA to FCEV, Honda can usually be found tinkering away at or near the top of the mpg charts.

Accordingly, the new 2013 Honda Fit EV looks mighty impressive in terms of EV efficiency."

Going to be hard to find one to lease though.

2013 Honda Fit EV First Drive (Inside Line)

(IMDB shows 11 "End of the Road" movies btw).

gagrice

I hope this isn't you.

stever

Never had a philosophy class, but skepticism falls under the definition and it is fun poking the shades of gray out there. The billboard guy should find a job in product testing.

gagrice

I sent it to my nephew that just finished his masters in Philosophy at San Francisco State. He has not had a job since his bar tending job while getting his bachelor's in Seattle. It is possible to have TOO much knowledge for many employers.

fintail

It's funny, with new job seeker prereqs inflating like everything else these days, many recent workplace entrants have more credentials than their tenured so-called superiors. I see it a lot in my industry. Looks like the game might have backfired, this can't last forever.

houdini1

That philosophy certainly fits those who have nothing to lose...

gagrice

Well there goes another $100 million down the old Green Agenda TOILET. Thanks to Chu and Reid this time. The more we spend to mitigate the CO2, the worse off we all are. Sadly I really like geothermal. Too bad it was a lousy plan. Or was the plan just to extort tax dollars like all the Wind and Solar projects that have gone belly up on US????

Lights go dim on another energy project
Geothermal losses pile up

A geothermal energy company with a $98.5 million loan guarantee from the Obama administration for an alternative energy project in Nevada — which received hearty endorsements from Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid — faces financial problems, and the company’s auditors have questioned whether it can stay in business.

Mr. Reid, a Nevada Democrat who led passage of the $814 billion stimulus bill and worked to include the loan guarantee program to help finance clean-energy projects, predicted in 2010 that NGP would “put Nevadans to work” and declared that Nevada was the “Saudi Arabia of geothermal energy.”

Mr. Chu celebrated NGP’s potential in his June 2010 announcement of the loan guarantee, saying the federal government’s support of the company demonstrated its commitment to geothermal power to achieve the nation’s clean-energy goals.

“The company was in danger of defaulting on its financial obligation, and the [Department of Energy‘s] assistance served as a de facto bailout,” Mr. Jordan said. “After receiving a taxpayer-backed $98.5 million loan guarantee, the company is still struggling.”

He said the loan guarantee “essentially served to prop up an already-faltering firm.”

At the time the Energy Department announced its conditional approval of the guarantee, Mr. Issa said NGP would have defaulted on a loan from TCW Asset Management Co., then its primary lender, “had DOE not swooped in to save the failing company with taxpayer money.”

A committee report said the loan did not finance any new construction and “did not help to create a single job.”

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jul/4/lights-go-dim-on-another-energy-p- roject/

gagrice

The case of radiation hormesis provides yet more evidence that the scientific establishment and the EPA are lacking in objectivity when their interests are at stake. They cling to scare stories like leeches. Be it ionizing radiation or global warming they will not admit that they were wrong, at least if they can avoid it.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/07/forbidden_science_low_level_radiation_and- _cancer.html

stever

Must be where the term "glowing health" comes from. :shades:

I'm guessing it'll be late this year before we hear any more from the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature project.

kernick

Given that our govt can regulate all/most matters environmentally,

Seeing some of our judicial rulings, I also agree that if the EPA is given the general power to regulate a gas like carbon dioxide because it is defines as "in excess" currently, and going higher; then the EPA is given the authority based on that to regulate anything they wish that produces carbon dioxide. So that is just about EVERYTHING man does; which is rather scary.

If any of you folks are finding the climate too hot, come visit us up in NH. We've had some warm days, but haven't hit 100 in my area. I have the windows open enjoying another fine, Summer day.

gagrice

There is no doubt we are seeing some interesting climate changes. But not all warming. This is the coolest Spring Summer I can ever remember in So CA. Much of the EU is also in a cooling trend. Melting ice in the Arctic is nothing new. Best to just try and cope without wasting billions on carbon schemes and scams.

Lost photos prove Greenland's ice was melting FASTER 80 years ago than today

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2152004/Lost-photos-prove-Greenla- nds-ice-melting-FASTER-80-years-ago-today.html

stever

come visit us up in NH

Sounds like the UP. Beautiful 70º day with few clouds. San Diego weather (well, "normal" SD weather). Windows open? Well, yeah, no AC here.

We did our part today; walked to town for lunch and came home along the beach, and even picked up two beer cans. :shades:

houdini1

Who knows? There are several "radon healing caverns" in the Rocky Mts. Many people swear by them, especially for helping arthritus.

gagrice

I think when a scientist thinks he has the answer, he just needs to sit back and think about it for a while. So many things in my short life have been debunked. How many foods have we been told are bad then we find out the science was flawed? The healing mines is interesting. And a new one on me.

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20091123/MT_HEALTH03/911180344/Radon-Rx- -Healing-powers-gas-lures-patients-Boulder-area-mine

stever

"As the climate warms, stretches of permafrost are no longer permanent. They are melting — leaving pavement with cracks, turning asphalt into washboard and otherwise threatening the stability of the road. "

With Warming, Peril Underlies Road to Alaska (NY Times)

gagrice

I hope they get it into good condition when my son moves out of Alaska in September. On my many trips the Alaska portion that was paved was the roughest part of the trip. I guess it is all paved even the Cassiar Hwy. My last trip was 1992 and there was still a lot of gravel sections. You can still keep up 70 MPH on good gravel roads. Just slow down passing trucks coming the other direction. Never lost a light or windshield. I have friends that go back and forth every year. Spend the winters in CA, NV and AZ.

Permafrost is a big issue with buildings in the Arctic also. The big buildings on steel pilings were refrigerated during the summer to avoid melting the permafrost. Wooden pilings don't seem to be a problem as they did not transfer the heat to the permafrost which was about 12-14 feet deep.

houdini1

Too many mixed signals on gw. A recent tree ring study going back 2000 years showed the climate has actually cooled over the last 2000 years.

gagrice

Who's idea was it to mandate we all get skin cancer from CFL bulbs? I guess it is good we all get free Obamacare to treat the skin cancer the gubmint is giving US. :sick:

Abstract

Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs can provide the same amount of lumens as incandescent light bulbs, using one quarter of the energy. Recently, CFL exposure was found to exacerbate existing skin conditions; however, the effects of CFL exposure on healthy skin tissue have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we studied the effects of exposure to CFL illumination on healthy human skin tissue cells (fibroblasts and keratinocytes). Cells exposed to CFLs exhibited a decrease in the proliferation rate, a significant increase in the production of reactive oxygen species, and a decrease in their ability to contract collagen. Measurements of UV emissions from these bulbs found significant levels of UVC and UVA (mercury [Hg] emission lines), which appeared to originate from cracks in the phosphor coatings, present in all bulbs studied. The response of the cells to the CFLs was consistent with damage from UV radiation, which was further enhanced when low dosages of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs), normally used for UV absorption, were added prior to exposure. No effect on cells, with or without TiO2 NPs, was observed when they were exposed to incandescent light of the same intensity.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1751-1097.2012.01192.x/abstract

http://dailycaller.com/2012/07/23/energy-efficient-cfl-bulbs-cause-skin-damage-s- ay-researchers

larsb

I bet that study was funded by someone with an interest in the fossil-fuel power generation industry.

Anything that uses less power takes money out of the fatcat pocket, and therefore is "bad."

At least the mercury issue has been resolved:

However, panel member Steve Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, dismissed Brandston’s concerns, claiming that the mercury needed to power old-fashioned incandescent bulbs poses more of a health and environmental risk than that contained within the CFLs.

“The biggest source of mercury in our environment, human-caused mercury, is from power production,” Nadel said. “If you use the conventional incandescent lamp, I believe the EPA found that you would emit 5.5 grams of mercury into the atmosphere; that then goes into the water. It can go into the fish and be ingested.

“With the CFL -- and this is EPA data -- there’s only 1.6 milligrams of mercury that goes into the environment. Most of that has to do with -- even a CFL results in some power production, I think 0.4 grams of mercury EPA found typically goes into the environment from the bulb itself. So, it’s not that one has mercury and one doesn’t. They both have mercury and frankly the incandescent has more.”

gagrice

There is NO reduction in coal generation around the World. It is expanding and we are selling our excess coal to those countries. So the mercury still ends up in our seafood. With CFLs it is a DIRECT threat to our health from UV and possible mercury when the explode. And I have had two CFLs explode when turned on. One had a plastic globe so no harm. The other was a curly cue one that burnt out at the base. I am not buying anymore of those. I did get a good buy on the flood type with plastic covers. I am replacing the curly cue lamps as they burn out. They do not have the life span of an incandescent. So far the LED types are not adequate or way too expensive. If I do build a greenhouse with a solar panel roof I can go back to incandescent and avoid UV radiation.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/259688/researchers_develop_solar_panels_that_stil- - l_let_the_sunlight_through.html

gagrice

PS,
Your graph does not apply to CA, we have less than 1% coal generation. So it needs to be done with a mixture of Gas, wind, solar, hydro and Geo Thermal. I would bet that does not make the CFLs look very good. Especially when you factor in millions of them thrown in the trash because of the idiotic disposal regs.

California's 66,105 MW of electric generating capacity, 60.7% comes from natural gas, 20.2% from hydroelectric dams, 6.9% from nuclear, 4.2% from geothermal, and 3.1% from wind.

houdini1

Mercury issue has been resolved ????

Really ? As Gary noted, cfls have not reduced the use of coal worldwide, and if that is not enough, which bulb would you rather have explode in your face ?

Claires

Per the EPA, explosions should be no problem if you follow their instructions. After evacuating all living creatures, just handle it the same way you all of your other toxic waste incidents! And try to avoid breaking CFL bulbs on a hot summer or blustery winter day.

* Have people and pets leave the room.
* Air out the room for 5-10 minutes by opening a window or door to the outdoor environment.
* Shut off the central forced air heating/air conditioning (H&AC) system, if you have one.
* Collect materials (stiff paper/cardboard, sticky tape, damp paper towels.
* Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder.
* Place cleanup materials in a sealable container (plastic bag or glass jar).
* For several hours, continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the H&AC system shut off.

After cleanup
* Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed
of properly.
* Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors.
*Not all recycling centers may accept broken CFLs and some states may have prohibitions on disposal of debris.
* Check with your local and/or state household hazardous waste authority for disposal requirements in your area.

stever

I remember reading something last year to the effect that all the mercury in the new bulbs is just a drop in the bucket compared to the mercury produced in mining and burning coal to produce the power required for lighting the old style light bulbs. So just the health savings by switching from incandescent bulbs far outweighs the problems of the compact bulbs.

I'm up to five LED lights/lanterns for camping now. They are getting cheap; guess they'll be the next big thing for home lighting.

gagrice

Larsb made that argument as well. However in the most populace state CA we use less than 1% coal generated electricity. And we already pay through the nose for that luxury. I cannot imagine what our bill would be if we ran the AC 24/7 as they are in the Midwest this summer. Well over $1000 per month. We have not had any hot weather and my neighbor said his bill was over $400. I do not turn on the AC until it gets over 80 degrees in the house. That is usually in the afternoon for maybe an hour when the outside drops below 80 and we open all the windows.

I looked at a display of LEDs and they have a long way to go for practical home use. The strings of Christmas LEDs I have bought do not have a great lifespan. The complaints on home LEDs include short life span, loud buzzing, very hot running, not as much light as advertised, and they are still extremely expensive. I have several little LED flashlights and find them very handy. When they get long life, cool running, honest 60 watt equivalent floods for all my recessed lighting for under $5 each I will start switching out the CFLs. Most of my stock of CFLs were bought for under a buck a piece when SDG&E has a promotion. I don't like CFLs but they do save electricity.

lemmer

Uh oh. I can't even begin to guess how many light bulbs, flourescent and indcandescent that I've smashed in dumpsters and whatnot when I was a kid. I must be filled with chemicals.

robr2

The complaints on home LEDs include short life span, loud buzzing, very hot running, not as much light as advertised, and they are still extremely expensive.

Those all sound like CFL complaints.

I recently put LED inserts into the recessed lights in my kitchen and family room - 13 fixtures in all at $25 each.

Life span is unknown but 20 years is what the packaging said. Any buzzing noises I had from the CFL floods is gone. They are so cool compared to the CFL's and IC's - we could feel the heat from the fixtures through the tile in our master bath on the second floor. Light output is greater than what I replaced at about 15% the energy use. And yes they were expensive but when you consider there is a transformer built into each bulb, that's expected.

I was given about 20 CFL's during an energy audit. I absolutely hate them and have most of them sitting in a box in the basement. I'm slowing using them up.

I am converting all my lights over to LED as I run out of IC and CFL bulbs.

gagrice

What brand of LEDs did you buy? From the reviews they are not all created equal.

http://www.amazon.com/Philips-409904-423343-2700-800-Dimmable/product-reviews/B0- 04IUMGV4/ref=cm_cr_dp_qt_hist_one?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&filterBy=addOneStar

http://www.amazon.com/Bulb-Warm-White-Ledwholesalers-1012ww/product-reviews/B002- ZBJ25G/ref=cm_cr_dp_qt_hist_one?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&filterBy=addOneStar

houdini1

I agree that the LEDs are the way to go if they improve and come down in price. Maybe something even better will come along. Don't like the cfls at all. Prefer ics to them. I have a good stockpile of ics.

houdini1

Thanks for that very informative post. Just think how many gov. employee flunkies we pay to write all that garbage.

robr2

What brand of LEDs did you buy?

Commercial Electric - Home Depot

It's an entire retrofit kit for the fixture.

I tried a bulb only flood and it was more of a spot. So I moved those to the recessed fixtures on my farmers porch.

From the reviews they are not all created equal.

You are correct there. That's why I went and looked at them personally before committing that kind of money. IMHO, too many people automatically go to the web, buy something sight unseen and then complain about it.

gagrice

They come up as $39.97 at my Home Depot. I will check them out. Most of the reviews were positive. Not sure which type I will need. Mine are fairly deep. Whatever was popular in 2000 when the home was built.

robr2

They fit most 6" recessed cans.

I'm guessing they are $25 here because the local utility may be rebating some amount back to Home Depot.

Buy one and try it. If it works, get more. If not, return it.

I tried dim-able CFL floods but discovered they won't work with my switches. I have electronic tap dimmers and the CFL's would flash at full light.

gagrice

I had the same bad experience with dimming CFLs. Our local utility does a lot of specials on CFL bulbs. I have not seen any on LEDs. I will check with SDG&E. I have two recessed lights over the sink in the middle of our kitchen that are on more than any other lights in the house. I think I will try them there. Thanks for the info and advice.

kernick

Here is a not so pretty view of where the world is headed due to population growth, and economic growth. India could probably build a coal-fired power plant every day and it would take years to meet their population's needs. They haven't even begun supplying electricity to 1/3 of their population!

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-07-30/india-power-outage/56584766/- 1?loc=interstitialskip

CO2 increases are coming regardless of what the developed world does.

stever

"And while young people care about reducing their carbon footprint, they are unwilling to pay the steep premiums that come with hybrid or electric vehicles, Gilbert said. People over 50 account for 73 percent of hybrid purchases, according to the AARP study."

Car dealerships struggle to lure Gen Y consumers (Detroit News)

kernick

The same could be said for why the Volt isn't selling many units.

But I really don't need a study, to know that new vehicles are going to be hard for Gen Y to afford. Unpaid internships, high college loans, trying to afford an apartment, and have health insurance, sure doesn't leave much $ for the downpayment, monthly payments, higher insurance, sales tax and registrations of a new vehicle. And if you live in an urban area you have parking issues, and all the abuse a car can take in an urban area ... so not really GW-science.

When I retire in a few years, my next vehicle will be a 1-yr old regular ICE Focus or similar. Get a "newer" car under warranty, with some depreciation, and a 40 mpg highway. That should be about the lowest overall cost for a vehicle. My main fuel savings however will still be moving out of my oil-burning house (hot water and heat) in NH.

stever

Just remember that air conditioning isn't typically free either. :shades:

stever

"Richard Muller, who directed a Koch-funded climate change project, has undergone a 'total turnaround' on his stance on global warming, which he now admits is caused by human activity."

Prominent climate change denier now admits he was wrong (Christian Science Monitor)

gagrice

It wouldn't have anything to do with his consultant pay at CSU going from $60k to $100k between 2010 and 2011??? Just his college admin pay went up by 20%. Money talks and BS walks. I am sure the Koch boys would pay him more. But this way he keeps his elitist integrity. Sorry I don't trust anyone in a government sponsored job. The globe is NOT getting warmer. CA is part of the Globe and this is a very cool summer. Way below average. Climate changes, and it has for millions of years. Get used to it and don't try to exploit it with taxes from the middle class for the rich.

stever

They posted their studies online supposedly, although it'll be a year for them to show up in the journals. If there's leaks in them, someone will find them.

robr2

CA is part of the Globe and this is a very cool summer. Way below average.

Then I guess I can say climate change is true with extra hot and lack of precipitation here in Boston. Climate change is way more than 3 months in our little parts of the world.

It's more than temperature. It's CLIMATE!!