Americans dispose of more than 700 billion pounds of paper, glass, plastic, wood, food, metal, clothing, electronics and other refuse annually.

The problem of managing mountains of waste may seem overwhelming, but experts note there are easy ways for consumers to make a difference every day.

“Old habits might die hard, like forgetting to recycle a soda can or newspaper, but the good news is, there are many simple ways to cut down on waste, from buying concentrated household products to buying in bulk,” says environmental expert Kim Carlson.

Carlson offers the following tips to help consumers reduce, recycle and reuse waste:

* Keep it loose. Buy screwdrivers, nails and other hardware items in loose bins. At the grocery store, choose produce that is not in prepackaged containers.

* Bring your own bag. Reuse bags and containers. Keep a supply of bags on hand for future shopping trips, or take your own canvas tote bag to the grocery store.

* Consider concentrated detergent. Concentrated products often require less packaging, resulting in less energy to transport to the store and less plastic to recycle. All small & mighty is a new concentrated laundry detergent (one 32-ounce bottle cleans as many loads as the regular 100-ounce bottle). In addition to less packaging, the formula contains 74 percent less water than regular detergent.

* Choose to reuse. Reach for reusable products such as cloth napkins, sponges or dishcloths instead of paper towels.

* Recharge and renew. Use rechargeable batteries and recycle old batteries to help reduce garbage and keep toxic metals out of the environment.

* Buy smart. Look for long-lasting, energy-saving appliances with the Energy Star label and electronic equipment with good warranties.

* Get crafty. Reuse scrap paper and envelopes. Save and reuse ribbons, tissue paper, gift boxes and even wrapping paper. Save cardboard boxes, colored paper, egg cartons and other items for arts and crafts projects.

* Think thrifty. Donate clothing to charity organizations or sell the items in consignment shops, fairs, bazaars or tag sales. Also, share hand-me-down clothes with family members and neighbors. – NU

As responsible human beings it is our moral duty that we leave this world a better place than we got it from our ancestors. There is an ardent need for saving the environment that is being polluted by emissions given out by the extensive use of gasoline.

The conventional and traditional fuel sources are becoming more and more expensive to extract and their indiscriminate use in the past century has resulted in their depletion. Alarm bells have already started ringing that these storehouses of natural fuel sources will reach critically low levels and precipitate a crisis much earlier than we think.

However there are promising discoveries that give hope that before any crisis occurs, mankind would have perfected and commercialized alternate sources of fuel that will be eco- friendly and affordable too.

Bio-diesel is one such alternate fuel source that is extracted from plants. Also known as E 85, bio-diesel is partly renewable. Its contents of 15% gasoline and 85% ethanol mean that it is at least better than using pure gasoline.

Although such alternate fuel sources like E 85 score above gasoline, they still pollute and require a vast amount of corn to be grown which in turn translates into availability of lesser land for growing food for people.

Presently, electric cars seem to be the best alternate fuel source that we have, if we are to conserve our natural fuel sources. They are efficient because all of the electricity that they need can be generated at one central location. It is a much better option than consuming petroleum derivatives and polluting more by using small and inefficient combustion motors. Electricity can be produced in any manner that suits the needs on a particular location depending on the resources it has. One can use coal, hydro-electric or wind to produce this electricity that is required for electric cars.

The ultimate alternate fuel source, of course is your own legs on bike peddles. Peddle power is becoming increasingly popular as none of the other alternate fuel sources has completely panned out. Bio-diesel is not widely available and the power that the electric cars allow has not been perfected as yet. The bike is really a flawless machine for short to medium commutes. You will be in better shape, save some money, and do the environment a favor as well.

So, before switching on the ignition of the vehicle, ask yourself if it would not be easier to walk or ride.

To find more environmental advise and alternative fuel sources visit http://environmentadvice.com

Article Source: ArticleSpan

If it’s a diesel, it’s an alt fuel vehicle by default. Biodiesel blends can be used in any diesel engine; however, it’s important to use the blends in accordance with the manufacturers specs. With more and more clean diesels coming on line, keep your eyes peeled for those ULSD pumps too. With fueling stations in all 50 states, it’s getting easier and easier for diesels to go cleaner and greener.

Biodiesel is a non-toxic and biodegradable fuel that is made from vegetable oils, waste cooking oil, animal fats or tall oil (a by-product from pulp and paper processing). Biodiesel is produced from these feedstocks through a process called transesterification, by reacting the oil with an alcohol (usually methanol, although ethanol can also be used) and a catalyst (such as sodium hydroxide). The resulting chemical reaction produces glycerine and an ester called biodiesel. The majority of biodiesel is produced by this method.

Compared with conventional diesel, biodiesel combusts better with a higher cetane rating and produces fewer life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) which contribute to climate change.

Biodiesel blends, a mixture of petroleum diesel and biodiesel, can be used in any diesel engine. As biodiesel can be blended with diesel in any concentration, the blend level depends on economics, availability, the desired emissions level, material compatibility and combustion characteristics.

An increasing number of Original Equipment Manufacturers are endorsing the use of lower biodiesel blends, e.g, 5% in their engines. Some manufacturers now extend warranty coverage for new diesel powered vehicles to use lower blends of biodiesel, provided the fuel meets applicable standards. Some manufacturers also provide vehicles pre-filled with biodiesel blends.

In colder climates, biodiesel tends to lose viscosity, particularly at higher blend levels. To counter this effect, changes to the feedstock source or additives may be needed to address the cold flow properties of this fuel. Research and testing is underway to reduce biodiesel production costs and address cold weather problems.

Biodiesel is considerably less flammable than petroleum diesel, which burns at 50 C (120 F). Pure biodiesel (B-100) does not ignite until 150 C (300 F). The flashpoint (the temperature at which it will ignite when exposed to a spark or flame) of a biodiesel blend falls somewhere between these temperatures, depending on the mixture.

Because biodiesel is a mild solvent it is important to wipe up spills and dispose of rags safely. Biodiesel may deface some paints if left on painted surfaces for a long time.

Hybrids are vehicles of mixed composition basically, an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. Commonly powered by a gasoline engine that generates its own electricity and stores it in an onboard battery, hybrids are a popular choice for awesome fuel economy and squeaky clean emissions.

Pure electrics offer zero emissions and plug directly into a standard AC outlet–while their range is limited, there are a selection of good choices available.

If it’s a flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) it can subsist on a diet of E85, gasoline or any percentage of the two. E85 is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, and burns cleaner than gasoline, contributing fewer greenhouse gas emissions.One of the cleanest burning fuels, natural gas is a common retrofit and fleet alternative fuel.

Although there are over 5 million vehicles worldwide powered by natural and compressed gas, in the United States there’s currently only one production vehicle available that comes ready to fuel up at any CNG station–but that’s not the only way to power up with CNG.

Also known as liquefied propane gas (LPG), propane powers over 10 million vehicles worldwide, with 270,000 of them on the roadways of America. Find out if it’s the fuel of choice for your set of wheels.

There are basically two ways to use hydrogen to power a vehicle burning it in an engine or using it as an energy carrier for a fuel cell. While hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are in various states of development, there are a few that have actually hit the roads.

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Article Source: ArticleSpan

One of the great things we hear about Fuel Boost Diesel Additive is that it helps clean up the diesel being used in vehicles. Diesel that is cleaner leads to far fewer maintenance issues over time and a longer life for your vehicles. In other words, it’s a very good thing for automobile owners who are hoping to achieve a maximum lifespan for their automotive investments (and who isn’t really?).

The trouble with fuel is that there are other issues at hand other than the quality of the fuel or the effect that fuel has on your automobile. As more people are making efforts to become good neighbors on a global scale we are turning our attention to our oil consumption and our dependency on foreign oil and other fuels that are not as easily replenished.

One consequence of this is that we are beginning to use alternative fuel sources more and more often in automobiles, farm equipment, and tractors. This is great for the environment though not as often so great for the inner workings of your average diesel vehicle.

If you are concerned about being a good neighbor, another way of doing this is by using your vehicles a little bit longer. You can still use the alternative fuels that leave a less noticeable impact on the earth while minimizing the emissions that are produced by these vehicles, using less fuel, and prolonging the life of your vehicles, tractors, and farm equipment. One simple way of accomplishing that goal is by using fuel additives for diesels such as Fuel Boost Diesel Additive.

Older vehicles often run less efficiently. This is part of the problem and one of the main reasons that older vehicles often have poorer emissions ratings than newer vehicles. It is also one of the main reasons that older vehicles have a tendency to burn more fuel than newer vehicles. They aren’t able to work at maximum efficiency and this means that they waste fuel, burn fuel, and end up mucking up the inner workings far more often than would be expected in newer automobiles.

Biodiesel and other alternative sources of fuel are often seen to be dirty fuels by comparison, at least that is what the big oil companies would have you believe. If you add Fuel Boost at every fill up you will find that the quality of even the alternative fuel sources can see great improvement.

If you want to see a noticeable difference in efficiency and gas mileage in your vehicle track your mileage with a few fuel ups before beginning to use Fuel Boost Diesel Additive in your automobile. The change in performance, power, efficiency, gas mileage, and emissions should be adequate proof of how well this product works.

If it makes this kind of impact in the first few uses, imagine the impact it could have if you use it each and every time you fill your fuel tank whether you are using traditional fuel or alternative fuels to carry you well into the future.

Learn how to make BioDiesel on our BioDiesel Forums.

Article Source: ArticleSpan

Car drivers have been suffering of late due to the ludicrous prices of fuel and people’s lack of keenness to be driving anywhere. Information has been issued on the way to drive as economically as possible, (which if you ask me involves a push bike) but still drivers are under the impression that if they drive faster they will get to their destination before their fuel runs out. This is idiot thinking as a car takes more fuel to drive at speeds (whereas a pushbike uses the same amount of energy whatever speed you wish to ride it at). So, what are the alternatives?

You could sell your car and buy a motorbike. These are more economical on fuel and quite speedy but Saturday afternoon shopping with your granny is going to be a hair-raising experience for both of you. You could get a moped which, while cheaper still on fuel and insurance, is still going to struggle taking granny shopping or the kids to school.

A pushbike is always going to be the cheapest option as once the initial outlay is over with, there is virtually no more maintenance. You can get up to quite a tidy speed on one of these, they require no fuel, no insurance, no road tax, they incorporate no speeding fines and no MOT’s.

If this doesn’t suit you and you still want the comfort of a car like we are all so used to, you can still make the options cheaper for yourself. Start by selling your own car (don’t panic, I’m not done yet). This immediately deprives the government of the revenue from your car tax, the garages with windows large enough to see you coming of the maintenance and MOT stings and the greedy oil giants of the fuel prices that beggar belief. Feeling better already?

Now you have a little cash in your pocket, call in the professionals. Use car hire, chauffeur driven. The one off payment means that you can budget your money without the worry that prices are going to increase in the blink of an eye as with petrol. It means you can get as drunk as you like whenever you go out as long as you are using car hire that is chauffeur driven without the fear of losing your licence.

On top of that, car hire that is chauffeur driven will impress your friends no end, especially if you use something like a hummer or a limousine. It does rather defeat the object somewhat but what the hell – if you don’t spend your hard earned then the government will just find another way of taking it off you, so go for it. Your granny will be pleased when it comes to the shopping trips, the kids will be the envy of all their friends on the school run and if you’re single, the girls will be falling over themselves.

If you have been lucky enough to invest in limousine car hire that is chauffeur driven and you cannot afford your mortgage, like so many hundreds of thousands of people in the UK every year, you could always camp out in the back of your car. After all, these vehicles are the size of the modern houses that are currently being constructed.

Transport expert Catherine Harvey looks at the way to use car hire that is chauffeur driven to get over the cost of running your own car.

Article Source: ArticleSpan