Dear K,
Thanks for your email.
You bring up several important issues.
Some contextualization...
Duke Energy has started sending monthly graphs showing how much energy "my home" uses in comparison to "The Average Home" and "The Energy Efficient Home."
As it happens, I use 1/3rd as much energy as an "Energy Efficient Home" and about a quarter as much as an "Average Home."
At the moment I cannot tell you how much natural gas my furnace consumes but, on a typical winter's day, I run the furnace a few hours with the thermostat set at 64 degrees and lower the setting to 48 degrees over night.
Starting with The Great Recession I have cut back on driving so that -- in a typical month -- I consume 80% as much gasoline as "your average Joe."
Furthermore, I get 34 miles per gallon which is 10 miles per gallon more than the mpg of a typical American car. (The actual "fleet average" in 2013 was 24.1 mpg, up 0.1 mile from 2012)
I have also reverted to my childhood habit of bathing once a week -- and do a very full load of wash every three weeks -- so that my water consumption is far lower than most.
Prompted by your email, I investigated the environmental impact of "flying" and was surprised to find the following summary at Wikipedia.
As it happens, I use 1/3rd as much energy as an "Energy Efficient Home" and about a quarter as much as an "Average Home."
Environmental impact of aviation
Wikipedia
Greenhouse gas emissions per passenger kilometre
Averaged emissions
Emissions of passenger aircraft per passenger kilometre vary extensively because of differing factors such as the size and type aircraft, the altitude and the percentage of passenger or freight capacity of a particular flight, and the distance of the journey and number of stops en route. Also, the effect of a given amount of emissions on climate (radiative forcing) is greater at higher altitudes: see below. Some representative figures for CO2 emissions are provided by LIPASTO's survey of average direct emissions (not accounting for high-altitude radiative effects) of airliners expressed as CO2 and CO2 equivalent per passenger kilometre:[18]
- Domestic, short distance, less than 463 km (288 mi): 257 g/km CO2 or 259 g/km (14.7 oz/mile) CO2e
- Domestic, long distance, greater than 463 km (288 mi): 177 g/km CO2 or 178 g/km (10.1 oz/mile) CO2e
- Long distance flights: 113 g/km CO2 or 114 g/km (6.5 oz/mile) CO2e
These emissions are similar to a four-seat car with one person on board;[19] however, flying trips often cover longer distances than would be undertaken by car, so the total emissions are much higher. For perspective, per passenger a typical economy-class New York to Los Angeles round trip produces about 715 kg (1574 lb) of CO2 (but is equivalent to 1,917 kg (4,230 lb) of CO2 when the high altitude "climatic forcing" effect is taken into account).[20] Within the categories of flights above, emissions from scheduled jet flights are substantially higher than turboprop or chartered jet flights. About 60% of aviation emissions arise from international flights, and these flights are not covered by the Kyoto Protocol and its emissions reduction targets.[21]
Figures from British Airways suggest carbon dioxide emissions of 100g per passenger kilometre for large jet airliners (a figure which does not account for the production of other pollutants or condensation trails).[22]
***
Clearly, my travel plans will consume considerably more energy than staying at home.
However, I also ponder the wise teaching of Original Sin's inevitable contribution to our "out of whack" lives and how many efforts to adhere strictly to Pure Principles partake of the same impulse that makes American conservatives the prissy sticklers they are.
You may already know the quotation I circulate more frequently than any other:
"The terrible thing about our time is precisely the ease with which theories can be put into practice. The more perfect, the more idealistic the theories, the more dreadful is their realization. We are at last beginning to rediscover what perhaps men knew better in very ancient times, in primitive times before utopias were thought of: that liberty is bound up with imperfection, and that limitations, imperfections, errors are not only unavoidable but also salutary. The best is not the ideal. Where what is theoretically best is imposed on everyone as the norm, then there is no longer any room even to be good. The best, imposed as a norm, becomes evil.” "Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander,” by Trappist monk, Father Thomas Merton
More Merton Quotes
Thanks again for spinning my wheels.
God knows how my travel plans will eventually sort.
Pax tecum
Alan
PS I am sorry to hear of your bunion surgery and admire your determination to "turn disease to commodity" to quote Shakespeare's Falstaff. (The entire sentence reads: “A good wit will make use of any thing: I will turn disease to commodity.”)
On Sat, Jan 31, 2015 at 7:36 PM, KL wrote:
Dear Alan: Travel is wonderful, and I know I have had my share. But I do think about my carbon footprint and wonder if you do, too. I admit, I have lost my yen for travel since being side swiped by the Chagas bug in 2009. But I think about how human global travel has aided the transmission of disease and invasive plants and who knows what else … our restlessness or whatever it is has been a big part of what has changed our planet. Just something to think about. I recently was told that if I had my bunion fixed I would need to be off that foot for 3 months. The idea if being dependent for 3 months really shook me. But then I thought about how it could take me to a higher emotional and spiritual and intellectual level. It will be my right foot ~ so no driving ~ a splint, then a cast then a boot. But I'm lucky to have that option. And figuring out how to be still and happy is something I want to get to while I have the choice. Take care, K
On Jan 31, 2015, at 7:04 PM, Alan Archibald <alanarchibaldo@gmail.com> wrote:
Ethiopian Woman
Ethiopia: Bread Basket Of Africa?!?Ethiopian ProverbsDear Maria,I just discovered a fascinating user-friendly site which lets you plan round-the-world airline trips - and quickly. It's great fun to play with. http://indie.bootsnall.com As you probably know, most (if not all) major airlines offer fixed price round-the-world-trips - like the one Bibi Cindy took 25 years ago.The only obligation is that you keep heading in the same direction - west to east, or east to west.I have begun pondering which countries I would like to visit when you and Danny are "all grown up" and off "on your own."That list includes the following "top tier" countries:Argentina ***Australia ***Bolivia ***Brazil ***Bulgaria ***Ethiopia ***France ***Hungary ***India ***Indonesia ***Israel ***Morocco ***New Zealand ***Paraguay ***Peru ***Philippines ***Romania ***Turkey ***Uruguay ***(The "backwater" quality of Suriname, home to the hemisphere's oldest Jewish synagogue, along with neighbors Guyana and French Guyana have long been attractive although I must research them to see if they really make The "A" List.Countries I would like to re-visit include Guatemala, Ireland, Scotland, England, Ecuador, Columbia, Italy and presumably Spain and Portugal.Contingent political conditions and available time I might also visit Lebanon, Kenya, Malawi, Togo, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. (That said, I am surprised at how little remaining desire I have to visit Africa except for Ethiopia which is near the top of my "A" List, and Morocco which is such a sui generis place that it hardly "counts" as Africa.)You can see the round-the-world trip which I just "planned" to scope out countries-of-interest with an eye to determining where I would like to reside for 3 to 4 months. Since it is fun to see the itinerary displayed on a big world map I encourage you to visit http://indie.bootsnall.com and plug in my user info --- alanarchibaldo@gmailcom and mildred --- then proceed to the upper right hand corner where you'll click on "Alan" and then select "Your Routes" in the drop-down menu. CUZ (Cuzco) PeruVVI (Santa Cruz) BoliviaBUE (Buenos Aires) Argentina (with side trips to Paraguay and Uruguay)RAK (Marrakech) MoroccoPAR (Paris) FrancePMO (Palermo) Sicily, ItalySBZ (Sibiu) RomaniaRHO (Rhodes) GreeceIST (Istanbul) TurkeyADD (Addis Ababa) EthiopiaTRV (Trivandrum) Kerala State, S.W. coast of India. (This is India's most Catholic-Christian state with perhaps the world's most successful socialist government)KTM (Kathmandu) NepalHKT (Phuket) ThailandPNH (Phnom Penh) CambodiaCKG (Chongqing) ChinaCGK (Jakarta) IndonesiaMNL (Manila) PhilippinesPER (Perth) AustraliaADL (Adelaide) AustraliaMEL (Melbourne) AustraliaSYD (Sydney) AustraliaWLG (Wellington) New ZealandKOA (Kailua Kona) Hawaii (I might bypass Hawaii, perhaps replacing it with Papua-New Guinea)It would take 4.75 years to reside in all the above countries for 3 months each. I see the possibility of visiting perhaps two a year.In future, when I take up residence a given country I will rent a dwelling to use as "home base" and hold continual "open house" for family and friends who would like to visit and explore with me.Sounds like a great retirement plan! ¿Qué no?Here is a Huffington post article which gives a good overview of Round-The-World airline tickets (which start around $3000.00). http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-jury/ 4-ways-to-book-a-round-th_b_ 5057197.html Love you,Daddy man************************************************************
Here is more pertinent information concerning "the mechanics" of flying "round the world."Round The World Flight advice:Indie Round the World Flight Planner: http://indie.bootsnall.com/?utm_source= articles&utm_medium=banner& utm_campaign=doyouindie Check out our reviews of shopping for a RTW ticket with the three main alliances:
10 Things You Should Know About Round The World Tickets
Putting together round the world tickets can leave even the experienced traveler ...tips, and advice for traveling in one of the top indie travel regions in the world!The In-Depth Guide to Buying an RTW Ticket - Nomadic Matt
Tips and advice on whether or not your should buy an around the world (RTW) ticket or simply book flights on your own.How to plan a round-the-world trip - Lonely Planet
Mar 20, 2012 - But booking a round-the-world (RTW) trip can be a complex business. Hereʼs our guide ... However, the minimum duration of most RTW tickets is ten days – still a breathless romp. Consider ... Tips, tricks & pitfalls. Talk to an ...How to Buy a Round-the-World Plane Ticket : The Art of Non ...
Dec 5, 2008 - In this essay, I'll explain a) why Round-the-World tickets can be an .....and some very knowledgable people give plenty of good free advice.Traveller's Guide: Round-the-world flights - News & Advice ...
Oct 23, 2010 - Round-the-world tickets were first dreamt up in the Seventies. The airlines had acquired wide-bodied jets, which meant they had a lot more ...Round the World Flights | TravelSupermarket
Planning a trip of a lifetime? Read our independent guide to round the world flightsand multi leg flights to inspire you and to help you bag the best deals...Around-the-World Tickets and Fares - Independent Traveler
Airline alliances and specialist agencies offer a variety of around the world ticket options; read on for a ... Information about around-the-world tickets on each alliance can be found at the following links: ... Share Advice from Your Latest TripSolo Travel Forum: Round The World Advice... - TripAdvisor
Sep 13, 2011 - Hi, Just wondering if there's a forum here on trip advisor that specifically deals with people going backpacking for a year/round the world flights ...Air Travel Forum: Best place to get Round The World flights ...
Aug 22, 2011 - I need some advice please.. Im looking at getting an around the world ticket soon. I went to Sta Travel with where I wanted to go and Im doing ...21 Travel Expert Tips for Planning a Round the World Trip ...
Jul 9, 2013 - Planing a round the world trip can be daunting, there's a lot to consider and so many choices to make. ... Here's their advice for planning the perfect trip. ...Flights go on sale 10-11 months before you're planning to travel, they ...Clickable Visa Information for all countries of the world: http://www.projectvisa.com/fullcountrylist.asp
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