Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category
January 4th, 2009
Get cycling in 2009: Video reviews of the hottest eco-rides
Stumble it!
Last year, the winner of our Green New Year’s Resolution Contest was Shannon from St. Paul Minnesota, who resolved to bike a 26-mile round trip to and from work every day! Making a similar bike-related resolution this year? Then check out these latest bikes to get you on your eco two-wheeling way!
Of course, the greenest choice is riding the bike you already have or finding a used one through Freecycle or Craigslist. But if you’ve got specific biking needs, read on — and watch the videos — to see if one of these newfangled bikes will help fulfill your 2009 eco-resolution:
To commute in comfort: IZIP EZGO Electric Folding Bike
The IZIP EZGO’s one of the most affordable electric folding bikes on the market. If you need that extra electric push to two-wheel around town, use the electric assist to go up to 15 mph!
According to Mani, who reviewed the bike on YouTube, the 53-lb IZIP EZGO may be too heavy for some who want to carry it around on the bus or subway. Still, “this is a great bike in a city that is bike-friendly, with bike lanes and bike routes,” Mani says, and also recommends the IZIP EZGO “for the park, for camping, for the beach — recreational biking.” Watch him ride the bike below:
Right now, the IZIP EZGO’s yours for around $800 on Amazon. Don’t need to ever fold up your bike? Try the Izip Urban Cruiser Electric Hybrid Bike, a 7-speed electric bike with a commuter feel, yours for $899 on Amazon.
To explore the outdoors: 2007 IZIP Mountain Trailz Enlightened Hybrid Electric Bicycle
Mountain bikers who could use a little electric kick will love the assisted pedaling on this sleek 8-speed IZIP Mountain Trailz Enlightened Hybrid Electric Bicycle. The guys at Get Connected recently featured this bike on their show, pointing out that the bike’s tricked out with Tektro front disc brakes with Rockshox Dart I Suspension. The one downside is that the bike’s pretty heavy, because it’s meant to be used with the electric battery. Watch Get Connected’s full review:
That bike’s yours for $1,499 on Amazon. Or you might go for the similar 2007 15″ S IZIP Trailz Enlightened Hybrid Electric Bicycle instead, which costs $1,299 on Amazon.
To run errands in the ‘hood: Schwinn Meridian Adult Tricycle
Shop for groceries, pick up dry cleaning, and mail your packages in eco-friendly comfort by making use of the generous folding rear basket on this three-wheeler. Blogger Sevesteen put this Schwinn head to head with a Worksman Trifecta adult tricycle, to conclude that “the Schwinn is superior in every way.”
Among the things Sevesteen liked about the Schwinn: higher quality bearings, both front and rear brakes, and a “parking brake” button that locks the brakes. The one downside of the Schwinn is that it doesn’t fold up for easy transport in a car.
The Schwinn comes in a box and requires some assembly; the YouTube videos by BettysBike show exactly how the bike looks on arrival and what assembling it entails from the viewpoint of an actual customer. Here’s a video of Betty on her bike:
Get your own ride on Amazon for around $250.
Since I live in a very flat beach city called Santa Monica — and work at home — I don’t need an electric or commuter bike. But I’ll keep riding my pink Electra Townie! Happy biking in 2009, everyone!
Popularity: 3% [?]
November 19th, 2008
Green Your Thanksgiving, from Travel to Turkey
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday – I show up, stuff myself with some of my favorite foods, help clean up a little, and then lay on the couch and watch TV. No agonizing over the perfect gift, no holiday crowds…I don’t even have to cook.
But all of that gluttony does have a price that’s paid by the environment. From travel to turkey and beyond, there are many ways that this wonderful holiday can be more eco-friendly.
The not-so-friendly skies
Getting to your destination is half the battle, but the other half is what all of our travel does to the environment. If you can avoid flying, particularly short-haul flights, do so. Buses and trains are less expensive, and can be a bit of an adventure because you actually get to see things along the way. Regardless of your mode of transportation, consider offsetting your emissions. The money you pay for offsetting goes to projects that reduce carbon in the atmosphere, like reforestation and renewable energy.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
If you’re hosting Thanksgiving at your house, make sure to pay attention to what waste is being generated. Having a big crowd over for dinner can make it tempting to use disposable products instead of the real deal. This is especially true of cups, since we all tend to set them down, forget which one is ours, and grab another. If sheer numbers dictate that you must use disposable cups, have each person write their name on theirs so that they’ll only need one for the day. Then wash them and save them for next year.
With a little forethought, you can also reuse packaging to send leftovers home with guests. For those treats that you’re keeping yourself, don’t use plastic containers. Plastic leaches chemicals into food, especially when heated, so even if you store food in plastic transfer it to glass before reheating. Forgo disposable plates and utensils altogether, if possible. After all, it’s Thanksgiving – what better opportunity to use the good china and Grandma’s silver?
Gobble, gobble!
Thanksgiving is all about the food (well, other than that whole “giving thanks” part) so the choices you make with the menu are important. As you plan your shopping trip, consider what you might be able to buy at the local farmers’ market, and look for organic options.
Local food travels fewer miles, so it’s often fresher and more nutritious. It also saves on transportation-related emissions – do we really need to ship in an orange from Australia when we have Florida and California right here at home? Organic choices reduce your exposure to chemicals, which also affect the earth. Look into the organic, pasture-raised turkeys available at many stores and on the internet. As for produce, since organic is often more expensive than traditionally-grown, check out this list of the most chemical-laden fruits and veggies if you’re watching your budget. It will help you to get the most organic bang for your buck. Also, look back on last year’s Thanksgiving post for some great resources and recipes!
Finishing touches
A beautiful centerpiece can really make the Thanksgiving meal feel special. This year, forgo a short-lived flower arrangement – cut flowers are often flown in from developing countries that don’t have the same environmental protections that we rely on in the U.S. Try a green plant or several small pots of herbs, which will clean the air and season your cooking long after Thanksgiving is over. Oh, and FYI, those cute combination pots of different kinds of green plants don’t generally live very long either, due to the different watering needs of each variety. Stick with a single, hardy plant for best results.
If you enjoy breaking out the candlesticks for a little added ambiance, consider using soy or beeswax candles. Traditional paraffin wax candles are made from a petroleum derivative and create toxic fumes when burned – they have even been linked to bladder and kidney cancer in lab animals! Similarly, scented candles can contain artificial fragrances, as well as toxic chemicals like benzene and acetone. Look for candles that use essential oils for fragrances.
Go Cowboys!
If you’re not the one slaving away in the kitchen, odds are you’re in front of the TV for the parade or a football game. If you’re considering a new TV (maybe as a Christmas present for your football-loving honey?) make sure to look into energy-efficient EnergyStar-rated versions. New, more stringent requirements for achieving the rating make this an even more important consideration when buying a TV. Some models are also using new technologies to improve their impact on the environment. For example, Philips’ new EcoTV is a lead-free model that senses the amount of light in the room to automatically adjust screen brightness. It’s HD and 42”, so there’s no sacrificing quality for the environment on this one. Just don’t forget to properly dispose of your old model.
Black Friday
For many people, the day after Thanksgiving is the real highlight of the weekend, with millions hitting the malls for deals. If you’re into the thrill of the hunt, just keep in mind that poorly-made goods will live a short life that ends in a landfill. Think quality over quantity, and consider what your friends and family members actually need. Does your father-in-law really need (or want?) a fake singing bass nailed to a board? Does your child need another plastic toy that they will bore them by December 26th? Think about gifts that enable you to spend time with the people you love, like family outings to the aquarium or books that you read together. Ask for gifts that help the community, like a donation to your favorite charity. These gifts bring meaning to our lives, and can even save a few dollars – what better gift is that?
Do you have other ideas for ways to make your Thanksgiving more environmentally-friendly? Share them with us!
Also be sure to check our Green Holiday Gift Guide.
Popularity: 2% [?]
November 13th, 2008
100 Places To See Before They Die
This probably goes without saying, but countries often appear and disappear. If you need any evidence, simply look at a map from the early 20th century. Africa and the Middle East have been completely reorganized. North and South Korea were one. Europe has added and lost a few countries.
These are mostly cartographic changes, though. Names are changed and boundaries are moved. It’s very rare that any physical changes occur. Hawaii might grow a bit, and a small new island might emerge from the sea somewhere, but that’s about it.
Until now, that is. When we talk about global warming in the US, it’s mostly about whether we build coal plants or nuclear, use ethanol or biodiesel, or build wind vs solar power plants. Occasionally it’s about polar bears. But it’s not about disappearing.
That is sadly the case in many areas. The small Pacific-island nation of Kiribati has been in the news for some time. Kiribati’s government and president, Anote Tong, are preparing for the day when the country of 94,000 will have to be completely evacuated due to the rise of the seas. New Zealand has already begun taking families from Kiribati.
This week there was similar news from the Maldives, another island country in the Indian Ocean off the coasts of Sri Lanka and India. One of the first things the new president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, announced after taking office was plans to invest in land in other countries so that the entire population can be relocated when sea levels rise.
This got me to thinking. I’ve often thought about where I want go before I move on some day, but where are those places I need to go because they’ll probably die before I do? Here’s a start on my list - feel free to add your own thoughts in comments at the end of this post:
- French Polynesia. I’ve already been there, but I want to go back as often as I can afford (which isn’t very often). The High Islands are like Hawaii - large extinct volcanoes sticking out of the ocean that aren’t going anywhere. But my favorite places so far have been the atolls, and I haven’t explored most of those. I better hurry - they’re at most six feet above sea level and in most places less than that.
- Mt. Kilimanjaro. Kilimanjaro’s not going anywhere, but the iconic snows that make it such a compelling location are. They’ll likely be gone by 2020, and perhaps as early as 2015. So we all better get traveling!
- Peru. Cheating here, too. I visited in 2001, and was blown away by the sparkling, glaciated peaks that loom over all of the Inca ruins. I aspire to go back to hike amongst them and commune with the llamas. Well, I better get moving. The glaciers are expected to be gone within 15 years.
- Glacier National Park. If current trends continue, we’ll have to rename one of America’s most stunning national parks. Glacier could be glacier-free by 2030.
- Australia Wine Country. Wine regions around the world will be affected by climate change, with the growing regions for particular grapes moving north in the northern hemisphere and south in the southern. Australia gets hit with a double-whammy: it is already very warm and will get warmer, and it is already very dry and will get drier. Many regions that produce premium wines today could become untenable for grape-growing. There is an upside, though: if you visit the UK in 2020, you might be able to buy locally-grown pinot noir!
Popularity: 1% [?]
August 7th, 2008
Kelley Blue Book Launches KBBGreen
Written by Max Lindberg, courtesy of Gas 2.0
Most of us agree that the Kelley Blue Book is the quintessential guide to new and used vehicle information. Now, they’ve moved into the “Green” world with the launch of Kelley Blue Book Green, a guide for shoppers who want the latest information on alternative fuel technologies.
Everything you want to know about hydrogen, diesel, hybrid, natural gas, electric, flex fuel/ethanol and fuel-sipping gasoline cars is included. There’s a video section which gives the reader an in-depth look at the latest eco-friendly vehicles out there, and even features a section it calls the Perfect Car Finder.
Read on, the top ten green vehicles, according to KBBGreen, is next.
The Top Ten Green Vehicles of 2008
And why not kick off the new website offering with a list of the Top 10 Green Cars for 2008? You might be surprised as to which cars came out on top, and why. Editors who picked the vehicles considered fuel economy, price,comfort, performance utility and technology in making their choices. Included are the Toyota Prius, Honda civic Hybrid, and a variety of categories including full size SUV’s. The list also features a sampling of drivetrains and technologies available to consumers in the U.S.
In summarizing the new offering, Jack R Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com, is quoted as saying; “Our list of the Top 10 Green Cars shows consumers that there are fuel-friendly vehicles available in almost every segment to accommodate a variety of lifestyles, so you don’t have to sacrifice much, if anything, to go Green”.
Green is Good.
Related Features:
Solar Prius Is Coming to Market in 2009
Plug-in Hybrid Drivers Are Charged Up
Turbo Diesels Take on Hybrids
Volkswagen to Produce Plug-in Electric Hybrid Cars
Honda Launches Zero-Emission Hydrogen Car
Popularity: 1% [?]
July 31st, 2008
Plug-in Hybrid Drivers Are Charged Up
In 1971, a bright engineer, Dr. Andy Frank, was looking to the future. He knew that oil production had peaked in the U.S. and that cheap oil would later peak globally. He calculated how to get 100 miles per gallon, and then he built a hybrid-electric car.
A few years later there was a crisis in the Mideast. Oil tankers stopped moving through the Suez Canal. There were hour gas lines in the United States with engines fuming emissions and drivers fuming with anger. Gasoline was rationed. The crisis intensified Andy Frank’s commitment to build great vehicles with outstanding fuel economy. He has been on that mission ever since.
Andy Frank took me for a ride in a big GM Equinox SUV that got double the fuel economy of a conventional SUV because he converted it to a plug-in hybrid. The ride was the same as in any other SUV except it was more quiet. Fuel economy doubled because much of the time the vehicle ran on electricity with the engine off.
This vehicle was typical of many projects. The large engine was removed. An engine less-than half its size was put in its place. His team saved hundreds of extra pounds by replacing the standard GM transmission with a smaller and lighter continuously variable transmission. Even with an added electric motor and lithium batteries, the vehicle weighed less than a standard Equinox. The air conditioning and other accessories ran electrically, instead of placing mechanical demands on a large engine. Converted to be powered electrically, the air conditioning could run with the engine off.
Andy Frank is the father of plug-in hybrids. His students at U. C. Davis have gone on to be some of the brightest minds in automotive design and transportation management. Over the past 15 years, he and his students have built over ten different plug-in hybrids. They have ranged from sport cars to full-sized SUVs. Typically these PHEV can go over 40 miles (64km) in electric-only range and weigh no more than their standard counterparts. U. C. Davis Team Fate Vehicles.
The idea of plugging-in is not new. We are in the habit of recharging our mobile phone every night. Soon, we may also be recharging our vehicle every night. Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) look and drive like regular hybrids. They have a large battery pack that captures braking and engine-generated energy. Like hybrids they have computer chips that decide when to run only the electric motor, using no gas, when to run the gasoline engine, and when to run both. Many plug-in hybrids are programmed to run on only electricity for ten to forty miles before engaging the engine. Heavy duty vehicles, and eventually some passenger cars, will use more efficient diesel engines, not gasoline.
Andy Frank was all smiles as a crowd of 600 applauded at the Plug-in 2008 Conference in San Jose, California, last week. Many in the crowd now drive plug-in hybrids as part of their fleet demonstration programs. A number in the crowd had converted their personal Toyota Priuses or Ford Escape Hybrids. This was a crowd of plug-in converts.
Some visionary fleet managers have accelerated the development of plug-in hybrids. Rather than wait years for major vehicle manufacturers to offer plug-ins, these fleets have contracted for conversions then used their own maintenance teams to keep the experimental vehicles running. For example, Google is getting 93 miles per gallon (mpg) with its converted plug-in Priuses, over double the 48 mpg of its normal Priuses. Google uses solar power to charge the cars. Google’s RechargeIT.org.
In Southern California, 24 million people live in an area where the mountains trap smog and damage people’s lungs. South Coast Air Quality Management District plans to reduce emissions by contracting the conversion to plug-in of 10 Priuses, 20 Ford Escape Hybrids, and several Daimler Sprinter Vans. The vehicles are being put into a variety of fleets with hopes that “a thousand flowers will bloom.”
Fleets are piloting plug-in conversions around the country. These fleets include the City of New York City, the National Renewable Energy Lab in Colorado, King and Chelan County Counties in Washington, Minneapolis and the City of Santa Monica.
Electric utilities have started a variety of plug-in hybrid pilot projects involving everything from cars to large trouble trucks. These utilities include Southern California Edison, Austin Power, Duke Energy, Wisconsin Power, and Pacific Gas and Electric to name a few. At a time when there are desperate discussions about being more dependent on oil, including taking ten years to get oil from environmentally sensitive areas, electric utilities are coming to the rescue by increasingly powering our vehicles.
Because some plug-ins will go up to 40 miles in electric mode at slower speeds, it is possible to get over 100 miles per gallon. With short trips in cold weather, little improvement might be seen. Driving on freeways without recharging will not help. However, for most driving cycles, plug-ins can dramatically reduce the need for expensive gasoline fill-ups.
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