How would you solve it?

[Boerseun]

There was this interesting program on the radio today, where people had to phone in and lay any sort of complaint. And after laying their complaint, they had to propose a solution. It's gotta be a real-world, workable, affordable solution.
So I thought, why not try the same thing here? Everybody's forever complaining about Global Warming or pollution or energy issues - in this thread, you must lay a complaint or state an issue, and then propose a possible solution. Provided, of course, that the issue is scientifically relevant. In other words, no complaints about the Hare Krishnas or Jehova's witnesses or the guy who crashed into your car the other day!

[Boerseun]

Just to start it off...

Global warming, pollution, etc. Y'all know the issues behind this, so I'm not going to rehash it. However...

My solution:
I think if we get away, somehow, from the American approach to life, living in excess, having three cars when one would do perfectly well, would be a big benefit.
Apart from that - with the energy crisis looming over the horizon, why exactly can't we selectively light streets? Say, for instance, having every second or third streetlight be switched off?
In Cape Town, South Africa, 60% of all electricity consumption goes into street lighting. We can free up up to 30% op Cape Town's total power demand if we did something like this - thereby lowering the amount of coal that needs to go into the boilers.
Look at any city's skyline at night. Bright lights all over the show, and empty streets. Those lights are burning to nobody's benefit.

Thoughts? Or solutions to new issues?

[zadojla]

Originally Posted by Boerseun

I think if we get away, somehow, from the American approach to life, living in excess, having three cars when one would do perfectly well, would be a big benefit.

Does it matter if we have three cars if we only drive one at a time?

[Boerseun]

Originally Posted by zadojla

Does it matter if we have three cars if we only drive one at a time?

I would certainly think so - it takes an enormous amount of resources to build cars, and if you can only drive one at a time, why have three?

[orbsycli]

i can only play one guitar at a time, but i have many.
they all have distinct tones, they all play differently, they all hold sentimental value.
i think you can use this to explain why you would ahve more than one car.

[zadojla]

Originally Posted by Boerseun

I would certainly think so - it takes an enormous amount of resources to build cars, and if you can only drive one at a time, why have three?

So I can drive to work (there is no public transportation). So my wife is not trapped at home while I'm away. A car in reserve (one-time purchase opportunity) for when my daughter leaves for college next year.
Generally, only one car is in use at a time, so I'm using them up 1/3 as fast as one car. Between my wife and me, we drive a total of almost 40,000 miles per year.
If I still lived in New York City, I wouldn't own any cars. I'd just rent one for vacations.

[zadojla]

Originally Posted by orbsycli

i can only play one guitar at a time, but i have many.
they all have distinct tones, they all play differently, they all hold sentimental value.
i think you can use this to explain why you would ahve more than one car.

That's a little different than cars, but it's certainly the same as why I own over 20 chess sets. Each one pleases me in some way.

[zadojla]

Originally Posted by Boerseun

In Cape Town, South Africa, 60% of all electricity consumption goes into street lighting.

I lived in New York City during the energy crisis in the 70's. NYC was also in severe financial difficulty at the time. All highways in NYC were lit for their entire length.
As a cost saving measure, the highway lights were turned off. Serious and fatal accidents skyrocketed. They finally conpromised by turning the lights on at interchanges only.

[zadojla]

A major problem in metropolitan areas is violent crime. This is a major impetus for gun control in the United States. I propose instead that all adult citizens be required to carry sidearms for protection.

[orbsycli]

Originally Posted by zadojla

A major problem in metropolitan areas is violent crime. This is a major impetus for gun control in the United States. I propose instead that all adult citizens be required to carry sidearms for protection.

i think this would just give more people an excuse to kill..