Environmental Responsibility

[Yuen 16]

Since we're all into cars and love driving, putting our foot down when we want to have some fun, sometimes going for drives when we don't need to... we aren't exactly the greenest people around. We're consuming more petrol than we would if we drove to optimise fuel economy and if we took the shortest route - I'm sure most of us have been guilty of taking the long way to enjoy the drive. Some of us may change our oil prematurely 'just in case' to make sure the engine stays in top condition.

Do you ever feel guilty about your car hobby? What are your perceptions on how you treat the environment? Do you do anything to try to neutralise the negative effect driving has on the environment?

On my end, I recycle anything I can and turn off all electrical appliances (especially lights) when not in use.

[tire 10]

Mummy makes me do the recycling at home. Theres my bit

[OLLIE 26]

I recycle and turn off lights that aren't been used. Also being an industrial designer I make sure that the products I design can be recycled or are as environmentally friendly as possible.

[joshnz 2]

I only fill up once every 9-10 days

[no_fat_chicks 1]

I can and turn off all electrical appliances (especially lights) when not in use

I think we all do that, cos it saves us money.

Instead of throwing them away, I give my porn magazines away to little kids so it will help them learn about the birds and the bees. I am just joking...

[PBOY23 0]

im hopeless my car puts out alot if gas fumes my work is construction

[cainchapman 0]

I recycle and turn off lights that aren't been used. Also being an industrial designer I make sure that the products I design can be recycled or are as environmentally friendly as possible.

Unlike the majority of the batteries in Hybrid cars which are like toxic waste to dispose of. Plus the cost of manufacture (to the environment also), for a slight improvement in fuel economy over a similarly sized diesel car.

I'm a power nazi at home. I hardly ever use the light in my office (as I have a big window).

Petrol's not that expensive, try buying milk or cheese.

[kiwi535 538]

i changed jobs to be closer to home, 18 ks instead of 40Ks each way,recycle,try to buy stuff with minimal packaging,and only buy new stuff if the old one is broken...I plan to ride the road bike occassionally to work,also looking at pellet burners and solar water heating when we replace our(not so old) HWC (it leaks).I try to combine as many errands as possible when I do take the car,or use the wifes little daihatsu.If we all do a little it will save a lot...think one day alternative transport will reduce your fuel consumption by up to 20 percent!.Think how much of a difference that would make if a significant number of people did that...(and overlaod the public transport system!)

[kiwi535 538]

Petrol's not that expensive, try buying milk or cheese.

or water!

[Yuen 16]

Unlike the majority of the batteries in Hybrid cars which are like toxic waste to dispose of. Plus the cost of manufacture (to the environment also), for a slight improvement in fuel economy over a similarly sized diesel car.

+1. I am glad BMW has gone the way of EfficientDynamics. And who knows, maybe Toyota's FT-HS hybrid supercar will be good!

I'm also using those cloth shopping bags when I do my food shopping. Those plastic bags really do add up.

[bradc 0]

Don't have catalytic converters in my cars, chew through the 98 octane, and go for rides for fun all the time. Spend $100-150 a week on petrol and love every minute of driving.

I also do oil changes every 3 months on my VR-4, already done 2 on the 850CSi (even though it's just been driven up and down the drive) and I always turn the air-con on hot days.

Guess what, I just don't care!!

[the stig 0]

+1, couldn't care less

[bimmer boy 21]

I do architecture at uni and even did a class today about sustainable architecture and living, I can understand its importance but I dont feel guilty about getting behind the wheel and driving, I'll walk to uni if its sunny but just too time consuming.

But I do belive people should care about it but they dont , they could at least make some good looking hybrids.

[Nobimmer 694]

+2 dont really do too much apart from try recycle old beer bottles if I don't end up lobbing them into discreet places.

Should be too old to notice by the time any drastic changes occur...I hope.

[ducatiss 1]

I return all my used engine oil back to the ground - does that count as recycling?

[Infestus 0]

Don't have catalytic converters in my cars, chew through the 98 octane, and go for rides for fun all the time. Spend $100-150 a week on petrol and love every minute of driving.

I also do oil changes every 3 months on my VR-4, already done 2 on the 850CSi (even though it's just been driven up and down the drive) and I always turn the air-con on hot days.

Guess what, I just don't care!!

+3

[Yuen 16]

Should be too old to notice by the time any drastic changes occur...I hope.

Haha, I'm expecting to see a significant enough effect in my lifetime and you're younger than me. Unless by drastic you mean end of the world type stuff.

The way I see it, doing the little things doesn't take time, just need to get into the habit. If everyone does a little it adds up - which will hopefully lead to us still being able to enjoy the lifestyle we are used to for longer/cheaper, in the long term.

I return all my used engine oil back to the ground - does that count as recycling?

I don't know, but I think the city council would be happy to answer your question

[Nobimmer 694]

just seems like a waste of effort when there will always be people who dump sh*t etc

[hybrid 1039]

reckon Ive got maybe 10 years before the days of 800hp turbos are just going to be too expensive or just going to be illegal..

I'm 30 and have about 2-3 years before kids etc etc .. so for me nows the time to build such a thing.

my thoughts on it all.

that and when they can drill past 2 Kms ... we will all be sweet and there will be no oil shortage

[ThreeOneEight 0]

I refuse to have children because there are already too many short bastards in this world.

[hybrid 1039]

and

[Yuen 16]

and

Hahaha... +1

And I should clarify - I'm not saying we should sacrificing our love of cars for the environment. I am all for driving for the love of it and supercars. I'm saying that by doing the other little things (recycling and saving power where we can) we might be able to make up for it and hence enjoy doing what we love doing for longer.

[McDuck 0]

I do architecture at uni and even did a class today about sustainable architecture and living, I can understand its importance but I dont feel guilty about getting behind the wheel and driving, I'll walk to uni if its sunny but just too time consuming.

But I do belive people should care about it but they dont , they could at least make some good looking hybrids.

I graduated from the Wellington ARCH school and also did the sustainable architecture paper - a real eye opener with topics and statistics that added to my existing knowledge, thoroughly enjoyed it. Contrary to stereotypes, the lecturer did not wear a woollen jersey and was not there to convert us into buying property in Takaka and constructing composting toilets, etc.

The paper encouraged passive solar design and choosing the most appropriate building materials that the budget allows (thinking about a product's whole manufacturing process as well). This same 'design responsibility' is already being seen in the car manufacturing industry (with recycling and reuse of plastics etc).

Although I consider myself to be more environmentally aware, I will ALWAYS still be a consumer of resources and a car enthusiast who loves driving.

[Jammasterjames 0]

Tha earth is gonna die one day, all a ***** can do is try to delay the inevitable....

Pimpin' green is green enough y'all...

[liam02 6]

I spoke to a dealer the other day, who said they had a client who has a new M5 who buys carbon credits of a company in the uk to offset his emissions!