The American economy is heavily reliant on fossil fuels. The energy crisis is widely publicized in the media and we hear about the rise and dangers of global warming every day. We know that one major cause of global warming is the millions of pounds of emissions from cars and trucks. Lono Earth Alternative Fuel believes that we have an opportunity to offer an alternative by promoting more sustainable transportation choices. Our solution is within reach for all drivers, and for current diesel drivers, they can make the switch with virtually no change in routine. So, why Alternative Fuel? Easy, to be self-sufficient, save money, and save the environment.
The current economy is based on specialization and scale, however the alternative green economy thrives on diversification and localization. Diversifying our sources of energy is key to a more independent lifestyle. Our economy depends on oil to grow, delivering a product from point A to point B, and often times from point B to point C, D, and E. Logistics departments nationwide send out large diesel trucks with every product imaginable. Because we get the majority of our oil abroad, the US has put itself at the mercy of foreign interests or forces itself to cannibalize it’s own famed terrestrial assets by drilling miles into the earth for oil. It is in our individual interest as well as in our interests as a nation to be more self-sustainable. Additionally, LEAF wants to support local economies that are not at the mercy of the ebb and flow of the market and the world economy. It is important for drivers to be more connected to daily operations that they take for granted, such as driving, by simplifying and localizing the process.
The cost of diesel is upwards of $4/gallon and rising. Americans are throwing away hundreds of dollars at the pump each month. Studies have shown that when gas approaches $5/gallon, Americans will start making major life changes to reduce their fuel costs such as moving closer to work. I am encouraged by Americans willing to make a change, but sacrificing their lives and homes before considering alternative fuel seems absurd. Large-scale operations such as moving companies, food suppliers, hospitals, department stores, vending companies can save thousands or millions per year by burning SVO or biodiesel. Companies could put this money into bettering their business practices and counteracting inflation, or as LONO recommends, investing in the restoration of Earth.
Burning petroleum products is “dirty”; harmful for the environment as well as to our own heath. The process of retrieving the oil is just as substantially hazardous as burning it in our cars. Using giant machines to drill crude oil out of the ground is costly, invasive, and often times, disastrous, as in the case of the Gulf of Mexico. Even after the oil is dug out and processed, it must be shipped many a mile to reach its destination, which in and of itself uses a lot of gas. These externalities are not even considered when we talk about how we are depleting our oil sources and that all the carbon being pumped into the earth will ruin future generations. SVO and biodiesel is proven to be less hazardous to the environment when burned in a vehicle, but more importantly, the process of collecting and preparing for use is significantly less hazardous in our model at LEAF. “Biodiesel reduces the health risks associated with petroleum diesel” per the 2002 report from the EPA titled “A Comprehensive Anaylsis of Biodiesel Impacts on Exhaust Emmissions”. See the full quote and attached chart below.
