So, I thought I would take those of you that haven’t been listening to me drone on for the last few years through how I came to where I am now in my search for energy geekdom. I first remember caring about energy conservation when I was in high school. I drove about 60 miles/day to and from school and to both my job as a meat engineer (Burger King) and as an artist in training (Paint mixer at a Benjamin Moore paint store). While gasoline wasn’t tremendously expensive at the time, on my salary, a few miles here and there could mean a new stick for my ice hockey habit. My motorized companion in these daily travels was a little white Geo (Chevrolet) Metro that I lovingly deemed the “Love Bug.” I later graduated to a Geo Spectrum (Love Bug 2), which my friends colorfully nicknamed after a part of the human anatomy that rhymes with Spectrum and I will not give them the satisfaction of listing here...
Anyway, if you aren’t familiar with the Geo Metro (pictured below), you clearly haven’t lived! At the time, this engineering marvel was the finest example of a motorcycle on four wheels that had ever been created! Three cylinders of raw, unhinged power, ready to strike the hearts of every prospective love interest in the Western Pennsylvania area, but I digress…
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| Love Bug 1 - Jealous much? |
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| Another example that was way cooler than mine! |
OK, so I wasn’t exactly Zach Morris, but the car was able to achieve 40 miles/gallon in 1993 (Yes, 1993, so what in the world happened the last 20 years?). If I would make slow starts and kept the air conditioner off, I could squeeze the fuel economy up to about 42 mpg. If I dared to use the AC, however, the car would pause for three seconds every time I tried to move from a stopped position. Not a good thing when you’re a 16-year old lead foot that would sometimes attempt to make turns that I no longer would.
In any event, I may not have had the wheels the ladies noticed, but I could afford a smiley cookie or two at the local Eat-N-Park. ;o) I have to say that I also felt like I was doing something positive by attempting not to use a lot of fuel even back then. Not sure I knew why, though…
Fast forward a few years and I find myself in a strangely familiar place. For all of the “green” (a word I despise!) benefits of saving energy, and there are many, I am still attracted to the savings. My motivations these days are sort of similar, but also drastically different. I’m still concerned about the women in my life, but today my savings go toward a college fund for my two beautiful daughters or saving for a dinner out with my wonderful wife or a vacation with the whole family. I’m also and equally motivated by attempting to do whatever I can to leave something in the way of resources for future generations. Funny how things change, but remain remarkably the same.
Whatever your motivation, it does not appear that energy prices are doing anything but heading north in the foreseeable future. So, if saving money, and maybe doing something positive for the environment sounds like something you’re interested in, stay tuned!
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