[Greenbuilding] OT What car?

[RONALD CASCIO]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Reuben Deumling" <9watts at gmail.com>
To: <mkl18 at pobox.com>
Cc: <greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 4:27 PM
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] OT What car?


> Interesting question. Ten years ago I would have taken an hour or two
> to calculate various break even points depending on whether we're
> using energy or materials or land area as our unit of comparison.
> Today, though, I'd have to pass. Instead I think we all need to figure
> out post haste how to wean ourselves from cars, pickups, trucks, and
> from fossil fuels entirely. Within five or ten years I'm afraid we are
> going to wish we had started this weaning much sooner.
> I'm experimenting with running a remodeling business without owning a
> vehicle. In our day-to-day lives we (my three person family) manage
> without a car, and haven't had one for all but a few months of the
> last eleven years. Construction without a vehicle is going to be a new
> challenge, but I have no doubt that I can make it work. The extra cost
> of having large quantities of materials delivered or perhaps
> renting/borrowing a truck for the occasional load of gravel, say, will
> be minimal compared to the savings, even with today's prices. Hauling
> tools and small to medium quantities of stuff I've done for several
> years now with my cargo bicycle trailers. I can haul up to 500 lbs on
> the flat, and a few hundred on hills. I have hauled appliances,
> furniture, ladders, 4x8 sheets of you name it, bulky rented tools,
> lumber, bricks, pipe up to about 14' in length, metal roofing, doors,
> wheelbarrows, and everything in between.
> 
> Reuben Deumling
> 
My hat is off to your Reuben, you are my new hero. Please post pictures.

Ron