Project: Greenify | Guide to Going Green in Your Home, Office & Life

2011's Hottest Fuel-Efficient Vehicles: #6 Honda Insight

In 1991, most drivers paid $1 a gallon for gasoline. Twenty years later, filling up a car or truck costs at least $3 per gallon, which is putting a strain on bank accounts. Federal and state tax incentives mixed with dealer incentives are making it possible for many drivers to afford a fuel-efficient vehicle.

We've compiled a list of 2011's most fuel-efficient vehicles. Each week, we will highlight a different car that will save consumers on their gas prices. This week, we present the #6 most fuel-efficient car.

The Insight is a hybrid electric vehicle made by Honda. With the sleek design, fuel efficiency, hi-tech ammenities, and an affordable price tag of $18,200, the possibility of owning a stylish eco-friendly vehicle is now more attainable. The Honda Insight is full of convenient amenities to help you save time and keep safe by allowing you to pay better attention to the road. Some great features offered by the Insight include steering-wheel-mounted controls that allow you to access different features in your car without having to remove your hands from the steering wheel. The Insight also offers hands-free bluetooth device and voice-activated GPS satellite system for both convenience and safety.

The Insight also features a variety of tools to help you conserve, including a special "Econ" button that adjusts many of the car's functions to help maximize fuel efficiency. The multi-information display presents important information such as feedback features providing the driver with information needed to brake and accelerate in way which help maximize their eco score. Find more information about the 2011 Honda Insight.

Annual CO2 emissions (tons): 4.6
Annual fuel cost: $1,083
Mileage: 41 mpg 

2011's Hottest Fuel-Efficient Vehicles: #7 Honda Cr-Z Hybrid

In 1991, most drivers paid $1 a gallon for gasoline. Twenty years later, filling up a car or truck costs at least $3 per gallon, which is putting a strain on bank accounts. Federal and state tax incentives mixed with dealer incentives are making it possible for many drivers to afford a fuel-efficient vehicle.

We've compiled a list of 2011's most fuel-efficient vehicles. Each week, we will highlight a different car that will save consumers on their gas prices. This week, we present the #7 most fuel-efficient car.

The Honda CR-Z Hybrid is a sporty two-door coupe, and at $19,200, it's an affordable option for singles or couples looking for a car that looks great and gets excellent mileage from one gallon of gas. Drivers can opt for the six-speed manual transmission that makes the ride more sporty, and it's the only hybrid with three pedals. For safety, the CR-Z's Vehicle Stability Assist helps sense oversteer or understeer, and it then adjusts brake pressure at each wheel and/or reduces engine power to help restore driver control. Standard 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Electrionic Brake Distribution helps you maintain control during hard braking. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System alerts the driver when a tire's pressure reaches a significantly low level. 

Annual CO2 emissions (tons): 5.1
Annual fuel cost: $1,158
Mileage: 34 to 37 mpg

 

2011's Hottest Fuel-Efficient Vehicles: #8 Honda Civic Hybrid

In 1991, most drivers paid $1 a gallon for gasoline. Twenty years later, filling up a car or truck costs at least $3 per gallon, which is putting a strain on bank accounts. Federal and state tax incentives mixed with dealer incentives are making it possible for many drivers to afford a fuel-efficient vehicle.

We've compiled a list of 2011's most fuel-efficient vehicles. Each week, we will highlight a different car that will save consumers on their gas prices. This week, we present the #8 most fuel-efficient car.

At $23,950 retail, the Civic targets drivers on a tight budget. This hybrid car recharges its own batteries while you drive, so there's never concern about finding a charging station.

Annual CO2 emissions (tons): 4.6
Annual fuel cost: $1,083
Mileage: 41 mpg

 

2011's Hottest Fuel-Efficient Vehicles: #9 Ford Fusion Hybrid

In 1991, most drivers paid $1 a gallon for gasoline. Twenty years later, filling up a car or truck costs at least $3 per gallon, which is putting a strain on bank accounts. Federal and state tax incentives mixed with dealer incentives are making it possible for many drivers to afford a fuel-efficient vehicle.

We've compiled a list of 2011's most fuel-efficient vehicles. Each week, we will highlight a different car that will save consumers on their gas prices. This week, we present #9 most fuel-efficient car.

The Ford Fusion Hybrid was the 2010 North American Car of the Year. Fuel efficiency and features like the Sync system make the car stand out from the crowd. Prices start at $28,240.

Annual CO2 emissions (tons): 4.8
Annual fuel cost: $1,137
Mileage: 39 mpg

Biodiesel Fuel: A Realistic Solution to Our Biggest Environmental problems.

To all but the most uncompromising proponents of alternate views, it is now acknowledged that global warming is a reality and that the burning of fossil fuels is a significant contributor to that process. Even though the science is irrefutable, there are still some who deny the facts. Of course, there are still people who believe that the earth is flat so we must proceed with out efforts to heal our environment with the understanding that we will never have complete and total unanimity. One of the most effective ways to achieve that goal is through the increased usage of biodiesel fuel to run our vehicles and heat our homes, businesses and schools.

How many people, even those who care sincerely about moving towards a greener world, know exactly what biodiesel fuel is and the role it can play in effecting a cleaner world environment? The answer is: probably not enough. So let’s take some time to answer those questions and maybe a few more while we are at it.

The first question of course, is just what does the term biodiesel fuel mean? In laymen’s terms, it refers to clean burning fuels that are made from vegetable oil or fat by means of a chemical process called transesterification which. Among other things, removes certain unwanted components such as glycerin while leaving others intact. It is nontoxic and contains no sulfur or aromatics which are common in other fuels. In fact, the process is so simple that many people actually produce their own. It requires no advanced knowledge or special tools. Pure biodiesel fuel contains no petroleum but it can be blended with it in varying percentages to produce additional fuels that have a broader based application.

Blends of up to B20, meaning twenty percent biodiesel content, are compatible with most engines. As pure biodiesel. It works effectively in diesel engines requiring no or minor modification. Unlike many other alternative fuels, biodiesel meets all standards of the 1990 Clean Air Act and can therefore be distributed and sold commercially. By all measures, biodiesel fuel is a clean, safe and environmentally friendly energy source that is easily and naturally renewable.

So far, Biodiesel fuel is not readily available in all regions of the country but that is changing. In some states, Illinois and north Carolina for example, there are well over one hundred service stations offering this alternative fuel along with gasoline. In other states like Wyoming and North Dakota, there are very few. Where it is available, the common blend is B20 so it can be used in virtually automobile. In spite of these examples, there seems to be no clearly identifiable correspondence between the region of the country and the number of stations that distribute this product.

The changes that we want to see continue and expand, are a product of consumer demand. This is our opportunity to effect real and immediate positive influence on the direction of national awareness. The more we ask our neighborhood stations to supply it, the more of them will and the impact, both environmentally and economically will be great. This is not a difficult path to pursue; neither the effort to convert more fuel to biodiesel nor the larger one to help create a greener planet. Every day it becomes easier to find help for every aspect of that endeavor. The internet is now home to numerous websites that offer useful and easily accessible information on eco-friendly products of every description, organic foods and cleaning supplies and practical methods of incorporating the desire to live green with the realities of the real world.

Is switching to biodiesel fuel a legitimate route for serious ecology minded people to take or is it another bandwagon to jump on? Are there tangible advantages to be realized in terms of improving the environment and saving money? The answers are yes and yes. Financially, there are real savings to each of us; biodiesel is roughly twenty percent less than regular gas at the pump. If your car uses premium, the savings are even greater.

The most significant advantage though, is to the physical well being of our world. Converting from gasoline to biodiesel fuels, where currently practical now and more widely in time, will be the single greatest step that we can take towards altering the dangerous course on which we currently find ourselves. The benefits directly address the two issues that threaten our future: Global warming and fossil fuel depletion. It is easy. It is inexpensive and it is something that each of us can be a part of.

2011's Hottest Fuel-Efficient Vehicles: #10 Chevrolet Volt

In 1991, most drivers paid $1 a gallon for gasoline. Twenty years later, filling up a car or truck costs at least $3 per gallon, which is putting a strain on bank accounts. Federal and state tax incentives mixed with dealer incentives are making it possible for many drivers to afford a fuel-efficient vehicle.

We've compiled a list of 2011's most fuel-efficient vehicles. Each week, we will highlight a different car that will save consumers on their gas prices. This week, we present the #10 most fuel-efficient car.

The Chevrolet Volt gets an estimaed 35 miles on one charge before switching to the fuel-efficient gasoline system. The car's base price is $40,280, but federal and state tax credits can bring the price down to as little as $27,780. 

This car has special features such as rear camera and parking assist package, heated seats, color touch radio with six speaker Bose sound system, 3 month trials of Sirius satellite radio and XM NavTraffic, and touch-sensitive center controls, along with a tire pressure monitor, tire inflator kit, and Onstar crash response for emergency service needs. 

Annual CO2 emissions (tons): 84
Cost to charge: $601 - $1,302 per year including both electricity and gasoline consumption
Mileage between charges: 35 miles (93 mpg) and 35 mpg when operating using gasoline

 

10 Coolest Green Tech Products and Gadgets

Are you looking for a way to adapt green living into your everyday lifestyle? With new and innovative designs from a wide variety of tech products and gadgets, you can enjoy the convenience these products bring to your life while doing your part to limit energy consumption and contribute to a better world. If you're a big advocate of green living, you have to check out the following top 10 coolest green gadgets that can be used to enhance your lifestyle at an affordable price.

1. Bedol Eco-Friendly Water-Powered Alarm Clock

Cost: $19

Most clocks tend to malfunction when exposed to water, but with the Bedol alarm clock, water is the main power source. No batteries, plugs, or chargers necessary-- the Bedol water-powered alarm clock utilizes ions found in water to generate electricity and keep your clock running. The best part about the clock is that the power lasts for two to three months before it needs a refill, and stays running while you refill so no resetting is necessary. The clock's portable and unique raindrop design makes it perfect for the office, bedroom, kitchen, and a variety of other settings.

2. UFO Power Center

Cost: $99.99

Control your home appliances with ease, with the UFO Power Center. You simply connect your appliances to the UFO smart power strip and wirelessly control the appliances straight from your iPad or iPhone. You can save energy by remotely turning your appliances off and on while tracking your energy usage to limit where necessary. 

 

3. Creative Organization's Sustainable Cedar Products

Cost: $12.99- $49.99

To protect your expensive clothing items from hungry insects, Creative Organizations Sustainable Cedar Products are the ultimate solutions. These sleek and useful closet accessories include hangers, shoe organizers, and general closet organizers, all of which are composed of 100% sustainably harvested cedar certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Since the cedar is sustainable, you are helping the environment by preserving precious resources while preserving your own clothing as well.

 

4. USBCELL Rechargeable Batteries

Cost: $17 per pair

Most green-enthusiasts are aware of the benefits of rechargeable batteries, but what makes the USBCELL rechargeable batteries so unique is the convenient USB connecter located right under the cap of the battery. Simply remove the cap and plug it into your computer for a few hours for a fully charged battery. What's more, the USBCELL batteries can be recharged several hundred times, so you end up getting your money's worth while preserving energy.

 

5. Eton Raptor Adventure Tool

Cost: $105

If the planet is your playground, the Eton Raptor is the ultimate tool for enhancing your outdoor experience. This truly is an all-in-one device that features a solar panel, barometer, altimeter, compass, radio tuner with AM/FM/WB settings and presets, NOAA weather alerts, and a digital alarm clock. That's not all; the Eton Raptor also includes an LED flashlight, loudspeaker, a USB port for charging cell phones,and even a bottle opener.

 

6. Wilson Staff Eco-Carry Gold Bag

Cost: $115

Perhaps one of the most unique items on the list, the Wilson Staff Eco-Carry Golf Bag stores everything you need on the course in a carrier made entirely of recycled material. Twelve plastic bottles with one gallon carrying capacities are used to make one bag. Even the manufacturing process is environmentally friendly, with 70% less CO2 production than polyester fabrics. 

 

7. Voltaic Generator Solar Laptop Charger

Cost: $499

No more waiting around for your laptop to be charged with the convenient 15-watt solar panel laptop charger embedded right inside a stylish and portable briefcase. Just one hour in the sun can give your laptop an extra 12 to 45 minutes of charge and can even fully charge your cell phone or other small electronic device. On top of saving energy, the bag itself has an eco-friendly composition of recycled PET bottles.

 

8. Samsung Replenish Android Smartphone by Sprint

Cost: $399.99 (discounts available through Sprint data plan)

Even smartphones are eco-friendly with the innovative new Replenish, which is made entirely from recycled/ recyclable material. Aside from its environmentally-friendly advantage, the Replenish has all of the great features you would enjoy in the average smartphone, including a 2MP camera and camcorder, 32 GB memory, Wi-Fi and GPS availability, and an Android 2.2 Froya operating system. 

 

9. iPad 2

Cost: $499

Stay on the cutting edge of portable electronic devices with the new iPad 2, which features a display glass free from arsenic and other chemicals and an LCD display made without bromine, mercury, and polyvinyl chloride. The tablet's recyclable aluminum and glass casing along with its prolonged 10 hour battery life make it a very eco-friendly and energy-efficient product. 

 

10. Philips Econova LED Television

Cost: $1,950

Consuming just 46 watts of power, the 42-inch Econova television relies on limited energy thanks to the low-power LED display, which still delivers top-notch picture quality. The zero-power switch reduces all standby electricity consumption when the television is powered off and the built-in solar panel on the remote control requires no batteries. Made from 60% recycled aluminum, the television itself is recyclable and made from recycled materials.  

 

 

Shake up in the Solar Panel Industry

Thinking about buying some solar panels? 

According to a Reuters report on August 25, the cutting of subsidies in Italy and Germany for the solar panel industry is likely to move the centers of develoment of panel technolgy from Europe to China.  The reason?  Cheap Asian panels led to such thin margins for European companies that without the susidies they can't compete. Q-cells and Norway's Renewable Energy Corp (REC) have both cutting production to lessen expenses.

The effect in the US has been that one solar wafer manufacturer, Evergreen Solar Inc., file for bankruptcy because it couldn't compete with the Chinese panel makers.  Solon SE, a German owned comapny, is closing a plant in Arizona and BP Solar has already closed a plant in Maryland.

There's a LOT of solar panels out on the market now and prices ranging from $1.42 to $3.00/watt depending on panel wattage and number ordered. As such, the industry is experiencing a Darwinian "bottlenecking" where only the strong emerge alive.

Depending on just what companies and how many emerge may determine how much panels cost in the next few years.  Stay tuned!

Eco-Friendly Nissan Leaf

I have always known that electric cars are eco-friendly, but now Nissan has taken it a step further with its Nissan Leaf. In March, Nissan unveiled its Nissan Leaf to Home system, which is planned to roll out for Japan within a year.

In short, the system uses the LEAF charging station to draw energy from the station into a home. The LEAF batteries can store up to 24kWh of energy, which can power an average Japanese home for about two days (which is about half of the energy used in an average US household). With this extra power comes two big benefits: 1) you could use it to cover power shortages and 2) it can help homeowners save money if the battery is charged at night during low use times and draw off the battery during high peak times.    

According to an article from cnet.com, Nissan expects to make this system available to LEAF owners in other countries once it’s been adapted to local electricity systems.  If only we had the system now, during this time of heat advisories and potential rolling blackouts.

To Repair or Not to Repair? That is the Green Question!

Everyone who owns some sort of labor-saving appliance, whether it is a dishwasher, refridgerator, or a microwave, at some point faces the question of whether it is cheaper to repair their broken appliance or to buy a new one.  It's not always an easy question to answer, especially when you look at the cost of repairing your appliance versus the cost of a new one.

First, though, let's look at a few tips to keep your appliances in good operating condition so that they last a good, long time.

Durable Goods

The three things all electric appliances hate are heat, dirt, and damp.  Parts in electric motors in dryers, washing machines, and vaccuum cleaners expand when they get hot.  If the motor shaft expands too much, it will seize up in the bearings and stop turning.  If it gets hotter, it can melt the rest ofthe motor and even start a fire.  Prevent this by periodically cleaning dirt and dust from any vents on the sides of your appliances.  Dirt and dust can act as an insulating blanket, causing motors and other electronics to heat up quicker and stay hot longer.  It can also be a fire hazard. Some large electric motors can be lubricated by the owner so consult your owner's manual for instructions.  Remember: always unplug the appliance before you even think of opening a service panel.  The consequences can be more than shocking!

Using an appliance in routinely damp or humid places risks damage. Since many modern appliances have touch-controls or small displays, it takes very little electrical current to cause a short circuit and damage something. Oddly enough, though, some people forget that kitchen and bathrooms can be pretty damp environments. In a kitchen, microwaves and dishwashers are designed to handle liquids —but only on the inside. Spills on the outside can cause lots of problems if they are not cleaned up quickly. Just by keeping our counters dry and avoiding splashing water or other liquids on appliciances ensures that microwaves, dishwasher, blenders, and other nifty kitchen gadgets will last longer.

With all that said, let's consider what choices you might be faced with when something happens to your washer or dryer.

All Washed Up?

The most common thing that breaks a washer or dryer is something simple like a belt or a hose.  As a general rule of thumb, you will inevitably be faced with having one break during the time that you own your washer or dryer. Belts or hoses also tend to be easily replaceable. If your appliance is working fine, then go ahead and get it fixed. However, the two most costly parts of a washer or dryer are typically the electronic control panel or the motor.  In either case, the first thing you need to consider if your machine needs serviced is how old is your appliance?  Broadly speaking, the question here is whether your machine is too old to be worth repairing.

If it is less than 3 years old, having it repaired will most likely be the best return on your investment because its features will still be up to date and comparable to newer appliances. If your machine is more than 5 years old but less than 10, there are good odds that newer versions will have more features and use less energy. Parts should still be available and depending on the model's reliability and its manufacturer, it might be cheaper to repair than buying a new replacement. Remember, though, that labor charges comprise the bulk of the repair charge.

If your machine is 10 years or older, you really should get something new for two very simple reasons: finding cheap replacement parts may be difficult and most newer models will be energy efficient and have more useful features.  Many appliance stores now offer to remove your old machine.  Typically, if it's not too old, they will either repair it and sell it. Otherwise, they may part it out or sell it for scrap. If you are disposing of it yourself, check with your county or municipality's waste disposal department to see about appliance recycling programs.

When you get a new machine, remember to clean or vaccuum it monthly.  Also, consider purchasing a maintenance plan for it from the place it was bought. That way, you'll be guarranteed that it will work for you for years to come.