Green with Energy: Want better health care? Buy a push mower

This summer, the news media has been so dominated by the health care debate that any discussion of energy policy has taken a back seat. Don't fret. Energy will be back as soon as the U.S. Senate takes up the climate bill this fall. But now is a good time to consider the close relationship between health care and energy use and how simple steps can impact critical needs in both areas.

First, it's important to realize that the U.S. health care system has a very large carbon footprint. That is to say that the operations of hospitals, medical offices and pharmaceutical manufacturers consume a great deal of energy and, as a result, are responsible for no small portion of our greenhouse gas emissions. So it stands to reason that we could decrease greenhouse gas emissions if we had less need of health care. In other words, being healthy is green.

Our current leisurely lifestyle is made possible by the fact that fossil fuels have enabled machines to do work once done by people. While it's true that this transition from human power to fuel power initially brought about great improvements in the common man's health and longevity, it's now clear that the pendulum has swung too far. We use lawn tractors and power mowers on the weekend, then drive our cars to the health club to exercise. The irony is rich. We increasingly recognize the need to take care of our health and decrease our dependence on fossil fuel, but we miss obvious opportunities to address both issues with the same actions.

In short, if we changed the tone of energy policy discussions from one of "doing without" to one of "doing differently," we'd be much better off. For example, what if Americans looked at all the things they count on energy to do for them - the trips in the car, gas and electric yard tools, electric appliances - and made a commitment to take back some of that energy load? Trade in the yard tractor for a walk-behind lawnmower. Better yet, dump gasoline altogether in favor of the push-type mowers that are now back in style. Walk, don't drive, to the coffee shop or a local restaurant. Take your bike instead of your car to work one day a week. Everyone deciding to perform just a few tasks "by hand" would have an impressive multiplicative effect! Not only would we use less energy from fossil fuels, but results would snowball through the health care system.

It's clear that a large portion of our health care system is dedicated to the treatment of conditions that are improved by regular exercise. Viewed through a less rosy lens, that leisurely life we enjoy might be called sedentary. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease and some cancers are all less likely in an active person. There is mounting evidence that mental health is improved as well. Reducing dependence on man-made energy sources would result in a less stressed health care system, and it's likely our personal productivity would go up as well. Everyone benefits. We'd contribute to a more sustainable planet while living better -not worse.

In addition to the fact that we'd be in better shape physically, the air quality of the Treasure Valley also would improve, thus measurably decreasing the need to treat various health issues associated with Valley's marginal air quality. No doubt there would be other benefits, as well.

As we work together to forge a sustainable future for ourselves, it's essential that we don't suffer from a failure of imagination. Just because we can't envision a high quality of life outside our current setting doesn't mean it doesn't exist. It just means we can't see it from our place on the living room sofa. So, as you watch the healthcare debate unfold, (on an energy-hogging wide-screen plasma TV?) keep in mind that energy consumption is embedded in this discussion. In many cases, doing good old-fashioned chores leads to better health and fewer doctor visits. Shifting some of the energy load back from fuel power to human power helps everyone by lowering utility bills, medical bills, the energy consumed by the health care industry and healthcare costs, overall.

John Gardner is Boise State's associate vice president for energy research, policy and campus sustainability.