Greening Your WakeWhether you like to fish, water ski or just cruise along the shore, there are more than 100 lakes in Alberta for boaters to splash about in this summer. Unfortunately, recreational boating can be a major drain on the environment. It's estimated recreational boaters in North America put more than one billion litres of hydrocarbon pollution into the water each year - that's 15 times the amount of the Exxon Valdez spill.[1] "I want to make sure we do not fall into that category of recreational boaters," says Fareen Jadavji Jessa, who loves boating with her husband Shamshir on Chestermere Lake, a Calgary-area lake that sees a lot of boating traffic. "We want to make sure our enjoyment is not at the expense of the environment."
So what can you do to clean up your wake? The most eco-friendly and energy-saving boats, of course, rely on humans or wind for power. But for those who prefer a motorized vessel, here are some boating best practices to consider this summer. Purchase a boat with an inboard, four-stroke or two-stroke engine that has direct fuel injection. These are much better for the environment and cheaper to run, as an estimated 25 per cent of all fuel and oil used in a conventional two-stroke engine ends up in the water.[2] An even better alternative is to opt for an electric boat, which can be charged by solar panels or wind generation. Look for ways to increase your boat's fuel efficiency. Eliminate unnecessary idling, avoid running the engine at full throttle and get regular oil changes and engine tune-ups. Half a litre of oil will cover 0.4 hectares of surface area, so spills are no minor thing. Avoid fuel and oil spills by installing a fuel saver and ensuring you do not overfill your tanks. Avoid the temptation to take a spin on a jet ski. Virtually all of them have conventional two-stroke engines and are typically ridden at full throttle. Riding one of these for even just one hour produces more smog emission than driving a 1998 passenger car for more than 22,000 kilometres.[3] Make sure sewage and garbage don't end up overboard. Recycle and compost garbage back on shore and use a pump-out service to empty your sewage tank. Get on board with green boating and help ensure your favourite waterways remain unspoiled for summers to come.
[1] http://www.eartheasy.com/play_eco-friendly_boating.htm [2] http://www.georgiastrait.org/files/share/PDF/GreenBoating2007.pdf (The Georgia Strait Alliance Guide to Green Boating, 2007/2008) [3] http://www.ehponline.org/members/2003/111-4/focus.html (Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 111, Number 4, April 2003) |
