Green Options

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Not everyone is waiting until 2010 to get their first plug-in hybrid. As I reported previously, Hybrids Plus out of Boulder, CO, is offering conversions for the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape hybrids, turning them into 100 MPG+ superstars.

I’ve collected a little more background on Prius hybrid hacks, and a few more resources. Check out this video, which should give you a good feeling for what getting 100 MPG would be like:

For under $30,000, you will soon be able to buy an electric car with a 120 mile range, or a plug-in hybrid that gets 300 miles-per-gallon.

Sound like a fantasy, but this one could be coming to a dealer near you. Slated for release in late 2008, the company Aptera will be offering the initial limited release of their fully electric model Aptera Typ1, and the 300 mpg plug-in will follow in 2009.

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Whoops! Looks like the Onion’s video player doesn’t work with our system: here’s a link to this video on making the Iraq war more eco-friendly.

There have been around ten presidential debates hosted by big coal in the last year. If you have watched any of them, you have certainly seen a commercial or two like this parody. (Thanks to Maril Hazlett at the Climate and Energy Project Blog for reminding me how funny this is!)

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Trying to learn how to make biodiesel, or interested in seeing how it’s done? It always helps to get a visual, and you may not be aware that there are currently enough biodiesel videos on YouTube to develop an entire college course on the subject. I’ve thrown out a representative sample, just to give you an idea of what’s available.

While this is a good general introduction to homebrewing biodiesel, I have to repeat the disclaimer I made earlier (see 6 Ways To Find And Use Biodiesel Anywhere - Part II): before attempting this on your own it’s important to do your homework. Don’t trust it just because you’ve seen someone do it. Most of these videos don’t discuss the specifics of making biodiesel, and for that I would recommend a solid resource (also see the link just above): Biodiesel, Basics And Beyond: A Comprehensive Guide to Production And Use for the Home And Farm.

You’ll notice a lot of these videos utilize a homemade biodiesel reactor called the “appleseed” reactor. This is the simplest and cheapest way to build a biodiesel processing facility in your garage. The plans for it can be found here.

Number 1: Guy Makes Biodiesel In His Kitchen

I can’t believe his mother lets him do this in the kitchen, and where are his gloves?! (I have a particular affiliation for the video, though, since I had the same old truck.)

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H.R. 5351, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act that was passed last week by the House, is facing strong opposition from the White House. President Bush has repeatedly said that he will veto any bill that repeals tax breaks for big oil to fund renewable energy development. Why? Apparently, this administration has already done enough for renewable energy. And according to President Bush, “This administration has done more for renewables than any President.” Really? Based on what […]

Pretty darn funny satirical video - at least I hope it’s satire!

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This wind turbine in Denmark went out of control when it’s safety mechanism failed to operate. And the blades went round, and round, and round…until…..

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Suffolk, UK-based musician Mickey Flynn stays busy playing clubs and pubs around England. In between gigs, though, he’s been working on an environmentally-themed song, “Try and Try Again.” While he’s still tweaking the song, he shared this live version with us (it was recorded earlier this month). Enjoy!