General Discussion

Silent3

(15,909 posts)

131. And for every one member of the crew...

Fri Jan 18, 2013, 07:30 PM

Jan 2013

...demanding some of those creature comforts, there are many, many tons of relatively undemanding cargo just sitting there, going along for the ride.

It would be interesting (though not at all practical) to figure out the potential energy efficiency of transporting people in a very non-luxurious ocean-crossing passenger boat, something just barely above the old "steerage" form of travel. You'd still have to provide and transport at least a week's worth of food for each person (for something like an Atlantic crossing), handle washing clothes, transport the weight of the beds (or cots?) they'd sleep in, provide bathing and toilet facilities, provide heating and/or air conditioning for the long duration of the trip. Even stripped-down cross-ocean travel might have a hard time beating an airplane for efficiency.

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Do you want to do something to help this planet? Stop flying. [View all] MadHound Jan 2013 OP

I use USPS for shipping Fumesucker Jan 2013 #1

The pounds CO2 per mile traveled per person for flying is about the same as driving a car at 38 MPG. NYC_SKP Jan 2013 #2

And don't fly alone, either! frazzled Jan 2013 #5

Take train tama Jan 2013 #33

tama... as soon as we have a train that can travel the same speed as a jet, I'm on board. n/t a geek named Bob Jan 2013 #70

Ah, the Gray Gentlemen, the Time Thieves tama Jan 2013 #77

People actually think we'll always have air travel... NYC_SKP Jan 2013 #92

That's not practicable in many cases frazzled Jan 2013 #90

And not to mention tama Jan 2013 #95

to visit my son i have to fly riverbendviewgal Jan 2013 #144

Umm, no. MadHound Jan 2013 #7

Airlines would do good to do folding props until they get altitude, take off energy is REALLY high uponit7771 Jan 2013 #126

Um, nothing in your post varies from what I wrote. NYC_SKP Jan 2013 #156

I stand by the general points drawn from the data in my post. NYC_SKP Jan 2013 #157

What if I drive an electric car in a nuclear or hydroelectric powered neighborhood... OneTenthofOnePercent Jan 2013 #148

ZNC! NYC_SKP Jan 2013 #150

I have quinnox Jan 2013 #3

I don't fly unless I absolutely, positively HAVE to. HughBeaumont Jan 2013 #4

Agreed! Sekhmets Daughter Jan 2013 #29

Post removed Post removed Jan 2013 #6

+1. closeupready Jan 2013 #22

You forgot to say he's fat and it snowed last week so har har you librul dummies and he's fat. 2ndAmForComputers Jan 2013 #102

One small correction; A HERETIC I AM Jan 2013 #8

Dont attack air travel, support Better solutions: Enviro Friendly Jet engines + High Speed Rail stevenleser Jan 2013 #9

We would be best served by a system that uses already existing rights of way Fumesucker Jan 2013 #12

Yes, existing rights of way. IIRC, most trains I have taken in Europe travel alongside highways. stevenleser Jan 2013 #14

You don't need new tech for more efficient aircraft, turbo-prop engines are more efficient and... JVS Jan 2013 #17

I think there are two issues, the noise you mention and the perception of it being older and less stevenleser Jan 2013 #18

No thanks. I like getting a little thing called a paycheck. B2G Jan 2013 #10

Sure. When all the concerned celebrities and politicians give up their private jets. Nye Bevan Jan 2013 #11

Then why tama Jan 2013 #34

If me stopping flying generated the same publicity as Al Gore and Bono would Nye Bevan Jan 2013 #37

Weird "logic" tama Jan 2013 #42

I notice you didn't cite any RW public person. 2ndAmForComputers Jan 2013 #103

The standard character assassination strategy tama Jan 2013 #108

They were the first two names that sprang to mind Nye Bevan Jan 2013 #125

So, will we have a new fleet of cross-Atlantic liners that can make the trip in 3 days? sinkingfeeling Jan 2013 #13

No thanks. zappaman Jan 2013 #15

Clouds look pretty much same everywhere - if you get window seat tama Jan 2013 #35

If I could drive to Palau or Australia or, this year, Thailand...I would. n/t zappaman Jan 2013 #43

By ship... tama Jan 2013 #45

If my vacations was over a month long, maybe. zappaman Jan 2013 #49

When my friends were in traveling age tama Jan 2013 #55

That's pretty awesome! zappaman Jan 2013 #57

Nice bit of attitude there, MadHound Jan 2013 #47

Sorry, but flying is a reality. zappaman Jan 2013 #48

Rationalizing your selfish attitude, hmm. MadHound Jan 2013 #50

ummm... zappaman Jan 2013 #52

I do what is necessary to keep my carbon footprint as small as possible, MadHound Jan 2013 #60

Bully for you! zappaman Jan 2013 #62

In truth tama Jan 2013 #61

I agree! zappaman Jan 2013 #63

K&R The first step to solving a problem is to understand that you have a problem. Egalitarian Thug Jan 2013 #16

I would never see my family Prism Jan 2013 #19

No thanks. closeupready Jan 2013 #20

Airflight is a drop in the bucket. China spews more carbon in an hour... Taverner Jan 2013 #21

Sad, but likely true. AverageJoe90 Jan 2013 #153

I know you mean well, MadHound, Blue_In_AK Jan 2013 #23

Heh RobertEarl Jan 2013 #24

Completely wrong. People are just demanding better solutions than "Dont use airplanes for anything" stevenleser Jan 2013 #25

Yeah, keep on trucking RobertEarl Jan 2013 #31

Translation: "It has to be my way." No, it doesn't. Those are perfectly good solutions. stevenleser Jan 2013 #36

Not my way RobertEarl Jan 2013 #41

If I can get there in 2 days or less driving, I drive liberal N proud Jan 2013 #26

Absolutely would not give up air travel, ever Godhumor Jan 2013 #27

I don't get vacations long enough to drive anywhere. LeftyMom Jan 2013 #28

I am sure in a few years... AsahinaKimi Jan 2013 #30

One good thing about 911.........no air traffic for a few days thelordofhell Jan 2013 #32

Not over lower Manhattan. n/t DeadEyeDyck Jan 2013 #68

Some people say things that are absolutely stunning, don't they? alphafemale Jan 2013 #137

The responses to this thread are stunning, MadHound Jan 2013 #38

Hell, if convenience is now something to be ashamed of, why don't we go back to horse and buggy? Godhumor Jan 2013 #44

Let's see, what is that tradeoff? MadHound Jan 2013 #46

So, screed about cars, too Godhumor Jan 2013 #59

Shhhhh...the OP has created their own perfect world for themselves zappaman Jan 2013 #53

At certain phase tama Jan 2013 #71

ok zappaman Jan 2013 #73

I guess he has a windmill Sissyk Jan 2013 #113

Amish are doing fine tama Jan 2013 #106

Yeah. They run the best puppy mills. nt alphafemale Jan 2013 #138

Maybe you should take a math class before advancing idiotic ideas geek tragedy Jan 2013 #88

No... greytdemocrat Jan 2013 #107

Are you stunned that Al Gore travels around by private jet? (nt) Nye Bevan Jan 2013 #134

Thanks tama Jan 2013 #39

Hey, my first car was a 1952 DeSoto! Oh, and flying IS about the worst thing you can do to the Kip Humphrey Jan 2013 #40

One more reason why I want them to bring back the airships... Ian David Jan 2013 #51

OTOH, airplanes are mass transit of a sort Hekate Jan 2013 #54

Be nice if there was a choice. MindPilot Jan 2013 #56

see this vid: air traffic in 24 hours... Whisp Jan 2013 #58

No problem union_maid Jan 2013 #64

Carbon Tax FreeJoe Jan 2013 #65

I quit flying when my last out-of-state relative died SoCalDem Jan 2013 #66

hmmmm zappaman Jan 2013 #67

Hmmm, looks like your conscience is rattling your cage. MadHound Jan 2013 #69

Project much? zappaman Jan 2013 #72

LOL, your very post belies your words, MadHound Jan 2013 #74

LOL! zappaman Jan 2013 #75

I'm part of the problem, too tama Jan 2013 #89

How do I get to London next month? Glassunion Jan 2013 #76

Boat. MadHound Jan 2013 #78

You realize that the large sea going vessel Godhumor Jan 2013 #83

Why do you hate the planet? Boating is much worse for the environment. geek tragedy Jan 2013 #86

Boats are definitely better for cargo than they are for people for energy efficiency. Silent3 Jan 2013 #91

All ships have crews that need all of that (well, room service???!!!) tama Jan 2013 #99

And for every one member of the crew... Silent3 Jan 2013 #131

Interesting yes tama Jan 2013 #136

Crossing and cruising are two very different trips. MindPilot Jan 2013 #104

A boat would not be economical. I also can't afford the time off of work to make the roundtrip. Glassunion Jan 2013 #94

Maybe you can fly over with your gilded angel wings? zappaman Jan 2013 #79

+infinity alphafemale Jan 2013 #145

And how do I get back to Hawai'i? KamaAina Jan 2013 #96

Take the tunnel. Glassunion Jan 2013 #98

Broom donheld Jan 2013 #160

One thing they found in the week after 9/11 Warpy Jan 2013 #80

And don't have children. And don't eat meat or cheese. And stop using the Internet geek tragedy Jan 2013 #81

Well said! zappaman Jan 2013 #82

If you use a refrigerator or a washing machine, you're like Hitler. nt geek tragedy Jan 2013 #84

heh RobertEarl Jan 2013 #93

Electricity and houses and meat didn't exist 100 years ago? geek tragedy Jan 2013 #97

Who said houses and meat didn't exist? Only you, geek RobertEarl Jan 2013 #117

Well, sure the rest of the planet would be better off if 4 billion people geek tragedy Jan 2013 #121

See? There is our difference RobertEarl Jan 2013 #127

"It really Is. That. Simple." zappaman Jan 2013 #128

No. Its ecologically minded RobertEarl Jan 2013 #133

Self hating humans tama Jan 2013 #141

No. I did my part by not procreating. I'm flying. n/t MadrasT Jan 2013 #85

Wrong, wrong, wrong. mn9driver Jan 2013 #87

Facts are good... SidDithers Jan 2013 #101

Wow. 378 pounds of co2! RobertEarl Jan 2013 #105

Aviation is 2% of world carbon emissions. geek tragedy Jan 2013 #109

... zappaman Jan 2013 #110

Check this tama Jan 2013 #115

But check this: geek tragedy Jan 2013 #118

Easy solution: tama Jan 2013 #129

Aviation 2% and computers 2%? RobertEarl Jan 2013 #123

Looked and found this: tama Jan 2013 #112

But did you read this part? geek tragedy Jan 2013 #116

Yep, see my reply to your post ;) tama Jan 2013 #124

I flew recently Travis_0004 Jan 2013 #120

Don't worry RobertEarl Jan 2013 #130

Your Prius will blow nearly 500 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere, making the same trip. mn9driver Jan 2013 #132

See Tama's post RobertEarl Jan 2013 #135

I have family overseas so I have to sometimes gollygee Jan 2013 #100

But I cannot drink gin and tonics, non-stop, to JFK. DollarBillHines Jan 2013 #111

I last flew in 1998 IDemo Jan 2013 #114

I'm amazed at moparlunatic Jan 2013 #119

you think only Republicans fly on airplanes? nt geek tragedy Jan 2013 #122

Yes. name not needed Jan 2013 #142

I believe those are bears you are thinking of Godhumor Jan 2013 #146

If true progressives tama Jan 2013 #154

"LOL" is such a cliche. But this is a rare occasion when I actually did (nt) Nye Bevan Jan 2013 #159

it's fine for me. I don't have to travel much BainsBane Jan 2013 #139

Sixteen reccs out of 140 comments pscot Jan 2013 #140

This is the most entertaining thread on DU in a long time Godhumor Jan 2013 #143

Eat Less Meat waterwatcher123 Jan 2013 #147

I think I will be more careful about when I fly now...... Swede Atlanta Jan 2013 #149

Would that I could nt Xipe Totec Jan 2013 #151

Did you know the internet causes as many emissions as the entire airline industry? NoOneMan Jan 2013 #152

Without internet tama Jan 2013 #155

Did you know... NoOneMan Jan 2013 #158