Does Earth Hour actually help the environment? Fri, March 25, 2011
Do you plan on sitting in the dark this Saturday night?
Around the world, people will make the symbolic gesture of showing they support a cleaner world and lower-carbon lifestyle by raising their carbon output.
Earth Hour, started in 2007, encourages people to show their support for the planet by turning their lights off and enjoying the world by candlelight. The problem, of course, is for most Canadians that means turning off a low-carbon energy source and burning pure fossil fuels.
The absurdity is likely lost on most professional environmentalists.
electric motors have a far better power to weight ratio than combustion engines (less moving, energy draining parts). Hybrids use the electric for acceleration and the gas to maintain speed (only need 18 hp to maintain 60 mph). Its batteries that are the problem.
There are many alternatives to gasoline combustion engines.
The deterents to all are the all cost more than gasoline and aren't as safe or developed yet.
1) Propane-cleaner burning but still CO2 not co but you can breath it. Hotter burning engine reduces engine life. Gas tank is under pressure and can be dangerous in accident. Few places to fill up, need a license to fill car.
2) Natural gas- same as propane problems
3) Electric- need charging and batteries are still major issue. engines last forever with little maintenance needed and transmissions not needed. Charging puts drain on electric system which is already running at capacity. need more Nuclear plants for it. Doesn't perform as well in winter, battery life greatly diminished.
4) Solar- Technology way off on this still
5) Hydrogen- still expensive and no where to fill up, very clean, gives off water and oxygen
6) Hydrogen assist on combustion- expensive, high maintenance, dangerous. Does reduce greenhouse emmissions
7) Compressed air- This one is cool but has a dangerous high pressure cylinder in car and cold weather reduces performance.
8) Bio fuel- argued it causes more green house gas in making- would greatly increase price of food ($100 conrnflakes is a common report) still expensive
9) Diesel
10) human power- people don't like sweating, winter, wind, rain and the slow time
11) Horse drawn- the mennonites seem to do fine with it
So there are lots of alternatives. i laugh when people say they don't have a choice. they really mean they don't want to pay more for other modes and don't like it when their current choice gets more expensive.
wayne, 2008-02-26 15:00:35
I have to say, I never resort to name calling on here but this wayne sure makes me want to use the idiot word, when he says..
"They choose to live farther away from jobs in cheaper, bigger houses and polute the environment (something they moved to) morethan city people, so they should pay more and it is fair."
My God.
Is every person supposed to live in Vancouver.
You make it seem like all rural people commute into Vancouver to work
Did people born and raised and work in Prince George decide to pack up and leave Vancouver because it was cheaper?
You think everyone moved away from Vancouver and enjoy minus 25 temps for weeks on end and large heating bills'
I guess all those jobs in the BC interior and north, jobs that fuel the BC economy should all be moved to Vancouver and the Lower Mainland?
I mean that was just so stupid I think I will leave it at that
Triple EH?
tweetypie, 2008-02-26 13:02:48
Tweety looks up to the Liberal party of Canada like a young girl looks up to her Father ,Not with clarity but with adoration. You devalue the word Genius.
Micheal, 2008-02-26 11:30:15
"This is a typical Liberal move to screw people out of money and deliver nothing in return"
The government of BC, the only one to bring in a carbon tax, is very much RGHT WING
But I agree, this tax , then return of money to the taxpayer will do nothing.
The RIGHT WING DRUNK premier of BC says adding a 3 cent a liter tax on gas will encourage people to drive les.
In recent tears fuel prices have increase 40% and people are still driving more than ever in the Lower Mainland and still driving SUV,s into downtown Vancouver
EH?
tweetypie, 2008-02-26 09:51:37
Roger,
Widespread economic disruption is the only way to significantly alter our behaviour. People don't really believe their behaviour matters, it's always the other guy. To get people to cut back we'll have to increase the costs or legislate to FORCE people to change.
One example I think of is the following.
We're currently having the plastic bag debate in our city. One of the big proponents of a ban complained about the large number of plastic bags in her house. Why does she have plastic bags if she doesn't think she needs them? I want plastic bags, I just refuse or reuse.
The problem is there is no personal responsibility, even the environmental lobby feels free to pollute in order to protest the actions of others. Do they really think flying to Bali or firebombing a car dealership is good for the environment?
Matt, 2008-02-26 09:07:07
Tweety the king of misinformation.
Federal surplus announced today $13B.
Liberals through genius used the GST and free trade implemented by the Cons to get Canada out of debt.
To get back to the topic.
Trucking is the transfer of goods from one destination to another. Goods not made in that area. The farther away they are made, the farther away they are transported. The reason they are made far away is it cheaperthan making them closer to the consumer (YOU). The reason it is cheaper is because the cost of production and transportation is cheaper some where else. So if you make it more expensive to make somewhere else it becomes cheaper to make closer to you. IE Carbon tax on transportation saves MANUFACTURING JOBS CLOSE TO YOU. ISN"T THAT A BIG ISSUE TOO. KIND OF FUNNY HOW THIS CARBON TAX BECOMES A WIN WIN ISSUE.
Yes tweety you confirmed my point on a carbon tax affecting rural more than city people. They choose to live farther away from jobs in cheaper, bigger houses and polute the environment (something they moved to) morethan city people, so they should pay more and it is fair.
wayne, 2008-02-26 08:43:21
Tweetypie thank you and no worries. I wont buy fir products soley because it comes from china. But for fear taht it might and that it has been shown how they treat their animals. If for example Peta releases a video stating the same for canadian fir they I will type Canada beside China. However I still will not have any fur on my clothing. I don't even own a leather belt.
I didn't say.
" "Why should the government take more money than it needs to function" "
I do agree that they need a bit of a surplus for any disasters that may arise. Personally I would like the lowest amount of taxes as pssible, byt alas that is out of my hands.
It is bizzar. Does it matter if you use a barrel of oil for gasoline or a barrel of oil in making plastic, rubber, ashphalt (roads), carpet, plus many more products that people aren't aware of. It shold be for any oil product.
Dwain, 2008-02-26 03:48:43
To john 02-25 at 14:17
"I have yet to see ANYTHING the government was involved in turn out to be revenue neutral....it just doesn`t happen."
So the problem, then, is the honesty of politicians, not the effectiveness or appropiateness of the carbon tax.
Meanwhile our energy use, however, is NOT neutral, it causes a wide range of consequences. I haven't heard you suggest any means to address that on your own part, let alone across the broad board of Canadian society.
Or do you disagree that we have mounting envrironmental problems at all?
Roger Gagne, 2008-02-25 19:33:43
I fully expect to pay through the nose for all this BS. When was the last time you heard of a government doing something that was good for the common man. This is a typical Liberal move to screw people out of money and deliver nothing in return......
Osama Bin Nothin, 2008-02-25 16:35:52
Oh dear, where to begin?
Here I guess...
"tweety how does a carbon tax effect rural people more than city people"
What kind of a dense question is that?
People in Vancouver have a big transit system they can use and leave the car at home.
People in rural areas have no choice but to drive to work as there is no transit system
The more you drive the more carbon tax you pay
In Vancouver it rarely gets cold in the winter.
Heating bills are very low.
In northern rural areas it cam be very very cold for months,resulting in high heating bills meaning more carbon tax
wayne rightfully says..
"What kind of jiberish is revenue neutral. all taxes are supposed to be revenue neutral. What you pay should equal what you get in service."
I agree.This is what the government calls it and has had it written into law.You have a problem with that term, take it up with Gordon Campbell
"Did you know that when non-canadians enter canada they can apply for and get back the taxes"
Yes, I knew that.
AND?
If someone comes to BC for a day, and needs to get a tank of gas,they will pay the carbon tax on that gas.
Simple EH?
The carbon tax is nothing like the GST.
You say the carbon tax(which you know nothing about) in BC will be charged on all products, made in Canada.
ALL PRODUCTS?
No it wont be
Thats just plain silly
Dwain said to me, tweetypie..
"I said that I will never buy a product that contains fur."
And so you did, I missed that.I apologize.
But you really should just not buy products with fur, and not because you dont want to buy something from China
"Why should the government take more money than it needs to function"
Well because.No government can predict disasters or anything else that they need money for.
Being in deficit is just plain silly
"I also have questions on this carbon levy. Where will the money come to administer it?"
Again, the law says that this must be completly transparent.
Why ask me where the money will come from for that.
As I said to wayne, Ask Gordon Campbell
"Won't this encourage more air pollution (soot) through wood burning"
Not really as most urban areas have long since banned wood burning stoves within city limits
"Remember when Dalton lied to get elected the courts said that election promises aren't binding."
No.
"If the Liberals can't balance their own party books, why should we trust them with the countries?"
The Liberals through sheer genius saved Canada from sure bankruptcy which is where we were heade thanks to the CONS and Brian
"So then the BC government is just picking and choosing who has to pay for being a poluter?? I'm confused I assumed it was across the board."
Everyone pays, even the companies who are doing the most polluting.
But this silly right wing government in BC then turned around and gave all those big polluters other tax breaks.The thinking(?) being by giving them tax breaks it will enable them to come up with ways to not polute so much.
Does Earth Hour actually help the environment? 
electric motors have a far better power to weight ratio than combustion engines (less moving, energy draining parts). Hybrids use the electric for acceleration and the gas to maintain speed (only need 18 hp to maintain 60 mph). Its batteries that are the problem.
There are many alternatives to gasoline combustion engines.
The deterents to all are the all cost more than gasoline and aren't as safe or developed yet.
1) Propane-cleaner burning but still CO2 not co but you can breath it. Hotter burning engine reduces engine life. Gas tank is under pressure and can be dangerous in accident. Few places to fill up, need a license to fill car.
2) Natural gas- same as propane problems
3) Electric- need charging and batteries are still major issue. engines last forever with little maintenance needed and transmissions not needed. Charging puts drain on electric system which is already running at capacity. need more Nuclear plants for it. Doesn't perform as well in winter, battery life greatly diminished.
4) Solar- Technology way off on this still
5) Hydrogen- still expensive and no where to fill up, very clean, gives off water and oxygen
6) Hydrogen assist on combustion- expensive, high maintenance, dangerous. Does reduce greenhouse emmissions
7) Compressed air- This one is cool but has a dangerous high pressure cylinder in car and cold weather reduces performance.
8) Bio fuel- argued it causes more green house gas in making- would greatly increase price of food ($100 conrnflakes is a common report) still expensive
9) Diesel
10) human power- people don't like sweating, winter, wind, rain and the slow time
11) Horse drawn- the mennonites seem to do fine with it
So there are lots of alternatives. i laugh when people say they don't have a choice. they really mean they don't want to pay more for other modes and don't like it when their current choice gets more expensive.
wayne, 2008-02-26 15:00:35
"They choose to live farther away from jobs in cheaper, bigger houses and polute the environment (something they moved to) morethan city people, so they should pay more and it is fair."
My God.
Is every person supposed to live in Vancouver.
You make it seem like all rural people commute into Vancouver to work
Did people born and raised and work in Prince George decide to pack up and leave Vancouver because it was cheaper?
You think everyone moved away from Vancouver and enjoy minus 25 temps for weeks on end and large heating bills'
I guess all those jobs in the BC interior and north, jobs that fuel the BC economy should all be moved to Vancouver and the Lower Mainland?
I mean that was just so stupid I think I will leave it at that
Triple EH?
tweetypie, 2008-02-26 13:02:48
Micheal, 2008-02-26 11:30:15
The government of BC, the only one to bring in a carbon tax, is very much RGHT WING
But I agree, this tax , then return of money to the taxpayer will do nothing.
The RIGHT WING DRUNK premier of BC says adding a 3 cent a liter tax on gas will encourage people to drive les.
In recent tears fuel prices have increase 40% and people are still driving more than ever in the Lower Mainland and still driving SUV,s into downtown Vancouver
EH?
tweetypie, 2008-02-26 09:51:37
Widespread economic disruption is the only way to significantly alter our behaviour. People don't really believe their behaviour matters, it's always the other guy. To get people to cut back we'll have to increase the costs or legislate to FORCE people to change.
One example I think of is the following.
We're currently having the plastic bag debate in our city. One of the big proponents of a ban complained about the large number of plastic bags in her house. Why does she have plastic bags if she doesn't think she needs them? I want plastic bags, I just refuse or reuse.
The problem is there is no personal responsibility, even the environmental lobby feels free to pollute in order to protest the actions of others. Do they really think flying to Bali or firebombing a car dealership is good for the environment?
Matt, 2008-02-26 09:07:07
Federal surplus announced today $13B.
Liberals through genius used the GST and free trade implemented by the Cons to get Canada out of debt.
To get back to the topic.
Trucking is the transfer of goods from one destination to another. Goods not made in that area. The farther away they are made, the farther away they are transported. The reason they are made far away is it cheaperthan making them closer to the consumer (YOU). The reason it is cheaper is because the cost of production and transportation is cheaper some where else. So if you make it more expensive to make somewhere else it becomes cheaper to make closer to you. IE Carbon tax on transportation saves MANUFACTURING JOBS CLOSE TO YOU. ISN"T THAT A BIG ISSUE TOO. KIND OF FUNNY HOW THIS CARBON TAX BECOMES A WIN WIN ISSUE.
Yes tweety you confirmed my point on a carbon tax affecting rural more than city people. They choose to live farther away from jobs in cheaper, bigger houses and polute the environment (something they moved to) morethan city people, so they should pay more and it is fair.
wayne, 2008-02-26 08:43:21
I didn't say.
" "Why should the government take more money than it needs to function" "
I do agree that they need a bit of a surplus for any disasters that may arise. Personally I would like the lowest amount of taxes as pssible, byt alas that is out of my hands.
It is bizzar. Does it matter if you use a barrel of oil for gasoline or a barrel of oil in making plastic, rubber, ashphalt (roads), carpet, plus many more products that people aren't aware of. It shold be for any oil product.
Dwain, 2008-02-26 03:48:43
"I have yet to see ANYTHING the government was involved in turn out to be revenue neutral....it just doesn`t happen."
So the problem, then, is the honesty of politicians, not the effectiveness or appropiateness of the carbon tax.
Meanwhile our energy use, however, is NOT neutral, it causes a wide range of consequences. I haven't heard you suggest any means to address that on your own part, let alone across the broad board of Canadian society.
Or do you disagree that we have mounting envrironmental problems at all?
Roger Gagne, 2008-02-25 19:33:43
Osama Bin Nothin, 2008-02-25 16:35:52
Here I guess...
"tweety how does a carbon tax effect rural people more than city people"
What kind of a dense question is that?
People in Vancouver have a big transit system they can use and leave the car at home.
People in rural areas have no choice but to drive to work as there is no transit system
The more you drive the more carbon tax you pay
In Vancouver it rarely gets cold in the winter.
Heating bills are very low.
In northern rural areas it cam be very very cold for months,resulting in high heating bills meaning more carbon tax
wayne rightfully says..
"What kind of jiberish is revenue neutral. all taxes are supposed to be revenue neutral. What you pay should equal what you get in service."
I agree.This is what the government calls it and has had it written into law.You have a problem with that term, take it up with Gordon Campbell
"Did you know that when non-canadians enter canada they can apply for and get back the taxes"
Yes, I knew that.
AND?
If someone comes to BC for a day, and needs to get a tank of gas,they will pay the carbon tax on that gas.
Simple EH?
The carbon tax is nothing like the GST.
You say the carbon tax(which you know nothing about) in BC will be charged on all products, made in Canada.
ALL PRODUCTS?
No it wont be
Thats just plain silly
Dwain said to me, tweetypie..
"I said that I will never buy a product that contains fur."
And so you did, I missed that.I apologize.
But you really should just not buy products with fur, and not because you dont want to buy something from China
"Why should the government take more money than it needs to function"
Well because.No government can predict disasters or anything else that they need money for.
Being in deficit is just plain silly
"I also have questions on this carbon levy. Where will the money come to administer it?"
Again, the law says that this must be completly transparent.
Why ask me where the money will come from for that.
As I said to wayne, Ask Gordon Campbell
"Won't this encourage more air pollution (soot) through wood burning"
Not really as most urban areas have long since banned wood burning stoves within city limits
"Remember when Dalton lied to get elected the courts said that election promises aren't binding."
No.
"If the Liberals can't balance their own party books, why should we trust them with the countries?"
The Liberals through sheer genius saved Canada from sure bankruptcy which is where we were heade thanks to the CONS and Brian
"So then the BC government is just picking and choosing who has to pay for being a poluter?? I'm confused I assumed it was across the board."
Everyone pays, even the companies who are doing the most polluting.
But this silly right wing government in BC then turned around and gave all those big polluters other tax breaks.The thinking(?) being by giving them tax breaks it will enable them to come up with ways to not polute so much.
Bizzare, I know
EH?
tweetypie, 2008-02-25 15:57:54