Most Energy Efficient Cell Phone

Although it is not on the market yet, the most energy efficient phone around is the Samsung Blue Earth. It partially runs off of solar power. Although it doesn’t completely run off the sun, by charging the phone with the solar panels, you are capable of making one phone call at a time. Not only is it energy efficient, but also is made from a material called PCM, a recycled plastic from water bottles.

Another feature of the phone is that it contains an “eco” mode, which adjusts screen brightness, back light duration, and Bluetooth usage. Now there is one more feature that doesn’t really help the environment, but it shows how much carbon dioxide emission you save by walking rather than driving. Lastly, it comes in recycled packaging with an energy efficient charger.

Personally, I would use this phone. It’s not like the other energy efficient phones that are unattractive to be quite honest with you. It’s a phone where if you didn’t notice the solar panels at first, you would think it was just as ordinary as anything else.

Greenest Car Ever Unveiled

The most energy efficient car that is known right now is the Aptera. It looks like no other car around today, but something from the future. At first, the car promised at least a 200-MPG driving range but now the company has stepped up it’s game, and now is going for a 300-MPG range in typical driving conditions. Not only do they just have this version, but they are also coming out with a new car that is an all-electric version in addition to the plug-in hybrid model. The new model promises to last around 120 miles before needing to be recharged.

Both vehicles include some luxury features such as both, driver and passenger side airbags, interior and exterior LED lighting and a “solar assisted” climate control system. They also have “advanced drive computer” that includes GPS, a rear-view camera, and a complete vehicle diagnostic system. For a car like this you think it would be extremely expensive, however it only runs around $20,000 for the regular one, and the hybrid model runs for a little more money. You are currently able to reserve one of the vehicles for about $500, and they are coming out in about 12 months or so.

In my opinion, this car doesn’t look safe at all. It looks like if something hits you have a high risk of getting hurt. Also, since there are three wheels on the vehicle it may be a lot different to drive than the traditional four wheels, but I don’t know. If it is different it may take people some time to adjust from their old four wheel ways to the new three wheel concept. It could be an issue for some to get used to it. I personally would not by this car, but it may appeal to some.

Photo Credit: nickwheeleroz

1. Proper Disposal
To reduce urban runoff you can pick your pet’s waste off your lawn and throw it in the garbage or flush it down the toilet. You want to prevent pet waste from washing into your water sources. You also want to make sure you do not dispose of any medication by throwing them down the toilet. Those medications could end up in your drinking water. Used motor oils and anti freezer should be recycled at a service station, not dumped down a drain or on the ground.

2. Limited Lawn Chemicals
Be cautious of the amount of fertilizer you use in your lawn. Fertilizer leaches out into the ground and waterways. Monitor the amount of fertilizers your landscaper uses. Never apply fertilizer near a body of water, apply at least 20 feet away.  Be just as cautious when using pesticides.

3. Proper Drainage
Make sure all gutters drain onto land that can absorb water, not a paved surface. A paved surface can carry waste to drains and waterways. Also, keep grass clippings and leaves away from drains and waterways.

4. Clean Air = Clean Water
Driving less not only improves air quality but it also reduces the amount of pollutants that get into ground water and surface water. It also reduces the amount of toxic metals and oil by products that can find their way in drains via runoff.

5. Green Designs
Lastly, for those of you building a new home or remodeling, contracting wooden decks as opposed to concrete patios lets water seep into the ground and reduce runoff. Replacing paved driveways with interlocking bricks or stones also creates porous surfaces for water to seep through and reduce runoff into drains.

So, there are five simple ways you can help reduce water pollution in your home. Remember, when you take care of your environment, you’re taking care of your family as well.

Photos by:

The Joy of Mundance

Craig Jewell

Shanghai, China before and after Earth Hour

On Saturday, March 28^th, more than 1,000 cities in over 80 countries observed Earth Hour 2009. Starting at 8:30 PM, cities and towns around the world shut off the lights to promote climate change awareness and action. Started in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, Earth Hour has grown tremendously in the last three years. The event was sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund.

Although there are many advocates of this event, there are also many people who criticize it. Many question how much energy is saved in only one hour of shutting the lights off, arguing that the planning and promotion of the event causes enough environmental harm that it offsets the benefits of Earth Hour. However, the sheer number of people involved in the event guarantees that much more energy is conserved because of the event than is used. Also, Earth Hour is more of a symbolic demonstration, with millions of people around the world telling world leaders that we need to do something about the climate crisis. As UN’s Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said, Earth Hour has the potential to be “the largest demonstration of public concern about climate change ever attempted.”

With Earth Day 2009 coming up on April 22, we are facing possibly the most serious environmental crisis ever. As the population grows, we need to use more resources, much of which are nonrenewable and result in emissions of greenhouse gases. As climate change worsens, an environmental movement is beginning around the world, and world leaders including President Obama are making it one of their top priorities. However, recent events are suggesting that we may have less time to act than we originally thought. For example, in 2007, a large portion of Arctic sea ice (about 40%) vanished. Even with climate change, scientists predicted in 2004 that this would not happen for another 50 or 100 years. Along with this, we are seeing increases in occurrence and severity of droughts, floods, and storms around the world, as well as decreases in agricultural yields due to the changing climate. On a statistics website called Worldometers.info, you can actually see the average global temperature increase. Also, the amount of Carbon dioxide emissions this year goes up about 1,000 ton every three seconds. These statistics and recent events make it evident that we are facing a serious threat to our population and that urgent action is necessary.

Arctic sea near Svalbard

Millions of people simply shutting the lights off for one hour was a powerful message that gained worldwide attention. Clearly, Earth Hour 2009 was a much needed wake-up call to politicians and citizens around the world that we need to get serious about stopping climate change. This event is one of the largest public demonstrations ever, and has the potential to become increasingly influential in coming years.

Although we do not realize it, several of our everyday actions impact the environment. We are also affected by the environment everyday as well, and all of us experience the effects of climate change. Although many people will disagree with me on this, I believe that climate change is the most important problem we face today, because whether we realize it or not, it impacts every aspect of our life. It is affecting our food supply, rain cycles, ocean currents, sea levels, biodiversity and human health, as well as other aspects of our earth . Its impacts will only increase over time, but there is hope. There is a movement happening right now as concern about climate change grows. Renewable energy technology is being developed, windmills and solar panels are being installed around the world, and people are voicing their concerns on climate change. American colleges are reporting a dramatic increase in interest in renewable energy technologies and environmental science. Individuals, corporations, schools, and organizations are moving towards sustainability. This is one of our greatest opportunities to prove what the human race can accomplish while working toward a collective good. One person at a time. One light at a time. One goal: protecting this beautiful place we call home.

(Note: if you want to see more pictures of Earth Hour, there are some outstanding pictures at Boston.com

photo credit: Earth Hour Global

photo credit: Denmar

photo credit: Kenyai

Photo Credit: Pip_Wilson

Spring is here and that means summer is just around the corner. Summer is the season for vacations, swimming at the beach, and long road trips to Florida. Summer is that time of year when people drive the most, however it is also that time of year when gas prices reach the highest due to the laws of supply and demand. As a student, I am always looking for the cheapest gas and ways to save gas while driving. Other than the obvious solution to saving gas by carpooling, little gas saving techniques can save hundreds of dollars at the pump for an everyday commuter over a relatively short period of time.

1. Control that heavy foot of yours

Quite possibly the most obvious way to save some gas while driving is to control your bad acceleration habits otherwise known as a lead foot. Cars burn the most amount of gasoline under hard acceleration. Instead of getting up to speed quickly, slowly increase the car’s speed until you reach your desired cruising speed. Although it may be tempting to go 10 MPH over the speed limit, don’t do it. Driving the speed limit not only requires less gas than driving above the limit, but it also reduces the strain on the transmission and wheel bearings. However tempting it may be to get a jump on the person next to you at the light, think about how that jump may cost you a few extra pennies at the pump.

2. Dealing with rush hour mayhem

Traffic, it’s a nuisance to every motorist on the road today. Not only is it extremely frustrating causing drivers to lose control over the lead foot, but also the habits that people use to deal with traffic are very gas consuming. Many people try to stick to the person in front of them to ensure that they are not cut off by another inconsiderate driver, however this is not the most efficient way to deal with traffic. As I mentioned before, cars use the most gas when accelerating. This idea is magnified when a car starts from a stand still. Knowing this, it is best to keep the car rolling even if at a slow speed. This can be achieved by breaking before you actually need to, and doing this repeatedly over a long period of time can show an improvement in fuel economy.

3. Do a few extra pounds hurt?

Any extra weight on a car makes the car work harder to get up to speed. The best way to get optimal fuel economy would be to strip the car of any components that are not essential to the car, i.e. radio, passenger seats, door panels. However, this makes the car an unpleasant environment. One of the best solutions for the weight problem is to get rid of the spare tire and replace it with a can of flat fix. This small can could save people the time and effort of completely changing a tire by just stopping the leak all together. The downside to this is in the event of a blow out, there is no other choice but to use the spare you left at home to get better mileage.

4. Spring cleaning, your car appreciates it

Ok it’s Spring now, and there isn’t any snow on the ground so, so why do you still have that ski rack on your roof? Any non-aerodynamic parts on your car will ultimately reduce fuel economy especially while cruising at highway speeds, so unbolt it and leave it in the garage till next winter when it’s needed again. While you are prepping your car for summer, make sure you check your tire pressure. A higher tire pressure gives the wheel a lower rolling resistance, requiring less power to maintain a cruising speed. Also be sure to check your engine oil and transmission fluid levels. If these fluids are low, not only is the engine forced to overcome the resulting friction, severe damage could result from excessive wear on internal engine components.

5. Drafting… NASCAR in ever day commuting

The most effective, yet somewhat dangerous way to save a great amount of gas during long road trips is drafting. Drafting is the idea of following closely behind a large truck where there is a low-pressure zone of air in order to get better gas mileage. Although it is an unsafe method of increasing fuel economy, the Mythbusters in the episode Big Rig Tailgate proved this unsafe method that drafting can increase the fuel economy of any given car by almost 40% and is an effective way to increase gas mileage.

Photo of gas pump by Heather

Photo of Speedometer by ???

Photo of traffic by Nrbelex

Photo of NASCAR by Roger Smith

Given our current linear system of consumption, the use of renewable energy would be a better alternative. After watching a video “The Story of Stuff,” it is obvious to me that we cannot continue the way we are going. Thinking about conserving energy and preserving the environment can greatly improve the daily lives of so many people. This video explained the issues with U.S. consumption and how it has become a huge part of daily life and how alternatives need to be utilized in order to shift the direction of the consumption process. Renewable energy sources can be replenished quickly so it would be more useful and much better for the environment. The five most used renewable sources of energy are biomass, water, geothermal, wind, and solar.

Biomass has been the most used renewable energy source. Renewable energy in the United stated is not a new idea, in fact, 125 years ago, wood facilitated up to 90% of our energy needs. Wood is a biomass source of energy, and because of the convenience and low prices of fossil fuels then, wood use became less prominent in the United States. Other biomass sources of energy include wood waste, municipal solid waste, landfills and bio gas, bio diesel, and ethanol. These renewable energy sources mostly go to electricity, and also to heat and fuels. Ethanol, a biomass energy source, can be used for transportation and heating buildings. Fossils fuels have been less expensive than renewable energy in the past.

Although times have changed, and the price of fossil fuels has gone up exponentially, it has remained unmoved from the leading source of energy in the United States. Renewable energy in recent times (2007) only makes up 7% of the nation’s energy supply.

Of that 7%, 1% is solar, 36% hydroelectric (water), 5% geothermal, 53% biomass, and 5% wind energy. Biomass is the leading source of renewable energy. It is organic material made from plants and animals. If its use is increased, I think it would be the best to overcome the linear system of consumption. It allows the process of consumption to be a cycle rather than a line. If the process continues in a line, then eventually there will be nothing left.

Biomass consists of energy from the sun because it is absorbed by plants and then consumed by animals. It is renewable because we are always able to grow more plants and waste will always exist. Therefore wood, crops, manure, and garbage can always be used for energy. When burned, these can produce energy and it can be much less expensive. Wood waste and some garbage can make steam for electricity or even to heat homes and industries when burned. Even without burning them, biomass can be converted to other usable forms of energy. Methane gas, ethanol, and bio diesel are some of these fuels.

If we decrease our reliance on non-renewable fuels, it would help to limit pollution and maybe even lower the prices for electricity, heat, and transportation. This could drastically improve the lives of so many Americans. Using Biomass energy can limit waste drastically and support agricultural products grown in the United States. Fuels made from biomass sources also help the environment. Fossils fuels release so many pollutants, and cutting down on their use would significantly reduce toxic waste. Increasing the use of solar power, wind power, and waterpower, can help diversify the way we get energy and decrease our reliance on one method. Using fossil fuels can be a quick fix to the problem of consumption instead of a permanent solution. Instead of ignoring the very unsuccessful consumption process, Americans should take firm action in changing it. There are ways to limit these issues, and firmly transforming how we exploit our resources is the only way it can be fixed.

Even though heating oil and gas prices have gone down, two dollars and thirty-nine cents at the Hess in the center of town, there is still a need for a new type of energy. Soon there will not be enough oil left to meet our increasing needs and the prices will once again sky rocket. The senate has addressed this issue and many clean energy legislation have been passed. One proposal approving solar powered and wind powered energy for the future has been discussed. This legislation will slowly end the large grasp the oil companies have on our economy.  Recent incentives such as the new energy tax credit have been passed to also assist with reducing our dependence on oil.

A major reason why we need to start the change to clean and efficient energy is the effect the production and consumption of oil has on the earth.  Our dependence has caused global warming among other environmental problems. In 2002 about forty percent of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was from the burning of oil. Coal issues ninety-three percent into the atmosphere from the electric industry.  These two renewable energies are the largest contributing factor in the release of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere.

Another contributor to the carbon dioxide issue is the automobile.  About thirty-three percent of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere comes from cars, and cars that have low gas mileage produce more.  America could save 25 million dollars in fuel yearly and save a million barrels of oil every day if gas mileage was increased by three miles per gallon for every car. Still, oil will run out sometime and we will need to turn to clean energy sooner or later.

The U.S. produces about three percent of the world’s oil yet; they consume twenty-five percent of it. The Energy Information Administration says that oil will not be available for nearly a decade and that introducing clean energy will decrease our dependence on foreign oil ten times. Big oil companies are making profits exceeding forty billion dollars, and it is costing Americans increasing more to drive to work in the morning. America consumes the most oil even though we are one 4.54 percent of the population. Every time anyone spends the amount of one American dollar, the equivalent of half a liter of oil is burned to produce what the money buys.

Oil powers America life style and is used everyday; weather it is to get to work or to heat homes in the winter. Without it, America would not function because everything is based on the fossil fuels.  Soon there will not be enough oil available to meet our needs because we will have drilled it all and used it. There is a need for clean and efficient energy that would be used and help stop global warming. The money that goes into helping drill for the oil should go into research for a new type of energy to use. This new energy would benefit people every where.

Photo: caseyhelbling

Photo: ilmungo

A new plug-in hybrid called the VentureOne, which will arrive in the showrooms soon is one of the most unique vehicles we have ever seen.  It is a combination of a motorcycle and a car that has two seats and runs on three wheels.  It will be able to ride similar to the style of a motorcycle turning sharp corners and leaning from side to side.  The vehicle apparently uses advanced technology to determine the perfect balance while driving.  When I first learned about the three-wheel car, it seemed a bit dangerous, but it will supposedly be thirty times safer than a standard motorcycle.  It will have all the safety features of a vehicle like airbags, bumpers, and impact protection, and it’s going to be environmentally friendly getting about 100 mpg and equipped with two 20 kW electric motors and a 17 kWh lithium ion battery pack.  More importantly the manufacturer is really trying to show how environmentally friendly the vehicle is, coming in three different shades of green.  I’m surprised that they are coming out with this vehicle because I am not sure how many people will find it appealing.  It is a very cool piece of technology, but I am not sure that the average driver will choose to purchase one of these.  Despite being fast and fuel efficient, it will be expensive and drivers might not find it safe.

Another interesting soon to be vehicle in the hybrid market is the Honda FCX Clarity, a fuel cell car that will be available in 2008.  The vehicle will run on a hydrogen fuel cell stack.  It will produce electricity, but no exhaust emissions will come out of the tailpipe.  Honda is also working on trying to build a hydrogen fueling station for homes.  It would be very convenient for an owner of one of these cars if the company were able to create such a home based refueling station.  What I really took notice of was that the hydrogen station would also supply a house owner with heat and electricity in addition to producing hydrogen fuel.  From the natural gas, it would generate the hydrogen for homes.  I could imagine that this would expensive, but would be extremely efficient reducing energy costs as well as emissions dangerous to the environment.  It is unlikely that this home fueling station will be out for several more years.  It’s a really intriguing idea that people should take notice of, but who knows what other types of fuel-efficient vehicles will come out during that period of time.

There are now numerous different types of fuel-efficient cars out now and many arriving in the future.  Drivers need to take an interest in what is coming out and should take a closer look.  They might be more expensive then the average car, but are incredibly more efficient and better for the environment.

Photo Credit: geognerd