Continuing with the green transportation theme…
Just came across a really cool website with eco-ratings for a huge number of different vehicles - its the EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide. I’m sure a LOT of people have heard about this already, so please forgive my newbie enthusiasm!
Anyway, for those of you NOT familiar with the guide, be sure to check it out - its really fun seeing how your vehicle stacks up according to their standards.
I drive a Suzuki Swift (yes, I’m THAT cool!), and was happy to see that it has a 9/10 rating for its “Greenhouse Gas Score” (10 is the best). It seems to have a terrible “Air Pollution Score” however with a 1/10 (again 10 being the highest). I work from home as well so I like to think I’m extra responsible when it comes to my personal greenhouse gas emissions (although my wife might have a thing or two to say about my methane…er..well, nevermind!)
From the looks of it my wife’s 2002 Volkwagen Golf doesn’t fare as well on the Greenhouse Emissions front (with a 6/10), but seems to one-up the Swift with a 3/10 for overall Atmospheric Pollution.
The guide only provides info for vehicles from 2000 or newer, but its a great way to plan your next vehicle purchase!
So, which vehicles are EPA allstars?
Here are a few that receive the coveted “Smartway Elite” certification:
(ATMP=atmospheric pollution; GGS=greenhouse gas score)
Toyota Prius - ATMP: 9.5; GGS: 10
Honda Civic Hybrid - ATMP: 9.5; GGS: 10
Toyota Camry Hybrid - ATMP: 9.5; GGS: 9
Ford Escape Hybrid - ATMP: 9.5: GGS: 8 (technically the Escape only gets the “SmartWay” not the SmartWay Elite” stamp of approval)
There are quite a few more - I was actually really surprised just how many there are in fact (and it certainly made me not nearly so impressed with my Swift!)
Just for comparative purposes, here are some vehicles with low scores:
GMC Savanna 1500 - ATMP: 3; GGS: 2
Chevy Silverado 15 - ATMP: 3; GGS: 3
Toyota Sequoia - ATMP: 3; GGS: 2
Ford F150 - ATMP: 3; GGS: 2
Be sure to check out the green vehicle guide and see how your vehicle scores! Aside from the rating sytem, the website has a variety of interesting and useful information!
Technorati Tags: EPA, green vehicle guide, hybrid cars, global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, toyota prius
Written by Bentley on October 31st, 2006 with no comments.
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The week’s Springwise Newsletter didn’t let me down, offering up yet another green morsel of eco-goodness!
The topic of discussion - EcoInsurance, “the UK’s first eco-friendly car insurance”.
So whats the deal?
Basically, when you sign up for a car insurance policy with this company they will offset 20% of your car’s CO2 emissions at no charge. In addition to that, any cars that emit less than 100g CO2 per km will receive a further 10% discount!
Just in case you are unfamiliar with carbon offsetting, here is a blurb from Wikipedia:
A carbon offset zeros out (offsets) all or part of the carbon dioxide emissions of a party, by reducing the emissions — or increasing the carbon dioxide absorption — of another party. This reduces net greenhouse gas emissions with the aim of combating global warming. Effectively offsetting the emissions of an activity makes that activity “carbon neutral”.
Carbon offsets can be purchased by individuals, businesses and governments from a variety of commercial and non-commercial organizations. For example, the UK government purchased offsets for the air travel required for the 31st G8 summit.
Sounds like a great idea, but are there any similar insurance programs here in North America?
According to the article, Travellers Insurance in the US is offering a 10% discount for people driving hybrid vehicles.
I haven’t heard of anything similar up here in Canada, but I’ll definitely be curious to find out!
Hopefully we’ll start to see more of this sort of thing from the insurance companies in North America!
Here is the Springwise article if you are interested: Greensurance
Technorati Tags: ecoinsurance, car insurance, carbon offsetting, global warming, C02, hybrid cars, springwise
Written by Bentley on October 31st, 2006 with no comments.
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Normally I would stay away from writing about death and gloom, however, it is Halloween and I think the business idea is great.
Death is a tough subject and many of us squirm away and choose not to think about it or even talk about it. I am in that category and try to avoid thinking about the topic as much as possible. However, I can appreciate a great eco-business opportunity and can look past the gloom. (For those who want to skip this post, I totally understand)
I came across Eco Coffins Ltd. when I was searching for the latest eco news. I found an article at the Cambridge News Online website, Brightening up that final journey.
Co-founders Sophie and Ben Dansie have teamed up with Rev Peter Owen Jones, pastor and presenter of the BBC’s show, The Battle for Britain’s Soul. The team at Eco Coffin wanted to provide people with an alternative to the normal coffins people are typically buried in. There idea - create a biodegradable coffin decorated with poppies and a blue sky on the lid.
The coffins are made in East Anglia from 90 per cent reinforced, recycled honeycombed paper and is very strong and is exceptionally light. Eco Coffins are not expensive, when compared with traditional coffins. Eco Coffins’ basic “natural range” costs £280 plus delivery anywhere in the UK, comes in white or wood effect and includes a white cotton shroud in place of the plastic lining in most contemporary coffins. The “creative range” has five designs featuring either ivy leaves, or the poppies and sky combination, or a seascape for £600.
“And for £800, you can have it customised just how you like - one family chose a montage of photos of a dear departed granny from the ages of eight to 88. For that price, a couple of designers will spend three days on a unique design, printed in biodegradable ink, naturally.”
According to the article there are 600,000 funerals a year in the UK and 80 per cent of people depart life in wood-veneer chipboard coffins, with plastic lining and plastic brass-effect handles. That is a lot of non-biodegradable material going into the ground!
The company is currently a small-based company that serves its local area and community. They have their sights on growing the business further. Perhaps you will start seeing other companies across North America offering similar products and services.
Eco Coffins website
Cambridge News Online
Technorati Tags: eco coffins, eco business, UK funerals, green funerals, green business, eco entrepreneurship
Written by steve on October 31st, 2006 with 2 comments.
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Talk show host, comedian and car enthusiast, Jay Leno has teamed up with GM to create a new concept vehicle called the EcoJet. The new concept car is a turbine-powered monster that runs on biodiesel fuel. The car has the ability to put out 650 horsepower and is powered by a Honeywell LT-101 turbine engine. This car looks amazing and I am sure it will attract lot’s of attention in the upcoming months. I can see GM creating a full production model based on the EcoJet’s esthetics. Perhaps the new Corvette may see some of the EcoJet’s stylish features?
GM’s Vice President of Global Design, ED Welburn, was quoted saying, “”EcoJet’s esthetics were driven by aeronautical and jet-age influences. It’s a purpose-driven design that conveys power, capability and even danger, with a hint of Cadillac’s sophisticated design vocabulary.”
Leno’s goal for this project was to inspire America’s youth to follow their dreams and realize that anything is possible. A lot of people thought high performance could not be achieved with biodiesel and 7 months later the EcoJet was born.
Jay Leno, “We live in an era where liking cars and liking the environment don’t really seem to fit– especially high performance cars.”
To read more about the super cool EcoJet go to GM’s website.
Technorati Tags: bio-diesel, biodiesel, Jay Leno EcoJet, GM, biodiesel turbine engine, EcoJet, electric cars
Written by steve on October 31st, 2006 with no comments.
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