Dear Umbra,
My girlfriend recently made a trip by train (about 600 kilometers, I'd guess), and it made me wonder just how much more ecological it is to travel by train instead of by car. What's your take on this?
Michael
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Dearest Canadian Michael,
The train, it is better. The car, it is the worst. That is my take, and I found a legitimate source that agrees -- namely, my favorite book. Let's all recite together: The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices, from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
All aboard.
Photo: Gareth Hill.
The UCS compiled its research, and the research of others, into an easy-to-understand table on page 57 of the paperback edition (for those of you who are following along at home). The table includes trains, airplanes, cars and trucks, motorcycles, and intercity buses. I've tried to understand original mobile-source emissions data from various government sources and, let me tell you, I'm concerned, but I ain't no scientist. We want data per passenger mile, and we want it for a huge range of information. How much fuel is consumed? How many people are on the typical run from Quebec to Ottawa? Do we measure only greenhouse gases? How about the impact of manufacturing trains and automobiles? What about the small pretzel packets on the train vs. the large bag of potato chips in the car?
Praise Hermes, the UCS is here to help. It evaluated the impacts of different forms of transport in terms of global warming, air pollution, water pollution, and habitat alteration. Trains definitely come out ahead of cars, with better ratings in all subcategories except common air pollution and land use. (Data are for U.S. trains, by the way. Canadian rail may have better emission controls that bring the air pollution number down.)
But the important take-home message is that your girlfriend is a righteous eco-head. Second important take-home message: Buy the book. It's $15 U.S., $21 Canadian. Easy to read, simple charts even a research assistant can understand, and chock-full of answers to the questions that stuff my mailbox. I'm happy to remind you all about it every few months, but I think you'll be happier with me and with yourselves if you each get a copy of your very own.
Naggingly,
Umbra
This Friday, don’t just Buy Nothing—use nothing!
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Storm Dragon Posted 1:23 am
04 Mar 2005
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Hodbrid Posted 6:46 pm
06 Sep 2007
Just a reminder,your vehicle's catalytic converter plays an essential role in reducing harmful emissions. When your catalytic converter is working properly it successfully changes auto emissions into harmless water vapor. When your catalytic converter is malfunctioning, the pollutants leaving your vehicle can exacerbate local pollution levels.There are four ways for you to determine whether your catalytic converter needs replacing or not:1.Busted or rusted out converter body or end tubes.2.Small pieces of substrate in other areas of the exhaust system.3.No rattle in a pellitized converter (If the converter does not rattle, the pellets may have melted together or fallen out).4.A rattle in a monolithic converter (A rattle in this kind of converter indicates the substrate has separated.)If you are unable to determine failure your state, provincial, or local vehicle inspection program will reveal that to you the next time your car comes up for inspection. If your car fails its inspection, you will have to replace your catalytic converter before you car can be passed.Replacement of your catalytic converter is a procedure that can be done by professionals such as through your dealer's service department, through a muffler shop, or by a local garage. If you are handy, you can do the work yourself and save money on parts as well as on labor costs.Only purchase a catalytic converter that meets or exceeds your vehicle.I have here my catalytic converter as well as my Dodge fuel injectors, and I am well satisfied with it...Again, driving without a catalytic converter is illegal and the potential harm you create to the atmosphere simply isn't worth it
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