Today, I spotted a new electrical box on the wall behind our two parking spots for a future EV. Along with almost half of our building’s residents we opted to pay to have the wiring installed. This was expensive with long cable runs to connect each charger to control equipment in a distant room, so I’m impressed by the number of neighbors who participated.
Category: Climate Change
Air Quality
On our Sunday morning walk, the air quality seemed to be improving as we looked towards Downtown from Boom Island. Yesterday, we could smell, taste, and see the smoke pollution from the Canadian wildfires.
Bullet Train vs. Plane
Posted Bullet Train vs. Plane.
Bullet Train vs. Plane
This evening I flew 700 miles from Sendai (Miyagi) to Fukuoka rather than taking three bullet trains. At the time of booking I was happy to pay $66 extra to fly. Current wisdom says flying has advantages over high-speed rail for journeys over about 500 miles (about 800 km). This data seems reasonable if we… Continue reading Bullet Train vs. Plane
Tasting the Air
As I pedalled I could taste the air. Because of Canadian forest fires, exacerbated by drought, we have the poorest air quality ever measured in Minnesota. Meanwhile, another mile of shale oil extracted from the Bakken formation of North Dakota made its way east.
(Almost) Self-Sustaining Building
On our walk: a mill worker depicted at the Pillsbury A-Mill. Completed in 1881, it was the world’s largest flour mill for 40 years. Today the building is well-appointed artist lofts; a hydroelectric generator, combined with geothermal, produces 75% of the building’s energy needs.
Travel Gear: The Carbon Footprint of Hiking Boots
I’ll soon be crossing The Pond to hike in my beaten-up boots. At the end of the trip the boots might be good for a few more day hikes. All this leaves me with The Big Question: Should I bring the boots home to the USA at the end of my trip? The Carbon Footprint… Continue reading Travel Gear: The Carbon Footprint of Hiking Boots
Footprints
Posted Travel Gear: The Carbon Footprint of Hiking Boots.