Green Options » automotive

US Automakers Turning to Recycled Plastics

Joshua S Hill — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:21:17 +0000

In an industry that is suffering from plummeting sales and the push to improve their footprint upon the environment, the automotive industry is looking to recycled plastics to help cut costs and do their bit for the environment.

The automotive industry has long used recycled metals in production. But now, with costs rising in every facet of production, recycled plastics are a new offset that the industry can rely on to help keep them afloat. But recycling plastics isn’t as simple as recycling metal.

Schopenhauer on a Roll

David Alan Foster — Mon, 19 May 2008 14:02:27 +0000

Arthur Shopenhauer said “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”

Above you see three cars, the Tesla Roadster, Wrightspeed X1 and the Tango… the Tesla in particular because of the company’s comparitively deep pockets, which would be in the Violently Opposed Stage (by the majors anyway). Anyone venture a guess when these cars will enter the Self-evident Stage?

All three were in Palo Alto recently… What a treat to see three of the most impressive in one spot! Almost got a ride in the X1… almost. Drat!

Photos by Gerry Gaydos.

How to Save Gas in 10 Seconds… Or Go To Jail

Gavin Hudson — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:25:06 +0000

Myth: It takes more gas to turn your car off and on again than to let it idle.

Fact: Idling for more than 10 seconds damages the engine, emits more air pollution, and of course costs more money in the long run than turning the car off and back on again. This is true for all cars built since the 1970s with a catalytic converter.

And yet…

Tip o’ the Day: Recycle Auto-matically

Rebecca Carter — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 15:54:38 +0000

Do mechanics give you the heebie jeebies? Do you hate to spend all of your hard earned money on labor expenses? Do you get a sense of pride by getting your hands dirty? Continuing our series on car care tips, today we'll run through some eco-reminders if you decide to do it yourself.

Car Batteries

When you purchase a new car battery at the auto parts store, you'll pay a deposit. You'll get this money back when you return your old battery for proper handling. Due to such a "successful collaboration among members of the battery industry, retailers and consumers," lead-acid batteries have the highest recycling rate of all consumer products.

Motor Oil

If you change your own motor oil, collect and store the old oil in a sturdy plastic container and take it to a recycling center. Visit Earth911 to find earth-friendly DIY oil change tips. Check with your municipality to find a location that will accept it, or check with your local oil change businesses and auto parts stores.

Used motor oil still has value - make sure it gets recycled. It can be reprocessed and used in furnaces or to generate electricity. By recycling 2 gallons of oil, you'll help create enough energy to run the average household for 24 hours. For more information, visit RecycleOil.org.

Tires

Never throw tires into the trash or dump. Bring them to a tire retailer or wholesaler who will be able to recycle or retread them. There, the experts will decide to resell tires that are still safe for use or recondition tires (retread) that can be used for more time. If the tires are completely spent, they will shred or melt them for reuse into items such as playgrounds or roads.

Visit Earth911 to find locations near you to recycle these items and many more. If you have kids, check out Recycle City.

Rebecca says: My husband recently changed our car battery on his own, saving us about 50 bucks and causing me to be uber-impressed. We brought the old battery back to the store and received our $10 deposit back.