<Green Tallahassee>

energy efficiency, green buildings, slow foods, hybrid cars and alternate fuels.
"A society built on green design, sustainable energy and closed loop systems, a civilization afloat on a cloud of efficient, non-toxic, recyclable technology."
Alex Nikolai Steffan.

Green Food Tallahasee

Now at Green Food : Shouldn't we all Squish our Fruit TOGETHER??
Updated listings of local farms and grower's markets

Visit Green Tallahassee Calendar
for Green Things To Do

Green Musings

LAUNCH A GREEN CAREER

Tallahassee Community College provides short-term classroom instruction and hands-on training including: Your Role in the Green Environment, Introduction to Solar Thermal Systems and Introduction to Photovoltaic Systems.

TCC Wakulla Center presents the Green Guide Certification Program through the Wakulla Ecotourism Institute, with 90 contact hours of classroom and field-based training.
Also offering nature based classes and field trips. The Ecotourism Institute membership program offers the opportunity to participate in special events, classes and field trips at a reduced rate.

2008 GREEN TOP TEN

Bike There!
Schools Reducing Pollution and Saving Energy?
Hypermiler or Just a Crazy Driver?
Bringing Energy Efficiency to All City Residents?
Leon County Climate Action
No Illegal Clotheslines in Florida
Solar Powered Golf Cart - Student Prize
USBG Green House Gets Gold
Hybrid Honda Nostalgia
Gainesville Buys Solar

THINKING TRAVEL?

Offset Your Carbon

Support your local, independent bookstores by ordering these and more!
Find Indie Store locations and directions on your iPhone using Google Maps.
Download NPR Content - reviews, interviews and more
Get your IndieBound Wish List is up-to-date

READING SHELF:
Books by Tallahassee nature writer, Susan Cerulean, Florida Wildlife Viewing Guide and Tracking Desire: A Journey After Swallowed-tail Kites
Susan is also an editor of Between Two Rivers and The Wild Heart of Florida

Paving Paradise: Florida's Vanishing Wetlands and the Failure of No Net Loss by Craig Pittman and Matthew Waite explains how and why the state's wetlands are continuing to disappear

IGNITION - What You Can Do To Fight Global Warming and Spark a Movement, edited by Jonathan Isham and Sissel Waage

PEAK EVERYTHING: Waking Up to the Century of Decline by Richard Heinberg

Solar House Designs by David Bainbridge, Judy Corbett and John Hofacre

ECOVILLAGES: A Practical Guide to
Sustainable Communities by Jan Martin Bang

Mirage: Florida and the Vanishing Water of the Eastern U.S. by Cynthia Barnett

Calculate Your
Carbon Emissions

What's your carbon footprint on the environment? Calculate Your Own Carbon Footprint.

Where to find alternative fuel in
Tallahassee?

Florida now has over 2,000 stations offering E-85 fuel.
Kangaroo/BP 3500 Monroe Street, Available Fuel: E-85*

Waco Food Store/Gas Mart 8120 Woodville Highway, Available Fuel B-20**

* E-85: An alternative fuel Flex-Fuel) comprised of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline
**B-20: Diesel fuel blended with 20% or less biodiesel

Share A Ride!

Commuter Services of North Florida

LEON COUNTY is a member of ICLEI, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives.

City of Tallahassee is a designated GOLD green city.
It is the first city in Florida to receive this designation from the Florida Green Building Coalition.

Green Tallahassee is a
Supporting Member of

FLORIDA CITIES RANK

TONS OF CARBON EMITTED PER PERSON TOP RANKING – 100 BEING HIGHEST EMISSIONS

# 81. Sarasota/Bradenton/ Venice

# 80. Jacksonville

# 70. Cape Coral/Fort Myers

# 54. Orlando

# 59. Palm Bay/Melbourne/ Titusville

# 47. Tampa/St. Petersburg/ Clearwater

# 28. Miami/Fort Lauderdale/Miami Beach
source: Brookings Institution
May 2008

Saturday, June 28, 2008

HYPERMILER or JUST A CRAZY DRIVER?

Flying in from Ft. Lauderdale (carbon offset paid in advance--the best I can do when traveling for work), I noticed that the cabin, usually a toe-numbing freezing temperature, began to warm as we descended. It was almost uncomfortably warm by the time we "deplaned" (airline for: we got off the plane). To save energy, some airlines are now turning off the air conditioning before landing, asking passengers to lower the window shades and open the air vents before leaving.

Green Readers have been reading about and discussing hypermiling as a way to squeeze a few more miles per gallon from their vehicles. This brings us back to the open the windows or run the air conditioner debate. With a nod to hypermilers everywhere, I decided to forgo the air conditioning in the morning when it's still cool(ish) and the drive has not been uncomfortable. In the afternoons, I have begun turning off the air conditioner when I am still about a mile from home, not opening the windows and arriving home without complaint.

Other simple techniques are coasting (I have a five speed), driving the speed limit--or less (is the guy behind me trying to draft off my car or is he just an annoying tailgater?), keeping the air pressure in my tires inflated correctly and timing stop lights while practicing those eeeeasy starts.

One thing I did learn is "ridge riding," driving off center in lanes which lessens the resistance by driving out of the worn tracks left in the pavement by traffic. Also, good for driving in the rain.

More techniques, gauges you can buy to monitor every ounce of gasoline and spreadsheets you can harass your friends with are available at CleanMPG and Greenhybrid.

Labels: cleanMPG, green hybrid, Hypermiler, saving gasoline

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posted by Green Tallahassee @ 12:08 PM

1 Comments:

At 6/29/2008 8:29 AM, Dani said…

Thanks for leaving such a nice comment on my blog yesterday. I've had such a great morning reading through your posts. What a great blog you have!!