Carbon Neutral Lifestyle – vanity

Self | 12/26/2006 | Dad was my hero

[Dad was my hero]

Lately I’ve been hearing more and more about people living a carbon neutral lifestyle. Recently the owner of an upscale restaurant wrote an “As I see it” column (the local paper’s term for a glorified letter to the editor) explaining that her gift (Christmas I assume) to others is that she is going to do her best to live a carbon neutral lifestyle. She’s been on the globalwarming bandwagon for a while, earlier in the year she lectured us (in a letter to the editor) that she now owns a Prius to help us out.

So after reading her missive I decided to ask fellow Freepers for help. I’m not unversed in science but being an RN my daily focus is not on chemistry and physics although I’ve had courses in both in the past.

When I arose this morning I fixed breakfast and then after showering I drove to work where, among other things, prepared this post (work is slow because of the holidays and I'm in health insurance now).

My recollection of science is that I cannot create carbon. Carbon as I recall is an element with an atomic number of 6 and atomic weight of 12. On the periodic table of elements Boron is just below it and Nitrogen is just above it in atomic number. Can we convert Boron to Carbon? Does this happen in a chemical reaction or do you need a nuclear accelerator to accomplish this? Based on my (admittedly) lack of recent advances in chemistry and physics, are we, as a species creating new carbon all over the place? I thought any carbon I “created” today was merely being transferred from one place – in the ground for example, to another place – in the air for example.

Help me out on this, should I be concerned that I’m creating new carbon all over the place? Or are these people that poorly versed in physics that they glom onto any new buzzwords bandied about by enviro whackos to make themselves feel superior to the rest of us? (Of course saying yes to one doesn’t exclude yes to the other.)

Maybe based on the replies I get I’ll reply to her.

[2banana]

Recently the owner of an upscale restaurant wrote an “As I see it” column (the local paper’s term for a glorified letter to the editor) explaining that her gift (Christmas I assume) to others is that she is going to do her best to live a carbon neutral lifestyle.

You mean she is going to live without heat, light, electricity, public water, public sewers, the internal combustion engine, modern medicines and modern farming techniques (ie - no food for her restaurant)?

[Shimmer128]

Yeah, I was thinking of her excess as well. I think the first thing everyone needs to do is stop frequenting her establishment.

[Dad was my hero]

I know, one reply I considered was that I'm sure with her advocating a zero carbon lifestyle she's planning to tell people not to come to her restaurant.

Good points!

[aft_lizard]

You cannot create carbon from another element, however you can create gaseous carbon dioxide and monoxide from other carbon sources, I think thats what the people are talking about.

[Dad was my hero]

Agree!

But what exactly is a carbon neutral lifestyle? I wasn't aware I was creating any new carbon now. How does one go about doing that?

[Shimmer128]

Let's see, aren't WE carbon based??? uh oh!

[Dad was my hero]

I would like to agree but reading what they write I'm not sure I come to that conclusion. But assuming you're right, wouldn't there be another phrase to describe their efforts rather than "carbon neutral lifestyle?"

Maybe a zero carbon emission lifestyle?

[Ole Okie]

Yeah, you "create" CO2 every time you breathe.

I guess stopping breathing is one way to be carbon neutral.

But I think the wackos behind all this are more interested in exchanging carbon "rights" for dinero.

[NeoCaveman]

Let's see, aren't WE carbon based??? uh oh!

Not only that we exhale carbon dioxide.

There's is only one thing one can do to live a truly carbon free lifestyle and that is to off yourself.

[NeoCaveman]

Maybe a zero carbon emission lifestyle?

How long can you hold your breath?

[Hegemony Cricket]

You should throw her into a real tizzy by telling her that the air she breathes is ALMOST 80% NITROGEN!

[BigBobber]

Carbon neutral is where rich libs pay someboby money to plant a tree. The growing tree is supposed to absorb all the carbon their luxuriant lifestyle requires.

Kind of like paying someone to go to the gym and work out for you. Doesn't require any changes in way you conduct your life, just payment of money to assuage guilt.

[Dad was my hero]

LOL! Maybe I could convince her to stop breathing.

But I think the wackos behind all this are more interested in exchanging carbon "rights" for dinero.

I think you're right, they are out to get money from businesses and people, to convince the people that this is good for all of us and we'll agree to start paying cash for carbon.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

The very best way to become "Carbon Neutral" is to stop breathing, because all humans expel Carbon Dioxide when they breathe. She should be greatly ashamed of herself for living and contributing to the "Mother Earths'" KILLER green house gases!

One should also realize that it takes hydrocarbons to power one's vehicle that will allow customers to support her business.....This must end, being carbon neutral will solve all the anxieties that Chicken Little ever had and therefore, eliminate a threat to our way of life.

[Dad was my hero]

How long can you hold your breath?

Not being practiced in it, maybe 30 to 45 seconds. ;)

But I'm not advocating a zero carbon lifestyle.

[reg45]

You cannot create carbon from another element

Not so! Carbon-14 is constantly being created in the upper atmosphere by cosmic ray bombardment Carbon-14

[patton]

Certainly you can create or destroy carbon - in what is called a "nuclear reaction." I wouldn't, though - it tends to disturb the neighbors...

[Dad was my hero]

That's what I was thinking, it isn't easy and I'm certainly not doing it with my truck.

[reg45]

are these people that poorly versed in physics that they glom onto any new buzzwords bandied about by enviro whackos to make themselves feel superior to the rest of us?

In a word - YES!