Crap for clunkers?

It is extremely tempting to want to replace your old clunking (Insert old technology here) with the new top of the line energy efficient model. However, if you look at energy consumption and sleek new features alone it may seem merited. However, a superficial analysis will omit key factors that you should be considering. For instance, how much energy is going into manufacturing your brand new whatever? Also what happens to the old clunker as it goes out the door? If it leeches heavy metals into a landfill, maybe it is best that you keep it in use.

If your car is the source of smog in Toronto like this one, maybe it is time to send it to car heaven - Photo courtesy of failblog.org, my source for lols -

There is no catch-all answer to this dilemma as it depends entirely on the situation. Replacing your old iPod nano for the new iPod touch might not make sense from an environmental standpoint. Comparatively, replacing your dad's ancient hummer with a smart car as an urban zip-around car makes infinite sense, especially if the hummer remains permanently parked in a museum. The greenest purchase (as boring as this is going to sound) is to use what you have or buy something used as it avoids manufacturing. However, in some cases the purchase of a new item is certainly merited, especially if the item will last you a long time (please skip on the used undergarments).

Oilsands are not the problem

No pun intended but the Canadian Tarsands have certainly become a hot topic as of late, my view on them as such:

I think the oilsands are a consequence of our dependence on fossil fuels, if it wasn't the oil sands we were mining, it would be the arctic wildlife reserve or the vast oil stores in Columbia which would also have terrible environmental consequences.

With the vast investment that has already been sunk into the tarsands and considering the boost it has given to the Canadian economy, I think it is highly unlikely that shutting down the tarsands is feasable. Thus, if we truly wish to see the end of such projects, we should be looking to alternative fuels and transportation methods that are equally effective, convenient and as cheap as oil. After all, if we didn't need oil, would we mine for it? The stone age did not end due to a shortage of stones, similarly, to get beyond our petroleum days, an effective and cheap alternative for oil or the transportation that depends on it must be used.

A single tire for a tarsand dump truck costs roughtly $30 000 CAD, that could buy two smart cars!

Re-using Wrapping Paper

Christmas is over and I hope that you saved some of that wrapping paper! As long as it isn't torn apart by an over-excited child receiving a Wii, it is often in good enough condition to be re-used on a gift. This can save you on more wrapping paper purchases next year.


Another idea is forgoing the store-bought wrapping paper and using recycled materials. I use newspaper, but for those who find this a bit tacky, old maps suit the purpose quite handsomely and give gifts a bit of a designer feel. At Queen's you can pick up maps in the basement of Stauffer near the map library as a stream of maps are always taken out of circulation. Not only do these make excellent wrapping paper, but can be used to decorate student housing. Some are even well-suited to framing as the framed heraldric crests of England map in my brother's room attests.