Green Livin Ali G show's that anyone can learn about the Environemt. Watch as Ali G find's out about the Evironment at a Tree Protest.
NFT - Ali G (Environment)
Ali G - Environment
Green Livin Ali G finds out about Recycling and The Ozone.
Ali G - Discusses the Rain Forest
Green Livin Ali G and Ralph Nader on rainforests and energy
I hope you enjoyed todays post. Keep on Living Green.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Green Livin Ali G's Take On The Enviornment
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Green Livin Home Depot Launches National CFL Bulb Recycling Iniative Also Implementing In Store Energy Conservation Program
Green Livin The Home Depot®, the world's largest home improvement retailer, today expanded its long-term commitment to the environment and sustainability by launching a national in-store, consumer compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb recycling program at all 1,973 The Home Depot locations. This free service is the first such offering made so widely available by a retailer in the United States and offers customers additional options for making environmentally conscious decisions from purchase to disposal. The Home Depot Canada launched a CFL recycling program in November, 2007.
At each The Home Depot store, customers can simply bring in any expired, unbroken CFL bulbs, and give them to the store associate behind the returns desk. The bulbs will then be managed responsibly by an environmental management company who will coordinate CFL packaging, transportation and recycling to maximize safety and ensure environmental compliance.
In addition to the CFL recycling program, The Home Depot has also launched an in store
energy conservation program to switch Light Fixture Showrooms in U.S. stores from incandescent bulbs to CFLs by Fall 2008 and save $16 million annually in energy costs.
The CFL recycling program is an extension of The Home Depot’s Eco Options program. Eco Options, launched in April 2007, is a classification that allows customers to easily identify products that have less of an impact on the environment.
"The CFL recycling program is another example of how The Home Depot is empowering customers to help make a difference in their own homes, and have less of an impact on the environment," said Ron Jarvis, senior vice president, Environmental Innovation. "With more than 75 percent of households located within 10 miles of a Home Depot store, this program is the first national solution to providing Americans with a convenient way to recycle CFLs."
Switching from traditional light bulbs to CFLs is an easy change consumers can make to reduce energy use at home. According to the EPA’s ENERGY STAR® program, if every American switched out one incandescent bulb to a CFL, it would prevent more than 600 million in annual energy costs and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from 800,000 cars. As the largest retailer of light bulbs in the country, The Home Depot sold over 75 million CFL’s in 2007, which saved Americans approximately $4.8 billion in energy costs and 51.8 billon pounds in CO2 greenhouse gases over the life of the bulbs.
Other environmental initiatives The Home Depot has implemented since the launch of Eco Options in April 2007 include:
- Store recycling program in the U.S. of shrink wrap and mixed plastics, which will result in 50 million pounds of waste diverted from landfills each year.
- Internal recycling initiative at corporate headquarters that is projected to increase the amount of recycled materials from 30 percent to at least 65 percent.
- Renewed commitment to use transportation partners registered in SmartWay program and ensuring The Home Depot distribution facilities and stores further promote emission reduction.
For more information on the CFL Recycling Program or Eco Options, please visit
http://www.homedepot.com/ecooptions .
About The Home Depot
The Home Depot® is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer, with 2,262 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces, Mexico and China. In fiscal 2007, The Home Depot had sales of $77.3 billion and earnings from continuing operations of $4.2 billion. The Company employs more than 300,000 associates. The Home Depot's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500 index.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Green Livin Shell opens combination hydrogen and gasoline station in LA
Green Livin We’ve discovered the BMW Hydrogen 7's perfect refueling station. A new Shell station that sells both hydrogen and standard gasoline opened in West Los. The station is located on Santa Monica Boulevard and Federal Avenue, near I-405 - this is right near the recently-opened Tesla Motors store.
New FCX Clarity drivers and participants in GM's Project Driveway should be able to refuel their cars at the station and feel pretty good about the provenance of their purchase. Shell will be selling hydrogen made using electrolysis right there at the station. To further cast a green haze over the whole thing, Shell is buying "green electricity" from the utilities to crack the water.
In hydrogen vehicles, an electric motor powers the wheels. A chemical reaction inside a unit called a fuel cell -- usually between hydrogen and oxygen -- creates electricity for the motor.
The only tail pipe emission is water vapor, which produces zero carbon emissions and has the potential to significantly reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and protect against climate change.
California already has more fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) and hydrogen refueling stations than any other part of the world, and last year recorded 1.5 million zero emission miles from hydrogen FCV trials. Twenty-five hydrogen stations currently operate in California, most in the San Francisco-Sacramento corridor and the Greater Los Angeles and San Diego regions, serving more than 100 fuel cell passenger vehicles and transit buses, with a further ten stations already in the planning stages.
Hydrogen production at the Shell station will be done on-site by the electrolysis of water using 'green electricity'purchased from the Los Angeles City Department of Water & Power. It will then be compressed and stored to provide daily fueling.
The station will also support a U.S. Department of Energy hydrogen infrastructure program, to supply hydrogen to future and existing General Motors FCVs in the LA metro area. GM plans to lease more than thirty Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell-Electric compact SUVs to private and commercial customers in Southern California, as part of a three-year trial, called "Project Driveaway" to test the vehicles in real world driving conditions.
With the US one of the largest automotive markets in the world, with over 247 million vehicles on its roads, car ownership predicted to increase by 45% between 2005 and 20203, and US energy consumption set to rise to 139.9 quadrillion Btu by 20154, hydrogen FCVs are set to play an important part in the United States' growing energy and mobility needs.
In addition to zero tailpipe emissions, finding ways to produce hydrogen from renewable sources will be critically important to making the fuel infrastructure sustainable. And with ground breaking approaches to produce 'green hydrogen', manufactured from renewable energy sources, such as bioethanol (derived from biomass) and solar energy being researched for the future, 'well to wheel' emissions will be able to near zero.
Hydrogen can also be produced from a number of different feedstocks including oil, coal, and biomass. This allows different countries to manufacture hydrogen with their own domestic supplies, and at the same time reduce costs and increase security of supply.
California is leading the way with clean fuels, as it moves one step closer to realizing its hydrogen program, FCVs powered by hydrogen will provide a sustainable transportation choice for the future, opening up new markets across the globe. This requires the sustained effort of energy companies, auto manufacturers and federal and state governments working together. To help develop a safe and reliable fueling infrastructure for future clean energy vehicles, as the only major energy company involved in FCV vehicle demonstrations in all three major hydrogen markets -- North America, Japan, and Europe.
"This is a very exciting development; Shell is helping to usher in the hydrogen age. Hats off to Shell for implementing innovative solutions to mitigate air pollution.
'Shell Hydrogen' refers to the companies of the Shell Group of companies that are engaged in the pursuit and development of businesses related to hydrogen and fuel cells. Each of the companies that make up the Shell Group of companies is a separate and distinct legal entity. Principal offices of Shell Hydrogen are located in The Hague, the Netherlands, with regional bases in Houston and Tokyo. Shell Hydrogen has been developing hydrogen and fuel cell businesses since 1999. For further information, please visit http://www.shell.com/hydrogen .
Sources:
1 = Green electricity purchased from the Los Angeles City Department ofWater & Power is credited against the power company's allowance ofgreen sourced power.
2 = US Bureau of Transport Statistics -- 247,421,120 vehicles on US roadsin 2006
3 = Unsustainable Transport Report, January 2005, Professor DavidBannister, University College London
- Over the next 25 years, we are likely to see a furtherincrease of 75 per cent in car ownership levels and a growth of 56per cent in traffic levels globally
- In developed countries, there is some stability in the patterns oftravel, with car ownership expected to increase by 45 per cent(North America) and 54 per cent in other OECD countries
4 = US Energy Information Administration, International Energy OutlookReport 2006
Friday, June 27, 2008
Green Livin Gas Saving Tips
Green Livin While the rising cost of oil has the price of gasoline skyrocketing, people everywhere are preparing for cross-country road trips. We can't really argue with that innate desire to get closer to nature and out on the open road, and whether you're still driving an SUV, chances are you plan to get in a car to go some where this summer. These money- and gas-saving tips are designed to help you squeeze every last bit of power out of that precious petrol--and cause fewer CO2 emissions. This comprehensive list has several tasks that should be done before even starting your car; others require minor adjustments to your driving style. All of them will help you drive a little greener.
Green Living Gas-Saving Tips: Questions to Ask Before You Turn on the Engine
1. Is your engine tuned up?
Fixing a car that is out of tune will boost gas mileage, be sure to give your car regular tune-ups.
2. Is your body in good shape?
Inspect suspension and chassis parts for occasional misalignment. Bent wheels, axles, bad shocks, broken springs, will create engine drag and are unsafe at high traveling speeds.
3. Is your air filter clean?
When the engine air filter clogs with dirt, dust and bugs, it causes your engine to work harder and your car becomes less fuel-efficient. Replacing a clogged air filter could improve your gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.
4. What grade is your oil?
You can improve your car's gas mileage by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. Opt for motor oil with the words "energy conserving" on the API performance label; this oil contains friction-reducing additives.
5. Got shade?
Buy a good windshield shade. A windshield shade blocks sunlight and helps to keep heat out of the inside of your car. This will help reduce air conditioning use.
Green Living Save Money on Gas at the Pump
6. Don't overfill 'er up.
Avoid filling your gas tank to the top. Overfilling results in sloshing over and out of tank. Never fill your gas tank past the first "click" of fuel nozzle.
7. Use the lowest octane you can.
Buy the lowest grade or octane of gasoline that is appropriate for your car.
8. Tighten that cap.
Gas will evaporate from your car's gas tank if it has an escape. Loose, missing, or damaged gas caps cause millions of gallons of gas to evaporate each year.
9. Wait until you're near empty.
Don't fill up until your tank is near empty; this will extend your gas because you are hauling a lighter load as the tank nears empty.
10. Find credit card discounts.
Some credit cards offer savings on gas when you use the card toward your purchases. Dmitry Popov Founder of http://www.pumpandsave.com/ provides a comprehensive list of Gas Rebate Credit Card Offers and additional consumer benefits. Popov’s website not only list the top gas cash back credit cards selected by consumers, but also serves as a resource guide that provides tips and strategies on how to save and earn cash on gas.
11. Membership has its privileges.
Some gas stations offer membership benefits. There are also department and grocery stores that give discounts at the fuel pump when you use their store membership cards.
12. Brand names.
Brand means nothing in the gas world; they are all using the same refineries, trucks, and pipelines to transport the fuel. Go for cost when it comes to the price of gas.
13. Keep your eyes on the prize.
Scope out the gas prices while you're driving you will notice price differences from all the different Gas Stations.
14. Don't get desperate.
The first gas station you encounter after a long stretch will never be the cheapest - drive a little further to find a cheaper station.
15. In the city, don't shop around.
Don't price shop for gas locally by driving around, the miles you drive will almost certainly eliminate the savings, and stop-and-go city traffic does a number on your average efficiency.
16. Exit, stage left. On the highway, that is.
On the highway, take an exit at a moderately sized city and head for the city center. There will likely be several stations near the ramp with cheaper gas.
Green Living Things to Check Before You Get on the Road
17. Are they open?
Is the place you are going to open for business? Shops often have irregular hours, especially at nights and on the weekends.
18. Do you know where you are going?
Have you confirmed that the address you are given actually exists and is accurate? IF not, you could be wasting fuel and time on miles being lost.
19. Did you do your due diligence?
Use the World Wide Web, newspapers, or phone book to comparison shop before you drive around to several stores.
20. Do they have what you want?
Restaurants often have long waits; products can be out of stock, and so on. Confirm that the place you're headed can deliver the goods before you get there.
21. Can it be delivered?
Find companies willing to delivery what you need to your home. Amazon, dry cleaning delivery services, food, and anything else that will bring what you need without burning up your gas may save some loot and the planet some warming.
22. Do you have to go right now?
Traveling in off-peak times will reduce your time spent in traffic, waiting for lights, etc.
23. Can you combine trips?
Combine errands into one trip and plan your stops for the most efficient route. You'll save yourself time and money.
Green Living Save Gas and Money: Are You Using Your Vehicle Wisely?
24. Could you walk or bike?
Just burn calories, man. Pay attention to why, where, and when you drive.
25. Is there a public transportation option available?
Look into public transportation; after you figure in driving around for parking and such, it may actually be faster.
26. Should you get a rental car?
A small car almost always has a better fuel economy due to its smaller mass; in certain situations you may want to rent a smaller vehicle for the trip instead of using your own.
27. Did you maximize the square footage of your vehicle?
For human cargo, carpools reduce travel monotony and gas expense--all riders chip in to help you buy. Carpooling also reduces traffic congestion, gives the driver easier maneuverability and greater "steady speed" economy. If you're hauling materials such as wood, fill the whole vehicle on each trip.
Green Living Save Gas by Planning Your Route
28. No rough stuff.
Riding on dirt or gravel will rob you of up to 30% of your gas mileage.
29. Use alternate roads when safer, shorter, and straighter.
Compare traveling distance differences remember that corners, curves and lane jumping requires extra gas. The shortest distance between two points is always straight as the crow flies.
30. Avoid heavy traffic and lots of traffic lights.
The shortest route is not always the most fuel efficient if you have to stop a lot.
Green Living Getting Ready for Takeoff
31. Are your tires fat or flat?
Proper tire pressure will give you better gas mileage. Inflate all tires to maximum limit; each tire should also be periodically spun, balanced and checked for out-of-roundness.
32. Lose the top.
Remove vinyl tops, they cause air drag.
33. Lose the racks.
Remove ski, bicycle, or luggage racks from your roof if you don't need it. They also cause air drag.
34. Drop the rest of the dead weight.
Get rid of all extra tires, back seats, unnecessary heavy parts. Extra weight reduces mileage, especially when driving up inclines.
35. Trucks leave that tailgate up.
You will get more mileage if you leave the tailgate (MythBusters Tested and Approved).
36. Use your GPS.
A GPS unit will pay for itself in wasted time and gas very quickly.
Green Living Save Gas During Engine Startup
37. Turn off electronics.
Starting your car with electronic devices, like the radio, air conditioning, and 12-volt refrigerator turned off will put less strain on your engine which translates to better gas mileages.
38. Close the sun or moon roof.
Having these open will increase drag.
39. Turn the key and get moving.
Modern vehicles do not need to be warmed up, even on cold mornings - 30 seconds is plenty of time.
40. Turn off the choke.
If the car is revving, check that the automatic choke is disengaged after engine warm up.
41. Check for leaks.
Before you take your car out, check the driveway for gas tank leaks. Even little ones can waste plenty of fuel over time.
Green Living Save Gas While On The Road
42. Drive steadily.
Slowing down or speeding up wastes fuel. Maintain a steady pace--the ideal trip is one where you never stop except for signs and lights.
43. Don't exceed the legal speed limit.
However tough it may be to comprehend, the primarily goal of a speed limit for your traveling safety. However, it is also a good estimate of the most efficient speed for the road as well.
44. Careful with those brakes.
A car consumes the most gas as it accelerates, while a moving car doesn't require much gasoline to keep moving. Ideally, the brake should be used sparingly, expert hypermilers roll to a dead stop at every red light and stop sign.
45. Shift up early and down late.
If you have a manual transmission and want to save some gas, here's a hot tip: You need to shift up as soon as you can and shift down as the last possible moment.
46. Avoid hard stops.
Panic or hard stops will also cost you; anticipate stop signs, pedestrian walkways, and traffic lights.
47. Get on the good foot: Use your right one only.
To avoid riding the brake and wasting gas, use your right foot to control both pedals.
48. Don't weave.
The more you weave the more gas you burn. Keep your wheel still and steady as she goes.
49. Don't accelerate up hill.
Don’t accelerate up a hill. When approaching it, build up speed before the incline, maintain on the way up, then coast down.
50. Follow traffic reports.
The radio is the road's information superhighway, and traffic reports are there for a reason. Use them to avoid jams and other delays, which can help keep your momentum steady.
Green Living Save Gas During City Driving
51. Eliminate jack-rabbit starts.
Always accelerate slowly when starting from a dead stop. A good rule of thumb is to not push the pedal down more than 1/4 of the total foot travel.
52. Beat the Wind.
Exceeding 40 mph forces your auto to overcome tremendous wind resistance, which will dramatically decrease your mileage. Try and keep it under 40, even if the speed limit is faster.
53. Time the lights.
Stop lights are sometimes timed for your motoring advantage; moving steadily at the speed limit will boost your chances of having the "green light" all the way.
54. Open up windows .
In stop-and-go traffic, shutting off the air conditioning and opening the windows can lighten your fuel use. Air conditioning can lower your fuel economy by 10 percent to 20 percent.
55. Turn it off.
You can save gas if you turn off you car while waiting at long traffic light sequences, railroad crossings or while your better half pulls money from the ATM. If you are not moving for more then 30 seconds, you should turn off the engine. For every hour you're sitting at idle, you're probably burning a gallon of gasoline.
Green Living Save Gas During Highway Driving
56. Keep windows closed.
Keep windows closed when traveling at highway speeds. Open windows cause air drag, reducing your mileage by 10%.
57. Cruise along.
If you have a cruise control and there isn't a whole lot of traffic, you probably should use it will keep the speed consistent and help you save gas.
58. Overdrive.
Use the overdrive gears, as this will generally keep your RPM down.
59. Kill the AC.
Using the air conditioning drinks gas - consider turning it off 5 minutes before you reach your destination.
Green Living Save Gas During Shutdown
60. No revs.
Avoid "revving" the engine as you switch the engine off.
61. Forward only.
Park your car so that you can later begin to travel in forward gear; avoiding reverse gear maneuvers will save gas.
62. Go for the shade.
The hot summer sun makes the inside of your car feel like a sauna; when you get moving you will want to cool it down, either through rolling down the windows or using the AC. Parking your vehicle in the shade will help keep it cool when you start up again.
63. Use the garage.
Clear it out and make room for your car. Parking in your garage will help your car stay warm in winter and cool in summer, and you won't have to depend as much on your gas-guzzling air-conditioning or defroster when you drive.
64. Window prep.
In the summer, roll down the windows just a tiny bit so the air can circulate through your car while you are parked. This will help keep it cool when you start up again.
65. Park and walk.
If you wander all over the parking lot looking for that really close parking space, you'll use more gas. Don't be afraid to walk a ways--it might do you good. With gas prices on the rise, make the system work for you.
Green Living Save More Gas After the Trip Has Ended
66. Make a Log
After your trip, make a journal entry on the 'mileage victories' and 'mileage failures' of your trip.
Green Living Gas-Saving Tips: Questions to Ask Before You Turn on the Engine
1. Is your engine tuned up?
Fixing a car that is out of tune will boost gas mileage, be sure to give your car regular tune-ups.
2. Is your body in good shape?
Inspect suspension and chassis parts for occasional misalignment. Bent wheels, axles, bad shocks, broken springs, will create engine drag and are unsafe at high traveling speeds.
3. Is your air filter clean?
When the engine air filter clogs with dirt, dust and bugs, it causes your engine to work harder and your car becomes less fuel-efficient. Replacing a clogged air filter could improve your gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.
4. What grade is your oil?
You can improve your car's gas mileage by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. Opt for motor oil with the words "energy conserving" on the API performance label; this oil contains friction-reducing additives.
5. Got shade?
Buy a good windshield shade. A windshield shade blocks sunlight and helps to keep heat out of the inside of your car. This will help reduce air conditioning use.
Green Living Save Money on Gas at the Pump
6. Don't overfill 'er up.
Avoid filling your gas tank to the top. Overfilling results in sloshing over and out of tank. Never fill your gas tank past the first "click" of fuel nozzle.
7. Use the lowest octane you can.
Buy the lowest grade or octane of gasoline that is appropriate for your car.
8. Tighten that cap.
Gas will evaporate from your car's gas tank if it has an escape. Loose, missing, or damaged gas caps cause millions of gallons of gas to evaporate each year.
9. Wait until you're near empty.
Don't fill up until your tank is near empty; this will extend your gas because you are hauling a lighter load as the tank nears empty.
10. Find credit card discounts.
Some credit cards offer savings on gas when you use the card toward your purchases. Dmitry Popov Founder of http://www.pumpandsave.com/ provides a comprehensive list of Gas Rebate Credit Card Offers and additional consumer benefits. Popov’s website not only list the top gas cash back credit cards selected by consumers, but also serves as a resource guide that provides tips and strategies on how to save and earn cash on gas.
11. Membership has its privileges.
Some gas stations offer membership benefits. There are also department and grocery stores that give discounts at the fuel pump when you use their store membership cards.
12. Brand names.
Brand means nothing in the gas world; they are all using the same refineries, trucks, and pipelines to transport the fuel. Go for cost when it comes to the price of gas.
13. Keep your eyes on the prize.
Scope out the gas prices while you're driving you will notice price differences from all the different Gas Stations.
14. Don't get desperate.
The first gas station you encounter after a long stretch will never be the cheapest - drive a little further to find a cheaper station.
15. In the city, don't shop around.
Don't price shop for gas locally by driving around, the miles you drive will almost certainly eliminate the savings, and stop-and-go city traffic does a number on your average efficiency.
16. Exit, stage left. On the highway, that is.
On the highway, take an exit at a moderately sized city and head for the city center. There will likely be several stations near the ramp with cheaper gas.
Green Living Things to Check Before You Get on the Road
17. Are they open?
Is the place you are going to open for business? Shops often have irregular hours, especially at nights and on the weekends.
18. Do you know where you are going?
Have you confirmed that the address you are given actually exists and is accurate? IF not, you could be wasting fuel and time on miles being lost.
19. Did you do your due diligence?
Use the World Wide Web, newspapers, or phone book to comparison shop before you drive around to several stores.
20. Do they have what you want?
Restaurants often have long waits; products can be out of stock, and so on. Confirm that the place you're headed can deliver the goods before you get there.
21. Can it be delivered?
Find companies willing to delivery what you need to your home. Amazon, dry cleaning delivery services, food, and anything else that will bring what you need without burning up your gas may save some loot and the planet some warming.
22. Do you have to go right now?
Traveling in off-peak times will reduce your time spent in traffic, waiting for lights, etc.
23. Can you combine trips?
Combine errands into one trip and plan your stops for the most efficient route. You'll save yourself time and money.
Green Living Save Gas and Money: Are You Using Your Vehicle Wisely?
24. Could you walk or bike?
Just burn calories, man. Pay attention to why, where, and when you drive.
25. Is there a public transportation option available?
Look into public transportation; after you figure in driving around for parking and such, it may actually be faster.
26. Should you get a rental car?
A small car almost always has a better fuel economy due to its smaller mass; in certain situations you may want to rent a smaller vehicle for the trip instead of using your own.
27. Did you maximize the square footage of your vehicle?
For human cargo, carpools reduce travel monotony and gas expense--all riders chip in to help you buy. Carpooling also reduces traffic congestion, gives the driver easier maneuverability and greater "steady speed" economy. If you're hauling materials such as wood, fill the whole vehicle on each trip.
Green Living Save Gas by Planning Your Route
28. No rough stuff.
Riding on dirt or gravel will rob you of up to 30% of your gas mileage.
29. Use alternate roads when safer, shorter, and straighter.
Compare traveling distance differences remember that corners, curves and lane jumping requires extra gas. The shortest distance between two points is always straight as the crow flies.
30. Avoid heavy traffic and lots of traffic lights.
The shortest route is not always the most fuel efficient if you have to stop a lot.
Green Living Getting Ready for Takeoff
31. Are your tires fat or flat?
Proper tire pressure will give you better gas mileage. Inflate all tires to maximum limit; each tire should also be periodically spun, balanced and checked for out-of-roundness.
32. Lose the top.
Remove vinyl tops, they cause air drag.
33. Lose the racks.
Remove ski, bicycle, or luggage racks from your roof if you don't need it. They also cause air drag.
34. Drop the rest of the dead weight.
Get rid of all extra tires, back seats, unnecessary heavy parts. Extra weight reduces mileage, especially when driving up inclines.
35. Trucks leave that tailgate up.
You will get more mileage if you leave the tailgate (MythBusters Tested and Approved).
36. Use your GPS.
A GPS unit will pay for itself in wasted time and gas very quickly.
Green Living Save Gas During Engine Startup
37. Turn off electronics.
Starting your car with electronic devices, like the radio, air conditioning, and 12-volt refrigerator turned off will put less strain on your engine which translates to better gas mileages.
38. Close the sun or moon roof.
Having these open will increase drag.
39. Turn the key and get moving.
Modern vehicles do not need to be warmed up, even on cold mornings - 30 seconds is plenty of time.
40. Turn off the choke.
If the car is revving, check that the automatic choke is disengaged after engine warm up.
41. Check for leaks.
Before you take your car out, check the driveway for gas tank leaks. Even little ones can waste plenty of fuel over time.
Green Living Save Gas While On The Road
42. Drive steadily.
Slowing down or speeding up wastes fuel. Maintain a steady pace--the ideal trip is one where you never stop except for signs and lights.
43. Don't exceed the legal speed limit.
However tough it may be to comprehend, the primarily goal of a speed limit for your traveling safety. However, it is also a good estimate of the most efficient speed for the road as well.
44. Careful with those brakes.
A car consumes the most gas as it accelerates, while a moving car doesn't require much gasoline to keep moving. Ideally, the brake should be used sparingly, expert hypermilers roll to a dead stop at every red light and stop sign.
45. Shift up early and down late.
If you have a manual transmission and want to save some gas, here's a hot tip: You need to shift up as soon as you can and shift down as the last possible moment.
46. Avoid hard stops.
Panic or hard stops will also cost you; anticipate stop signs, pedestrian walkways, and traffic lights.
47. Get on the good foot: Use your right one only.
To avoid riding the brake and wasting gas, use your right foot to control both pedals.
48. Don't weave.
The more you weave the more gas you burn. Keep your wheel still and steady as she goes.
49. Don't accelerate up hill.
Don’t accelerate up a hill. When approaching it, build up speed before the incline, maintain on the way up, then coast down.
50. Follow traffic reports.
The radio is the road's information superhighway, and traffic reports are there for a reason. Use them to avoid jams and other delays, which can help keep your momentum steady.
Green Living Save Gas During City Driving
51. Eliminate jack-rabbit starts.
Always accelerate slowly when starting from a dead stop. A good rule of thumb is to not push the pedal down more than 1/4 of the total foot travel.
52. Beat the Wind.
Exceeding 40 mph forces your auto to overcome tremendous wind resistance, which will dramatically decrease your mileage. Try and keep it under 40, even if the speed limit is faster.
53. Time the lights.
Stop lights are sometimes timed for your motoring advantage; moving steadily at the speed limit will boost your chances of having the "green light" all the way.
54. Open up windows .
In stop-and-go traffic, shutting off the air conditioning and opening the windows can lighten your fuel use. Air conditioning can lower your fuel economy by 10 percent to 20 percent.
55. Turn it off.
You can save gas if you turn off you car while waiting at long traffic light sequences, railroad crossings or while your better half pulls money from the ATM. If you are not moving for more then 30 seconds, you should turn off the engine. For every hour you're sitting at idle, you're probably burning a gallon of gasoline.
Green Living Save Gas During Highway Driving
56. Keep windows closed.
Keep windows closed when traveling at highway speeds. Open windows cause air drag, reducing your mileage by 10%.
57. Cruise along.
If you have a cruise control and there isn't a whole lot of traffic, you probably should use it will keep the speed consistent and help you save gas.
58. Overdrive.
Use the overdrive gears, as this will generally keep your RPM down.
59. Kill the AC.
Using the air conditioning drinks gas - consider turning it off 5 minutes before you reach your destination.
Green Living Save Gas During Shutdown
60. No revs.
Avoid "revving" the engine as you switch the engine off.
61. Forward only.
Park your car so that you can later begin to travel in forward gear; avoiding reverse gear maneuvers will save gas.
62. Go for the shade.
The hot summer sun makes the inside of your car feel like a sauna; when you get moving you will want to cool it down, either through rolling down the windows or using the AC. Parking your vehicle in the shade will help keep it cool when you start up again.
63. Use the garage.
Clear it out and make room for your car. Parking in your garage will help your car stay warm in winter and cool in summer, and you won't have to depend as much on your gas-guzzling air-conditioning or defroster when you drive.
64. Window prep.
In the summer, roll down the windows just a tiny bit so the air can circulate through your car while you are parked. This will help keep it cool when you start up again.
65. Park and walk.
If you wander all over the parking lot looking for that really close parking space, you'll use more gas. Don't be afraid to walk a ways--it might do you good. With gas prices on the rise, make the system work for you.
Green Living Save More Gas After the Trip Has Ended
66. Make a Log
After your trip, make a journal entry on the 'mileage victories' and 'mileage failures' of your trip.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Green Livin How Did You Go Green?
Green Living Habits, Hacks and How to Tips
If there's one thing the Internet is great for, it's pooling the collective wisdom of the masses. And if there's one thing we want to do at Green Livin, it's bring all that information together. Since Living Green means a lot of different things to a many different people, and since there are many different elements to the Green living lifestyle, we're asking readers to leave comments on what they have done to Live Green .
Do you flush your toilets with rainwater run off? Make your own biodiesel by recycling used cooking grease? Do you bring your own containers for takeout? Maybe you've just begun carrying a earth friendly shopping bag or have a garden to grow your own food. From simple to the extreme, we want to hear your comments, so we can share those with everyone. With enough comments I will do a post on the ways people are Living Green.
We're looking for all your tips! For example I have listed a few categories:
Green Living Habits
Things that you do to reduce your impact on the environment, like composting, recycling, or shopping at a thrift store.
Green Living Hacks
Have you made conversions to your house, vehicle, appliances, or other possessions to increase sustainability? If you've created a rain water collector, made your own solar water heater, I want to hear about it.
Green Living How To
Do you naturally lead your friends down the path of Green Living? Whether you're the average American, bicycle repairman, an eco-living expert, or an organic fiend, channel your inner teacher, and help bring your how-to tips to the world.
Ready, Set, Go Green !
Of course, lots of tips will fit into more than one category, don't worry about that. Here is one from myself, Green Livin founder Stephen Harrell. I have personally created my own wildlife habitat. Big or small, I want to hear your comments about what you are doing to help make a difference.
Instructions for Sharing your Tips:
Make a short and simple video 60 seconds long or less, and upload it to any video hosting site - Youtube, Flickr, etc.
Title your video with Green Livin Green Tips: (provide a short explanation of your tip). For example "Green Livin Green Tips: How-to Make your own cleaning supplies".
When you have your video complete and ready to view, email the link to: stephenmharrell@gmail.com and every day I will post my favorite submissions.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Green Livin Dentist, Begone!
Eat these power foods to strengthen your teeth and gums
You know that some foods are bad for your dental health - but did you know that some foods are actually good for it? “Eating specific foods can strengthen and naturally whiten teeth and kill toxic bacteria in your mouth,” says Melvin Pierson, D.D.S., spokes person for the Academy of General Dentistry. So, dig in and fight tooth decay the natural way.
You know that some foods are bad for your dental health - but did you know that some foods are actually good for it? “Eating specific foods can strengthen and naturally whiten teeth and kill toxic bacteria in your mouth,” says Melvin Pierson, D.D.S., spokes person for the Academy of General Dentistry. So, dig in and fight tooth decay the natural way.
Rebuild enamel Yogurt, cheese, and milk are good sources of calcium, which help shore up tooth enamel and strengthen the bone around your teeth. By forming a temporary coating on your teeth, calcium also deflects natural acids in your mouth and helps prevent decay.
Boosts Gum Health Grapefruit aids in wound healing and was shown to decrease gum bleeding in a German study. In addition, it prevents the collagen network in your gums from breaking down and loosening around your teeth. Grapefruits acid can, however, temporarily reduce the strength of your tooth enamel, so dentists recommend waiting at least 30 minutes after eating grapefruit to brush your teeth. And grapefruit interacts with some medicines, so check with your pharmacist if you plan to start eating regularly.
Busts bacteria Kiwis, oranges, limes, cranberries, and strawberries are rich with vitamin c, a powerful killer of oral bacteria. Green tea contains catechins that kill bacteria in the mouth. Spicy foods such as wasabi have phytochemicals that inhibit the growth of gums.
Smell sweeter Some herbs naturally freshen the breath you exhale. Mint and parsley kill bacteria in the mouth. Plus, they contain monoterpenes, substances that move rapidly through the blood stream to your lungs to counter the odor in your mouth.
Stop stains Cauliflower, spinach, lettuce, and broccoli are all sources of minerals that create a protective film on teeth and help prevent red wine, cola, or coffee stains from penetrating the enamel. Strawberries have bleaching elements to brighten your smile, while hard, crunchy foods such as carrots, nuts, and seeds help slough off plaque. Chewing raw veggies also stimulates saliva, which neutralizes acids and strengthens teeth using vitamins and minerals from the foods.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Green Livin Bra Power: Can Bouncing Breasts Charge an iPod?
This goes out to all women
Women, who love sports, probably have always found the concept of breasts bothersome. If all goes according to plan, they will fulfill their intended function for about three of the 70 years that you will have them. The rest of the time, they will alternate between getting in the way and embarrassing you.
Question: Can we harness breast energy and put it to better use? TreeHugger and Instructables teamed up to make a working chest charger which relies only on the rise and fall of the chest during breathing. So this question seems viable.
Research has discovered that a size D-cup breast in a low support bra can move up to 35 cm (whoa) during exercise. Now, all women know that not one of them with D-cups are wearing "low support bras" during exercise. There is a lot of bouncing going on even with the best, most expensive sport bra money can buy.
Since Slate scooped us on this one, we won't give away any more secrets. You will have to pop over to Slate to see what was learned in a survey of sports experts, nanotech fabric specialists and the inventor of the Lightning Pack power-generating backpack. This certainly is as good as the idea of running around half-naked in a solar powered bra!
Via: ::Slate
Image credit: TreeHugger
Monday, June 23, 2008
Green Livin Help Protect Wildlife in Your Neighborhood
Have you ever wondered where that songbird that used to sing outside your window has gone? Do you ever wishing that you could see more butterflies fluttering in your garden?
You should create your own Certified Wildlife Habitat check with the National Wildlife Federation. You should judt provide them all the essential elements wildlife need to survive: food, water, cover.
After certifying your yard , you receive this:
when watching the beautiful birds, butterflies and other animals gathering at your wildlife-friendly haven.
Your garden has now come to Life!
You should certify, you would also be eligible to purchase their Certified Wildlife Habitat yard sign.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Green Livin Tennessee State Parks Gas Price Discount Promotion
Tennessee State Parks don’t want the increase in gasoline cost to keep you from visiting your state parks.
So...They have put together 2 great opportunities to offset the price of gasoline.
Opportunity 1:Come stay 1 night in any one of our inns, Sunday through Thursday and we will deduct $20 per night from the normal daily rate with the presentation of this coupon.
OR
Opportunity 2: With this coupon, if you purchase our Gas Price Discount Package for $179 plus tax, they will take $40 off normal retail price.
For $139 plus tax, you get:
1 standard inn room for any 2 consecutive nights Sunday through Thursday
4 buffet breakfast tickets (includes beverage and gratuity)
2 Tennessee State Park souvenir caps
______________________________________________
You can choose from 6 participating Tennessee State Park Inns:
Fall Creek Falls
Henry Horton
Montgomery Bell
Natchez Trace
Paris Landing
Pickwick Landing
Reservations call (866) 836-6757
No other discounts apply. No breaking of packages and no other combinations. Not for use by groups. Sunday through Thursday only; no weekends or holidays. Package is non-commissionable. Not for use with cabins. Based on room availability. May be cancelled without notice.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Green Livin Zap VOCs with Houseplants
Pick up a few of these common houseplants the next time you visit a local nursery: palms, ferns, corn plant, dragon tree (dracaena), rubber plant, weeping fig (ficus), English ivy, peace lily, florist mum, gerber daisy, dumb cane (dieffenbachia), schefflera, orchid, spider plant, philodendron, arrowhead plant, pothos, dwarf banana and Chinese evergreen.
Houseplants can help remove certain harmful volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) from indoor air. Things nobody wants around their lungs, or their kids.
In the 1980s, NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) conducted a study of 19 houseplants in an attempt to find ways to purify air for extended stays in orbiting space stations. The tests were conducted in sealed test chambers that contained pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene, commonly present in indoor air from paints, varnishes, insulation, particleboard, pressed wood, adhesives and other sources.
What they learned for outer space can be applied to your inner space as well. Many of these plants are adapted to tropical climates and grow under dense canopies and low-light conditions. They have to be superefficient in capturing light as well as in processing the gases necessary for photosynthesis. Because of these traits, they have greater potential for capturing other gases, including harmful ones.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Green Livin The 350 Challenge
Thank you!
Stephen—
Four weeks ago, we launched the 350 Challenge to help bloggers like yourself raise awareness for the fight against global warming.
You quickly rose to the challenge. Today we're proud to announce that not only did we hit our goal, but we blew right past it. As of this morning, over 400 bloggers are participating in the challenge.
Thanks to you, Brighter Planet will now offset 350 pounds of CO2 on your behalf . Here is your offset certificate to commemorate your involvement.
Adam Rubin
Brighter Planet
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Green Livin TVA offers free kits to help cut electricity bills
Frank Krisle liked his home energy audit and free electricity-saving kit — which came with compact fluorescent lightbulbs and other gear — so much that he took it to church with him.
He thrust the utility-supplied items upon his Sunday school class at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in East Nashville in a bit of secular proselytizing.
"There's a lot of energy-saving things people can do that a lot of people don't realize," said Krisle, 71.
The energy efficiency devotee is just what the Tennessee Valley Authority, which provides electricity through more than 150 distributors, wants to see: ratepayers taking part in the "do-it-yourself" audits and spreading the word to reduce energy use.
Customers get the free kit after completing the audit. (Complete it online at http://www.tva.com/ or call TVA's toll-free number, 1-800-663-1835, to request one.)
If all the 23,000 customers in the Tennessee Valley who have done audits so far this year used all the items in their kits, about 13.8 million pounds of global-warming-related carbon dioxide could be saved annually, according to Nashville Electric Service, one of TVA's distributors.
The customers, also, could each reduce their electric bills by $24-$48 a year.
Following an audit's recommendations could save hundreds of dollars or more on a bill each year and mean much larger decreases in the airborne carbon that comes mainly from coal-fired power plants.
Krisle's audit report that he got back "within one hour" of filling out a form online shows that about 70 percent — or $1,575 — of his annual electric bill goes for heating and cooling. A high efficiency heat pump, it said, could reduce that by about $370 a year.
Krisle, owner of an electrical contracting firm, had taken advantage of a TVA program in the 1980s — also available through NES and other distributors — that provided more detailed home energy audits done by professionals and helped homeowners install insulation, solar water heaters and other conservation measures.
Krisle sees the audit and kit as a good way everyone can save money, and said he intends to put in a new heat pump when he's able.
"I've used the light bulbs. I've used the filter whistle," Krisle said. A round, plastic whistle comes with the kit to alert when a filter needs changing, to save energy and money. He put it on the filter in the return air duct in his home.
"It works," he said. "When that filter gets dirty, it barely sounds — and then, as days go by, it gets louder.
"The first time, you don't know what it is."
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Green Livin House approves funds for 'green' schools
WASHINGTON — The House on Wednesday approved more than $20 billion over the next five years to help states build and renovate schools to make them more energy-efficient and good for the environment.
Democrats said the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act would save school districts billions in energy costs while reducing environmentally linked health problems.
The White House threatened a veto, saying it was wrong for the federal government to launch a costly new school building program.
The legislation passed 250-164 and now must be considered by the Senate.
The measure approves $6.4 billion for the 2009 budget year and similar sums in consequent years to help school districts modernize facilities to improve the learning climate, promote student and teacher health and make schools more energy efficient.
Projects would have to meet one of three widely recognized standards for building construction materials and energy sources: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, Energy Star, or Collaborative For High Performance Schools. Requirements for meeting the green standards would be phased in, but by 2013, 90 percent of the funds would have to be used for green projects.
Democratic supporters cited studies that a green school uses 35 percent less energy than a conventional school, reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent, uses 30 percent less water and has better lighting and temperature controls that encourage student achievement.
The legislation, said Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller, D-Calif., will "not only save them energy, not only will make the facilities safer, cleaner and better for the learning environment these children need, it will also dramatically change the cost of running a school district."
The legislation, said Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller, D-Calif., will "not only save them energy, not only will make the facilities safer, cleaner and better for the learning environment these children need, it will also dramatically change the cost of running a school district."
But Republicans, and the White House, saw the bill as a federal intrusion into education matters normally under the jurisdiction of states and local governments.
"The Democrats' massive $20 billion 'green scheme' would place faceless Washington bureaucrats in charge of priorities historically and best handled by states and local school districts," said House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio. Other Republicans warned it would siphon off funds from federal programs for poor or disabled students.
The bill "would create an inappropriate and costly new federal role in modernizing and renovating public schools," the White House said in issuing its veto threat.
The White House also objected to a funding formula linking amounts that a state receives to Title I, the federal program for schools receiving aid for low-income students. No school under the formula would receive less than $5,000.
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Ky., also approves federal funding of $100 million a year for five years for public schools in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama damaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Green Livin LIFESAVER: World’s First Ultra Filtration Water Bottle
Over the years, Milan has evolved from merely hosting a furniture fair every spring to having almost every street taken over by all types of innovative design every April. This year, sustainable design joined in the fray more than ever, with many exciting exhibits highlighting socially conscious design, including the Well-Tech Awards. At this inspirational show we discovered the Lifesaver bottle - a beautifully simple concept for portable water filtration, and one that could make a real difference to a world increasingly threatened by shortages of clean, drinkable water.
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The Lifesaver was developed in response to natural disasters such as 2004’s tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. The concept is relatively simple, based upon the fact that the smallest virus is 25 nanometers across, so by using a filter with holes 15 nanometers across, all nasties can be trapped without the need for chemicals. The term ‘nasties’ is actually quite an understatement. Lifesaver can filter out bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi and all other microbiological waterborne pathogens. And in the real world, of course, the bottle was much harder to realize than we’ve described it. The bottle is the world’s first ultra filtration water bottle, and the inventor put all of his life savings into developing it.
But it was this level of development effort that has brought about a product that is exceptionally easy to use. Fill it with water by unscrewing the base and dipping it in the nearest puddle or stream, screw the base back and use the pump to force the water through to a teat at the other end. The clean water can then be drunk directly or poured into a separate container for storage. These simple instructions make it suitable for use by children, and in developing countries.
The unit uses replaceable filters, which can treat about 4000 liters of water – five and a half years of usage if you drank 2 liters every day. The filter is speedy, too - 750ml of water can be prepared in just under a minute. And users can rest safe in the knowledge they’re getting maximum life out of the product without poisoning themselves, as the unit has a unique feature to shut itself off when the cartridge has expired.
Costing £230 ($460), the Lifesaver isn’t exactly cheap, but it is a world first, and we’re sure the price reflects the genuinely innovative R&D that went into its development. Not only was it featured at Well-tech, it won ‘Best Technological Development for Future Soldier System Enhancement’ at Soldier Technology 2007. It’s ironic that a design that can bring world peace can also support world conflict, but here’s hoping it’s used for the former rather than the latter.
+ The Lifesaver Bottle
+ Well-Tech Awards
Monday, June 16, 2008
Green Livin Reverse Grafitti in San Francisco: Dirty Art
Reverse Grafitti: Creating Art by Cleaning Up
Three years ago, http://www.treehugger.com/ wrote about an air pollution guerilla marketing tactic in Chicago where they power-washed sidewalks with stencil forms to create shapes and texts. Well, they have found what the next level of that idea looks like!
The Reverse Grafitti Project in San Francisco is creating environmental art by cleaning up dirt and grime from walls. In the video above, you can see them making a 140 feet long mural in the Broadway tunnel. It shows native species of native plants that would be living in the area of that tunnel if it wasn't currently the city's downtown (that project was a promo for Green Works).
More on the Reverse Grafitti Project
Reverse Grafitti Project
The Reverse Graffiti Project in San Francisco
Moose's Reverse Graffiti
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Green Livin Grass Roots: Easy Organic Lawn Care
Organic yard care is simple once you go through the steps of disconnecting your lawn from its chemical life-support system.
Curing this chemical dependency has its environmental benefits. One 40-pound bag of synthetic fertilizer contains the fossil-fuel equivalent of approximately 2.5 gallons of gasoline, and mowing for one hour with a gasoline-powered mower generates the same amount of pollution as driving a car for 20 miles, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To keep lawns green, we apply about 10,000 gallons of water, which leads to fungal diseases and weeds that attract pests, so we douse our coveted green patches with approximately 67 million pounds a year of synthetic pesticides.
All this activity takes its toll. Nitrates and phosphates from synthetic fertilizers run into streams, where they kill aquatic life. Numerous studies have linked common household herbicides and pesticides to asthma, cancer, reduced fertility and neurological harm to fetuses, infants and children. In a February 2006 Occupational and Environmental Health study, home and garden insecticide use during pregnancy and childhood was associated with an increased risk of childhood leukemia. Homeowners often apply chemicals and then track them indoors, where long-term exposures to children and pets are likely. The popular herbicide 2,4-D, a suspected hormone disruptor, was found on tables, windowsills, floors and in the air of homes shortly after the chemical was applied outside homes, according to a study in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2001.
It's getting easier to avoid these harmful chemicals, thanks to increasing resources and the availability of least-toxic products. "The shift to organic lawn care reflects a broader awareness of the dangers of pesticides to both the environment and our health," says Eileen Gunn, project director for the advocacy group Beyond Pesticides.
As in any detoxification program, the first step is admitting that you have a problem, says Paul Tukey, author of The Organic Lawn Care Manual (Storey, 2007, $19.95). "The organic lawn is not a ton of work—it really isn't—but it requires more understanding."
Start with the Soil
"Everything is as healthy as the soil it grows in," says Harmen Vos, president of the Organicdutchman lawn service in New Jersey. Healthy soil contains naturally occurring potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus as well as billions of beneficial microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and protozoa and larger creatures like earthworms that build soil structure. Chemically treated grass, in contrast, has very little life because, over time, the fertilizers and pesticides kill or slow down these helpful bugs.
To aid your organic conversion, many university cooperative extension offices will test your existing soil for organic matter, nutrients and pH for a small fee. Once you know what's in your soil, you can begin to bring it back to life. Lawns prefer slightly acidic soils with a pH range of 6.5 to 7, but flowers, shrubs and trees vary in their pH preferences. Lime helps balance acidic soil, while sulfur helps with alkaline. Other soil improvers such as worm castings, kelp, fish wastes and decomposed organic matter called humates add nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Compost or "compost tea"—liquid compost that more readily penetrates soil—can help restore beneficial microbial life. You can have it applied by an expert in organic lawn care, or purchase organic compost, such as Intervale ($15/20 qts.; http://www.gardeners.com/, 888-833-1412) or Vermont Compost Plus ($12/20 qts.; http://www.fedcoseeds.com/, 207-873-7333). Bill Duesing, contributor to The NOFA Organic Lawn and Turf Handbook, a publication of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA, 2007, $25), suggests that you make your own compost using lawn clippings, food scraps and fall leaves.
Go Native
The amount of shade and rainfall, soil type and temperature ranges, as well as how much time your family will spend on the lawn, have an impact on your lawn's health, so choose a grass that can tolerate those things. Native grasses tend to be easier to maintain, since they are adapted to local conditions. For instance, seashore paspalum, native to the Southeastern U.S. coast, is so salt-tolerant that it can be watered with seawater, although this is not recommended because seawater will degrade soil quality.
Your grass of choice will also determine how much to take off the top when mowing. Cutting too short creates stress and weakens the plant. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, try a manual push mower like the Scotts Classic reel mower ($129.99; http://www.cleanairgardening.com/). They are surprisingly easy to push, and you'll wonder why they were abandoned for the far more dangerous and polluting power mowers. Keep the mower blades sharpened and leave clipped blades on the grass as compost; they recycle nitrogen.
Read The Weeds
Weeds are messengers that tell you what's wrong with your soil, says Tukey. "You can kill the messenger all day long," he says, "but it doesn't kill the message." For example, dandelions indicate that soil is too low in calcium, too high in potassium and too acidic.
However, not all "weeds" are bad. Clover is drought tolerant, stays green all winter and converts nitrogen into a form usable by other plants. A lawn that contains about 5 percent clover can create enough usable nitrogen to make fertilizing unnecessary if clippings are left on the lawn.
Detrimental weeds, especially those with deep root systems, can be removed using a long, forked "dandelion weeder" or spot-sprayed with vinegar. Corn gluten applied early in spring is another chemical-free alternative to pre-emergent herbicides, like 2,4-D, that kill germinating weed seeds.
Chopping up weeds in your mower might spread the seeds, causing a bigger problem. Instead, bury them in the compost pile, where internal heat generated by beneficial bacteria kills seeds.
Water, Water—But Not Everywhere
Cities nationwide are facing water shortages (see "American Waters"), so reduce and reuse what you can.
Healthy grasses will sink deeper roots and won't need as much water as over-fertilized grasses. Instead of following a set schedule, water only when needed. How will you know? The grass starts to look a little wilted and gray and doesn't spring back as quickly when stepped on.
Water in the morning so that evaporation is minimal and because leaving grass wet at night encourages fungal diseases. Water should soak six inches or more into the soil to reach the roots. Set a cake pan near your sprinkler, and when it's roughly full, you'll have watered sufficiently. To avoid waste, stop when you see runoff down the driveway, and resume after the soil has absorbed what's already there. If you cannot deliver the entire inch in one session, water in alternating sections. Keeping a layer of mulch over your flowerbeds and vegetable garden will trap moisture and reduce evaporation from those areas.
Cut down on consumption by harvesting rain in rain barrels ($134; http://www.gaiam.com/, 877-989-6321). Or be creative: George Spalek, a homeowner in Santa Fe, N.M., collects rain in five cattle-feeding troughs, purchased from a farm-supply store, that he paints and covers with a mesh screen to keep out mosquitoes and dirt.
Also, match your plants with your locale, says Douglas F. Welsh, Ph.D., professor and extension horticulturist at Texas A&M University. "It is as inappropriate to have a cactus in Newark, New Jersey, as it is to have azaleas in El Paso, Texas." He prefers Xeriscaping, landscaping practices that reduce water waste through an equal mix of adaptable plants, decks, walkways and smaller lawns. "People have a mental image of drought-tolerant landscapes as wagon wheels, animal skulls and a few cacti," says Welsh, but "we can have high-quality landscapes that are in harmony with the environment we live in."
With signs of spring in my neighborhood comes a proliferation of small yellow flags warning children to stay off pesticide-treated lawns. As my chemical-free lawn flourishes and more organic products and services become available, I hope that those yellow flags will become a thing of the past.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Green Livin Red Scare-ing Away High Gas Prices
You can tell that Big Oil and their bestie, Vice President Dick "So?" Cheney, are getting really desperate. After seven long years of disastrous energy and economic policies, the Bush Administration's chickens have really come home to roost.
With Big Oil in everybody's sights, Dirty Dick felt the need to trot out the most dread enemy of all time to try and distract the American people from the real villains. Yes, my friends, the red scare is back.
After throwing some red meat (literally!) at the base (Cheney was addressing the archconservative U.S. Chamber of Commerce), he then went on to say that all we need is oil -- and more of it. And we need to get it by drilling everywhere -- even environmentally sensitive areas. And for good measure, we ought to throw in some tax cuts for the wealthy while we're at it. And then pass some more really excellent trade deals.
Can we just finally agree once and for all that Dick Cheney and Dr. Evil are, in fact, the same person?
Friday, June 13, 2008
Green Livin RecycleBank Puts $30M in the Bank
The most low-tech of clean technologies, recycling, got a boost today. RecycleBank, a Philadelphia-based startup that runs incentive-based recycling programs, has raised $30 million in Series B funding led by the high-profile VCs at Kleiner Perkins, PEHub reports via VentureWire. RecycleBank’s round also included existing investors RRE Ventures and Sigma Partners, who together invested $13.1 million in a Series A financing last year.
As far as low-tech cleantech goes, this is a big investment. Kleiner Perkins Partner John Doerr was quite excited about RecycleBank’s mission and business when he talked about the company at the Berkeley Energy Symposium, saying applying the right business model to existing technology can be good business for the planet.
RecycleBank seeks to revitalize municipal recycling by incentivizing the program for consumers. The more a customer recycles, the more “RecycleBank Dollars” he or she earns, which can be redeemed for discounts at over 250 different businesses. So by recycling more beer bottles, newspapers and shampoo bottles you can get discounts on Jockey underwear, Starbucks lattés or even PetCo dog food.
Customers are given a special recycling bin (each has a unique RFID tag built in) in which they can recycle glass, plastic, metal, paper and cardboard. The recycling trucks identify each container and weigh the contents, crediting the household. Customers can track and manage their recycling and rewards through RecycleBank’s web site.
RecycleBank is also tackling e-waste through a partnership with CollectiveGood. The company plans to soon (according to its web site) expand to include the recycling of computers, printers, scanners and fax machines. But it will have competition in the form of SecondRotation and BuyMyTronics, both of whom pay cash for old gizmos.
Making the recycling business a profitable one is a tall order. Amid a budget crisis in 2002, New York City stopped recycling glass and plastic altogether because the program was losing too much money (the Big Apple has since resumed recycling). But RecycleBank is all too aware of what a volatile market it can be; it points to the most recent Annual Nationwide Survey of Solid Waste Management in the U.S., which notes that 28 states have seen recycling rates go down since 2001.
RecycleBank makes its money from the municipalities themselves, who pay based on number of household involved. The company also gets a cut from the recyclers, assuming they see a boost in materials coming in.
Early pilot programs turned in some impressive recycling adoption rates. In two Philadelphia communities RecycleBank boosted recycling rates to 90 percent each, up from 35 and 7 percent, respectively.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Green Livin Motorcycles and emissions: The surprising facts
This story is about emissions. More specifically, it's about the surprising level of emissions spewing from on-road motorcycles and scooters. In California, such bikes make up 3.6% of registered vehicles and 1% of vehicle miles traveled, yet they account for 10% of passenger vehicles' smog-forming emissions in the state. In fact, the average motorbike is about 10 times more polluting per mile than a passenger car, light truck or SUV, according to a California Air Resources Board comparison of emissions-compliant vehicles.
For those of you who are wondering why I'm being such a killjoy, my reason is this: I've been hearing from an increasing number of readers who want to know if two-wheelers, which consume far less fuel, are also smog busters. Because scientific questions tend to come with complicated answers, I thought I'd do my best to explain what pollutants a gas-powered motorbike emits and why.
Motorcycles and scooters are, on average, about twice as fuel efficient as cars. Compact and lightweight, their internal-combustion engines do a better job of converting fuel into energy that makes the vehicle move. But extracting more energy from the fuel has a downside. It produces greater amounts of a smog-forming emission called oxides of nitrogen.
Oxides of nitrogen are one of three pollutants the Environmental Protection Agency and the Air Resources Board measure to see whether vehicles meet acceptable emissions levels and can be sold legally. Smog-forming hydrocarbons -- unburned compounds in fuel that escape through the tailpipe, fuel lines and gas tank -- are also measured, as is carbon monoxide. Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, isn't measured by either agency, but motorcycles are generally better than other vehicles in this regard since they use less fuel per mile.
As with other passenger vehicles, there are technologies to offset motorcycle emissions, such as catalytic converters, but those technologies tend to be too big, too heavy or too hot to fit on a motorcycle and work as effectively as similar systems on larger, enclosed vehicles that have more space to accommodate them. That's why the EPA and the air board are more lenient on bikes than they are on other passenger vehicles.
"The emissions picture [for motorcycles] is fairly grim," said John Swanton of the Air Resources Board, "but we think it's fair for where motorcycles are today."
Emissions standards for motorcycles are already more forgiving than they are for cars, light trucks and SUVs. Not only are motorcycles allowed to emit more than cars, they are also tested at lower speeds, which pollutes less. And motorcycle manufacturers only have to ensure that their vehicles of 179 cc and above meet governmental emissions criteria for the first 18,600 miles of a bike's life, compared with 150,000 miles for cars.
Five years ago, the EPA tightened its emissions standards for on-road motorcycles with a two-tier system, the first of which tightened requirements for the 2006 model year. The second, even stricter phase kicks in for 2010.
California is the only state in the country with its own emissions standards, which are the same as the EPA standards except they've been fast-tracked to kick in two years earlier. In effect, the stricter standard has already been met for many of the on-highway motorcycles on the market because any 2008 model year bike that is sold in California already meets the EPA standard for 2010.
Right now, there are no plans for the air board or the EPA to further tighten motorcycle emissions requirements because:
* Motorcycles account for such a small portion of vehicle miles traveled.
* There haven't been enough advances in motorcycle emissions technologies to enable further pollution reduction to any significant degree.
* There are other, even bigger polluters to deal with, such as diesel trucks, construction equipment and non-emissions-compliant products from China.
Noncompliant Chinese vehicles have become such a pollution issue in California, in fact, that the Air Resources Board has just added a new motorcycle emissions facility at its Haagen-Smit Lab in El Monte to test them. The board estimates as many as 20,000 all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and scooters are shipped into California from China each month, many of them with emissions that are at least 10 times higher than the state's requirements.
Long story short: Motorcycles, even small ones, are more polluting than Hummers, but it's the best that can be done for now. If you want to make a difference, consider an electric two-wheeler for your next bike or a gas-powered model with fuel injection and a 3-way catalytic converter.
Story featured on http://www.latimes.com/
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