Office Living : Eco Friendly

Eco-Friendly

tinadh — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:02:00 GMT

Eco-Friendly Holiday

The focus on saving sustainable resources continues to grow, and more people are working to find different ways of becoming more efficient in their day-to-day lives. As we venture into the fall, it’s time to think about how we can apply our “green” techniques to the holiday season.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans produce 25% more garbage between Thanksgiving and New Years Day than we do the rest of the year. There are several things you can do to help reduce this trend.

Holiday Cards – When looking for holiday cards, look for 100% recycled or tree-free paper. Although many people will opt to mail cards to their close family and friends, consider sending e-cards co-workers and friends who are computer savvy.

Shopping – During the busy holiday shopping season, use reusable cloth shopping bags. Not only are they more durable and easier to hold, but they can continue to be used all year round. Also, try car pooling to the shopping centers. If you decide to buy online, try making one large purchase rather than multiple small purchases that will require more packaging materials to ship.

Gift Wrap – When using gift wrap, avoid using excessive amounts of tape, and try using reusable bows and ribbon. As the holiday festivities unravel, rather than crumbling up all that used gift wrap, see what can be salvaged. If it’s in good condition, see if it can be reused again next year. If it’s too crinkled, remember to recycled it! When purchasing gift wrap, consider that foil- and plastic-coated wrapping cannot be recycled.

Packaging Gifts – When buying gifts, consider the gift’s destination. If it needs to be mailed, see if you can avoid purchasing larger items that require an excessive amount of packaging. For gifts that do need to be packaged, use old newspaper or magazine pages, plain popped popcorn, or old brown paper bags. For gifting fresh baked goods, use reusable tins. If you received a gift that used Styrofoam peanuts, donate it to your local post office.

Decorations – If you’re going to use lights to decorate, use LED lights that are up to 90% more efficient than traditional lights. When possible, scale back on decorations that require electricity. If you do have some electric decorations, then be sure to unplug them before going to bed at night to save energy. If you decorate with a tree, bring your used tree to a designated recycling center in your area so it can be cut up into wood chips. Also, considering using nature to decorate – pinecones, acorns and leaves can all add a festive decorative touch.

How likely are you to have an eco-friendly holiday this year? What else can you do to stay “green” this season?

Eco Friendly

tinadh — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 05:04:00 GMT

Compost heaps
The best way to get started

Composting is not only good for your garden, it also takes a small burden off the environment. With compost you turn waste into rich nutrients and return them to the earth and your plants, relieving your local landfill. It’s also a more fun, interactive approach to the life cycle of trash. Here’s a guide to making a compost pile in your own yard:

Select a spot

Make sure it’s convenient for you and your neighbors – nothing intrusive or unsightly for them. Put the pile directly on the earth so nutrients and insects can naturally cycle up and down through the pile. The ground should also be level and well drained. You might even want to build a small enclosure to secure the pile from wind and to hide it from view. Or you can purchase a special compost bin if you’re serious about your compost.

Make compost

Many organic materials are compostable, from leaves to newspaper. According to composting Web site compostguide.com, “The pile needs a proper ratio of carbon-rich materials, or ‘browns,’ and nitrogen-rich materials, or ‘greens.’ Among the brown materials are dried leaves, straw, and wood chips. Nitrogen materials are fresh or green, such as grass clippings and kitchen scraps.” The rate of decomposition depends on the ratio of browns to greens. It can take some time and trial and error to perfect, but the Guide says you’ll need roughly 25 parts browns to 1 part greens. If you want usable compost this season, you’ll have to put some work into it. This involves chopping and shredding materials into smaller pieces that will decompose quicker, turning the pile to circulate oxygen, and knowing which materials make a perfect balance. A more passive approach to composting – waiting for materials to decompose on their own – could take up to two years to produce usable compost.

Use it

Compost is ready to use in your garden when it is dark brown and when most materials have been completely broken down. This finished compost comes from the bottom of the pile. Depending on how nutrient poor your soil is, you can either use the compost as a top layer, or work it into the soil. Either way, the compost will allow your soil to better hold water, air, and nutrients, and will make your plants healthier.

There’s more to composting than what’s mentioned in this article. For a more in-depth guide and a list of compostable materials, visit www.compostguide.com.

Eco Friendly

tinadh — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:09:00 GMT

Sometimes the grass really is greener…

…depending on the amount of water, mulch, pesticides, fertilizers, time and money used on the project. But if you are looking for a fun, ecologically friendly way to free yourself from the tyranny of your lawn, consider finding a plant and revitalization project in your area.

Local plants, having adapted to local conditions, are often easier to maintain than foreign imports and are better able to support local animal life. This often translates to a healthier ecosystem. Greater biodiversity helps keep pests under control by encouraging a healthy competition for resources, therefore limiting the overgrowth of any one species.

One example of private and corporate citizens working together to assure conservation is the Chicago Wilderness Habitat Project. Through a combination of data gathering, workshops, volunteer planting and conservation efforts, Chicago Wilderness boasts a networked area of more than 250,000 acres crossing three states (Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana) and several metropolitan areas containing almost 9 million people.

While some of the Wilderness areas are officially protected, much is not. It is managed through the efforts of corporate and private citizens who voluntarily take part in the program by encouraging natural species on the land around their work and homes. In addition to providing reserves for several endangered plant and animal species, the Chicago Wilderness is also a working model for how natural diversity can be successfully managed in and around an urban environment for the benefit and enjoyment of everyone.

For more information on the Chicago Wilderness, check out Habitatproject.org

Eco Friendly

tinadh — Fri, 01 May 2009 05:30:00 GMT

Less gas more, emissions?

With warmer days fast approaching, have the open roads begun to beckon? Looking at the high cost of gas and insurance, it would only be natural to wonder if a scooter might be a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to enjoy the summer months than an automobile. If the thought has crossed your mind, you aren’t alone.

According to a Retail Sales Report released by the Motorcycle Industry Council, scooter sales increased 41% in 2008, and some dealers said they could have sold more if they hadn’t been limited by availability. With its small size and cheaper-than-a car price tag, you might think a scooter is a great way to go green, but the facts on these motorbikes may surprise you.

According to the California Air Resources Board, the average motorbike is 10 times more polluting per mile than a passenger car, light truck, or SUV. The reason? Although a motorbike uses less gas per mile than a four-wheeled vehicle (and thus theoretically contributes less carbon dioxide), it has a much higher emission rate for nitrogen oxides, which creates smog. According to recent studies, motorcycles and scooters – which represent only 1% of the vehicle miles traveled in California – contribute 10% of the smog-creating pollution.

Since bikes are lighter, they are generally not equipped with catalytic converters, which reduce these pollutants. Many bikes also use a two-stroke engine which burns an almost 50% fuel/oil mix, contributing more to the exhaust. Although the EPA is tightening emissions standards across the country in 2010, two-wheel standards will still be more lenient than emissions for four-wheel vehicles since they are generally tested longer and at higher speeds.

To make your scooter as green as possible, consider the following:

· The faster you drive, the higher the emissions. Take the back road, slow down, and enjoy the view

· Consider an electric scooter that can be recharged from renewable energy sources

· If you’re buying a scooter that uses gas, avoid the two-stroke engine and look for a model with a 3-way catalytic converter

Whatever your reason for getting a scooter – economic, environmental, or just for fun – they are still motor vehicles and will be subject to insurance, licensing, and safety standards. Always wear a helmet and protective clothing, and seriously consider taking a motorcycle training course. You might even make new friends for those back country drives!

Eco Friendly

Katie — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:45:00 GMT

Origin of Earth Day

Earth Day is celebrated each year on April 22 by millions of people and national governments in approximately 175 countries. Rather than limiting the event to one day, most cities spend the entire week of April 22 celebrating Earth Day. There are actually two different observances for Earth Day. Both are held annually, one in the spring in the northern hemisphere, and one in the fall in the southern hemisphere. A global observance is held in the spring, April 22.

In September 1969, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson announced at a conference in Seattle, Washington that there would be a nationwide demonstration on the environment. Nelson proposed this event to make the environment a national topic of discussion. During this time, Americans were not concerned about “going green” nor did they know the concept. People drove trucks with V8 engines filled with leaded gasoline. Air pollution was often accepted as the sweet smell of prosperity and factories gave off smoke and soot without fear of health risks. Gaylord Nelson’s Earth Day concept would soon change all this.

On April 22, 1970, millions of Americans began protesting for a healthier environment. People went out into the streets, parks and wherever else they could to get the word out. The national Earth Day coordinator, Denis Hayes, organized coast-to-coast rallies. Colleges and universities also organized protests against polluting the environment. Groups eventually united in order to fight for one cause—the environment. Protestors of oil spills, toxic dumps and the loss of wildlife, realized they shared a common value. The first Earth Day led to the founding of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species acts followed.

While one week is too short of a time to celebrate Earth Day, it is a good opportunity to promote a healthier way of life. We should be dedicated to improving the quality of our environment every day, all year long.

Eco Friendly

tinadh — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 06:10:00 GMT

Green Footprint

A common buzzword in green speak is ecological footprint. This term defines the fact that the earth can only repair or replace a finite amount of raw resources and environmental damage every year. This total is called biocapacity, and when it is exceeded, the extra demand is called overshoot. The unit of measurement associated with the ecological footprint is the global hectare(gh).

Overshoot has overwhelming results on the population such as depletion of resources, shortages, persistent air and water pollution. Ultimately, overshoot leads to climate change as the planet reacts to changes like increased greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere.

In order to determine the average footprint for a nation, the collective demands of that nation are divided by its population. Trade is accounted for by assigning the demand from goods and services to the country that consumed them, rather than the country that produced them. Therefore, the resulting footprint is a fair reflection of everything a country consumes as a whole.

According to the Global Footprint Network (GFN), as of 2005, the United States was overshooting planetary biocapacity by 23% annually. Each person can help to reduce overshoot and businesses can help reduce their ecological footprint by:

· Educating their employees on green practices such as recycling, energy reduction, and green work-flow processes

· Purchase green products that place less demand on the environment

· Act as community leaders by participating in local green activities

· Do a carbon footprint inventory for business activities and set practical reduction goals based on the results

Calculate your own carbon footprint here and tell us how you could reduce your own mark on the earth.

Eco Friendly

Katie — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:39:00 GMT

How to build a compost pile

It’s spring and your gardens are calling for a little rejuvenation. Why not consider starting a compost pile this season? Composting is not only good for your garden, it also takes a small burden off the environment. With compost you turn waste into rich nutrients and return them to the earth and your plants, relieving your local landfill. It’s also a more fun, interactive approach to the life cycle of trash. Here’s a guide to making a compost pile in your own yard:

Select a spot

Make compost

Use it

There’s more to composting than what’s mentioned in this article. For a more in-depth guide and a list of compostable materials, visit www.compostguide.com.

Eco Friendly

Katie — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 15:27:00 GMT

Put Your Shredded Paper to Use

You've shredded bank statements, credit card applications and junk mail. Now you have a shredder basket filled with little pieces of useless paper right? Nope! Instead you have a nearly unlimited supply of something very useful.

Recycle it

Don’t just throw away shredded paper, recycle it! Some curbside recycling programs won't accept shredded paper because the size of the pieces could get jammed in the machinery. If your regular recycling pickup won't take it, try your local paper bank. No matter how you recycle, be sure to fold the little pieces into newspaper or fill clear plastic bags to avoid the paper from blowing out and creating a litter problem.

Ship it

Tired of spending money on packing materials that can't be recycled? Even if you don't regularly ship packages, it's always a good idea to have some shredded paper on hand. The shredded paper acts much like packing peanuts; it's light and protects small or fragile items at no cost to you!

Donate it

Take shredded paper to your local animal shelter. Often animal shelters have little funding for the high-quality bedding you find at the pet store. They will however, love to take in your paper to line small animal cages and sometimes in cat litter boxes.

Celebrate with it

Whether your shredder cross cuts, diamond cuts or confetti cuts, the paper inside the bin makes the best confetti for parties and decorating.

Gift it

Shredded paper makes great filler for gift baskets. Just put gifts or treats into any size basket and fill in the spaces with the strips of paper.

Garden with it

If you compost, shredded paper is perfect! Mix it in with grass clippings and other compost items. It might need a little help to break down so be sure to water your compost pile and mix it all together.

Eco Friendly

Katie — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:23:00 GMT

Save energy at work

We can do our part to save energy, even in the office. No, the financial benefits don’t necessarily affect us individually, but the energy reduction on our environment and strain on natural resources should be beneficial in itself, not to mention the cost savings on corporate accounts which possibly could trickle down to employees.

Here are some simple tips we should adhere to in order to save resources, office equipment and in the long run, increase corporate bottom lines.

Turning the thermostat down by just 1°C can knock 10% off the cost of heating your office and you'll be unlikely to notice any difference in comfort
Switch off all non-essential office equipment (computers, monitors, business machines and lights) and share printers
Regularly turning a PC off not only saves energy but also extends the machines life due to a reduction in mechanical wear
Activate your PCs power saving modes
Don’t switch on computers and printers until you need them
Close all windows overnight
If it gets too hot in the winter, don’t open a window, try turning down the thermostat first
Don’t leave doors open between areas of a different temperatures
Keep doors and windows closed in air-conditioned areas
Try to use as much natural light as possible
Switch off lights whenever you leave the room
Between your colleagues, security, cleaning or maintenance crews, make sure the last to leave in the evenings is responsible for turning off all lights
Switch off a typical fluorescent light for one hour each working day
Ensure radiators are not blocked by furniture or files, as they will absorb the heat
Take the stairs instead of the elevator
Just like in our homes, we all can look around the office for ways to save on energy consumption. Tell your coworkers too. Do your part each day to make it a habit to conserve energy and resources—Mother Nature is depending on us!

Eco Friendly

Katie — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:21:00 GMT

Safe recycling

If you've ever thrown away batteries, kept old paint cans in your garage or kicked that old computer to the curb this is news you can really use. All these things and more are recyclable if disposed of properly.

Paint

There is hardly a home in America that doesn't have a can of paint or two stored away in its garage, attic or basement covered in an inch of dust. Instead of hiding old paint away for the next homeowner to find, track down your nearest paint recycling facility. Most paint can be remixed and reused or if the paint is fairly new and has been properly stored it can be donated to your community or a local charity.

Batteries

It may seem harmless to simply throw away dead batteries, especially the 1-time use ones. Unfortunately batteries have a tendency to leak environmentally hazardous elements when not disposed of properly. With so many different types of batteries required to run our automobiles, cell phones, laptops and watches all of these batteries can't simply be thrown away without environmental consequences. Some disposal facilities only accept certain types of batteries so do your homework before heading out.

Computers

Advances in technology move fast. Even if you purchased the latest in computer technology it seems that in the time it takes you to get it out of the box a better computer is already out on the market. So what happens to all those unused computers? Some follow the old-paint scenario while others wind up in landfills. If your computer is still usable, remove all of your personal information and donate it to charity. If not, most major computer retailers have recycling programs in their "about us" sections on their home page.

For additional information on the proper disposal of these items and more visit www.earth911.org. There you'll find details specific to drop-off centers in your area as well as information on how you can help protect our environment.

Eco Friendly

Katie — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:19:00 GMT

Recycle your old electronics

It seems like today’s electronics are constantly updated and consumers jump at the first opportunity to upgrade their gadgets. Newer, faster, smaller and cheaper products hit the market every day. Other than donating to schools or charity, what to do with your old computers, notebooks, televisions and printers, working or not?

We should make sure our obsolete electronic equipment is handled responsibly. Less than 10% are collected for recycling, the rest are stored in homes and offices, disposed in landfills or burned in incinerators.

Many local programs are happy and willing to accept old computers and consumer electronics but it’s up to you to search them out. They pride themselves on being environmentally friendly and assist you through the process.

The most responsible way to get rid of electronic equipment that’s no longer in use is to re-sell or donate if it’s fairly new and in good shape. You should bring it to an environmentally responsible recycler if the product is too old or no longer working.

Contact the product’s manufacturer if you have questions about recycling your electronics. Many computer manufacturers will take back your old equipment by mail, and some will offer trade-in credit towards future purchases.

The Rethink Initiative offers a fresh perspective on the challenge of e-waste, with information, tools and solutions that make it easy to sell, donate or recycle used computers and electronics, including cell phones. See www.collectivegood.com for more information

Earth 911 offers environmental hotlines, Web sites and other information sources nationwide, and consolidated them into one network. Once you contact the Earth 911 network, you will find community-specific information on eCycling and much more. Visit Earth 911 at www.earth911.org.

Electronics improve the way we live, work and play, but there's one place where electronics should have no impact—the environment. Through responsible use, reuse and recycling, the consumer electronics industry and consumers can protect and preserve the environment—together.

Eco Friendly

Katie — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:12:00 GMT

Go green – start recycling at home and in the office!

You know recycling is the right thing to do...so do it now! Here are just a few tips to help you get started:

· Decide what you’d like to recycle. Aluminum? Glass? Paper? Plastic? Make sure you have the room to store and sort the “recyclables” you choose, and put them somewhere so they’re out of sight (but not so far away that they’re “out of mind”).

· Find someone who will take the recyclables. Check with your local recycling center, municipality or waste hauler to find out what kinds of materials are accepted in your area.

· Use the right container for the right recyclable. Cardboard boxes are good for holding newspapers and phone books, not so good for old water bottles and soda cans. Use a plastic bin or trash can instead for these items (and make sure you give them a good rinse after each emptying).

· Let everyone know what’s going on. To make your recycling program a true success, you’re going to need the participation and cooperation of everyone. Make sure people know what goes where (if you mix and match recyclables in some communities, they won’t get picked up) and tell them about special instructions like rinsing cans or removing plastic caps.

· Keep your recycling area neat and clean. Nothing kills participation faster than people seeing overflowing bins or unwashed containers. To save space, install a can “crusher” in your recycling area and make it a requirement that everyone “breaks down” and flattens their own boxes.

· Monitor participation...and share the rewards. If someone isn’t doing their part, it’s OK to ask why (gently, of course) and by all means, if you’re getting cash for your recyclables, share the wealth! Throw a party...give it to charity...do whatever makes you feel good (because, after all, you just did something good for the environment!).

Check out recycled products from Quill online at www.quill.com/recycled.

Eco Friendly

Katie — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:05:00 GMT

Go green!
Celebrate World Environment Day 2007

It’s not one of our better-known “days”. Certainly not as big as Memorial Day, Labor Day, New Year’s Day and other favorite American days.

You don’t (alas) get the day off from work, your town probably won’t be holding a concert, parade or fireworks celebration, and we’re guessing you haven’t yet scheduled a big neighborhood party to commemorate the occasion. The whole idea for a World Environment Day was started way back in 1972 by the United Nations General Assembly. They were looking for a way to stimulate worldwide awareness of the environment, encourage action by world leaders, and promote the idea that all the world’s citizens should commit themselves to taking better care of the Earth. To commemorate the day, the General Assembly selects a different theme each year and a chosen host city holds a variety of events and celebrations.

This year’s theme on June 5 is “Melting Ice--A Hot Topic?” and the host city, appropriately enough, is a Norwegian city called Tromsoe located north of the Arctic Circle. (It’s known in that part of the world as “The Gateway to the Arctic” and also has the northernmost university in the world). They’ll be focusing on the effects that climate change is having on polar ecosystems and communities, and the ensuing consequences around the world.

Now Tromsoe, Norway may be just a bit too far away for you to celebrate this year’s World Environment Day in the host city itself, but there are many things you can do around your community, in your home and in the office to “go green” all year round:

Recycle, recycle, recycle! Think of all the paper around the office that just gets tossed out...and the soda cans and plastic bottles from the vending machines, too. Why not place recycling bins in convenient locations around the office and put all this trash to better use. Here’s another idea: switch to recycled paper and then recycle the stuff that’s already been recycled!

Try car pooling. Sure, you need your car to run errands at lunch and you pick up the kids on Wednesday from practice and you really like some “alone” time after a hard day at work. The excuses for not car pooling are many, but here’s an idea--try doing it just once a week with someone that lives close to you. It’ll save you gas money...and save the environment from emissions, too. Who knows...you might just want to increase your car pool to twice a week!

Get energy smart! Turn off the lights in a conference room after a meeting. Lower the air conditioning (or heating) a degree or two and then choose an outfit that will still let you be comfortable.

Join a community effort! Does your town have a “cleanup” day...a newspaper drive...or some kind of tree-planting event? Call your local government to see what’s up, and then get involved!

To learn more about World Environment Day, visit the United Nations Web site at www.unep.org/wed. And to discover more about the causes of climate change and its effect on the environment, go rent “An Inconvenient Truth”--it won an Academy Award for Best Documentary!

Eco Friendly

Katie — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:37:00 GMT

What Does it Mean to Go Organic?

With a phenomenal 20% annual growth rate, organic food is the fastest-growing U.S. food segment. This is partly because organic food just tastes better. Organic, farm-fresh brown eggs, for example, make fluffier and better-tasting omelets and frittatas than ordinary eggs. Inexpensive organic mini carrots make salads and side dishes crispier and more flavorful.

Organic food also helps the environment. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations.”

Although the USDA “makes no claims that organically produced food is safer or more nutritious than conventionally produced food,” many people believe there are toxins in many common grocery store foods. An apple grown and harvested conventionally, for example, can have as many as 36 different pesticides sprayed on it.

Organic farmers find natural alternatives for controlling pests, such as using citrus oil, eucalyptus and tobacco, strategies that sometimes reflect ancient agricultural techniques. Organic crops are grown without bioengineering or ionizing radiation, and without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or waste materials. Animals raised on organic farms graze in pastures, rather than eat feed enhanced by slaughterhouse waste, and are not given hormones or antibiotics.

Government-approved certifiers inspect organic farms to ensure they meet USDA organic standards. In some cases it takes years to transform chemical-tainted fields into soil clean enough to pass an organic quality inspection. Companies that handle or process organic food must also be certified.

The USDA Organic seal tells you that a product is at least 95 percent organic. The use of the seal is voluntary and may not appear on all organic products. Products that are less than 70% organic can list those ingredients on the side of the package but cannot make any organic claims on the front.

The next time you’re at the grocery store, pick up an organic product you've never tried. It might become something you’ll want to eat every day.

Eco Friendly

Katie — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:29:00 GMT

Natural Alternative Fuels

A simple definition of alternative fuel is the choice of any fuel other than the traditional selections, gasoline and diesel. With the instability of gasoline prices and political uncertainties of the Middle East, the U.S. government and corporate America are now considering the benefits of alternative-fuel vehicles. In the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 1992, the U.S. Department of Energy identified eight alternative fuels. Some are already widely used; others not so. All have potential as full- or partial-alternatives to gasoline and diesel:

1. Ethanol is an alcohol-based alternative made by fermenting and distilling crops such as corn, barley or wheat. It can be blended with gasoline to increase octane levels and improve emissions quality.

2. Natural Gas burns clean and is already widely available in many areas. When used in natural gas vehicles it produces far fewer harmful emissions than gasoline or diesel.

3. Electricity can be used to run battery-powered electric and fuel-cell vehicles without producing combustion or pollution. Fuel-cell vehicles run on electricity that's produced through an electrochemical reaction that occurs when hydrogen and oxygen are combined.

4. Hydrogen mixes with natural gas to create fuel that uses certain types of internal combustion engines. It’s also used in fuel-cell vehicles that run on electricity produced by the petrochemical reaction that occurs when hydrogen and oxygen are combined.

5. Propane, also called liquefied petroleum gas (or LPG), is a byproduct of natural gas processing and crude oil refining. It produces fewer emissions than gasoline, and there is also a highly-developed infrastructure for transporting, storing and distributing it.

6. Biodiesel is based on vegetable oils or animal fats. Vehicle engines can be converted to burn biodiesel in its pure form, and it can also be blended with petroleum diesel and used in unmodified engines. It's safe, biodegradable and reduces air pollutants associated with vehicle emissions.

7. Methanol (also known as wood alcohol) can be used in flexible fuel vehicles designed to run on M85, a blend of 85% methanol and 15% gasoline, but automakers are no longer manufacturing methanol-powered vehicles. However, it could become an important alternative in the future as a source of the hydrogen needed to power fuel-cell vehicles.

8. P-Series Fuels are a blend of ethanol, natural gas liquids and methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF), a co-solvent derived from biomass. They are clear, high-octane alternatives that can be used in flexible fuel vehicles, as well as alone or mixed with gasoline in any ratio by simply adding it to the tank.

Using these alternative fuels in vehicles can easily help reduce harmful pollutants and exhaust emissions. But until these alternatives can be made more readily available to the general public, only improving vehicle efficiency will be the single most effecitve means to reduce pollutants and petroleum dependence.

For more information on natural alternative fuels, check out the U.S. Department of Energy Web site at www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/