TheCrow Creek Road

Conserver Energy Project

By Janice Crawford

Educational Technology 360

University of Alaska, Southeast

Dr. Jason Ohler

11/1/2007

Reduce fuel use

Reduce pollution

Save money

An experiment of exploration to…

The final leg of my journey home each day begins in Girdwood and continues 5 miles up a gravel road to my humble abode.

I wondered: Once I arrive home and then wanted to venture down to Girdwood to have dinner or check the mail or go to the store or visit a friend, etc…

What if I didn’t drive my car?

The scenario:

But, instead of driving my car…

What if I road my bike or cross-country skied?

What if I got a ride from someone else?

The questions:My car, 2000 Subaru Legacy Wagon, gets ~20miles/gallon of fuel

I gallon of gas costs $2.90.

How much fuel energy do I use and money do I spend driving the 10 miles up and down my road each time?

I use .5 gallons of fuel each time I drive the 10 miles up and down my road.

That .5 gallons of fuel costs: $1.45

How much fuel energy and money would I save if I didn’t drive the 10 miles up and down my road?

I would save .5 gallons of fuel and $1.45

How much fuel energy do I use and money do I spend driving 5 miles of my road each time?

I use .25 gallons of fuel each time I drive 5 miles of my road.

That .25 gallons of fuel costs .75 dollars

How much fuel energy and money would I save if I didn’t drive 5 miles of my road?

I would save .25 gallons of fuel and .75 dollars

What if I drove my car down the road and then road my bike or cross country skied back home?

-or- What if I road my bike or cross country skied down the road and drove my car back up?

How much fuel and money would I save if I didn’t drive the 10 miles of my road for…

10 days:

5 gallons of fuel and $14.50

100 days:

50 gallons of fuel and $145.00

1000 days

500 gallons of fuel and $1, 450.00

Lets share the love and spread the word!

How many gallons of fuel and money would be saved if 10 people, 100 people or 1000 people didn’t drive 5 miles?

10 people: 2.5 gallons and $7.25

100 people: 25 gallons and $72.50

1,000 people: 250 gallons and $725

How many gallons of fuel and money would be saved if 10 people, 100 people or 1000 people didn’t drive 10 miles?

10 people: 5 gallons and $14.50

100 people: 50 gallons and $145

1000 people: 500 gallons and $1,450

What if 10 people didn’t drive 5 miles for…

10 days: 25 gallons of fuel and $72.50

100 days: 250 gallons of fuel and $725

1000 days: 2500 gallons of fuel and $7,250

What if 100 people didn’t drive 5 miles for…

10 days: 250 gallons of fuel and $725

100 days: 2500 gallons of fuel and $7,250

1000 days: 25,000 gallons and $72,500

What if 1000 people didn’t drive 5 miles for…

10 days: 2500 gallons of fuel and $7,250

100 days: 25,000 gallons of fuel and $72,500

1000 days: 250,000 gallons of fuel and $725,000

What if 10 people didn’t drive 10 miles for…

10 days: 50 gallons of fuel and $145

100 days: 500 gallons of fuel and $1,450

1000 days: 5000 gallons of fuel and $14,500

What if 100 people didn’t drive 10 miles for…

10 days: 500 gallons of fuel and $1,450

100 days: 5000 gallons of fuel and $14,500

1000 days: 50,000 gallons and $145,000

What if 1000 people didn’t drive 10 miles for…

10 days: 5000 gallons of fuel and $14,500

100 days: 50,000 gallons of fuel and $145,000

1000 days: 500,000 gallons of fuel and $1,450,000

What if 1 million people found alternative means to travel 5 miles, 1 day/week for a year?

52 weeks in year X 5 miles = 260 miles

260 mi./20 mi. per gallon = 13 gallons of gas

13 gallons X $3.00 per gallon = $39.00

Multiply all this by 1 million people:

13 million gallons of gas

$39,000,000

So much is saved!

What a difference we could make

Questions for further exploration…

Is it better for the environment and my wallet to live closer to the town centers that I travel to and support me?

Should I move closer to the town center?

Should I drive a more fuel efficient car or one that runs on alternative energy sources?

Should I car pool more?

Determine your cars fuel economy and energy impact score:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov

Calculate your energy emissions at the Environmental Protection Agency’s website:

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html

Find fuel saving tips here:

http://cars.about.com/od/helpforcarbuyers/tp/ag_top_fuelsave.htm

Consider alternatives to driving:

http://www.ec.gc.ca/cleanair-airpur/Taking_Action/Individuals/On_the_Road/Alternatives_to_Driving-WSAC6A4815-1_En.htm