If living in the city were so green, it would be cheaper. Many of the costs in the city are a result of higher energy consumption.
After reading the entire piece, Partice’s friend in downtown seattle made me feel just so, so guilty that I decided to let the hemi idle for an extra 10 minutes. :>) Just doin’ my part to try to stave off another ice age.
“If living in the city were so green, it would be cheaper.”
Cities have the highest energy consumption, and carbon footprints, but obviously this is in large measure because that’s where the most population is. That said, I’m very happy people live in cities, because this allows me to find a place away from the city where there are open spaces and peace. I grew up in the city, but now would just love to get away/stay away from all of that.
Actually, that’s not quite true. Cities, with people crammed into small apartments in big apartment buildings and few owning cars, tend to be lower energy consumers per capita than more sprawling environments.
But this woman’s “friend” couldn’t be more obnoxious and I can’t imagine suggesting she come for a visit. (Having a friend living so close to the land also must have raised her competitive hackles incredibly.) But I certainly know plenty of low- to high-income people whose religion has become the expatiation of this kind of guilt with massive “sustainable” rituals.