By way of developing a New Year's resolution, I have been thinking about how I might reduce my carbon footprint by 25%. That's an arbitrary figure, below what is being said the world needs to accomplish in the near future, and high enough to be challenging and thought provoking. Broadly, there are a couple strategies: invest in conservation or change lifestyle.
Option #1, Invest. Buy a Prius and continue driving. The invest option either needs to produce a big impact in one area of my carbon footprint, or I need to invest in multiple areas of my life with modest gains in each. Since my family does considerable driving in town, we might do better to add Zap electric car at lower cost than a Prius.
Option #2, Lifestyle. Use 25% less of everything. Drive less, heat less, eat less. Or, substitute smaller footprint options (eat local food with less embodied carbon from transportation). Doing with less is cheaper and faster than investing, but may be harder to implement (or harder to keep implementing). Substituting might be more expensive (in time or money) but easier to choose. The problem is, finding enough substitutions to make the desired level of savings. Some substitutions (using a clothes line rather than a clothes dryer, walking vs driving) are going to take considerable change in how I organize my life and have impacts on (require consent of) how my family organizes its life.
Last summer's high gas prices and current talk of carbon taxes could make some of these choices clearer, and they also point out that the two types of strategies may be chosen differently by people of different economic means.
I looked at the payback on an electric car. If it replaced 5000 miles driven by a gas car getting 25 mpg and gas is $1.60, that is $320/year, not much of a payment on a loan. At $4/gallon its $800/year.
Resolutions
(Small) Investment. If big investment is out, because the payback is long and/or going into more debt seems imprudent right now, there is another option -- small investment. Small investment can feel to the psyche and wallet more like an operating expense (and payback time may be less important). An example in this category could be replacing incandescent light bulbs with CFLs even though the old bulbs are still good (Better yet would be to start into LED lights that promise to have lower power consumption per lumen.) Another example is to get a home energy audit and spend some time with a caulk gun.
Cut Back. I'm looking into putting a timer on my hot water tank. If it could be off 6 hrs/day, that should save something. Shorter showers, low flow shower heads are some other moves, but they require life style consent from others in the family. Changing lifestyle is probably better done slowly or it will likely feel like deprivation.
So, while I don't see making the 25% reduction this year, I'm making a New Years resolution to start some small investments and explore learning some new lifestyle habits.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Scoring Moscow's Walkability
I just found Walkscore, a tool that uses Google maps and data to calculate a walkability score for a street address. You need to put in a complete address, eg, 900 Travois Way, Moscow, Idaho and then it looks at the kinds of services around you and the distances and calculates a score.
Imagine if this were part of the process included in the SmartGrowth scorecard. Take a measurement from the center of the proposed development and score the walkability. (I went Googling for Idaho Smart Growth because I know their scorecard and found that the US EPA has a more extensive Smart Growth Scorecard site.)
The other day I pointed to Green Chain Stores and highlighted a quote about the problem driving to a green store and suggested a vision for greening Moscow. Add this tool to the list of thinking for that greener city. Probably need to fold in a more complex analysis for bike-ability -- distance is a little less important, but gradients matter and amenities along the way and at the destination (eg good paths and parking) matter.
Imagine if this were part of the process included in the SmartGrowth scorecard. Take a measurement from the center of the proposed development and score the walkability. (I went Googling for Idaho Smart Growth because I know their scorecard and found that the US EPA has a more extensive Smart Growth Scorecard site.)
The other day I pointed to Green Chain Stores and highlighted a quote about the problem driving to a green store and suggested a vision for greening Moscow. Add this tool to the list of thinking for that greener city. Probably need to fold in a more complex analysis for bike-ability -- distance is a little less important, but gradients matter and amenities along the way and at the destination (eg good paths and parking) matter.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Green Chain Stores -- and a need to do more
I recall seeing that Pullman WalMart was saying they were delayed while re-designing for a more green building. This item from NYTimes gives more perspective on the green chain store trend.
" Wal-Mart, meanwhile, has taken the most successful techniques from prototype stores and incorporated them into all new stores, and it continues to experiment with “high-efficiency” stores that save 20 to 45 percent in energy costs when compared with more traditional stores."
While I'd like to see P&Z grab onto this trend and institutionalize it. I note that we need to do more structurally to green Moscow, see for example, my comments on a broader vision of how we classify thoroughfares in the new Comp Plan to capture bike and pedestrian ways.
' “There’s no such thing as a green building with a full parking lot,” said Seth Kaplan, vice president for climate advocacy at the Conservation Law Foundation. “That’s just an unavoidable truth.” ' Hear, hear!
(Added Nov 18.) President-elect Obama speaks to delegates at Global Climate Summit, a 2-day event arranged by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to break gridlock on the issue ahead of next month's United Nations Climate Change Conference:
(end addition)
I'd like to see the Mayor latch onto the Obama win and our pressing need to address energy security and the environment in a new way. Less (foreign and non-renewable) energy dependence would help our foreign policy. Less carbon-based energy dependence would help our climate. I'd like to see her require all City departments and Commissions to develop short- and long-term changes to reduce the City's (and its residents') energy consumption.
We have a little bit of this thinking in the Legacy Crossing overlay zone where we require that if there is covered car parking there is also covered bike parking. (And Legacy is also part of the strategy in that it stipulates 3-story buildings, inherently boosting density and thereby reducing trip distances.)
A direction that the Mayor and the Transportation Commission could consider is that the Palouse region needs a region-wide mass transportation system with a common vision and shared goals. Presently the region has some services, offered by three companies and funded by a combination of grants, university contributions, governmental contributions and fare-box collections. This funding mix, combined with the multiple operators isn't very stable or
coordinated, and it fails to serve a number of populations.
A new solution could be built on ideas from the current offerings, but needs a regional vision.
A new vision for the system could be to create a sustainable transportation network that provides practical alternatives to use of the personal automobile for residents of the Palouse Region.
It might be implemented with a series of goal, such as:
* within in Pullman and Moscow, all residents would be within walking distance of a bus stop
* the system would serve communities that have significance commerce/work relations within Pullman and Moscow
* The system would offer to-work transportation for employees/ customers/ students of the 10 biggest destinations in the Palouse region
* the system would offer services to people with disabilities who may otherwise be place-bound
* the system would increase the economic welfare of lower income residents
* the system would connect to other transportation networks, including regional airports
" Wal-Mart, meanwhile, has taken the most successful techniques from prototype stores and incorporated them into all new stores, and it continues to experiment with “high-efficiency” stores that save 20 to 45 percent in energy costs when compared with more traditional stores."
While I'd like to see P&Z grab onto this trend and institutionalize it. I note that we need to do more structurally to green Moscow, see for example, my comments on a broader vision of how we classify thoroughfares in the new Comp Plan to capture bike and pedestrian ways.
' “There’s no such thing as a green building with a full parking lot,” said Seth Kaplan, vice president for climate advocacy at the Conservation Law Foundation. “That’s just an unavoidable truth.” ' Hear, hear!
(Added Nov 18.) President-elect Obama speaks to delegates at Global Climate Summit, a 2-day event arranged by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to break gridlock on the issue ahead of next month's United Nations Climate Change Conference:
(end addition)
I'd like to see the Mayor latch onto the Obama win and our pressing need to address energy security and the environment in a new way. Less (foreign and non-renewable) energy dependence would help our foreign policy. Less carbon-based energy dependence would help our climate. I'd like to see her require all City departments and Commissions to develop short- and long-term changes to reduce the City's (and its residents') energy consumption.
We have a little bit of this thinking in the Legacy Crossing overlay zone where we require that if there is covered car parking there is also covered bike parking. (And Legacy is also part of the strategy in that it stipulates 3-story buildings, inherently boosting density and thereby reducing trip distances.)
A direction that the Mayor and the Transportation Commission could consider is that the Palouse region needs a region-wide mass transportation system with a common vision and shared goals. Presently the region has some services, offered by three companies and funded by a combination of grants, university contributions, governmental contributions and fare-box collections. This funding mix, combined with the multiple operators isn't very stable or
coordinated, and it fails to serve a number of populations.
A new solution could be built on ideas from the current offerings, but needs a regional vision.
A new vision for the system could be to create a sustainable transportation network that provides practical alternatives to use of the personal automobile for residents of the Palouse Region.
It might be implemented with a series of goal, such as:
* within in Pullman and Moscow, all residents would be within walking distance of a bus stop
* the system would serve communities that have significance commerce/work relations within Pullman and Moscow
* The system would offer to-work transportation for employees/ customers/ students of the 10 biggest destinations in the Palouse region
* the system would offer services to people with disabilities who may otherwise be place-bound
* the system would increase the economic welfare of lower income residents
* the system would connect to other transportation networks, including regional airports
Monday, September 8, 2008
Farigrounds in Moscow a Bonus
Letter to editor of Daily News, submitted 9/8/08
Its Fair time again. Reading about the Palouse Empire Fair last weekend got me thinking about the differences between our two area events. Whitman County's fairgrounds is five miles west of Colfax, and twenty-plus miles from the major population center. No child walked to that fair after school. No parent dropped their teenager at that fair with $20 and instructions to walk home before dark. And most likely, no families wandered over for dinner and an hour of music.
I grew up in St Paul, Minnesota, walking distance from the State fairgrounds. The major bus routes ran along the edge of the site. Salem, Oregon has the state fairgrounds in the city, served by transit, and used for a variety of community functions.
From time to time the idea surfaces to move the Latah fair a few miles out of town. Most recently a site near Mill Road was suggested. At that location, Latah could join Whitman county in having little walk-in traffic, few kids dropped off to make their way home. And no public transit to the Fair.
If Latah County’s Fair moves out of town, will the many groups that use the facility throughout the year move out too- Elections, Parent-Toddlers, auctions, and a variety of meetings? Most likely they will need to find new venues within the city.
The Fair is an intense use, with traffic and noise. Thanks to Eastside Marketplace and NRS (old Tidymans) for helping with parking. I live close enough to experience it.
Three days is a small price to pay for having such a resource in town. In an era of high gas prices, a walkable fairgrounds, with no entrance fees, is a wonderful recreation option. I hope everyone got a to the fair and enjoyed the enjoyed the richness of having it in town.
Its Fair time again. Reading about the Palouse Empire Fair last weekend got me thinking about the differences between our two area events. Whitman County's fairgrounds is five miles west of Colfax, and twenty-plus miles from the major population center. No child walked to that fair after school. No parent dropped their teenager at that fair with $20 and instructions to walk home before dark. And most likely, no families wandered over for dinner and an hour of music.
I grew up in St Paul, Minnesota, walking distance from the State fairgrounds. The major bus routes ran along the edge of the site. Salem, Oregon has the state fairgrounds in the city, served by transit, and used for a variety of community functions.
From time to time the idea surfaces to move the Latah fair a few miles out of town. Most recently a site near Mill Road was suggested. At that location, Latah could join Whitman county in having little walk-in traffic, few kids dropped off to make their way home. And no public transit to the Fair.
If Latah County’s Fair moves out of town, will the many groups that use the facility throughout the year move out too- Elections, Parent-Toddlers, auctions, and a variety of meetings? Most likely they will need to find new venues within the city.
The Fair is an intense use, with traffic and noise. Thanks to Eastside Marketplace and NRS (old Tidymans) for helping with parking. I live close enough to experience it.
Three days is a small price to pay for having such a resource in town. In an era of high gas prices, a walkable fairgrounds, with no entrance fees, is a wonderful recreation option. I hope everyone got a to the fair and enjoyed the enjoyed the richness of having it in town.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Mithun - ideas for Legacy Crossing
I attended a good lecture yesterday by Bert Gregory from Mithun of Seattle. It was interesting to see the work they have done (conceptual and planning) for revitalizing urban areas in Portland and Seattle and at the same time making them resource efficient. On their website (which does not make it easy to link in) look at the expertise section/ urban planning and the Lloyd center project. I also found a south Lake Union/ Seattle Center project that he talked about, but can't find it again.
It would be worth looking at this more closely as an inspiration for our Legacy Crossing area.
The WSU blurb on the talk read
As President and CEO of Mithun, Bert Gregory has led the 220-person firm to national recognition for concept-based, environmentally intelligent design. He is renowned as an expert in the development of resource-efficient structures and communities, and serves as a national leader, speaker and advocate for sustainable building and urbanism. His perspective reaches beyond traditional architecture to merge science and design – an interdisciplinary approach that creates lasting places for people. With Mithun’s expansion in 2008 to a second office in San Francisco, Gregory strives to expand the reach of the firm to inspire a sustainable world through integrated design. Awards include four AIA COTE Top Ten Green Projects, two ASLA national honor awards, and the AIA national honor award for regional and urban design. Gregory serves as Vice-Chair of the USGBC LEED® Neighborhood Development core committee, and the Washington Clean Technology Alliance steering committee.
This presentation is co-sponsored by the Institute for Sustainable Design, the Office of Research, and the Center for Environmental Research, Education and Outreach.
DATE: Friday, September 5, 2008
TIME: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
PLACE: Compton Union Building, Butch’s Den
It would be worth looking at this more closely as an inspiration for our Legacy Crossing area.
The WSU blurb on the talk read
As President and CEO of Mithun, Bert Gregory has led the 220-person firm to national recognition for concept-based, environmentally intelligent design. He is renowned as an expert in the development of resource-efficient structures and communities, and serves as a national leader, speaker and advocate for sustainable building and urbanism. His perspective reaches beyond traditional architecture to merge science and design – an interdisciplinary approach that creates lasting places for people. With Mithun’s expansion in 2008 to a second office in San Francisco, Gregory strives to expand the reach of the firm to inspire a sustainable world through integrated design. Awards include four AIA COTE Top Ten Green Projects, two ASLA national honor awards, and the AIA national honor award for regional and urban design. Gregory serves as Vice-Chair of the USGBC LEED® Neighborhood Development core committee, and the Washington Clean Technology Alliance steering committee.
This presentation is co-sponsored by the Institute for Sustainable Design, the Office of Research, and the Center for Environmental Research, Education and Outreach.
DATE: Friday, September 5, 2008
TIME: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
PLACE: Compton Union Building, Butch’s Den
Thursday, September 4, 2008
You make your own judgement
Here is an email dialog -- I put it in chronological order so you can read down the page. While the Commute Trip Reduction policy seems like a useful tool, the implementation leaves something to be desired in my judgement:
From: "Dain"
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:44:44 -0700
To: "Peterson, Nils"
Subject: here's an odd one...
Hi Nils,
I just noticed a policy in the BPPM (http://www.wsu.edu/~forms/HTML/BPPM/80_Services/80.86_Commute_Trip_Reduction.htm) that states:
“Prepaid, subsidized transit for employees and students. Under this program element, all employees and students are allowed to use local transit systems by simply showing their CougarCard. This element is considered a de minimus nontaxable benefit under IRS, Section a32(f)(2)(A).” (emphasis added)
From: Peterson, Nils
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2008 14:50
To: Shaheen, John Anthony
Subject: BPPM 80.86 Commute trip reduction
John,
This policy is an interesting one. The rider points at one question — is Wheatland one of the “local transit systems?” If not, what distinguishes a local transit system for purposes of this policy, given the stated aims of the policy?
And, how are bus riding employees represented on the University Parking and Transportation Task Force (UPTTF) which serves as the WSU Pullman CTR Committee?
Thanks
On 9/2/08 10:48 AM, "Shaheen, John Anthony" wrote:
Nils,
Good question. We did not have Wheatland Express in mind when we refer to local. The distinction is the purpose of that service and the joint partnership with UI which prevents any commitments we could make in a WSU policy. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We should clarify this in our BPPM.
John
John A. Shaheen, CAPP
Director of WSU Parking, Transportation & Visitor Center
Washington State University
Email: shaheen@wsu.edu
Phone: 509.335.4911
FAX: 509.335.1316
WSU is a proud member of the following organizations:
Northwest Parking Association
http://www.nwparking.org/
International Parking Institute
http://www.parking.org/
Collegiate Information and Visitor Services Association: http://civsa.org/
From: "Dain"
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:44:44 -0700
To: "Peterson, Nils"
Subject: here's an odd one...
Hi Nils,
I just noticed a policy in the BPPM (http://www.wsu.edu/~forms/HTML/BPPM/80_Services/80.86_Commute_Trip_Reduction.htm) that states:
“Prepaid, subsidized transit for employees and students. Under this program element, all employees and students are allowed to use local transit systems by simply showing their CougarCard. This element is considered a de minimus nontaxable benefit under IRS, Section a32(f)(2)(A).” (emphasis added)
From: Peterson, Nils
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2008 14:50
To: Shaheen, John Anthony
Subject: BPPM 80.86 Commute trip reduction
John,
This policy is an interesting one. The rider points at one question — is Wheatland one of the “local transit systems?” If not, what distinguishes a local transit system for purposes of this policy, given the stated aims of the policy?
And, how are bus riding employees represented on the University Parking and Transportation Task Force (UPTTF) which serves as the WSU Pullman CTR Committee?
Thanks
On 9/2/08 10:48 AM, "Shaheen, John Anthony"
Nils,
Good question. We did not have Wheatland Express in mind when we refer to local. The distinction is the purpose of that service and the joint partnership with UI which prevents any commitments we could make in a WSU policy. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We should clarify this in our BPPM.
John
John A. Shaheen, CAPP
Director of WSU Parking, Transportation & Visitor Center
Washington State University
Email: shaheen@wsu.edu
Phone: 509.335.4911
FAX: 509.335.1316
WSU is a proud member of the following organizations:
Northwest Parking Association
http://www.nwparking.org/
International Parking Institute
http://www.parking.org/
Collegiate Information and Visitor Services Association: http://civsa.org/
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Bike Boluvards and New Moscow Comp Plan
I was describing my disappointment with the Mobility chapter of the new Comp Plan to a bicycle enthusiast this AM. It turns out that, based on 2000 Census, Moscow is in the top 1% of cities in terms of bike/walk to work.
I was saying that we have this elaborate scheme for classifying arterials, collectors and local streets, which is all about auto use, and we need some 21st century language rather than bringing assumptions from the past. (See previous Bicycle City post for more vision.)
He mentioned Palo Alto Bicycle Boulevard http://www.techtransfer.berkeley.edu/newsletter/99-4/bicycles.php concept.
Very cool idea and fairly simple set of requirements. P&Z had a good conversation last night about shifting the focus of the Mobility chapter to put the ‘alternative’ modes more on par with the vehicular mode and reduce the implicit bias of the document. Its going to Transportation now with P&Z comments.
Phillip Cook supplied these additional links.
From the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (Oregon’s large bike advocacy organization):
http://www.bta4bikes.org/at_work/bikeboulevards.php
From Portland Department of Transportation:
Clinton Street Bike Boulevard project
http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=46371
Portland Bicycle Master Plan
http://www.portlandonline.com/TRANSPORTATION/index.cfm?a=71843&c=34812
From Berkeley CA Office of Transportation
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/transportation/bicycling/bb/BicycleBoulevard.html
From Streetfilms (out of NY) about bike boulevards in Berkeley CA:
http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/berkeley-bike-boulevards/
I was saying that we have this elaborate scheme for classifying arterials, collectors and local streets, which is all about auto use, and we need some 21st century language rather than bringing assumptions from the past. (See previous Bicycle City post for more vision.)
He mentioned Palo Alto Bicycle Boulevard http://www.techtransfer.berkeley.edu/newsletter/99-4/bicycles.php concept.
Very cool idea and fairly simple set of requirements. P&Z had a good conversation last night about shifting the focus of the Mobility chapter to put the ‘alternative’ modes more on par with the vehicular mode and reduce the implicit bias of the document. Its going to Transportation now with P&Z comments.
Phillip Cook supplied these additional links.
From the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (Oregon’s large bike advocacy organization):
http://www.bta4bikes.org/at_work/bikeboulevards.php
From Portland Department of Transportation:
Clinton Street Bike Boulevard project
http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=46371
Portland Bicycle Master Plan
http://www.portlandonline.com/TRANSPORTATION/index.cfm?a=71843&c=34812
From Berkeley CA Office of Transportation
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/transportation/bicycling/bb/BicycleBoulevard.html
From Streetfilms (out of NY) about bike boulevards in Berkeley CA:
http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/berkeley-bike-boulevards/
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