Gordon wrote the other day about the mileage he covers to commute, and the cost of fuel (among other things) and it’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while (by which I mean ‘way before he wrote about it’) but never real…

Don’t get me started on the con that is green energy from suppliers. The electrickery companies have to produce a certain percentage of electricity from renewable sources by a certain date anyway. Getting people to pay more for green energy by using the green conscience ticket just increases/maintains their profit (although I did read of one company selling a green tarrif for the same price which I didn’t understand)! Better to get the cheapest leccy you can find and invest your saving on eg a solar tube panel for hot water (around £5-600 for everything you need if you DIY) or a new bike.

I’ve found that diesel cars do *more* mpg as they get older. I buy from new and keep as long as possible. Last one – 13 years, 176K miles. Current one nearly 8, 73K miles. That way production costs to the environment are also minimised.

Biodiesel (unless it’s from eg chip fat) is not good for the planet either (agriculture costs to the 3rd world as most of it is grown there, so displacing traditional food crop cultivation). Several manufacturers have binned plans for hybrid biodiesels recently.

Even at four+ years old, I still average out at about 55mpg, which ain’t bad.

Would I consider a hybrid? Possibly – we’re at least on an electrickery tariff that (purportedly) replaces any energy we use with supplies from a renewable source, although how that works in practical reality I have no idea.

We do get most of our electricity here (western Canada) from hydroelectric and air systems, which is clean, renewable energy.

And at least Hybrid machines can take better advantage of renewable energy as it becomes more prominent throughout the world.

Biodiesel is becoming more popular here too. I’ve also heard that biodiesel hybrids are coming (or are here possibly), so that might be a good alternative as well.