I spent 30 years as a analysis scientist at NASA’s Goddard House Flight Heart earlier than retiring in 2005. Throughout my time at NASA, I noticed compelling proof of world warming by means of satellite tv for pc imagery, which documented an nearly ice-free Arctic Ocean in the summertime for the primary time ever. We additionally famous that over the past 50 years, about 90% of the world’s mountain glaciers have been retreating. The atmospheric carbon dioxide knowledge from Mauna Loa in Hawaii present constant will increase, reaching ranges not seen for hundreds of thousands of years. I belief the calculations of atmospheric physicists relating to the human-induced rise in CO2 and its correlation with international warming. Moreover, I help the conclusions of Mark Jacobson from Stanford College, which counsel that changing 80% of world vitality manufacturing to photovoltaic photo voltaic and wind vitality, together with round 15% from hydroelectric sources, is each possible and economically useful. Jacobson additionally outlines the practicality of transitioning practically all manufacturing, transportation, heating, and cooling programs to rely totally on electrical energy.
At a private degree, my household and I’ve taken a number of steps over the previous decade to cut back our carbon footprint. Right here’s a breakdown of our initiatives and the challenges we have confronted.
Our Clear Vitality Initiatives Over the Previous 10+ Years:
- 2010: Transitioned all house lighting to compact fluorescent bulbs.
- 2014: Leased a 2014 Nissan Leaf with an 81-mile vary for $200/month.
- 2015: Put in 20 photo voltaic panels on our house in Utah.
- 2016: Leased a 2016 Nissan Leaf with a 107-mile vary.
- 2017: My brother bought a Tesla Mannequin S.
- 2017: Acquired a 2017 Nissan Leaf with a 150-mile vary.
- 2018: My daughter purchased a Tesla Mannequin X.
- 2019: Bought a Tesla Mannequin 3 with a 310-mile vary.
- 2020: Transformed all lighting in each properties to extremely environment friendly LED bulbs.
- 2020: My daughter acquired an electrical golf cart.
- 2024: My brother upgraded to a Tesla Mannequin Y.
- 2024: Purchased one other electrical golf cart.
- 2024: Bought a battery-powered leaf blower.
- 2024: Acquired an electrical lawnmower for $650.
Over the previous decade, I’ve additionally purchased 5 battery-electric bicycles, which assist me keep energetic at age 84. Nonetheless, I presently have two bicycles I can’t repair because of prices and battery availability.
Evaluating Our Efforts and Their Affect
Whereas we’re not totally fossil fuel-free—our properties nonetheless use pure fuel, and we’ve got gas-powered boats and older autos—we’ve considerably lowered our carbon footprint. About 90% of our car utilization is now electrical, and we have electrified our vitality consumption wherever possible.
I vividly bear in mind winter journeys in my first Nissan Leaf, bundled up in a number of layers to preserve heating vitality, but nonetheless needing to cost throughout a 90-mile spherical journey to the airport. These days, our Tesla Mannequin 3 manages the identical journey with spectacular autonomy, and concerns about vary are a factor of the previous.
The shift to the longer-range Leaf autos eased native journey however made cross-country journeys difficult till we acquired the Tesla Mannequin 3, together with Tesla’s intensive Supercharger community, which remodeled long-distance journey for EVs.
We have now additionally reworked a 125-year-old cabin in Northern Wisconsin the place we spend over 5 months every summer season. Beforehand, we might load up a Toyota Highlander with every little thing, however now we’ve downsized our transportation must the Tesla Mannequin 3, making our packing rather more environment friendly.
Electrical Garden Mower Insights
My son had preliminary reluctance to change to an electrical lawnmower, preferring the efficiency of our former fuel mower. Nonetheless, utilizing the EGO electrical lawnmower requires us to separate the mowing activity into two periods, as we discovered that one battery would not suffice for your entire garden. Regardless of this, my grandson enjoys utilizing the electrical mower.
Photo voltaic Panel Issues
The photo voltaic panels we put in not report their output, as the corporate that put in them has gone out of enterprise, however my low electrical energy payments counsel they’re nonetheless efficient. In spring, my invoice can drop to as little as $9/month, and even in winter, it stays under $100. Nonetheless, with an almost 30-year-old roof, we face the necessity to take away and reinstall the panels quickly. Sadly, our Wisconsin property lacks ample daylight because of surrounding timber, resulting in greater winter electrical energy prices because of heating wants when visitors are current.
LED Lighting Expertise
5 years in the past, I bought over 100 LED bulbs at a discount worth to switch incandescent ones all through our properties. Most of those bulbs are nonetheless functioning nicely, though a couple of have failed sooner than their anticipated lifespan.
Unfinished Clear Vitality Transitions
Regardless of our efforts to undertake electrical options, we nonetheless have a standard Alumacraft boat with a polluting two-stroke outboard motor. Whereas I supposed to improve to an electrical outboard, the steep price of $3,510 for a small motor and far greater costs for bigger ones meant we opted for a brand new, lower-emission 15 hp four-stroke Mercury outboard as an alternative.
Transportation concerns for our household included buying a ten-year-old Acura sedan as an reasonably priced possibility for our son, regardless of it not being an electrical car.
As an avid water skier, I cherish time spent with my grandchildren on the water. Whereas my aggressive days are behind me, our household continues to take pleasure in snowboarding collectively. Nonetheless, we stay challenged to seek out reasonably priced electrical options for our water-skiing pursuits, because the newly obtainable electrical ski boats include prohibitively excessive costs.
Moreover, each my properties in Utah and Wisconsin primarily depend on fossil fuel for heating. I aspire to change to warmth pumps, however monetary limitations hinder that transition.
Conclusion
General, whereas we’ve got made significant strides in adopting clear vitality practices, appreciable challenges stay in transitioning to totally sustainable residing. I stay dedicated to exploring additional clear vitality options inside our means.
