End of Year Statistics
16 December 2009 | Whangarei, New Zealand
Joan
I am always curious about how big of a carbon footprint we leave in our wake. My goal is to be as energy independent and to live as earth friendly as we can. Through our usage of solar panels and the wind generator we have greatly reduced our need for fuel.
The following is a breakdown of our fuel use for 2009:
Diesel: 250 gallons
Propane/butane for the stove: 60 pounds
Gas for the outboard and generator: 15 gallons
Shore power: 3.5 months total, but our use is very minimal, usually to run a 110 volt tool for a short period of time. Batteries are topped off, but the solar panels and wind generator does most of the charging. Shore power is just a nice treat to make boat projects go easier without firing up the Honda generator.
Nautical miles traveled for 2009: 8,000 miles
Total nautical miles traveled since leaving Sitka, Alaska: 13,000 miles
For land transportation we used the local buses, and an occasional taxi. We rented a car, for a total of 2 weeks this year and usually shared it with other cruisers. I would love a bicycle, but just don't have the room to store one at this time.
That is about it for our fuel consumption this year.
We are working towards limiting our garbage impact. This has been more difficult because of the packaging that stuff comes in. We do repack most items so that we have a minimum of packaging on board. Only biodegradable garbage goes overboard. When given the option, we buy items with the least packaging or biodegradable packaging.
When given a choice, we use cleaners that are biodegradable when it is possible. I am a big fan of vinager for most jobs, but admit to also using bleach for keeping mold and germs under control.
We will continue to find better ways to be more earth friendly as we cruise and learn. If you have ideas, please post them as comments. We would love to hear from you!