Green Cool Hip

If you are in the United States and looking to buy a hybrid electric vehicle, there are quite a few models to choose from. As every auto manufacturer races to deliver hybrid electric cars, this list will surely grow in the next few months. View our slideshow below.

The US House of Representatives has just passed a bill that will make 150 million dollars available over the next five years for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles and the infrastructure to support them.   This is a good step towards reducing smog considering that the United States only account for less than 2% of the total number of these vehicles in the world.

However, setting up this infrastructure across the country will require more than 150 million dollars.  Converting the majority of  local public transportation fleet and government vehicles is where this initiative will have the most impact.

Though still a fossil fuel, natural gas is however cleaner than diesel and gasoline, and reduces CO2 emissions.

Over the past few years, European farmers have been raising animals and growing crops on their farms while feeding electricity to their local power grid.  Animals and crops share the field with solar panels which provide an additional source of revenue for the farmers.

Although it enjoys less sun than other parts of the world, Germany has gone as far to pass a law that guarantees a minimum price for each kilowatt of electricity.  One farmer claims annual revenue over half a million dollars from the sale of its electricty.  Now the fever is catching among farmers in France where one farmer plans to produce enough electricity from its photovoltaic installation to power as much as 4,000 residences.  French Secretary of Environment and Energy, Jean-Louis Borloo was quoted as saying “France’s ambition is to play a leading role in the technological revolution which is about to happen in solar power”.  To prove it, the French government has taken steps similar to Germany to guarantee a minimun tariff for the sale of electricity.

With the United States enjoying more sun than these countries and the price of electricity steadily rising along that of fossil fuel, I suspect it won’t be long before U.S. farmers start looking to the sun for additional revenue.

If you’re a subscriber of popular mechanics, you may remember an article last November about an eco-friendly tire by Yokohama made of mostly orange peel.  Well, it has hit the market and not surprisingly, will be available in sizes that fit the Toyota Prius, Camry Hybrid, and Honda Civic Hybrid.  Made from 80% non-petroleum products, this tire has roughly 20% less rolling resistance which may well deliver an additional 3% saving in fuel on these already gas sipping vehicles.

With its zero emission plant in Japan and environmentally-friendly products, Yokohama is showing the world how seriously committed it is about protecting the planet.

I have a collection of flashlights at home, not because I’m a collector, but because I tend to buy a new and different kind of flashlight every time the batteries run out.
Now that I stumbled upon SolarLite and bought a couple of those hybrid flashlights, I believe my compulsive behavior towards flashlights may have come to an end.

SolarLite is a flashlight that is powered by solar power and a backup lithium battery that can provide up to 50 hours of light and last for 7 years.  Its solar panel is made up of photovoltaic cells and much like solar calculators also captures room light to recharge.

Its one watt LED bulb provides bright light of up to 40 lumens and can lasts for 11 years without any dimming effect, whereas most standard flashlights have a range between 2.5 and 10 lumens.

This flashlight even floats when tossed in water and functions at depths of 80 feet.

With an all around flashlight such as the SolarLite, one can become friendlier to the planet by not contributing to the 3 billion batteries thrown into U.S. landfills each year, and at the same time keep its wallet greener.