I don't know whether this has been discussed much, but how can USMS support "going green," promoting and/or being supportive of being environmentally responsible for clean water to swim in as well as to drink?
Open Water swims, of course, are the perfect venues to remind us all to keep our waters clean for swimming. The Boston swim focuses on this; do other Open Water swims promote cleaner water? What do they do?
Can pool Masters swimmers, clubs, LMSCs promote being "greener"? Encouraging people to take shorter showers is one way. What are other ways?
I think it is a fine idea and good opportunity for USMS to promote this particular aspect of the environment. By the way, all the Great Lakes are down several inches, except for Lake Superior (where, at the moment, we don't have Open Water swims...but who knows, in the future???).
Jennifer Parks, Michigan Masters
Former Member
We buy a case of bottled and reuse the bottles with tap for several days before tossing them into the recycle bin.
If we're talking about hidden costs, I wonder if CF bulb rebates and disposal are taxpayer-subsidized.
I haven't seen a CF bulb at my pool (token reference to swimming for this thread).
CF bulbs are subsidized by PGE around here, our local gas and electric provider. I have to assume that these subsidies are tied into a rate case that they passed through the CPUC.
No mass transit here. Living in a small town I have to drive to work. This summer I did ride my bike the 12 miles to work on non-swim days. Now it is too dark in the morning, and country roads are a bit dicey with all the combines and trucks. But harvest is going really fast this year, so that is done soon.
I agree the marketplace can do the job, but only if it can factor in all the costs. It currently doesn't do that.
Skip
This is true...although Geek may have a point in paying extra...it might not be paying enough extra for the damage.
I've seen a lot of supply and demand, rational market theory, spillover costs and benefits, diamond water paradox talk in this thread....
Pure capitalism doesn't include spillover costs and benefits--by definition that's someone elses problem, if it's free it will be abused.
Read up on the "Tragedy of the Commons" if you missed it in school...we don't have pure capitalism...and it's not working either...
Kirk! Take the bus like I do!
scyfreestyler: aren't CF bulbs toxic to dispose of?
My own opinion is you don't have to go out of your way to save energy, it'll happen by itself in response to market forces. I've been taking the bus for the last 8 years to/from work (my employer gives me a free pass, and parking downtown would cost a lot), and the commuter lots are a lot more full than they used to be. I think it was the price of gas rather than people voluntarily taking the bus to help the environment.
Another example is the pool I practice at, which has timed valves on the showers.
I regret bringing the market into the discussion.
Preserving waterways and habitats is probably something we can agree on, and which is swimming-related.
