Diamond-Cut Life

Sustainable Living: More Joy And Less Consumption In The Face Of Global Warming

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Prius vs. Honda Hybrid vs. Other

June 30th, 2008 · 2 Comments

My friend from Santa Cruz, concerned about global warming as I am, asked for advice yesterday about the car purchase she needs to make.
It happens my husband Thor did lots of research recently about whether to buy a Prius or a Honda Civic hybrid. We chose the Honda, for reasons given here, but we use [...]

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Tags: 97215 · carbon footprint · carpooling · cars · energy conservation · environment · global warming · green living · happiness · hybrids · life · lifestyle

Our New Honda Hybrid

May 14th, 2008 · 2 Comments

We researched ad nauseam what fuel-efficient, low-emissions car we should buy. We finally chose the Honda Civic hybrid for its great ratings all around, plus its state AND federal tax credits. We waited and waited for it to arrive at the dealership. Last night we finally brought it home.

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Tags: 97215 · carbon footprint · carpooling · cars · consumption · energy conservation · green living · hybrids · sustainability · transportation

Rejecting Agrofuel: What To Do

May 9th, 2008 · 1 Comment

The diamond-cut life is about more joy, more integrity and less consumption as we deal with global warming. The food-as-fuel track that the U.S. is on assumes unlimited consumption (driving alone, for instance) with no particular joy or integrity.
What are practical, concrete things we can do? Here is what my household is doing to use [...]

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Tags: 97215 · carbon footprint · carpooling · environment · global warming · green living · hybrids · sustainability

Driving A Prius In The Wild West

April 22nd, 2008 · 5 Comments

My job in transportation options has taken me, in a new Prius, to the high desert town of Bend, Oregon (recently named by American Cowboy magazine in its Top Ten list of wild-west towns). The Prius, mud-splattered from the Santiam Pass, is now dusted with snow as well, so it reminds me of an [...]

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Tags: climate change · energy conservation · global warming · green living · hybrids · sustainability · transportation

Sustainability Round-Up

April 19th, 2008 · 1 Comment

Today’s post is a round-up of my recent mini-discoveries on important aspects of sustainability.

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Tags: 97215 · carbon footprint · environment · global warming · sustainability

Carpool Survivor

April 4th, 2008 · 4 Comments

I am lucky enough to be in a carpool with five great people for my two-hour round-trip commute. (I found them through Carpool Match Northwest.) We save money, save emissions and have fun. So on the morning of April Fool’s day I tossed off a prank email to them.

I wrote: “It has been such a pleasure knowing you! My new inheritance means I can now afford a

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Tags: carbon footprint · carpooling · hybrids · lifestyle · simplicity · transportation

Doing The Unthinkable

March 21st, 2008 · No Comments

Every household has its own little culture. Within Thor’s and mine, I did the unthinkable last night: I drove (did not walk) the 3/10 mile from our house over to choir practice.

This was not even in the Prius or other hybrid we have yet to purchase, but in our 1993 Nissan Sentra. As I was stepping out the door to walk to the church, I realized there

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Tags: carbon footprint · culture · life · sustainability

Our Next Car: Prius Or Honda Hybrid?

March 2nd, 2008 · 6 Comments

With my new, longer commute we’re going to finally replace our single car, a 1993 Nissan Sentra, with a newer car. The question is: what car makes the most sense, given both that we’re thrifty and that carbon emissions are prime drivers of global warming (no pun intended)?

We sized it up last night, now that we’ve finished doing our taxes (we’re early this year). The Prius can get 50ish

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Tags: carbon footprint · climate change · economics · environment · global warming · sustainability · transportation

The High Country Road of Walking The Talk

February 8th, 2008 · 2 Comments

Since I live in the West and care about it, I recently started a subscription to High Country News. I just read a letter to the editor in it that I think cuts to the heart of dealing with climate change.

Mr. Graef, a self-described moderate conservative and environmentalist, writes that liberals are: “incapable of changing their own lifestyle to usher in the anti-oil world they desire. Have

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Tags: bipartisan politics · carbon footprint · climate change · environment · global warming