Green solutions exist for inquiring drivers

Linda McAvoy

The fact that I drove 142 km to get to the Green Living Show in Toronto recently is not lost on me.

And no, I did not purchase carbon offsets for my fossil-fuel burning road trip as I am still, despite a pitch at the show from a Cleanairpass.com salesman, undecided about whether buying them truly benefits the earth and alternative energy projects, or simply encourages guilt-free consumption over conservation and prevention.

But, as I wandered round the show, sipping my fair-trade, organically-grown coffee from a biodegradable cup, I did learn a few things – not the least of which was that there are an awful lot of people with souls far greener than mine.

But hey, at least I went to the show right? And I specifically went with Wheels, cars, and driving in mind, for although I recycle and compost, not to mention run what seems like my own personal tree conservancy program in my backyard, driving is by far my biggest ecological sin. Something I suspect that can be said about many people, hence the abundance of transportation-related exhibits.

The colourful E-bike booth (www.smartscooter.ca) caught my eye as well as the attention of a pair of young sisters whose smiles quickly disappeared when they heard the minimum age for riding an electric bike is 16. Age limit aside, a helmet is the only other requirement.

Under a three-year pilot test program in Ontario, e-bikes can go anywhere bicycles are permitted. Emission-free though they might be, with a top speed of 32 km/h, I can't help but wonder how long it will be before these slick, power-assisted bicycles stray beyond the bike lane.

After perusing the very popular Smart car exhibit, I wandered past the Toyota Prius and GM's Equinox fuel cell vehicle displays and then spied a Purolator truck. While it looked like a standard 16-foot courier truck, it turns out it was one of 19 hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) that Purolator is running in its Toronto delivery fleet. With two radiators (one to keep the electrical components at 60 C), energy is generated through braking and stored in the battery for driving. Costing roughly double the amount of a regular truck, HEVs produce about 50 per cent less greenhouse gas with an average fuel economy of 22.7 L/100 km.

For those without a fleet, much less a single car, but who still occasionally need the use of a vehicle for a day or even just an hour, Zipcar (www.zipcar.com) is a new car share service in Toronto and Vancouver.

A presentation by Dr. Rick Smith (www.environmentaldefense.com) on "detoxifying your life" got me thinking – as these events are meant to do, about washing cars at home. (Guilty!) While automatic car washes use less than half the water of a home wash, plus they direct waste water into sewer systems, with some even recycling water, fastidious car owners may be less than satisfied with the result.

For those who insist on sudsing up at home, environmentalists recommend using a biodegradable soap and parking on grass or dirt, so that waste water is absorbed and neutralized in the soil. Otherwise, the contaminated wash water (with automotive dirt, grease and detergent chemicals) runs right down your driveway, into storm drains and directly into our lakes and rivers.

That it's possible to combine automotive recycling with a little retail therapy is something I happily discovered at the Eco-Handbags.ca booth. This Canadian company sells handbags created from recycled and eco-friendly materials, including lines such as English Retreads, which turn truck and tractor inner tubes into purses, backpacks and belts.

Granted, buying a diaper bag fashioned out of recycled seatbelts (www.recycledseatbelts.com) may not seem like a huge step toward a greener soul but perhaps just realizing that such an eco-friendly choice exists is a step in the right direction.

wheels @ thestar.ca;

linda @ mcavoy.ca

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