Archive for green cars
Welcome back to the Planet Forward blog for another edition of our weekly green news highlights. This week: the fight for food labels saying ‘genetically engineered’ so you know what you’re eating; 5 winners of 2012 Green Car Awards from the Detroit Auto show; and 5 awesome Apps for healthy green eating guaranteed to help your sustainable lifestyle. Just click on the links to learn more.
On January 18, 2012, a new video by Food, Inc. director underscores the need to label genetically engineered food. We have previously reviewed the documentary Food Inc. from filmmaker Robert Kenner and we wanted to learn more about the Just Label It campaign that inspired the video and his participation. The Just Label It campaign “empowers consumers to fight for their right to know what is in their food. The video, “Labels Matter,” is the result of collaboration between the Just Label It campaign and Kenner’s new project, FixFood, a social media platform that aims to empower Americans to take immediate action to create a more sustainable and democratic food system.” The Just Label It campaign has already assembled 500,000 consumer comments demanding the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) label genetically engineered (GE) foods. The video is an awareness campaign hopes to get one million consumers to comment to the FDA by mid-April. Check out the video at the bottom of this post.
Acura NSX Hybrid Concept (Image Credit: Acura)
It’s time for the 5 Detroit Auto Show 2012 Green Car Awards. There are some pretty cool green cars on this list of winners. For example: “The Can’t Miss Award: Toyota Prius C Hybrid - Americans have already taken to the original Prius, a sluggish, not-too-handsome lump of a car, so when Toyota begins offering the smaller, cuter, cheaper model C this spring, things can only get better. The C boasts an awesome 53 mpg, paint options including Habanero (!), Moonglow (!!) and Summer Rain (!!!) and a base price of around $19,000. Home. Run.” Other categories included the ‘It Followed Me Home, Can I Keep It? Award’ (Smart), the ‘Maybe Next Time Award’ (Lincoln), the ‘Even Better As An Electric Award’ (VW) and the ‘Money No Object Award’ (Acura).
5 Phone Apps for Healthy Green Eating. A more sustainable lifestyle includes buying locally sourced organic foods. Now, you can use your smartphone, iPad or iPod Touch to download apps that help you locate and choose fresh produce and local and seasonal fruits and vegetables. Plus, you can learn about food additives and they’ll teach you what to make with your groceries. Recommended apps include: Harvest, Food Additives 2, How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch and Locavore.
I don’t see how anyone can disagree with the Just Label It campaign; consumers should know what they are putting in their mouths to feed themselves and their families. Are you going to download some healthy green eating apps? How about those green car award winners? Comment below and stay tuned for more green news.
January 19, 2012
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Nissan Turns Over A New Leaf
Posted by: | CommentsLast year was the year that the long awaited electric car came one step closer to becoming reality. What brought this on was two major car companies brought viable electric car models to market: Nissan’s Leaf and Chevrolet’s Volt. Nissan’s Leaf model has so far out sold Chevrolet’s at 10,100 units compared to Volt’s 2,029.
Nissan recently unveiled that their Leaf can also double as a backup of generator to a house as it as the capability to feed energy back into the house. They say it can power the average Japanese household for forty-eight hours. This is an important selling point in post tsunami Japan where power outages are still occurring. Not to mention they are trying to phase out nuclear power, and until other grids are in place there are gaps in service.
And in renewable energy news: “Last month Nissan also demonstrated a system whereby electricity is generated through 488 solar cells that were installed on the roof of its headquarters in Yokohama near Tokyo. Nissan said that four batteries from the Leaf were placed in a box in a cellar-like part of the building, and stored the electricity generated from the solar cells, which is enough to fully charge 1,800 Leaf vehicles a year.”
It’s not just in Japan that the electric car is coming closer to fruition. In early August the Ontario government announced eighty million dollars to promote investment in electric car charging stations. If governments are willing to help put in the infrastructure needed to support the electric car not only is the idea a popular one amongst the general public, but also it will entice people to purchase an electric car in the future. One of the main concerns around electric cars, for everyday consumers, would be how to charge it when not at home.
On top of that the Ontario government offers up to eighty-five hundred dollars in incentives to buyers of electric cars, as they are entitled “to a green plate that grants them access to high occupancy vehicle lanes.”
This demonstrates that both the private and public sectors can work together to promote viable green alternatives like electric cars.
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Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable shopping bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW!
Reduce Emissions with the Top 10 Green Cars of 2011
Posted by: | CommentsWhat are the top green cars for fuel efficiency and performance? Well, the folks at Kelley Blue Book who have provided expert car reviews and advice for over 80 years have compiled a list of the top 10 green cars of 2011. From Ford to Lexus or Toyota to Nissan, there’s a green car on the list offering broad appeal.
An easy way to reduce emissions and your carbon footprint is to make greener choices when deciding on transportation. Yes, you can bike, walk, carpool or take public transport for the greenest options, but when driving your car is a necessity, consider driving green. There are a variety of green cars on the market today that will help reduce consumption and preserve fossil fuels.
A Jeep Grand Cherokee is one of the worst gas guzzlers out there (the Bugatti Veyron is the absolute worst), so if you’ve got your heart set on a Jeep next, then I guess driving greener hasn’t hit your priority list. For those who listen to their environmental conscience, check out this list of the top 10 green cars of 2011 (click on the link to learn more about each vehicle):
10) 2012 Ford Focus | fuel efficiency: 31 mpg (28 city/38 highway)
9) 2012 Fiat 500 | fuel efficiency: 33 mpg (30 city/38 highway)
8) 2011 Hyundai Elantra | fuel efficiency: 33 mpg (29 city, 40 highway)
7) 2011 Volkswagen Golf TDI | fuel efficiency: 34 mpg (30 city/42 highway)
6) 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid | fuel efficiency: 39 mpg (41 city/36 highway)
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