Eco Cars

Eco Cars

HOURCAR Program Manager

Let’s get this straight: the most efficient mile you can drive is a mile you don’t drive. Despite technological advances, cars are still 3,000 pounds of steel moved around by (mostly) fossil fuels. That said, there are some exciting new technologies which promise more efficient driving, which can help both the environment and your pocketbook.

Eight years after the Prius was first introduced, hundreds of thousands have been sold, far outpacing all other hybrids, and it is a cultural symbol. After-market plug-in modules for the Prius are now available to the public (such as hymotion.com), allowing 20 miles of driving from a 120 volt outlet for about a quarter per charge. Rumors swirl that Toyota will have a plug-in option for the 2010 model year. With solar panels or wind power, this can lend a dramatic boost to green driving.

All-electric cars are not far off, either. Right now they are limited to the high-performance (and high-priced) such as Telsa (teslamotors.com) or the ZENN (zenncars.com) neighborhood electric vehicle (cheaper but speed- and range-limited). Nothing is set in stone, but in the next few years we could see more affordable 200-mile range, highway-rated cars from new players like ZENN and Think (think.no) as well as cars like the Smart Fortwo (smartusa.com) and Mini Cooper with all-electric drive trains.

A 200-mile range may be insufficient for a road trip, but it is ample for commuting. Of environmental concern remain the sources of electricity (often from dirty coal plants) and the potential issues with mass production and disposal of large batteries.

One big wild card in the technology race is the practicality of alternative fuels. Corn-based ethanol has been all but debunked as a green technology and reclaimed biodiesel (think french fries) has only so much supply. Sugar- or switchgrass-derived ethanol and hydrogen are just some of the fuel sources which may help to slow carbon emissions in coming decades.

Most likely, the best solution for you is to drive as little as possible, and when driving, to drive as efficiently as possible.

Here are some tips:

If you are not pressed for time, walk to the corner store for a few items.

If you have several errands to run, plan the shortest route between them (called “trip-linking” in transportation circles), and ride a bike if you can.

If you’re not in a hurry, slow down on the highway; driving 55 can increase mileage 20% or more.

If you don’t drive often, consider selling your car altogether and joining a car sharing organization (in the Twin Cities: hourcar.org).

Driving green is important to severing our dependence on fossil fuels, but it is an inherent contradiction. Until we have solar-powered, fully-recyclable cars driving on pervious surfaces, energy efficiency is only part of the battle.

HOURCAR has had the first plug-in hybrid in Minnesota since 2006, and now charges it from solar panels.
It is the first solar-powered shared car in the world.

Eco Cars

Green Tips

Host an Art Night

Looking for a new way to connect with your neighbors, get free life advice, and spark your creative juices? Consider hosting an art night at your house, complete with paints, modeling clay, colored pencils and art smocks. Get messy, be creative, and let the conversation flow. For inspiration and resources, check out this article.

Choose Safe Art Supplies

Arts and crafts materials can be hazardous to your health and the environment. Even though the Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act of 1988 requires stringent labeling of hazardous materials in art supplies, many materials are out of compliance. This article offers tips to help you choose safe art supplies, plus substitutes to harmful substances.

Support a Local Business

Did you know that roughly 73 cents of every dollar spent at a local business stays within the community, compared to 43 cents for non-local chain stores? When you buy from local businesses, you help that business employ community workers, support other local businesses, and contribute to the community’s overall health. Read more here about the benefits of buying locally.

Buy Green Office Supplies

“Green” doesn’t necessarily mean “good” when it comes to so-called green office supplies. To help your office green up, consider durability, natural resource and energy use, recycled content and recyclability, toxicity, biodegradability and packaging before you purchase supplies. You can also set up a reuse system for the supplies you already have. For more tips on green office products, check out this article.

Think Twice About Bottled Water

If you live in an area with clean drinking water, fill a reusable bottle with tap water and bring it with you wherever you go to avoid buying bottled water. The U.S. sends 2 million tons of plastic water bottles to landfills each year—and producing those bottles requires oil and emits carbon dioxide. Some restaurants in the Twin Cities feel so strongly against bottled water that they refuse to sell it. Learn more.

Contact Your State Legislator

As a constituent, you are your local legislators’ highest priority. Why not share your views with them and ask them to support your position? It may seem like your letters and emails will get lost in a deep, dark political hole, but don’t despair. Whether you call, fax, email or visit in person, this article offers tips on how to effectively communicate with your elected officials and get them to listen.

Get Engaged!

Individuals’ actions are important in setting sound policy, so become an engaged citizen. Whether you call your legislator’s office, testify in a legislative hearing or attend a rally, you can make your voice heard. Still doubt that you can make a difference? This article addresses couple common concerns about whether civic engagement is worth it.

Take the Energy Challenge

The fastest, cheapest, easiest way to reduce your carbon footprint is through energy efficiency and conservation. Plus, you’ll save yourself money in the process! Need a little boost to get started? Join the Minnesota Energy Challenge and learn from thousands of Minnesotans who have pledged to reduce their energy use—and are finding fun, creative ways to do it. Read more about the Challenge here.

Make an Action Plan

Wait. Scratch that. Don’t make your own list of simple things you can do today to make a positive difference for the climate—use ours! This list offers 20 easy things you can do that will help you and your family lighten your load on the environment, keep more money in your pocket, and inspire you to find even more ways to tread lightly on this earth.

Check Out This Template for Action

Scientists say a global warming “tipping point” in the Arctic seems to be happening before their eyes. Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is at its second lowest level in about 30 years. These news flashes are just some of our climate’s changes happening daily. You and your kids can help. Read more here, and then check out Climate Generations’s Take Action! Guide, which offers hands-on activities for grades 3-12.

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