Sustainable in Suburbia

Road sign

Originally uploaded by GeoWombats

You know, Im getting kind of sick of people whining about the price of fuel. I dont like spending more money and I dont like the price of everything going up.

But WHY are people surprised?

There has been more than adequate warning. A good 5 years of oil prices going up and being discussed in mainstream media. At least.

I take part on a non-green board and I asked the question of how long a tank of fuel lasts and how much that tank holds. the answers were scary. People who use 200%+ of the national average. Yet when you ask them what they can do to reduce that consumption, given a hypothetical cooperative government at all levels, some cant think of anything. Nothing.

They cant think of putting in public transport.
They cant think of getting a more efficient vehicle.
They cant think of converting to more efficient technologies and alternative fuels.
They cant think of carpooling.
And some cant possibly think of driving less often.

On the other hand there were a couple that came in below the average US consumption despite having big families with kids that participate in sports etc. If those families can do it…!

Now Im not perfect at my 35% of the US national average but Im really glad I have the car I have. Its a 10 year old Honda CR-V. It carts 3 children and up to 2 dogs around as well as an extra adult as required. I can also squeeze my jogging stroller in there.

I have several trips to make during the day to pick up and drop off kids. 8am we all pile in for the great school dropoff. 1115h I have to pick up my son from preschool. 1430h is the primary school pickup. 6pm is martial arts practice. Yup, Tuesdays can be a bit of pain. But I often do my shopping up that end of town between pickups and saving a trip home. If I have the time [and time is really the only limiting factor] I walk to the school or preschool. Takes 50 minutes. I I dont expect a 4 year old to walk that distance so we take the bus back. The baby is very used to the jogging stroller.
Or I might take the car, leave it at the school and walk the 1 km [ie 10 minutes] to the preschool.
I dont like using more than a tank a month so if I am consuming a little faster than expected I try to add a few trips during the week walking or bussing.

But you live in a really friendly area where you dont need your car as much…

I do. But when I bought my house 10 years ago, location was really important. I wanted somewhere that was close to all amenities and had bus routes close by. I wanted a house with room for kids to play that had good tropical design. and I paid according for that. But the price was definitely worth it. If you insist on living somewhere out of the way, thats fine. But do not complain about that choice when your transport costs go up.

When I bought my car I wanted a car that suited my actual needs. And it has served me extremely well.

When the recent budget was released, there were lots of people creating a fuss about the luxury car tax. The tax that will hit the big SUVs and V8s. The classic excuse was that they needed it for their kids and it wasnt a luxury. Bollocks.
There are plenty of perfectly good people movers and baby SUVS for under $35K.
The safest car around is actually the Honda Jazz which holds 5 adults, has all of the child anchor points and makes some hybrids look bad in terms of fuel consumption.
And if you do not like price gouging petrol stations, do not give them your money. Find alternatives. If the alternatives are not there, hassle the people who have the power to supply them. Oh dear, we may just need to get political. So send off that email to your local pollie and ask them what they are doing about public transport, or subsidies, or whatever barrier that stops you reducing your consumption easily.

So excuse me if I have a little rant.

So while you are allowed to dislike the price of fuel rising and rising, please do not whinge anywhere near me if you are not prepared to seriously look at your own consumption.
Ill probably just kick your butt with my newfound fitness from all of the walking Ive been doing and run over you with the stroller.