Not Green, just Optimizing

Much of engineering is optimization: getting the most out of any expenditure of resources. Optimization is something I'm good at.

Some may call me "green", but I re-use the plastic bread wrappers to take my sandwiches to lunch. I don't have to pay to bring empty sandwich bags into my house, but a big reason I do this is because the plastic bag is right there after taking the bread out.

I throw away the twist ties after opening the wrapper because the twist ties take more effort than simply twisting the wrapper itself.

Not only do I know the fewest key-presses required to operate the microwave, but also which combinations require the least hand movement. (Why press 60 if you can press 55 or 66?)

I also ride a bicycle, the ultimate machine for efficiency, simplicity and utility.

Being "green" is an idea I'm not always in agreement with, because sometimes people use that label without understanding their motives. I don't re-use wrappers or ride my bike to be "green". I do these things because it maximizes the return on my investment.

It is not a coincidence however, that being "green" provides a good return on investment because "green" usually means minimizing waste.

So, my office is 2.5 miles away and my usual bike routes are 8.3 or 9.3 miles. "Where is the optimization?" the reader might ask.

I'm not optimizing my commute. I'm optimizing something else.

You see, I'm out for a bike ride and if I happen to arrive at the office in the morning, that's great. It's a matter of convenience that my morning bike ride ends up at the office.

I'm optimizing my investment of time by accomplishing multiple goals in one activity: exercise, traffic reduction, air quality, socializing. And -- at least in my imagination -- I'm setting an example of what is possible: a community less dependent on the automobile.

And a community less dependent on the car may be green, but to me, it is the best way to optimize your community's resources.

For further perspective on how to optimize your community's resources, see Noah's article on "Commute by Bike" about how Getting to know your Local Village.