Green Group discussion

I just started reading Cooler, Smarter by The Union of Concerned Scientists. It is about practical ways of lowering one's carbon footprint. Early in the book it states that the average America produces 115 pounds of carbon dioxide every day. Is this right? 115 pounds of a gas is a lot of gas. I just don't think my husband and I produce 300 pounds of carbon dioxide every day. Maybe the book will clarify later on.

Florence wrote: "I just started reading Cooler, Smarter by The Union of Concerned Scientists. It is about practical ways of lowering one's carbon footprint. Early in the book it states that the average America pro..."

I honestly don't know if that is right or not.

But when I was living in NYC, I didn't have a car. And I know that cars are the worse thing for the carbon footprint. So I took one of carbon footprint tests thinking that I would have a great score for the environment.

Wrong.

I still had a high carbon footprint. Americans consume so much that even when we think that we aren't consuming a lot, we are consuming far more than the rest of the world. Americans use 25% of the world's energy and resources so individually, we would have to cut back quite a bit to see a difference.

Even compared to Europeans. I was just in Europe, and I could see the difference in the consumption levels.

Hi Florence,
Did you find out the answer to this question? I think it's probably reasonably accurate. Most of the CO2 we create isn't from driving, it's from food production and manufacture and transportation of products we use, as well as electricity used in our houses, workplaces etc.
Lucy

Yes, it really did. One gallon of gasoline = 25 pounds of CO2; I really didn't know that. Also, pumping water, air-conditioning-->electricity-->coal burning (in my area).
The book took an overly positive tone in that it would take just a few, simple, hardly noticeable steps to solve the climate change problem. But, OTOH, I did learn some things from it.

I've been driving a hybrid car since 2008 and am getting 52 mpg on trips and 38 around town. My daughter, driving a smaller version of the same car, is getting 75! I think the move to develop more hybrid cars is an enormous leap forward.

Lucy - I always thought fossil fuels was the number one contributor to fossil fuels - and cars being a part of that - electricity as well.

Annis - my next car will be a hybrid. When I bought my last car six years ago, I wasn't sure the technology was perfected yet, but now I feel comfortable with it. Buying a new car is two years down the road, but still getting excited about it!

When I bought my Prius the American models hadn't been out long enough to be tested out. There should be some good choices in two years, I think. I did this entirely out of "spiritual conscience" but love the car for its reliability and zip.

The Prius is my first choice. From what I've read, they seem the best.

I can't wait for the day when every car will be a hybrid. A little Fiat Abrath hybrid...(my dream car). lol!