Date:         Tue, 26 Jun 2007 10:18:24 -0600
Reply-To:     Ryan Miller <rmiller@AZTECA.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ryan Miller <rmiller@AZTECA.COM>
Subject:      Green Vanagons Was: What is it with the US? (No real van content)
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2007062611420940@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

All of our vanagons are green. Simply by keeping them in good running order
(even if they don't get 30mpg) or by upgrading our engines to cleaner more
fuel efficient engines we are doing more than the person who dumps their
Hummer for a Prius. Why? Because one thing many people fail to recognize is
the cost (aka footprint) of production. An insanely huge amount of energy
and resources goes into producing one car. This production process also
produces a huge amount of waste and pollution, from the excess paint to the
toxic chemicals that are needed to clean sensitive computer processing
parts. By dumping one vehicle for another you haven't retired the first.
It's still out there polluting, just by someone else, and now one more car
has been placed on the road.

On a personal note, I have 3 cars (all bought used) and ride my bike to work
most days. So, I've effectively taken at least 2 cars off the road at any
given time. Shouldn't I get some sort of tax break? ;)

Ryan
'82 camper van 'Beethoven'
'96 Subaru Legacy
'72 Super Beetle convertible

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Karl Mullendore
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 9:41 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: What is it with the US? (No real van content)

That story paints a rather limited view of what's possible regarding
biodiesel. There are many more productive 'crops' like algae for biodiesel.
Yields of 1000 gallons per acre are possible.

What's needed is an awareness of how much WASTE we, the US population, are
responsible for. If everyone used half the fuel (or less) we would likely
not have to concern ourselves so much with this subject. I'm doing my part
best I can...I used approximately 130 gallons in my car in the past year,
about 50 percent of that was commercially refined recycled-fryer oil
biodiesel. I'd like to decrease that usage figure even further.


>While recycling fryer oil from the local fast food might be "green,"
>large scale biodiesel (or ethanol) production is not.
>http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/node/8353