For the past two and a half years, John has been commuting back and forth from Washington DC to Baltimore, a 100 mile round trip. Until one day home, John got into a car accident. (Don’t worry he was not hurt.)
After the accident, he was trying to figure out how much he would save by just taking public transportation, a much cleaner alternative than driving. So one day he drafted the following questions along with his responses to analyze the cost of public transportation vs driving? The follow is his analysis:
1.) What time does my job start and end?
John’s response: 8am to 4:30 pm.
2.) Are there bus routes, rail, or combo-metro routes leading from my home to work?
John’s response: Yes. I can take the DC metro, bus F4, from Prince George’s Plaza Station to New Carrollton Station (MD). Then from New Carrollton, I can take the Marc Train to Baltimore Penn Station.
3.) Is the cost of driving a new car effective anyway?
Cost of Driving:
- Cost of comprehensive insurance per month: $200.00 (before the accident)
- Cost of fuel per week given 100/mile day commute: $40.00
- Cost of monthly parking pass: $110.00
- Other factors for John to consider:
- Purchase a minimal, new reliable car: $vary
- Maintenance and service on new car: $vary
Total monthly cost to work by car, not including vehicle purchase or M/S: $390.00
Cost of Public Transportation:
- Monthly transit pass (Bus + Rail + Marc included): $250.00
- Other factors to consider:
- ZipCar: Rental for $7.00 an hour for after work activities.
Total monthly cost for John to take public transportation to work: $250.00
This is a difference of $140.00 that John would save if he rode public transportation.
Have you carefully looked at your own commute from a financial perspective? How much would you be saving or spending?
Tags: DC Metro, MARC, New Carrollton, Prince George's Plaza, SmartTrip, ZipCar
This entry was posted on Friday, December 31st, 2010 at 1:14 am and is filed under Environment, Featured Content. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Are you taken public transportation?
Good Jobs & Green Jobs National Conference
Register Now for the 2011 Conference
With less than two months to go, it’s time to register and book your hotel (out-of-town-folks) for the 2011 Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference.
The 2011 Conference takes place February 8-10 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. Registration is only $175.
The Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference is the leading forum for sharing ideas and strategies for building a green economy that creates good jobs, reduces global warming and other environmental problems, and secures America’s economic and environmental future.
For more information, please visit GreenJobsConference.org/
Monday, December 27, 2010
Energy Policy and Technology Outlook Conference
The 2011 State Energy Policy and Technology Outlook Conference, hosted by NASEO and ASERTTI, will be held on Monday, January 31 – Thursday, February 3, 2011, at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, D.C. This year’s Conference comes as a historic number of new governors and legislators take office and will serve as an essential opportunity for State Energy Office directors, staff, and interested stakeholders to hear the latest on economic development, technology transfer, innovative financing, and clean energy technologies.
To better prepare and inform conference attendees, NASEO and ASERTTI have planned a full week of informative events, with the core conference agenda being complimented by a State Energy Office National Energy Orientation and NASEO regional meetings starting at 10:00 am on Monday, January 31, 2011.
Session Highlights
- State and Federal Roles in Supporting Successful Energy and Environmental Policies and Regulations
- The Changing Landscape of Sate Energy and Economic Development Policy
- Collaborative State, Federal and Private Energy Innovation Investments
- Shale Gas: Economic Opportunity, Environmental Challenges, and Best Practices
- Residential Retrofit Innovation: Program Design, Training, and Customer Engagement
- Cutting-Edge Commercial, Residential, and Industrial Energy Efficiency Financing
Meeting Information
- Preliminary Agenda
- Sponsor / Exhibitor Information (coming soon)
- Hotel Information & Directions
- Hotel Reservation Deadline: Monday, January 10, 2011
- Online Registration
Full Registration: $565 (Members), $595 (Non-Members)
Daily Registration: $275/day (Members), $300 (Non-Members)
For more information on any of the above events, contact Shemika Spencer, 1414 Prince Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314, Phone 703.299.8800; Fax 703.299.6208. Information on additional Energy Related Meetings can be found on www.EnergyMeetings.com.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Our Changing Oceans by NCSE
National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) is pleased to present its 11th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment: Our Changing Oceans on January 19-21, 2011 in Washington, DC. Our Changing Oceans will be held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.
This year, the conference will provide a forum to address the crisis facing our oceans, new knowledge and innovative tools to address the challenge, and the policy and governance needed to restore and protect the oceans.
Expecting over 1,000 attendees, Our Changing Oceans will bring together scientists, professionals, policy makers, university faculty and students, and educated citizens from a wide range of disciplines to share their perspectives and work to address the topic at hand.
NCSE utilizes a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach to convene involved scientists and decision-makers from various sectors of society. Our conferences include renowned speakers, topical symposia to explore issues more in depth, and breakout sessions to develop a set of recommendations on how to advance science and connect it to policy and decision-making.
Our Changing Oceans is divided into eight themes, each with several breakout sessions and symposia. To view a complete agenda of the conference, please go to http://communities.earthportal.org/ncseoceans2011/. To find out about the themes and sessions, please visit the site. Once you have selected the sessions you would like to attend, make sure to register. We hope to see you in January!
For more information please visit http://communities.earthportal.org/ncseoceans2011/.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Holiday Greetings From Sobuka
A year in review:
We launched Sobuka by hosting an event in March, Alex joined the team in April and we documented the EarthDay Climate Rally, we went to see some politicians do their thing at the 13th annual Congressional Renewable Energy Expo in June, showed a little something on sustainable urban farming with the great guys at ECOffshoots.org in July, introduced you to the possibilities of eco-friendly construction with the Green Building Institute tour (also July), brought you the Progressive X-Prize competitors in September, exposed you to Western Maryland’s green communities in October, documented the many possibilities of green living by showing you things like how much biking you have to do to light a bulb at the DC green festival (also October), and last but not least, we showed you how to install a rain barrel with dcgreenworks.org and how DC is going solar with one neighborhood at a time (hello Mt. Pleasant solar co-op!).
After 70 blog posts, 17 videos, 3 Meet-Up events, 2 Green Photo of the Month contest winners, and a new website redesign, we just have one simple thing to say: it has been a great first year, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support and involvement of each and every one of you.
A big thank you goes out from us to you!- The Sobuka Team
Tags: christmas, Holiday Greetings, New Year
This entry was posted on Saturday, December 25th, 2010 at 7:55 pm and is filed under Featured Content, Holiday Greetings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Our Changing Oceans by NCSE
National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) is pleased to present its 11th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment: Our Changing Oceans on January 19-21, 2011 in Washington, DC. Our Changing Oceans will be held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.
This year, the conference will provide a forum to address the crisis facing our oceans, new knowledge and innovative tools to address the challenge, and the policy and governance needed to restore and protect the oceans.
Expecting over 1,000 attendees, Our Changing Oceans will bring together scientists, professionals, policy makers, university faculty and students, and educated citizens from a wide range of disciplines to share their perspectives and work to address the topic at hand.
NCSE utilizes a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach to convene involved scientists and decision-makers from various sectors of society. Our conferences include renowned speakers, topical symposia to explore issues more in depth, and breakout sessions to develop a set of recommendations on how to advance science and connect it to policy and decision-making.
Our Changing Oceans is divided into eight themes, each with several breakout sessions and symposia. To view a complete agenda of the conference, please go to http://communities.earthportal.org/ncseoceans2011/. To find out about the themes and sessions, please visit the site. Once you have selected the sessions you would like to attend, make sure to register. We hope to see you in January!
For more information please visit http://communities.earthportal.org/ncseoceans2011/.
Friday, December 24, 2010
A Car For Christmas? Leaf vs Volt
The Leaf is Nissan’s leading environmentally-friendly, affordable, family car. It is a trend setting type of engineered battery car. Its battery pack estimated at (£6000) which is $8,896 raises a lot of interest as well as reasonable pricing that is drawing tons of reservation. The Leaf is a tough competition with the Volt in terms of driving range.
The argument among Nissan folks is whether the Volt is a true EV.
The Leaf has been designed to be self-sustaining. Annual car maintenance doesn’t apply with this vehicle (except yearly brake pad inspection) and its navigation system is globally connected especially for re-charging purposes for stations. The Leaf offers more with its new technology and affordability with all things considered ( pricing for 5-car seater, driving range, and up-keep).
Good:
- This is a real EV. A 100% electric car
- 8 Year, 100,000 warranty
- $349 Lease program
- Federal, state, and other credits can knock off significant $$ on this vehicle
Other things about the Leaf:
- Like any EV, after 100 miles, your car is dead. Theses are your options; Plan your schedule with an electric station in mind for emergency cases, charge your car at home as you would do with your i-phone before you sleep at night, and simply be aware about the situation.
- Price: $32,000
- Weight: 3,500lbs
The Volt is a car that can run up to approximately 40 miles emissions free. However thanks to its range-extending gas generator, it produces enough energy to power the Volt for hundreds of miles. The body of the Volt is slightly bigger than the Prius with a modern look and feel interior. The Volt has a nice on board system that keeps you up to date with your fuel capacity, letting you know if you are running on electric or gas.
Good:
- Goes up to 40 miles on pure electric. After that the gas kicks in extending it to more miles.
- 8 Year, 100,000 warranty
- $349 Lease program
- Federal, state, and other credits can knock off significant $$ on this vehicle.
Other things about the Volt:
- Is this a true EV or a suited up Hybrid? The controversy remains… On 40 miles, one can say it’s an EV. The rest of the way, it appears to function as a superior Hybrid to my opinion, powered on gas. My guess is as good as yours…let the controversy remain.
- Price: $41k
- Weight: 3,700 lbs
Summary
Hopefully other manufacturing car companies can follow suit and compete to bring the best of clean energy to the United States as well as getting back to leading in manufacturing, which interprets as more long lasting green jobs. Interesting enough there is mention that the Leaf will be produced in Tennessee (currently in Japan) in the next two years. Not that’s a good start.
Article References and pictures: Battle EV Supremacy
This entry was posted on Friday, December 24th, 2010 at 1:23 am and is filed under Green Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
