In Denver: Everything gets me thinking

I am in Denver as I write this, getting ready to go over to the Tattered Cover bookstore for a talk about my book, "The Homeowner's Guide to Energy Independence." As an ordinary American traveling in a somewhat ordinary way, I have noticed many things that could change for travelers, and which could make a difference. Rental car companies could offer energy-efficient cars. It is completely incongruous and ironic that I have driven into town in a sub-SUV to talk about how individuals can save energy. That was the only choice at the rental car counter at Denver International Airport. I tried to get into the whole thing, sitting back and appreciating the comfort, etc. A Starbucks out here has a drive-through window. Should I pull up? I just couldn't do it. I couldn't go into that six-car-long line. I just had to park with the three other cars and go inside. Here at the 16th Street "mall," which reminds me of many closed-street malls dating to the 70s in several American cities such as Philadelphia (but which now have opened), Denver operates hybrid/alternative fuel buses (as the signs on the sides say) for people to navigate. That's an interesting approach. Denver is a city that was built around the car. It reminds me a little bit of Phoenix, but it's got more street life and more street art. It reminds me a little bit of Tucson with its river-side running/biking path, but of course it has water in its river. But everything gets me thinking. To save money, I stayed last night at the Motel 6 out of town. It is sort of midway between the downtown and the incredibly-far-off airport. In order to get some exercise, I hopped into my sub-SUV and drove into town to use the river-side path. Then I drove back to the motel. Hmmm. But if you could see the roads with nowhere to walk out by the motel, you would understand my desire not to be run over on my trip. On Monday... it's on to the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, which is just outside the city limits of Denver. The federal government cut millions to this lab only a few weeks after the President's State of the Union address last January. That is a bit of an odd thing. They have invited me to give a Power Point talk with some images from the book. I'm excited and pleased. For more about the book, see www.globepequot.com and put the title in the search line. Or check out amazon or any on-line bookseller. Or read earlier posts of this blog.