One Tank Or Bust: Mission Accomplished
10:49am Thursday, September 4, 2008

Days Left in Summer Challenge: 0
Days Completed: 82
Miles Driven: 284


I am writing this from the international terminal in JFK Airport in New York City, which means my challenge is officially over! Heading abroad is an adventure that I will take on full force, but I will continue to have fond memories of my summer and my challenge. Airports are an interesting public transportation display: all the shuttles and trains and buses that are constantly heading in and out. New York definitely runs differently as a city than Portland does and their airports are reflective of this. As I leave behind one challenge and start another, I will keep the lessons I have learned and hopefully apply them to life in Italia!

So it is fair to say -- definitively -- mission accomplished! I haven't busted, which means that for 82 long days of summer, I conserved and saved by using only one tank of gas while in Clark County. My last full day in Vancouver (Wednesday) was one of the many days of my challenge where I was able to not drive at all, something that came easier as the challenge went along. Once walking, busing and biking became part of my routine, everything started to run smoothly and I really began to enjoy my challenge.
Along the way, I learned a lot about different environmentally friendly companies, read numerous articles on gas prices and proposed solutions to oil independence. Between carbon calculators and presidential candidates' platforms, I would have to say as a result of writing this blog I have become a more informed and concerned citizen.

So now I'm on my way to study abroad for a semester in Italy, I am curious to see what the future holds for responsible driving in America. As gas prices edge down and the presidential election approaches, I am cautiously optimistic about the future of renewable energy, fuel efficient cars, and higher use of public transportation, and I hope that 4 months out of the country will help me gain a new perspective on the whole situation. The bottom line for me is that I care about the environment and the status of these issues, and I am proud to say that this summer has helped me make adjustments to my lifestyle, both in regards to driving and other environmental issues. If just a few people are encouraged to spend some time walking or biking somewhere instead of driving, we can all make a huge difference.

Arrivederci!

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Final Drive
12:01am Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Days Left in Summer Challenge: 1
Days Completed: 81
Miles Driven: 284

This afternoon, I took what is probably to be my final drive. I met my parents, who were both at work, for lunch at Mcmenamin's. It was a fairly lengthy drive, about 20 miles round trip, but it was something of a celebration drive, the fact that I was able to drive 20 miles without worrying at the end of my challenge.

I was expecting the gas light to come on at any moment during my drive. The needle on my gas meter has been pointing toward empty for quite a while, but I decided that I wouldn't worry too much about it until I saw the light. No matter how many times my eyes flitted down to see if the light had appeared, it stayed dark. As I parked in the garage for the last time, I realized that the light probably wasn't going to come on, and the fact that the summer is over is starting to become a reality.

As I went to get in my car at the restaurant, I noticed that my car was extremely dirty. There was dirt splattered all the way up the doors of the car and all over the hood as well. I figured a good way to celebrate successfully finishing my challenge would be to get my car washed. I was looking for a concrete way to end the whole situation, and pulling into my driveway with a shiny gleaming car was definitely a solution. Even though my goal heavily involved not driving, my car was an integral part of my summer and I appreciated every day that I was lucky enough to have access to it.

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Thank Yous!
12:01am Monday, September 1, 2008

Days Left in Summer Challenge: 2
Days Completed: 80
Miles Driven: 264

Things are down to the wire here with my challenge essentially at an end.  My mother and I ran errands today together, and I was surprised to see so many stores open on Labor Day. Having read a few articles on some employers going to 4 day work weeks, it seems like Labor Day would be an opportune time to save energy by closing down. None the less, I was glad the stores were open as I needed to do some searching for different odds and ends to help me finish packing.

The last couple of days have been full of "thank yous" for me.  I thanked my bus driver for the last time, thanked my parents for being so supportive during my challenge, and especially thanked my friends for encouraging carpool situations.  With my last bit of gas, I hope that I might be able to contribute to car-pooling (as I did periodically through my challenge).  Besides helping me get places, my friends are just great people and have been there for me throughout the summer.

I've been debating how exactly I should bring my challenge to a close. I haven't decided what would allow for the strongest feeling of finality. Because I'm not leaving for the airport until the late evening (I'm flying red eye to New York and then continuing my trip from there) my last day home has become a waiting game of sorts. I'm already almost fully packed, I've done my last minute shopping and I don't have to work, so it seems appropriate that I do something to officially say goodbye to my car and its tank of gas. If anyone has a good idea, suggestions are welcome!



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The Final Weekend Approaches
12:01am Friday, August 29, 2008

Well, this is the beginning of the last weekend of my summer challenge before I head off to Italy! With the end of my time at home approaching, I have decided to set one final set of weekend goals.  This weekend is also special because it is, of course, Labor Day weekend and extends an extra day for most employees across the country. Labor Day is well known as a time for that last minute summer vacation before kids head back to school, a time when typically many people hit the roads in their cars and use a lot of gas. For me, this Labor Day weekend is going to contain a lot of last minute preparations, packing and list making. What is so great about where I live (as evidenced by my blog on walkscores)  is that I will be able to do most of my preparation without having to drive anywhere. With so many resources within walking distance of my house, I can purchase anything I may have forgotten just by heading over to Fred Meyer.  That ties into my main weekend goal: do last minute errands on foot.  It's probable that I will have to venture outside the Fred Meyer bubble to check some things of my to-do list, but I will try my hardest to get to where I need to go by hoofing it.

I'm also setting a few goals that are not directly connected with driving, but are still important. The most important thing I can do this weekend is to not put things off until the last minute. I have already waited longer than I should have to sort out my absentee ballot (Although to be fair I didn't know the exact address where I would be staying until yesterday), but I am determined to be packed and have most everything sorted out early so I can relax in my last few days home.

In the spirit of the large amount of driving that is likely to be done over Labor Day Weekend, I looked into an interesting fuel alternative that has had quite a bit of exposure in the last few years. Bio-Diesel is definitely an interesting alternative to regular fuel. It produces less emissions, is much more environmentally friendly, and biodegradable.  It is of course not a possibility for all cars to run on biodiesel, but with the right alterations, it can be a great benefit for many car owners. You can read more about Bio-Diesel at its official website (Here). You can also read about a cool challenge that CNN Correspondents took on to drive across the country using bio-diesel (Here).

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Savings and Gains
12:01am Thursday, August 28, 2008

Throughout my challenge I have been wondering about how much gas I really saved by setting this goal. Admittedly, many people this summer cut back on driving because prices were high. I'm sure that even without my specified goal I would have driven less than I had in past summers. Even so, I imagine that it is still a pretty monumental change in mileage from what my typical summer would have included. I have already talked about what a difference commuting by bus made in gas used: my 33 mile roundtrip commute would have consumed a gallon of gas a day. In addition to that though, I have to think about every casual trip that would have occurred had I not been concentrating on alternate modes of transportation. Something I used to do on a regular basis was drive to the Fred Meyer that is less than a 1/2 mile from my house. I make a trip there at least 3-4 times a week to pick up this and that, and although the distance may not seem important, those small trips add up, consuming more gas in the long run than more extended freeway driving. I think I saved more than most would assume by eliminating that type of driving.

Although my friends were already pretty aware of the environmental situation, it was great to see how much carpooling we did as a group this summer. Some of the carpooling probably would have taken place with or without my challenge, but it really is more responsible to fill up a car with people rather than take two or three cars. 

I was a little worried when I took on the challenge and committed to driving less, that I would end up being less social over the summer and have to make choices about where and  when I could spend time with my friends, but with a combination of carpooling and using Inter-Vancouver bus systems, I was able to do as much as I could ask for socially.  When I think of how much gas would have been used driving to people's houses, to the movies, to parks, and to restaurants, it gives me an even greater sense of accomplishment.

With all of the different facets of my life-- work, social, family-- changing in one way or another during my challenge, I have definitely saved the use of quite a large amount of gas. I am confident that if all the calculations were made, it would be an impressive tally.  More importantly though, I feel proud to say that I am more aware of the environment and feel prepared to continue implementing the conservation strategies which are so familiar to me as my challenge is ending.

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