US vs Euro emissions

[dondon]

The population's approach to energy conservation is a crucial factor.

A few years ago I was in Boston (Massachusetts, NOT the real one ).

Every morning I would switch off the air conditioning unit in my hotel room before going out for the day.

Every day when I got back, the cleaner had turned it back on and left it running all day long.

[bikersupermoto]

Originally Posted by Seirrah

Yeah maybe just reduce the number of cars on your roads.

we dont need to, we are not the tiny overcrowded island with roads the width of a sidewalks and bumper to bumper traffic.

[Koen]

Euhh... I was about to say something about a Freudian explanation, and common sense and argumentation, but I'd rather say nothing at all. Well, almost nothing...

K.

[Seirrah]

Originally Posted by bikersupermoto

we dont need to, we are not the tiny overcrowded island with roads the width of a sidewalks and bumper to bumper traffic.

Nor are we overcrowded in the UK. I've been to LA and NY and it definitely is bumper to bumper traffic!

[Maldax]

Originally Posted by bikersupermoto

we dont need to, we are not the tiny overcrowded island with roads the width of a sidewalks and bumper to bumper traffic.

That sounds a little conceited! So what you are saying is "We don't need to worry because we have a huge country , aren't we great" and nothing to do with pollution at all!

[Pottsy]

Originally Posted by bikersupermoto

we dont need to, we are not the tiny overcrowded island with roads the width of a sidewalks and bumper to bumper traffic.

bikersupermoto,

I'm surprised at your very anti-UK comment when your youtube favourites is filled with (amongst other things) so many clips of real Brit-culture...

[GHGH]

Originally Posted by Koen

Euhh... I was about to say something about a Freudian explanation, and common sense and argumentation, but I'd rather say nothing at all. Well, almost nothing...

K.

Yes, please explain!

I advice all to read the book "How to lie with statistics",
written by Darrel Huff back in the fifties.

Amazon.com: How to Lie With Statistics: Books: Darrell Huff,Irving Geis

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by GHGH

Yes, please explain!

I advice all to read the book "How to lie with statistics",
written by Darrel Huff back in the fifties.

Amazon.com: How to Lie With Statistics: Books: Darrell Huff,Irving Geis

At the moment, I am reading "The Tiger That Isn't: Seeing Through a World of Numbers by Michael Blastland and Andrew Dilnot". It is thoroughly recommended for anyone who wants to take a more logical and reasoned approach to some of the tosh we are fed on a daily basis, which purports to be 'statistical fact'.

Amazon.co.uk: The Tiger That Isn't: Seeing Through a World of Numbers: Books: Michael Blastland,Andrew Dilnot

Anthony.

[GHGH]

Just ordered.

[Unknownsoldier]

Originally Posted by Seirrah

Nor are we overcrowded in the UK. I've been to LA and NY and it definitely is bumper to bumper traffic!

I agree, last time I was in NY, we were advised don't rent a car, it'll never get to move. Having said that, the same can be said for Britain as America, some places are a*se to face traffic, and others are clear as a bell, just depends where you are.

Tom

[Unknownsoldier]

BikerSupermoto:

"hence the brits pay us$10 a gallon for gas or you go buy a diesel car and pay even more!...an happy with the noise and smoke it makes coz its got a bit go at low revs and never stop goin on about how wonderful it all is!!!.. (and seem happy to pay it...they dont complain...its not the british thing to do!...go hav a nice cup of tea and whine instead!)"

And you say you drive a diesel??? There must be something wrong with it then mate, I've got a 99' Ford Escort Diesel Van (no turbo, no nothing), and it is doesn't smoke, shake or have much noise, but thats because it's been well maintained [it's done 150,000 miles so far, which is low for a work van, but it'll keep going and going]. I've also seen plenty of Diesel Civ's and I've not yet seen one that "Smokes" (I've seen some light exhaust fumes on cold mornings but nothing else).

"its quieter, smoother and faster than the civic i drive in the uk and it doesnt make a cloud of black smoke when you floor it....(please dont try tellin me the civic doesnt make smoke...it makes clouds of the ******* stuff when u floor it....same as all the other euro diesels!...come to glasgow next time im there an follow me around an il show u if u dont believe me if u dont choke on the smoke 1st!)....sure it only does 23mg average and it makes its power higher up the revs but its v nice to drive."

I suggest the smoke is because it's either not properly maintained or it's where you leave it sitting for a long time (do you follow the 'storage instructions' this will help to aleviate the probelems).

"as for your thoughts on oil companies removing vehicles, i think someones telling you nice bedtime stories....honda hav just started to sell the fuel cell vehicle here in the u.s from next year, ford hav been seeling the escape hybrid for over a year, toyoat dont just have the prius here but the camry has hybrid drive as an available option so does honda s accord....so as i say potsy, nice bedtime stories!."

I believe what Pottsy was referring too is the buying up of other fuel sources by the oil companies in an effort to force people to use petrolium distillates as a fuel as opposed to purely electric. The examples you use of hybrids, still use petrol, and in some cases don't return much better fuel economy. I do however agree stories of carburettors that make cars go 500mpg are complete twaddle.

"and with all your old buildings (i hav use of an apartment in a "conservation" area where they still have single glazing and no cavity wall insulation)...and not allowed to change it because if british conservation rules!..."

That is to preserve something that is considered worthy of preservation, you should be proud to live there, unlike Victorian preservation which was tear it down and rebuild it brand new (much the same idea many places in the US have now).

"and you burn coal in your Victorian fireplaces!....more smoke...
and you light your street signs?!?!...and most of your highways....havent they gotten around to reflective paint in quaint old britain yet.."

And you don't in your big open ranges???? In fact, if you know anything about British law, then you'd know that the burning of coal has on the whole been removed now, and that mostly it is smokeless fuels that are used in many built up areas, as opposed to coal [that btw, is not mined by children anymore either ]. This change in law came about in after the Londoin pea-soupers got too bad, they enacted two clean air acts in 1956 and 1968, and London was designated as a Smokeless zone, and since many areas have followed suit.

Jack the Lad:

"As with the last two world wars, come in when its all over I suppose."
"I shall now start on a rant about Vietnam."

Don't get me started, I could keep writing forever


Pottsy:

"Ultimately though, it will probably be the ever rising oil price that may encourage US consumers to veer away from the large capacity low tech V8 for something a little more high tech. Things may also change slightly when your key politicians do not derive huge personal incomes from oil revenues, but that may take some time. We may also progress when we are presented with politicians that are not self-interested, but that also is a bit of a pipe-dream.

PS This was the bedtime story - an interesting US documentary."

I agree, on your points Pottsy, also don't forget that American engines have also been remarkably low powered for their relative size, I mean take the 4.0l engine my fathers Chevrolet had (I think it was 4.0l anyway), and it was as slow as anything, and did 12mpg. US engines just don't come close to Jap' or Euro ones. It even took Brit' ingenuity to make your GT40 work as a race/road car.

FWH:

"A key question is - how many of those big trucks and SUVs are really needed in the US? Sure some parts of the country have terrible roads, but that is usually not why people buy them.."

If they didn't have them trucks, you'd never know who's a red-neck and who's not. JK....

Civpilot:

"Go and look up the figures, they will shock you. (and it might make you want to kill some cows )"

I am doing my best, I am a meber of PETA, People for the Eating of Tasty Animals

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Before I get accused, some of my best friends are American, I have met loads of nice people in America, and it is the same as here in Britain and the rest of the world the majority are top-guys/gals and the minority just annoy everyone else, now I'm off to m/hug a hoodie.

Tom