#992 Alternatively Energized

On Saturday May 2, the City of Lacey is staging their annual Alternative Energy Fair. It’s a fun deal. In addition to various displays from alternatively energized vendors, they have the Lacey Grand Prix, which is an electric car race.
The electric cars have to meet certain parameters and for the most part the participants are dedicated high school students.
Another event they’ll have this year is the MPG race. MPG refers to Miles per Gallon, so you can guess it’s about fuel efficiency. But it’s a little different. The goal is to do a hundred mile course and improve the mileage of your particular car. The official window sticker EPA expected mileage that is.
If you have a new Honda Insight that’s rated at 44 miles per gallon, in order to win you’d have to use certain driving techniques to exceed that by a high percentage.
So I’m glad cities in the area have installed countdown clocks at so many pedestrian intersections. Because one of the biggest mileage-saving techniques is timing intersections. If you don’t have to come to a complete stop and start again you get lots better mileage.
Having a countdown clock helps time that process better. If I know it’s 9 seconds until the light turns yellow, I’ll drive differently than if I just see the yellow. Less jerkiness means less drastic variations in fuel flow and therefore better mileage.
Some people are still having problems getting used to the new countdown clocks, but I like them. The slow learners are stomping on the brakes when the digits hit “1”, not realizing they have a whole yellow light ahead of them. The urban racers see a counted down “2” as a challenge and speed up a block away.
I predict New Technology and Darwin will meet again and the body shops will get an energetic stimulus.
I’m looking forward to the Lacey Alternative Energy Fair on May 2. I hope someone brings a windmill. They’re the answer to our energy crises and global warming. I want them put everywhere.
They’ll make more energy spinning around and they’ll cool the planet too.
Next hot day, dream along with me---
Giant fans everywhere...
America, ya gotta love it.