Filed under: Etc., Green Daily

Everything old is new again.

A few years ago (can't find the link, sorry), we had a story about a service where people could pay now for way more gasoline than they needed (say, 100 gallons or more) and then this fuel would be stored for them somehow and would be available to them at a later date - most likely when the fuel price was higher. A new company, MyGallons, is now offering the same sort of deal. The US News & World Report is all over it.

One difference between MyGallons and previous fuel price lock deals is the wide availability of participating gas stations, over 200,000, according to the MyGallons site. On top of pre-paying for your fuel, you also need to pay $30 or $40 for the annual membership fee and the price you pay for fuel is "based on the current average price of self-serve regular unleaded gas in your home area," MyGallons says.

How does MyGallons make money? By taking members' money and investing it in oil and other energy companies, through those annual fees and through website advertising. Investing money back into the companies that make such big bucks off of high gas prices sure does seem like a vicious circle, doesn't it?

[Source: US News & World Report, MyGallons]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Diesel, MPG, Peugeot

The British Motor Show is coming up later this month and Peugeot is planning to shine the spotlight on its most efficient and least polluting vehicles. Drivers in London, in particular, have to deal with congestion charges if they have to go into the central part of the city but they are exempted if the cars they drive emit fewer than 120g/km of carbon dioxide. Low-emitting cars like this also get a break on national road taxes. As a result, companies like Peugeot have been trying to create models specifically to meet this standard. The diminutive 107 KISS SE only has to pay about $70/year in road tax. Peugeot will also be showcasing the 908 HDi Le Mans racer and the 308 RCZ concept. For those of you in the UK who attend the show, you can quench your thirst at a free water bar at the Peugeot stand.

[Source: Peugeot]

Continue reading Peugeot to focus on greener cars at British Motor Show

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Hydrogen, Green Daily

Currently, hydrogen is the most common element in the universe. But if Ford gets its way, we'll have to rethink our science texts in the coming decades. At least, according to The Onion we might.

In yesterday's Onion Radio News piece, anchor Doyle Redland talked about the new Foresight, a hydrogen-powered SUV from Ford. As Bill Ford says in the piece, "The 11-ton Foresight will be unaffected by the price gouging whims of OPEC as it uses water electrolysis to gather fuel from the oceans and the fresh mountain air." The one problem is that this one model is expected to use up all of the world's hydrogen supplies by 2070. Of course, by then, we might be in the stars and can collect hydrogen from space.

Remember, it's all a joke, and an old one at that. This article was first published a few years ago and talks about a Fall 2004 rollout of the Ford Foresight. Still funny, though.

[Source: The Onion]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nigeria is unhappy at Robert Mugabe's continuing presidency in Zimbabwe.

The opinion of Africa's most populous nation and its second biggest economy is hard to ignore, although some may observe Nigeria's own presidential elections last year were not above reproach. "We express our strong displeasure at the process leading to the election and its outcome," Foreign Minister Ojo Maduekwe told reporters, saying any negotiations over the future shape of Zimbabwe's government should set the flawed election process to one side.

A few hours earlier, Botswana had called on southern African nations to refuse to recognise Mugabe.

Was it coincidence or the start of a concerted push by African states dismayed at the failure of South African President Thabo Mbeki to broker a deal that would end the Zimbabwe crisis? Mbeki's role as mediator looks ever more untenable. Today's endorsement of his role by Robert Mugabe will hardly have helped.

Are the public statements by Nigeria and Botswana the beginning of something bigger? Will more African governments speak out? And how long can Mbeki continue as mediator?

Filed under: Cars and Transportation

We know it's been a rough year for US automakers, and perhaps for GM most of all. Since their business has been built around Hummers, Tahoes, and full-size trucks for the last decade, their current market value is now lower than Mattel -- maker of Matchbox cars. There is some good news however, GM has a plan. They've apparently got a 40mpg concept car in the works that could save their faltering US lineup.

The Chevy Beat, one of a trio of concept cars unveiled at the 2007 Auto Show (that didn't get much attention), was set to be released in the Asian and Latin American markets this year. Instead, after June's horrendous sales numbers, and speculation about GM declaring bankruptcy started to fly, GM is eyeing a major course correction. Hopefully the Beat will help dig them out of the ditch -- I'm going to be really disappointed if the Volt project is compromised by lack of capital.

[via AutoBlogGreen]

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Fashion

Rogan, has teamed up with New York Magazine to bring you 93 of his favorite eco-friendly picks for your house. And yes, we're talking about the very same Rogan famous for his eco-friendly designs and for bringing his line to Target.
Rogan, has teamed up with New York Magazine to bring you 93 of his favorite eco-friendly picks for your house. And yes, we're talking about the very same Rogan famous for his eco-friendly designs and for bringing his line to Target.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Etc., Green Daily, USA

What choices do we realistically have when considering how to reduce our individual petroleum usage? Some people buy hybrid cars or scooters in an effort to cut down their fuel bills. Some carpool or take the bus to get where they need to go. Still others, though, take the horse.

Umm... sorry, the what?

Going back in time a bit, the horse was the most popular way to get around. When the modern car was first made popular, there were both horses and cars sharing American roads. It seems we could be headed that way again, at least if more people follow the example of a group of Washington State workmates. The group of people all work at the same dentist's office and decided that when gas topped four bucks per gallon that they would all get together and ride to work. And so they did. Police gave the riders special permits to ride in a pack down the road and the workers who didn't have horses followed on bicycles. Now, if we could just tackle that methane gas problem...

[Source: AP via Maryland Daily Record]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

'My Green Bookshelf' series on Eco-Libris blog continues to take a look at the reading habits of interesting people in the green world. Today's guests are Karen Stewart and Howard Brown, the founders of the eco-fashion brand Stewart+Brown.

original news source

Filed under: Activism

The next time someone stops you on the street and asks for change, how about offering them the other half of your sandwich? Or your uneaten bag of potato chips?

Replate is an idea out of San Francisco, where you simply leave your wrapped leftover food in a bag on top of (covered) city trash cans, where the homeless can retrieve it.

On one hand, this is a fantastic idea: it makes us conscious of the food waste we're producing, and encourages us to give to others who are less fortunate, instead of leaving it at the restaurant, where it will be trashed. Plus, a program like this could generally improve relations between a city's people, homeless or otherwise.

There are some downsides, though: on a windy day (especially in San Francisco), the bags could blow around the street, only adding to the litter. And if no one got to the food soon enough, it might be devoured by squirrels, birds, or raccoons, which is the last thing a major city street needs. It could also attract - gulp - roaches or rats.

It's generally a good idea to give things you don't need to someone who really does need them, especially if it's perfectly good, uneaten food. Just use your discretion.

via [Neatorama]

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• Organic cotton panties are sexier than you'd think
  Cat looks at the greener/sexier side of underwear.
  
• Prediction: Global energy use to jump 50% by 2030
  We could be using a lot more energy a lot sooner than a lot of us thought. Rebecca goes over the numbers.
• Beijing Olympics: sailing on a sea of algae
  Protesters and toxic air not controversial enough for you? Josh explains the latest issue to hit the upcoming Olympic games.
• The environmental message of WALL-E
  Shawn takes a greener look at the newest Pixar production.
• Heroin, cocaine or crack? Which is best for Mother Earth?
  As part of our Guide to Green Drug Use, Kelly deals out the eco-friendliness facts behind three hardcore habits. Check out what wins for greenest and then make sure you never do any of them.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments