Carbon Counter (2327 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis location only)

Carbon Counter: 1,000,000 pounds as of 7/1/09. Sale of Re-Cycle bikes has reduced the world’s CO2 emissions by 1,000,000 pounds. The Re-Cycle Carbon Counter assumes that manufacturing a new bicycle produces approximately 350 pounds of CO2 emissions. We also assume that half of the bikes purchased through Re-Cycle will be used for a 3 mile commute (one way) for half the year. In other words, the average Re-Cycle bike is assumed to save 1.5 car miles per work day. We are trying to be extremely conservative. Re-Cycle bikes are likely to save more than just commuter miles for example. According to www.epa.gov for every mile you don’t drive your car, you save the world: - 0.0465 gallons of gas - 2.8 grams of hydrocarbons (react with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight and elevated temperatures to form ground-level ozone. It can cause eye irritation, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath and can lead to permanent lung damage.*) - 20.9 grams of carbon monoxide (is a colorless, odorless, deadly gas. It reduces the flow of oxygen in the bloodstream and can impair mental functions and visual perception.*) - 1.39 grams of nitrogen oxides (also contribute to the formation of ozone and contribute to the formation of acid rain and to water quality problems.*) - 0.916 POUNDS of carbon dioxide (is a colorless, odorless non-flammable gas and is the most prominent Greenhouse gas in Earth's atmosphere.**). All Things Considered on NPR reported on July 27, 2006 that the average car sold in the US gets 21.5 mpg (up from 21 mpg in 1981). *National Safety Council, www.nsc.org **Greenhouse Gases and Society by Nick Hopwood and Jordan Cohen (http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/society/greenhouse.htm) How much do you ride? www.usatf.org/routes/map/ Then let us know so we can put more accurate numbers on this site. Re-Cycle has attempted to be conservative in our estimates. Please, if you have information that you believe to be more accurate or would help give a more complete picture, please forward it to us and we will update this site appropriately. Please, please include sources and dates so that we can site it here. Cutter@Re-Cycle.com.