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I am a Middle-Earther

In American politics, we like to take sides. Perhaps it’s part of our blood to debate on any issue under the sun, even if it seems like an issue that would unite us and yield a concerted effort. 9/11? Should we nuke everyone or blame our corporate industrial machine? Japanese tsunami ? Should we do everything we can to help a struggling nation, or laugh at their recycling efforts?

Let’s take climate change as another example. In the UK and many other nations, action on climate change has been a bipartisan effort where political parties try to “out green” one another. The Labour and Conservative parties show the public how their programs will maximize environmental benefits with reduced costs to industries. They know the science is settled and have actually put aside self-interest to avert catastrophic climate change. Their counterpart to the DOE is called the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Probably a laughable concept here.

Democrats and Republicans in the U.S., meanwhile, can only seem to partially agree on calling climate change issues “energy security.” It’s not surprising when “just 51 percent of Americans -- or one percentage point more than in 1998 -- said they worry a great deal or fair amount about climate change,” according to the latest Gallup poll. Why? It’s yet another polarized issue that has become split down the middle…the GOP wants to cater to business interests and the Dems want to rally their environmental base. Both want to shut each other out of legislation and have their way with it.

What if Americans demanded reason? Let’s continue to disagree on the science behind climate change…hell, we even continue to debate about evolution around these parts. Instead, let’s focus on risks. If nearly half of us don’t believe in climate change, but think it’s a possibility (even a glimmer of one), why not take action within reason and take a loss now? Is it better to take a 1% global GDP loss and make our industries more efficient and depend less on foreign oil….or should we wait and see if those damnable scientists are correct? Many economists debate how the costs of future climate change should be taken into account. It seems like an easy decision for me…at least if I take risk analysis into view and think about how I would make an investment decision.

Perhaps this is asking too much, but let’s drop climate change from partisan politics and move on with it. NOW.

The Multitudes of the Stupid

I read an article in the NYT today about “free electricity” and the hordes of renters who choose to leave their air conditioners on 24/7 throughout the hot summer. The jist: many property management companies offer free utilities, which result in super high electricity bills for their landlords due to rampant abuse (and detrimental environmental effects from the resulting burned coal). The article went on to talk about sub metering and how large rental companies are planning on curbing the abuse of electricity without a price tag.

This got me thinking about people who actually abuse their A/C and electricity use in general…and it’s not like it’s an uncommon phenomenon. Why do these people exist? What drives their mentality and lack of care for the world around them? Why do people believe they have a right to pollute and tame the wilderness?

My colleague talked about the notion of Manifest Destiny, that age old American concept that we have a God-given right to spread our ideas and technology throughout the New World. I think the abuse of the environment is tied inextricably to this American concept of “more is better.” Over consumption and a destructive attitude towards things we perceive as impediments to our destiny are traditional American values.

How do we change this mindset and attach a value to environmental preservation? Is federal or local regulation necessary, or is education and widespread behavior modification necessary? Sounds very 1984 of me…

Energy tax credits go to the home owners...

I try to be conscientious when looking out for a house to rent and ask the right questions. Simple questions, like, how much does it cost to heat & cool this place? Does it have good windows and insulation? Is my thermostat somehow controlled by another tenant?

Unfortunately I, like many renters out there, tend to be largely guided by the monthly rental price of the house/apartment in question. Particularly when you think of the college students and younger peeps looking for a place to call their temporary home, they're not exactly the most discerning. So we end up with rat holes that somehow manage to squeeze by city inspectors and cost a bare minimum to build. Heating and cooling these swiss cheese-like unites can be damn expensive...not only to our wallets, but to nature as well.

A whopping 39% of CO2 emissions in the US can be attributed to the residential and commercial building sector (more than transportation). It's mainly due to the energy needs to heat, cool, and light our buildings. Although we have begun to take steps (or half steps) in creating energy efficiency targets and incentives, who & what are we missing out on? RENTERS!

Landlords have zero incentives to make energy efficient changes in their rental units. Just to list a few, here are the federal tax credits available to primary homeowners, but not renters & their landlords:
* Windows and Doors
* Insulation
* Roofs
* HVACs
* Non-solar Water Heaters
* Biomass Stoves
* Fuel cells
Seriously? The worst windows I've seen aren't in people's primary houses...and the worst electricity bills are payable by the people who can least afford them. The DOE does offer a weatherization program that includes renters, though they have to seek permission from their landlords before applying. It would be interesting to find out how many renters have received assistance...

Even on a local level, my fair City of Lawrence offers a weatherization program that only target primary homeowners! Weatherization programs should target low-income households, where they are most in need.

Any thoughts as to why most federal, state, and local incentives seem to skip renters? Perhaps it's tied to voting?

Bicycling made easy

I have to say, I'm impressed with the City of Lawrence today. I had a lovely ride into downtown last night along the hiker-biker trail called Burroughs Creek (named for the Naked Lunch writer). The paved trail connects East Lawrence with the downtown area and spans north-south from 11th & Oregon to 23rd and Haskell. It's connected with the first converted rail trail in the State of Kansas, the Haskell Rail Trail. I created a small google map here.

First impressions: the city did something right. Perfect 10' width, plenty of treeline and vegetation alongside, and...most importantly, signage!! I know it's odd to get excited about a yield sign or a "steep curve ahead" arrow, but I've never seen anything like it in DC. You'd be lucky to find your way on trails like Rock Creek Park or Sligo Creek in suburban Maryland. Signage is usually regarded as unnecessary for cycling/hiking paths. I mean, these paths are just for recreation after all. Of course, a number of municipal planners would be surprised if they ever bothered to count the commuting cyclists who take advantage of designated pathways.

Other than the signage surprise, I also thought the major street crossings (like 19th and 13th) were very well done. Cyclists and hikers have a clear stop sign and a pedestrian crossing signal to use. Drivers are alerted ahead of time and advised to yield to crossing cyclists. Seems like a well developed plan overall. The only thing that needs improvement are these short barriers to keep out motorized vehicles...little if any reflective tape, so they're almost perfectly designed to topple over an unsuspecting cyclist or jogger at night. I sent a note to the city asking for illuminated signage or some kind of advanced notice.

Honestly, I can't imagine a better commute than a peaceful cycling trip down a quiet path (where cars can't mow you over out of spite). Lawrence should be proud of its new pathway and start advertising to get the message out. Let's push people to take advantage of their new alternative transportation options!

The Art of Self-Blame

I have to pause and take a deep breath when things go wrong between my wife and I. It’s almost always my fault, and yet my natural inclination is to point my finger at her, come up with a rational-sounding excuse as to why it’s completely, 100% her fault, and hope to get away with it. But even if I do get away with it (very rare), I end up feeling a smidgeon of guilt. Almost enough to make me regret it.

I feel the same way about the oil crisis in the Gulf of Mexico. Yes, it’s natural to blame BP, the federal government, and the fat oil men out there who have dominated energy politics for eons. And yet that’s not really getting to the source. I think you and I are ultimately complicit as the end users of this deep sea-gotten oil.

Sure, I try to be green and do what I can to help the environment, but like most, I do a mini- cost benefit analysis before choosing renewable sources, energy efficient products, etc. I ride my bike to work and do a little composting here and there, but you know what…I end up burning a lot of oil and gas that I pretend to thumb my nose at.

I won’t likely stop until there’s enough pressure on legislators and business to really create change in our energy marketplace. As long as subsidies and the status quo remain on the side of dirty fuel providers, I’m not likely to quit lighting my house or providing heat for my family. And as appealing as living “off the grid” might seem, it costs an arm and a leg.

So, the next time I see a picture of a egret trying to flap its oil-soaked wings and looking downright pitiful, I’ll likely feel a pang of guilt. And it’s well deserved until we ensure this doesn’t happen again.

Rotten Eggs: History Has No Place Here

Over the years I’ve had a difficult time melding together political views and trying to decide what I believe personally. I’m sure many of us have done this to some extent. We are taught by our parents that X is right and Y is the answer, then you learn later in life that this might all be hogwash.

I was a hardcore conservative until I went off to school and got all liberalized by my teachers. That’s how I (jokingly) like to think of my family’s perception of the events. In truth they have been very good natured about it. I’m allowed to hold my own beliefs and they playfully challenge these beliefs…mostly to have a debate that involves wit, self-composure, and ultimately love.

I guess you can say I never went full liberal…and my family doesn’t heartily endorse every proscribed declaration of the GOP . We like to think of ourselves as independents, like many Americans. Mainly I think it’s half-pretending…we’ll openly deliberate about the pros and cons of a local candidate for Congress, all the while knowing full well that we’ll vote along party lines. Then again, there are certain issues where you have to part with said party and stake out your own side.

The Washington Post and other major newspapers have recently focused on VA Governor McDonnell’s proclamation that April is designated “Confederate Month.” As one might guess, liberals and conservatives foam at the mouth, preparing to eviscerate the other over a war that happened over 140 years ago. Liberals believe that the Civil War was fought solely over slaves and that anyone who does not agree is an outright racist. Also, the Confederates were all slave-owners and the Yankees were abolitionist heroes.

Conservatives, on the other hand, cling to a battle flag that became a symbol of animosity and hatred during the Civil Rights era. They tend to gloss over the issue of slavery, which was indeed tied to other Civil War issues that they feel are not mentioned in history books(industrial vs. agrarian, states’ rights, tariffs).

Both sides have taken a piece of our history and distorted it beyond recognition. No, it’s not boiled down to a slavery-only, “the South lost and that’s that” oversimplification. No, it should not be a rallying call for racist rednecks and Neo Nazi propaganda. Our nation remained united as a consequence of the war…our ancestors who fought believed that they were honoring their families and homeland…slaves were freed as a result of the war.

There is cause for remembrance and history should not be a political tool for either party.