Action Forum

Hi!  I'm a science teacher in a Brooklyn high school that has started a new course called urban ecology this year.  There are very few templates to follow when designing this course so it has been fun.  I've been grateful to AIT and its team for creating a wonderful curriculum to go along with the movie.  In my class we are exploring energy efficiency at home and in school, as well as writing letters to state senators, the president, governor, and NYC mayor, which will be sent.  Most of my students will be able to vote this fall year or in time for the next Presidential election so the letters are important.  We are exploring how some of these students' families can switch to green power or install solar panels/wind turbines on their roofs.  Unfortunately, finding someone with enough knowledge about NY state and federal regulations hasn't been easy.  I'm on my 3rd week of looking.  If anyone knows of someone please have them contact me at .  I currently consume 90-95% organic/local products and own a hybrid (honda civic which I adore), and use NYC green suppliers of energy.  However, most important to me is getting my students to care about the environment and realize they CAN make a difference and have political power as long as they don't give it away!

C.B.—Brooklyn, NY

I bought a Honda Civic hybrid.  Like the Prius, the Civic’s instrumentation makes you very aware of your fuel consumption both immediate and average over miles. I have found that going the speed limit and no faster greatly increase fuel economy. On freeways I drive at the posted truck speed limit. At 65 mph I get 48 to 50 mpg (great by most any standard), but going at the truck limit of 55 mph I get 55 to 58 mpg, a 15% gain. It seems logical that most cars from the smallest sedans to the largest SUVs should get similar gains by slowing down a bit. I am not slowing down commercial transportation. Sometimes the trucks push a few mph past the posted speed limit and I make an adjustment, but with the advent of satellite transmitters on most long-haul rigs it is not much faster. I arrive at my destination more relaxed and it doesn’t add much time to the overall trip. The truck speed limits vary from state to state, but are almost always ten to fifteen mph less than for cars. 

In short slow down, breath and put a smile on Al Gore’s face.  With a few bumper stickers it could become a trend.

And yes my other car is a bicycle with a trailer for around town.  It seems to get pretty good mileage also.

R.E.—Portland, OR 

I decided that it is not enough to buy energy saving appliances such as my washer dryer so I am installing a clothes line at home.  also I'm using appliances less by using the solar cooker more instead of the stove and oven.—C.P., Santa Cruz, CA

Here's what I do: I commute 16 miles a day on my bike (plus, 150 students get to stare at my bike at the front of the room every day) and it's a fun and beautiful ride, I reuse over and over any plastic that might enter my house, I make great compost which is fueled with rabbit poop, I'm probably going to get some chickens soon, I do most of the family's grocery shopping and most of our errands by bike, our car gets 40 miles to the gallon on the freeway, we grow fruit and vegetables year round, I'd definitely install solar panels on my roof if I could afford them, and I buy locally grown produce.—M.D., Santa Cruz, CA

I am offering to sponsor four high school students per week to go to the Al Gore movie. And every morning I call a different member of Congress to talk about the climate crisis.—T.P., Santa Cruz, CA (verbal communication)

In 2001 I installed solar panels on my roof - my monthly electric bill is $4.44 (for transmission and taxes). I am urging Safeway to cover their roof with solar panels when they build their new store on Mission St.; the local group Ecology Action has taken up this idea and is urging the Santa Cruz City Council to require this when Safeway applies for a permit in the near future.

Like quite a few Santa Cruzans, I have a water and energy saving washer, and when my dryer quit, I decided to get a folding wooden rack with 50 feet of hanging space - I imagine a clever person could make one themselves. I can set it up indoors on a rainy day.

Although my car gets 50 mpg, I do errands on foot and bike whenever possible. This helps me stay fit, which to me is very important for my physical and mental health.

Lastly, I’m a docent at Natural Bridges State Beach, and as Michael wrote so beautifully, children are a source of joy. I especially delight in nurturing their love and awe towards Monarch butterflies and tide pool inhabitants.—G.S., Santa Cruz, CA