Governor Otter Joins the EcoDriving Movement
BOISE — Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter today joined the EcoDriving movement–a comprehensive, nationwide effort to save consumers money at the gas pump, reduce fuel use, and cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
"It's amazing what we can achieve when we're all headed in the same direction," Governor Otter said. "These are mostly common-sense things that don’t require real sacrifice–just time, attention and a willingness to do our part."
The educational program, EcoDrivingUSA™, provides consumers with dozens of simple steps to save money and gas, while reducing CO2 emissions. EcoDriving comes from the nation’s automakers which announced the program in August. While automakers continue working to bring to the market groundbreaking fuel-saving technology, they also wanted to provide customers with an immediate way to save fuel and help the environment. EcoDriving techniques can start saving motorists money right away.
"Our state's drivers don’t have to wait to buy a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle to reduce fuel costs and CO2," Governor Otter said. "They can expect a significant improvement in mileage by following some easy EcoDriving practices for driving and vehicle maintenance."
"We're all in this together – industry, government and consumers," said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. "Working together we can substantially reduce CO2 emissions and fuel use, one EcoDriver at a time."
Today's autos are computers on wheels – with more than 3,000 interactive parts operating as a complex system. Drivers who know just a little more about how their automobiles work will be rewarded with immediate savings at the pump and the opportunity to help protect the environment.
EcoDriving offers an unmatched reach in addressing energy and climate issues because drivers potentially can apply the program's simple principles to the nation's entire fleet of 245 million automobiles.
If just half of all drivers nationwide practiced moderate levels of EcoDriving, annual CO2 emissions could be reduced by about 100 million tons, or the equivalent of heating and powering 8.5 million households.
If all Americans practiced EcoDriving, it would be equal to 450 billion miles traveled on our roadways without generating any CO2 emissions. That’s 1,500 CO2-free miles for every man, woman, and child in the United States each year.
Sample EcoDriving practices include not tailgating, knowing the proper way to accelerate and brake, using synchronized traffic lights to a driver’s advantage, driving at the optimum highway speed, understanding when to use air conditioning and much more.
Sample maintenance practices include knowing which motor oil to use, understanding the importance of proper tire pressure and what affects tire pressure, understanding aerodynamics and much more.
The EcoDriving program complements other initiatives the state already has underway to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. State agencies are taking a number of steps to reduce their own carbon footprints through greenhouse gas reduction plans, telecommuting and alternative work schedules, public transportation incentives, and fuel efficiency standards for state fleets. However, the impacts of the EcoDriving program have the potential to reach far beyond state government and provide Idaho's drivers with valuable information on measures they can take to reduce their own fuel usage and CO2 emissions.
The Alliance's EcoDriving consumer awareness campaign centers on an interactive website, www.EcoDrivingUSA.com, to help drivers learn practical tips to improving their mileage and reducing their carbon footprint. The site includes a video guide to EcoDriving, an "EcoCalculator" to determine benefits for individuals or states, a Virtual Road Test and a variety of educational tools.
"Automakers continue developing and introducing new technologies, but it takes 15 years or more for these technologies to become widely used. EcoDriving helps consumers reduce carbon dioxide emissions today," said McCurdy.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Hi this is Emily......I need your help....I'm collecting the tabs from soda cans for the McDonald's Children Fund...If you could collect them I'd appreciate it...When you have enough of them collected just post a comment on my blog and I'll arrange a spot to pick them up. If you want just collect them over a month then get a hold of me. I check my blog every day....It's http://savethewhalesordie.blogspot.com/ . The tabs are going to be recycled and for every one they get they give a few cents to the fund. Thank You.....
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Here's the UPDATE!
Action Items- Salmon River Recycling
1. Outreach. We are looking at potential speakers and programs to bring into the classroom and community that encourage everything from Recycling, Fuel Efficiency, Local Economy and of course, Sustainability. We are establishing a partnership with Sun Valley's Environmental Reserch Center (ERC) to effectively work together to more easily bring programs into our area. Check out this website below for ideas about presenting in schools. Also don't miss this Utube on composting. 5 stars.
www.slideshare.net - for great presentations on green living
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSzTTQ4IWC8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq3yfKCC9ok
2. Research on Commercial and Agriculture Recycling and local waste issues in our area- twine, bale wrap, oil, styrofoam... Report in progress.
3. Bid for a Roll-Off Container. After recently speaking with Jack, we have learned it will be at least another year before the county "can afford" to put a roll-off container in town. ugh. However, he did say the county did have money to empty the container every so often at no charge. So while we are still exploring different avenues, we have looked into buying one ourselves. We received a bid from Rule Steele for a 20 yard roll-off for just over $6,000. Not exactly what we were hoping for. SVS is willing to assist us with our fundraising efforts, but it's up to us to get the account rolling. I believe if we get a start, others will reward our energy with donations as well. I'm all ears to suggestions any of you may have.
4. Fundraiser- Idea presented by Shannon Williams at the Ag Extension Office. We gather a group of volunteers to drive a trailer to interested ranches and pick up their trash metal for recycling. A good way to raise money with revenue from scrap metal while establishing a relationship with the ranchers in the valley. FYI, I will be taking a trailer load of recyclables to Missoula on Friday, Nov. 14, so if you have anything you'd like to send, please drop it off by Thursday.
5. FUEL EFFICIENCY WORKSHOP- COMING SOON NOV. 22! Designed for those interested in alternative options for increasing our fuel efficiency with do-it-yourself or just-buy-it options and techniques. This workshop will focus specifically on utilizing an electrolysis reaction that produces a hydrogen gas to help your fuel burn more efficiently, get better gas mileage, increase the life of your engine and reduce your emissions by up to 80%. Matt Fletcher, currently of Hot Springs, MT will be hosting this class/workshop on NOV. 22 at the Nancy E. Cummings Ranch (UofI). The class will begin at 10:30 for a 2-hour classroom session, breaking at 12:30 and resuming from 1p.m. to 3 p.m. in a hands-on workshop portion. I would also highly encourage those that score at least an intermediate in engine knowledge to come for ideas to make this technology apply to large agricultural machinery and saving you money on fuel.
Please email me back with comments, concerns and suggestions. I love feedback. I will be checking this email consistently now. Thanks and hope to see you all sometimes soon.
amy
Salmon River Recycling
756.1686
1. Outreach. We are looking at potential speakers and programs to bring into the classroom and community that encourage everything from Recycling, Fuel Efficiency, Local Economy and of course, Sustainability. We are establishing a partnership with Sun Valley's Environmental Reserch Center (ERC) to effectively work together to more easily bring programs into our area. Check out this website below for ideas about presenting in schools. Also don't miss this Utube on composting. 5 stars.
www.slideshare.net - for great presentations on green living
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSzTTQ4IWC8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq3yfKCC9ok
2. Research on Commercial and Agriculture Recycling and local waste issues in our area- twine, bale wrap, oil, styrofoam... Report in progress.
3. Bid for a Roll-Off Container. After recently speaking with Jack, we have learned it will be at least another year before the county "can afford" to put a roll-off container in town. ugh. However, he did say the county did have money to empty the container every so often at no charge. So while we are still exploring different avenues, we have looked into buying one ourselves. We received a bid from Rule Steele for a 20 yard roll-off for just over $6,000. Not exactly what we were hoping for. SVS is willing to assist us with our fundraising efforts, but it's up to us to get the account rolling. I believe if we get a start, others will reward our energy with donations as well. I'm all ears to suggestions any of you may have.
4. Fundraiser- Idea presented by Shannon Williams at the Ag Extension Office. We gather a group of volunteers to drive a trailer to interested ranches and pick up their trash metal for recycling. A good way to raise money with revenue from scrap metal while establishing a relationship with the ranchers in the valley. FYI, I will be taking a trailer load of recyclables to Missoula on Friday, Nov. 14, so if you have anything you'd like to send, please drop it off by Thursday.
5. FUEL EFFICIENCY WORKSHOP- COMING SOON NOV. 22! Designed for those interested in alternative options for increasing our fuel efficiency with do-it-yourself or just-buy-it options and techniques. This workshop will focus specifically on utilizing an electrolysis reaction that produces a hydrogen gas to help your fuel burn more efficiently, get better gas mileage, increase the life of your engine and reduce your emissions by up to 80%. Matt Fletcher, currently of Hot Springs, MT will be hosting this class/workshop on NOV. 22 at the Nancy E. Cummings Ranch (UofI). The class will begin at 10:30 for a 2-hour classroom session, breaking at 12:30 and resuming from 1p.m. to 3 p.m. in a hands-on workshop portion. I would also highly encourage those that score at least an intermediate in engine knowledge to come for ideas to make this technology apply to large agricultural machinery and saving you money on fuel.
Please email me back with comments, concerns and suggestions. I love feedback. I will be checking this email consistently now. Thanks and hope to see you all sometimes soon.
amy
Salmon River Recycling
756.1686
Congrats to Teton Valley Community Recycling
Press Release- Nov. 8, 2008- Teton Valley Community Recycling
This year has marked a giant leap forward in Teton County Waste Management. No doubt we have all had frustrating and confusing moments at the new transfer station, but Terra Firma Organics (TFO), Teton Valley Community Recycling (TVCR) and Teton County (TC) staffers, have managed to provide a way for Teton County residents to separate their waste into over 12 different sorted categories for re-use and recycling and saved over $108,400 in the process.
Thanks to all of you who sorted your garbage and waited in line, we have been able to gather some impressive information. Your efforts have proven the value of an integrated community waste center whose guiding principle is resource recovery and recycling. While we suffered some setbacks due to lack of sheltered storage and tight funds, we saw an overall gain from 5% diversion last year to a 20% diversion this year, including lots of organic material that had never been recovered before.
We fully expect to double that once we are able to develop an operation inside the shelter of the white tent and will have some county operational support. By saving taxpayers $108,000 we think TVCR and Terra Firma have earned the county's support.
Here's the facts:
It costs our county $93 per ton to transfer our unsorted garbage to Mud Lake but only $45 per ton to manage sorted waste.
Teton County businesses and residents generate over 1000 tons per month. If we had simply trucked it all out, unsorted it would have cost the county about $93,000 per month.
Terra Firma helped lower those costs by thinking through alternative uses and economical means of diverting materials out of the transfer process.
· Teton County generated 1,000 tons per month, 12,000 tons a year
· @ $93 per ton to transfer the annual cost would have been $1,116,000
· TFO was able to reduce the amount of garbage that had to be trucked out by about 20% - diverting about 2,400 tons of sorted waste through recycling, re-using, chipping, composting etc.
Managing sorted materials costs the county an average of $45 – a full 50% less than trucking. So, waste reduction, recovery and recycling provided a real saving of $108,000 during this first year. Imaginehow much better once we have a building, a baler, storage and are able to get on site composting going!!!
This year has marked a giant leap forward in Teton County Waste Management. No doubt we have all had frustrating and confusing moments at the new transfer station, but Terra Firma Organics (TFO), Teton Valley Community Recycling (TVCR) and Teton County (TC) staffers, have managed to provide a way for Teton County residents to separate their waste into over 12 different sorted categories for re-use and recycling and saved over $108,400 in the process.
Thanks to all of you who sorted your garbage and waited in line, we have been able to gather some impressive information. Your efforts have proven the value of an integrated community waste center whose guiding principle is resource recovery and recycling. While we suffered some setbacks due to lack of sheltered storage and tight funds, we saw an overall gain from 5% diversion last year to a 20% diversion this year, including lots of organic material that had never been recovered before.
We fully expect to double that once we are able to develop an operation inside the shelter of the white tent and will have some county operational support. By saving taxpayers $108,000 we think TVCR and Terra Firma have earned the county's support.
Here's the facts:
It costs our county $93 per ton to transfer our unsorted garbage to Mud Lake but only $45 per ton to manage sorted waste.
Teton County businesses and residents generate over 1000 tons per month. If we had simply trucked it all out, unsorted it would have cost the county about $93,000 per month.
Terra Firma helped lower those costs by thinking through alternative uses and economical means of diverting materials out of the transfer process.
· Teton County generated 1,000 tons per month, 12,000 tons a year
· @ $93 per ton to transfer the annual cost would have been $1,116,000
· TFO was able to reduce the amount of garbage that had to be trucked out by about 20% - diverting about 2,400 tons of sorted waste through recycling, re-using, chipping, composting etc.
Managing sorted materials costs the county an average of $45 – a full 50% less than trucking. So, waste reduction, recovery and recycling provided a real saving of $108,000 during this first year. Imaginehow much better once we have a building, a baler, storage and are able to get on site composting going!!!
Shall we rally?
I just wanted to say hello after quite a hiatus. Not that our recycling goals haven't been on everyone's mind. I saw many of you out and about at events, making a presence for recycling. Thanks to all of you. I have been gone a good portion of this fall but I have now started a part-time internship with Salmon Valley Stewardship, our sponsor in previous efforts. I can't say enough about the energy of both Gina and Denise and want to thank them both as Gina, has requested I dedicate a portion of my time spent here on not only accomplishing some long standing goals of SRR, but reinforcing our presence in the community. We have much to offer and I think in light of some of the new energy sweeping the country after the past election, we have both an opportunity and a responsibility. I have compiled a list of immediate and future action items for myself, and noted progress on those goals which I will post later today. I'd love the hear from some of you and get some creative juices flowing again. Please stop by SVS Tues. Wed. or Friday to say hello or chat. Our phone number is 756.1686
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)