Richard's blog

Tag: environment

  • Electricity Maps and HomeAssistant

    Electricity Maps and HomeAssistant

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    richard
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    Reading Time: < 1 minuteThe building I live in has solar panels on the roof and a heat pump. This allows it to be more energy efficient than other buildings. It also has thick insulation on the walls and more. Recently I have been playing with Homeassistant and electricity Maps. Electricity Maps is a real…

  • The Uncertain Train Journey

    The Uncertain Train Journey

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 1 minuteFor years I automatically took the car for everything I did, or almost. Over the last seven or eight years that habit has changed as I grew used to walking locally, and catching the train to activities. This shift in habits is due to two things. The first is that I met…

  • Spontaneous Publibike Ride

    Spontaneous Publibike Ride

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 3 minutesWe are all familiar with it. We get a phone call. "I will be in Nyon in 20 minutes, do you want to meet". We think, duck, that’s short notice. Do we take the bike? No, because we don’t want to leave it unattended. Do we take the car? No, because then…

  • Practical Thoughts on Publibike

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 4 minutesYesterday I finally tested Publibike after years of considering these bikes. There is a paradox. I think nothing of spending three francs, for a coke, rivella, hot chocolate or coffee but the idea of paying 3 CHF to use a bike for a six minute ride is disturbing. I didn’t pay for…

  • To drive or Travel by Train

    To drive or Travel by Train

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 2 minutesTomorrow I will be heading to Gruyère. I saw that if I take the train it will take two hours but if I take the car it will take one hour. I am currently toying with the idea of suggesting that I pick up some people in Nyon and others in Fourmi,…

  • The Decision Not to Drive For Sports On a Sunday

    The Decision Not to Drive For Sports On a Sunday

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 3 minutesThis weekend I could have gone to Bellevaux for the VF, Thones for the VF, Kandersteg for the VF, and gone to Charmey, Rocher de Naye and one other places for hikes and climbing. I chose to do none of these things. My reason for this is to save money on petrol,…

  • CloudNeo Environmental Impact

    CloudNeo Environmental Impact

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 2 minutesLast year I tried Cloudneo shoes. I paid a monthly fee to use shoes that were made from beans that were processed into ‘environmentally friendly recyclable shoes’. In reality this is a con. According to an [RTS article](https://www.rts.ch/info/economie/2024/grand-format/les-chaussures-pas-si-vertes-de-on-running-et-roger-federer-28536538.html) the shoes are made from natural products, that are treated in a manner that…

  • Stress Testing the Ocean Drive Street E-Scooter

    Stress Testing the Ocean Drive Street E-Scooter

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 3 minutesYesterday I had to drive from Nyon to Founex to do a favour for someone. Normally I would have used the car but it was in for a tire change. I was switching from winter to summer tires at last. On the way to Founex I took farm roads as much as…

  • Switzerland and Renewable Energy

    Switzerland and Renewable Energy

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 2 minutesYesterday while driving the radio was on. Usually I would turn it off because people usually speak about unimportant things. Yesterday was different. Yesterday someone was speaking about solar power and Switzerland. He said that at the moment just 6 percent of houses have solar panels, when it should be closer to…

  • The Environmental Impact of Construction Noise

    The Environmental Impact of Construction Noise

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 3 minutesWhen people speak about construction they always think of the carbon footprint of construction but I’d like to take a look at the noise footprint of destruction of old buildings and construction of new buildings. I live close to a quarry. If I open the windows I can hear the noise of…