From
the Editors of E / The Environmental Magazine
THIS
WEEK'S COLUMN
Dear
EarthTalk: Short of massive efforts to build a
public transportation infrastructure, which doesn’t
appear likely anytime soon, what is being done to address
traffic congestion, which is reaching absurd levels almost
everywhere?
Traffic
congestion has gotten way out of hand—and not just
in developed countries anymore: Traffic jams and smog
plague dozens of cities in China and in many other parts
of the developing world. Here in the U.S., road congestion
now causes commuters to spend an average of a full work
week each year sitting in traffic, according to the Texas
Transportation Institute. While alternative modes of getting
around are available, most of us still opt for our cars
for the sake of convenience, comfort and privacy.
The most promising
technique for reducing city traffic is called congestion
pricing, whereby cities charge a toll on entering certain
parts of town at certain times of day. The theory goes
that, if the toll is high enough, some drivers will cancel
their trips or opt for the bus or rails. And it seems
to be working: The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) reports
that Singapore, London, Stockholm and the three largest
cities in Norway have reduced traffic and pollution in
downtown areas thanks to congestion pricing.
New York City
Mayor Michael Bloomberg continues to push for congestion
pricing to ease traffic in Manhattan. The latest proposal—rejected
by the State Legislature in 2008—called for an $8
toll to enter Manhattan between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., with
monies funding public transit maintenance and expansion.
Another way
to reduce rush hour traffic is for employers to implement
flex-time, which lets employees travel to and from work
at off-peak traffic times to avoid rush hour. Those who
must travel during busy times can do their part by carpooling.
Employers can also subsidize employee mass transit costs,
and/or allow more workers to telecommute (work from home)
so as to keep more cars off the road altogether.
Some urban
planners still believe that the best way to ease traffic
congestion is to build fore roads— especially expressways
that can take drivers around or over crowded city streets.
But such techniques don‘t really keep more cars off
the road; they only accommodate more of them. Forward-thinking
city planners, knowing that more and more drivers and
cars are taking to the roads every day, are loathe to
encourage more private automobiles when mass transit options
are so much better for people and the environment.
And Americans
are getting it. According to EDF, public transit usage
has steadily risen since 1995, with Americans taking 10.7
billion public transportation trips—the largest number
in a half century—in 2008. Light rail, hybrid buses
and other promising options are working their way into
some U.S. cities. To this end, the Obama administration
has committed some $7 billion in stimulus dollars to help
transit systems increase capacity and upgrade to more
efficient technologies.
But environmentalists
complain that such funding is a drop in the bucket compared
to the $50 billion committed to roads, bridges and highways,
and that transit authorities can’t use any of it
to fund maintenance and operations, meaning that jobs
must be cut and routes shut down. EDF is calling on Obama
to include significant funding for transit operations
in the jobs bill now being debated in Congress.
Dear EarthTalk:
I have a new linoleum floor, which I chose partly for
its eco-friendliness. How do I clean and maintain it without
using harsh or toxic chemicals?
Whether you
chose linoleum flooring for its no fuss functionality,
the soft feel underfoot, its distinctive look, or its
green attributes, you definitely want to take care of
your investment in an eco-friendly way for the sake of
maintaining it for as long as possible while protecting
the indoor air quality in your home.
Real linoleum—as
distinct from synthetic versions or vinyl—is made
from all-natural materials, including wood flour, rosins,
ground limestone, powdered cork, pigments, jute and linseed
oil. As such it is one of the greenest flooring options
out there today. The GreenFloors.com website reports that
old linoleum—including scraps and remnants from the
production process—can be recycled to create new
sheets of the stuff. And given that it is made from natural
materials, linoleum is practically carbon neutral, and
the energy created by incinerating it at the end of its
useful life is almost equal to the energy needed to create
new linoleum.
Given how green
linoleum is, cleaning it with harsh synthetic chemicals
and maintaining it with polymer-based waxes just wouldn’t
be right. Luckily there are alternative ways to help keep
your linoleum floor looking good for decades without compromising
the environment or shortening your own life span in the
process.
Melissa Breyer
of the green lifestyle website Care2.com recommends sweeping,
dust-mopping or vacuuming your linoleum floor frequently
in order to cut down on the amount of abrasive dirt around
that can build up and mar the finish. As for actual cleaning,
she says to use a damp mop with a mild all natural liquid
dish soap and warm water. Adding a half cup or so of vinegar
to the rinse water will increase shine if that’s
the look you’re going for. To get rid of scuff marks,
Breyer suggests dipping a sponge in jojoba oil and rubbing
lightly before wiping up completely. Pencil erasers can
also work wonders on linoleum scuff marks.
As for what
to avoid, Breyer says to stay away from solvent-based
products which can soften and damage linoleum. Typical
floor cleaning solutions will leave a sticky residue behind,
so sticking with something like Ivory Liquid dish soap
is the best bet. Also, the best way to deal with tough
stains is not by scouring; instead make a paste of baking
powder and gently wipe with a wet rag until the stain
fades away.
In terms of
wax, there are several greener varieties now available.
Livos’ BILO is a paste wax designed for wood, cork,
tile and—you guessed it—linoleum. It is derived
from beeswax and linseed oil and produces a semi-gloss
finish after buffing. Like all Livos products, BILO is
made from organic ingredients and is 100 percent biodegradable
and safe for humans, animals, air, water and soil.
For those willing
to commit to periodic occasional maintenance, linoleum
flooring should last decades if not longer. And given
its relative low-cost and ease of installation, some consider
linoleum the “green flooring for the masses.”
