Zipcar: A Whole New Way to Travel Around Town
For years we have saved time and energy by car pooling with friends and family, but who would have thought to share a car with total strangers? Zipcar is a unique, new company that offers a different solution for your traveling needs. You can become a Zipcar member by joining online. Once you receive your Zipcard, you are able to reserve a car either online or over the phone, choosing the time, location and type of car you would like to use. When it’s time to use your reserved car, you can unlock it by scanning your Zipcard with a device in the windshield, and when you’re done, you simply return it to its spot. Car sharing reduces the number of cars on the road, which in turn reduces CO2 emissions. This type of transportation also reduces the amount of driving each person does and can significantly save costs in oil spending. (more…)
The Rise of Wind Power
Finding alternate sources of energy has become a priority throughout the world. One renewable source that is rapidly gaining popularity is wind power. If the power of the wind were used to its maximum potential throughout the world, we could generate more than 15 times the current world energy demand. Denmark currently leads the world in wind power, using wind to generate 20% of national electricity demands.
In order to utilize wind to generate electricity, wind turbines must be installed in areas with the wind capacity to support them. One of the reasons this is becoming such a popular endeavor is because of the quick payback time. Wind conditions and other factors can contribute to variations, but a wind turbine usually creates enough electricity to pay for all of its costs within ten years. (more…)
The Long-Awaited Electric Car
When gas prices hovered near $4.00 in 2007, Americans finally began to seriously demand alternate fuel sources. In the last few years, the presence of hybrid vehicles that run on a combination of petroleum fuel and an electric battery has grown. These cars have enjoyed much better gas mileage than traditional gasoline-powered cars because of their battery use. Many attempts in the last few decades have been made to create an electric car that is not only energy efficient but practical for the average commuter. This futuristic-style car is now on its way to market. The Nissan Leaf, which is set to be released in December, will run entirely on an electric battery. The Leaf battery is supposed to have the capacity to travel 100 miles on one charge. Because this car is 100% electric, there is no tailpipe. (more…)
Easy Ways to Save Gas and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
There are a number of reasons why saving gas and improving your mileage are beneficial. Gas prices are unstable and constantly rising, much or our oil comes from foreign countries with whom we have rocky relationships, and the pollutants produced when burning petroleum are harmful to the environment. While buying a hybrid or a new electric car is a noble way to reduce your energy use, there are a number of free, easy ways to save.
Use your air conditioner as little as possible. Obviously when the thermometer registers 90 degrees, AC is a necessity. But when the weather is nice, roll down the windows and cool down with fresh air. Another way to conserve fuel is by taking it easy on the brakes. This is best practiced in heavy traffic. (more…)
Combating Global Warming With Public Transportation
Ever since Henry Ford created the assembly line for mass production of personal automobiles, Americans have had a love affair with cars. For most 16-year-olds, it is a rite of passage to get your very own car to drive anywhere you want to go. In the last few decades, starting with the oil crisis of the ‘70s, we’ve come to understand that this frivolous driving and use of oil is not a sustainable habit long term. Rising oil prices, unstable foreign oil sources, and the damage being done to the environment by this excessive use of fossil fuels has forced us to rethink our methods of transportation.
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, in 2007, transportation accounted for 68.9% of all petroleum uses in the United States. Passenger cars make up 34% of all transportation petroleum uses. In 2006, passenger cars travelled 4,684 million miles, compared to the 599 million miles traveled by rail. (more…)