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BANG FOR THE BITE
If 10,000 Biters stop buying imported bottled water for a year, we'll save enough oil to fill 267,818 liter-sized reusable water bottles.
COCKTAIL FACT
Bling H2O-brand spring water (from TN) comes in a 750 mL glass bottle studded with Swarovski crystals, and retails for $40.
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home › tip library › Embodied Energy
What kind of oil are you gulping?
The Bite
Extra-virgin, but of course. But all of us are consuming petroleum too, since it goes into the energy it takes to produce, transport, refrigerate, market, and dispose of products (embodied energy). Next time you shop, consider the embodied energy of what you're buying.The Benefits
- Less overall energy use. Creating that plastic bottle of H20 you chug after a workout involves water pumping, bottling, plastic manufacturing, label printing, shipping, store refrigeration, and advertising. And that's before you drink it and throw it away. Whew.
- Less oil consumption. An imported, one-liter plastic water bottle uses 1/4-liter of oil (and that's just for the pumping, bottling, and shipping).
- Longer lasting products. When you consider embodied energy at the store, you'll be inclined to pick better quality products (like a reusable water bottle) that last longer.
- Money savings. Not paying for that extra energy makes for cheaper products. Example? Average tap water costs $0.0015 per gallon while a 16-oz bottle can cost up to $2.
Personally Speaking
We all know Heather drinks a lotta Italian wine in spite of the fact that she lives a mere drunken stumble away from CA wine country. But she's gradually finding CA varietals that she doesn't have to be tipsy to enjoy.Wanna Try?
- Cradle to Cradle - this incredibly popular book offers an in-depth look at how changing the way we create our products can change the world ($25).
- How Products Impact - an easy-does-it explanation of a product's full lifecycle.
Oct 01,2007
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All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.
My Brain Hurts
A year ago, I'd totally pledged allegiance to the going-local thing. Of course, somebody had to go and ruin my party.
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
So it's not so simple - now what? As the Bite says, I think we can start by just educating ourselves about how the stuff we buy is produced, and when we can - dare I say it? - buy less stuff.
-Toshio...off to think about something a little less perplexing...
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
So it's not so simple - now what? As the Bite says, I think we can start by just educating ourselves about how the stuff we buy is produced, and when we can - dare I say it? - buy less stuff.
-Toshio...off to think about something a little less perplexing...
Biter Comments...
The two "exhibit" articles were a good read, but I think one thing they neglect in their criticism of organic farming is sustainability. Yes, you can get a lot more of a crop out of a conventional plot in a year, but over time you have to use more and more fertilizer (which is still largely petroleum-based). Most of the local food I buy is not certified organic, but is grown using sustainable practices designed to be as earth-friendly as possible. And going local has more benefits that just minimizing the fuel usage - it keeps money in the local economy. If you're like me and live in an economically depressed area (NW PA has been hurt hard by "free trade" agreements and outsourcing to Asia), you can easily see the benefit of putting your food dollars into local hands rather than into large agribusiness.
Now, the daily tip makes a very good point - the ubiquitous water bottle and other forms of waste (packaging, etc.) can easily be minimized. That's something we can all do, regardless of our other decisions and practices.
Oh dear, it seems Heather may be a little behind the times. If you can't find outstanding varietals in California, you just aren't looking hard enough. I'd give her a tour except I was just there and want nothing more now than a good local beer!
Buy a reusable bottle-
Buy a Britta water filter (or something similar) and container-replace filter about every 6 mos. Or one that goes on your faucet.
Use water from your tap-
Pour into fabulous "you" bottle!
Hit the road.
Viola.
I know that charcoal filter has to be thrown away-but far less often that the bazillions of plasteek bottles. that are made every day and tossed.
With food, the key would be buying things in season. We are spoiled consumers with strawberries year round. When I was growing up, we had strawberries in the late spring and early summer and melons in late summer. Now we have access to them year round. Same for other fruits and vegetables. Locally grown in season fruits and vegetables should have a lower overall impact than imported items. However you can't just look at the C02 content like one of the articles above. While that is a factor, there are other issues as well. Land degradation, pesticides that are in use, waterway degradation, livable wages, local biodiversity and many more things have to be taken into account.
When buying products look at where they are manufactured, whether the people earn a decent wage, whether the government cares about their welfare, and how things are made. All of these have impacts on the environment. Look at the recalls over the last year to see the impacts some of these decisions cause.
Also try to purchase products that will last a lifetime, not just the current trend.
Thank you Wayne-
A good place to start is at home, of course.
Buying local or growing your own is the best way.
I also recommend The Hunger Site www.thehungersite.com for products that are manufactured by people who are given a livable wage for their work. And you are contributing a percentage to their welfare when you click on the site each day.
Buying products that last for years is always the most sensible and earth-honoring way to live.
Evelyn--Granite Springs Winery in El Dorado County, California makes a very fine Sauvignon Blanc. A little buttery to start with a nice clean finish, not too sweet or too dry like some SBs. I discovered it on my last tour of the Sierra Nevada foothills wineries and was very pleased. Actually, most of the wines coming out of this area are very pleasant, I hit up the local vineyards several times a year for free tastings, tours and to stock my wine "cellar".
Heather--I'd be glad to take you on a tour to discover good wines, in California it's really surprising if you haven't found something you like!
I will look for any excuse to rethink my green choices. While I am thinking, I don't have to act. :)
Sounds familiar?
la marguerite
'The Hours of a Green Girl Wannabe'
http://lamarguerite.wordpress.com
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Evelyn | October 01, 2007 at 05:32 AM