Image by Per Ola Wiberg / Creative Commons

I don’t know about where you live, but it has been getting pretty hot around here. Temperatures have been closing in on 100°F and I’d say it is about time for some eco-friendly summer tips. Last year I covered this topic as well, and I figured it would be worth repeating, especially for those of you who missed out. So in honor of the “greenie” in all of us, here are my eco-friendly summer tips that are worth repeating:

1. Let in some light. Why waste electricity in your house or workplace, when all you need to do is open the blinds and you’ve got light.

2. Get a few living air purifiers aka indoor plants. They will liven up your home as well as help fight indoor air pollution, which is often worse than most of us realize.

3. Plant some native plants. There are many reasons why you should do this, but here are a few good reasons to plant native species in your garden. Of course, one of the best reasons is that you won’t waste so much water.

4. Start your own backyard (or front yard) garden and grow some fresh fruits and vegetables. They’re organic and they taste better. Here are a few ideas for vegetables to plant in July.

5. Find out when your local Farmers’ Market is being held and go there to get some in-season, local produce.

Image by Andy Fell

6. Eat at home. Get away from processed foods and start making more meals at home. It’s cheaper and better for you too.

7. Remember to practice healthy summer grilling tips. And even though it isn’t grilled, I wanted to share my new favorite recipe, Anita’s Lime Avocado Quinoa Salad, and yes, this tasty recipe is perfect for summer picnics and parties.

8. If you need to do any driving, slow down a little. Not only will it help with your fuel consumption but it will help you enjoy your drive time. A proven fuel additive wouldn’t hurt either…hint, hint.

9. Quit idling. Just turn off the car. Turn it back on when you are ready to go again. It’s that simple and it saves gas and harmful emissions. (The new Malibu Eco has a cool feature that switches off the gas-guzzling engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and lets it idle on a lithium-oin battery.)

10. If you can walk or ride your bike instead, then do so. Many people don’t consider this as a viable option, but just think how much you used to walk around when you were younger. Those feet were made for walking.

Image by one2c900d

11. If you need to go somewhere a little further away, check public transportation options. Riding the bus or taking the train are smart ways to get around during the summer.

12. Make the simple change so you do all your energy-heavy chores off peak hours. Do your laundry, dishes, vacuuming, cooking, etc. at night. Doing so will cut your energy bill and help prevent your home from heating up unnecessarily during the day.

13. Skip the dryer and hang your clothes out to dry. If you have the space to do so, might as well take advantage of it.

14. Plan a staycation. Maybe you don’t have time to go on a full-blown vacation. Maybe you’d rather stay closer to home. Either way, here are 25 great ideas you can incorporate into your staycation plans.

15. If you are planning on going camping this summer, be sure you learn how to have a “leave no trace” camping trip. Some simple basics can help ensure others will be able to experience the beauty of your camping spot just as you did.

16. Is the thought of going somewhere to camp during the summer months a little too daunting? Set up camp in the backyard. Especially if you have kids, this is a great idea for a smart, eco-friendly activity the entire family will enjoy.

Image by zet

17. Have a potluck get-together. Invite family and friends over for a picnic or backyard party. Ask them each to bring a specific food item (in a reusable container) along with their own dinnerware, cups, etc. This way you’ll have a great mix of foods and drinks. Plus, there will be very little clean up or waste afterward. Check out these green picnic tips.

18. Remember the sunscreen. But not just any sunscreen, you need to choose a non-toxic sunscreen so you aren’t polluting your skin or the environment.

19. Drink, but don’t waste water. Your body needs water to stay healthy and hydrated. So you need to drink water. Don’t waste it though. Any “leftover water” can be used to water plants, give to your pets, etc. Just be aware of what you are doing and you will probably save quite a bit.

20. Unplug. Even if you missed this challenge on the 4th of July, it doesn’t mean you too can’t make a personal commitment to unplug more and reconnect with family and friends. Declare your independence from technology.

Image by Ben

21. Since you are going to unplug, get outside! That’s right, I saved this one for last, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t important. It’s key not only for your health, but your peace of mind to get outside, breathe in some fresh air and enjoy nature a little bit. Go for a hike, a walk, a bike ride, relax in the pool, sit on the porch…whatever you do, just get outside for a bit every day.

There you have it. 25 simple eco-friendly tips to help you get through the summer. If you have any personal favorites, let me know. I’d be happy to hear what eco-friendly things you’ve got planned for the summer. Have a great one and as I always say, have a biofriendly day!

Most people have a certain vehicle in mind, or at least an idea of what they are looking for, before they go car shopping. In fact, many people already have the make and model picked out before they even step foot on the lot. But who is to say that particular vehicle is going to be what they really need and want? Who is to say that vehicle was made with their particular needs in mind? Does it have eco-friendly features and technology designed to assist them on the road to fuel efficiency? Well, that’s where four moms from GM come in with the Malibu Eco.

Never before has a vehicle like the Malibu Eco been designed from the get-go, not only based on what the company feels the consumer is looking for, but with direct insight, input and hands-on engineering expertise from real-life moms. With safety, comfort, eAssist technology, fuel-efficiency and the peaceful quietness that all moms long for, the Malibu Eco is a truly joint effort on behalf of moms (and dads) everywhere.

First let me cover just a few of the features of the new eco-friendly Malibu Eco:

• eAssist technology which aids in increasing fuel efficiency by cutting off fuel to the engine during deceleration,
• a regenerative lithium-oin battery pack recharges when the vehicle brakes and powers the vehicle during stops,
• the battery then starts the vehicle’s engine when accelerating from a stop,
• the energy from the battery also provides a boost to the engine in order to increase fuel economy,
• the entire exterior of the vehicle is designed to deflect the wind and thus increase the vehicle aerodynamic capabilities,
• there is an eco-efficiency gauge so you can tell how well you are doing on staying “green”,
• an electric auto stop indicator lets you know when the vehicle is running on the battery during the stop/start mode and more.

Although the Malibu Eco is not 100% electric, with the technologies it incorporates, it allows owners to travel approximately 580 highway miles between fill-ups, despite having only a 15.8-gallon fuel tank. That’s close to 37 mpg, not too shabby for a combustion engine. I’d even add a little Green Plus® to further assist in decreasing my harmful emissions and increasing my fuel economy.

Now let’s get to the four moms, in particular, who have had a direct hand in bringing the new Malibu Eco to life:

First we’ll start with rocket scientist, Aerodynamic Development Lead Engineer, and roller derby skater Suzanne Cody. Suzanne is one of GM’s aerodynamic engineers and, just as importantly, she is a mother of two. While Suzanne has worked on a number of GM vehicles, she had an intrinsic role in directly shaping and forming the Malibu Eco in order to reduce wind drag and increase fuel efficiency. Her chosen field and desire to make sure the Malibu Eco is exactly what moms (and dads) alike are looking for is what drove her to combine her passions to bring the Eco to a whole new level.

Next comes Kara Gordon, mother of two and Noise and Vibration Performance Development Engineer. Kara brought a unique feature to the Malibu Eco in the fact that she brought the gift of silence. Although having two young sons doesn’t necessarily bode quiet, Kara did a tremendous job of incorporating the calmness of her daily yoga routine and the peacefulness of her organic garden into the Malibu Eco. She went to extremes to identify then eliminate the wind, tire, road and other vehicle noises in order to make the Malibu Eco one of the quietest vehicles ever.

Now we come to Julie Kleinert, mother of four, grandmother of two and the North American Child Safety Technical Lead for the new Malibu Eco. As you can imagine, Julie has one of the most important roles at GM, and in particular with the Eco. She is in charge of integrating key vehicle safety technology into the vehicle in order to make it safer for children. As a parent, I value her work tremendously, because I know there is nothing more important to me than the health and happiness of my two kids. That is why I’m glad Julie is on the job. She has authored three technical papers and has an industry-first patent for a safety technology currently under review. She has also co-authored two technical papers comparing real-world crash conditions with those in manufacturer crash tests. Needless to say, she has really made a difference in the industry and specifically with the Malibu Eco.

Last but definitely not least is Tracy Mack-Askew, international traveler, mother of two and the Vehicle Line Manager on the global platform for the Malibu Eco. Tracy has worked at GM for 13+ years and has played a role as a design engineer, mechanical engineer and harmony engineer for a number of GM vehicles. On the Malibu Eco she was fully responsible for bringing engineering and manufacturing together to see to the end product available today.

With their combined skills, hard work, dedication and commitment these four women have truly shaped the future of GM and the Malibu Eco.

With a gasoline prices as high as they are, getting the biggest bang for your buck at the pump is essential. In fact, families are reportedly spending more on transportation than on food these days. That is anyone who drives a vehicle needs to be aware of some of the basic fuel economy tricks of the trade.

Now, you may be aware of some of these already, you might even do a few of  them off and on, but when it all comes down to it, if you really want to save money and improve your fuel economy, take the following suggestions to heart. You’ll be glad you did.

Infographic provided by Staveley Head

As I said earlier, when it comes to saving gas and increasing fuel economy, there are many steps you can take. The key is to first learn about how your driving technique is impacting your fuel economy. From there you will be able to make changes that will allow you to save time, money, and heartache. Add in a little Green Plus® Gasoline fuel saver or Diesel fuel saver and you’ll see your vehicle’s harmful emissions going down and your fuel economy going up. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Image by Ben / Creative Commons

People are constantly talking about “going green” or being more environmentally-friendly, but what does that really mean? Does it mean you have to change the entire way you live your life? Should you get rid of everything from your cleaning supplies to your car in order to lessen your environmental footprint? Well, in actuality no, you don’t need to do that.

People shy away from adding “green” actions into their daily lives for a variety of reasons. Some think it takes too much time, others think it will cost more money, and other people believe there is no real reason to change because what they do doesn’t really matter. The thing is, what you do does matter. Even the little things add up quickly. And no…before you start grumbling, you don’t need to move mountains or go to some crazy extreme in order to make a change.

Start with implementing these 7 ways to green your everyday routine, and then go from there. How far you go is your decision. What kind of an impact you want to make is up to you.

1. Waste not, want not. Buying in bulk may work for some families, but it doesn’t work for everyone. How many times have you purchased food at the store to only have it later go bad in your fridge leaving you with “nothing” left to eat? Or you make a large meal and end up tossing part of it because your eyes are bigger than your stomach.

An easy way to prevent this is to plan ahead. Plan your meals, work out your recipes and buy only what you need. Europe is taking a stand on food waste. In fact, Parliament recently called upon the European Commission to take measures in order to cut food waste in half by the year 2025.

2. If you can’t buy eco, at least buy well-made. Not everyone wants to buy eco or organic, even if they do they may not be able to afford buying the “green” items they need. In cases like that it is best to buy well-made. Buy items that will last for years and years to come, not disposable items that have to constantly be replaced.

Image by Joshua Hoffman / Creative Commons

3. Toss your work waste out the window. Not literally, of course. What I mean is while you are at work, take a look at some of your daily routines. Becoming aware of what you do day to day will allow you to see what wasteful actions you can remove from your routine. Do you print documents only to then toss them because you no longer need them? Do you buy bottled water rather than filling up your cup or mug at the water cooler? Do you leave your computer on at night? Do you turn off the lights when leaving a room? All of these things add up.

4. Walk away from your problems. Now this I mean literally. If you are feeling down, maybe a little blue or your having trouble resolving an issue at work or home, go for a walk. Going for a walk can help you clear your mind, allow you to get some time outdoors, add a little exercise into your day, and to top if off, you may just find yourself relaxed enough to be able to resolve those issues.

5. Cut down on water waste. Admit it, wasting water is something most of us do without even thinking about it. You turn on the water to brush your teeth, wash a dish, water the plants, etc. and all of a sudden you notice the faucet has been running a lot longer than it really needed to be.

The easiest way to cut down on water waste is to be aware of your actions. Turn on the water, use what you need, turn it off. Don’t run the dishwasher or washing machine half-full. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth. Take shorter showers. Don’t leave your sprinklers running on rainy days. A bonus for cutting down on water waste is you’ll probably notice a drop in your water bill too.

Image by Diego Torres Silvestre / Creative Commons

6. Fresh air is your friend. Many people spend the majority of their day indoors. Indoor air pollution is a big problem. You may not know how it affects you, but indoor air pollution is often worse than outdoor air pollution. One of the simplest ways to lower indoor air pollution is to air out your home by leaving your windows open at least once a day. Here are a few more ways to reduce indoor air pollution.

7. Reduce, reuse and recycle. Okay, that is really three things, but they really go together. One of the most basic ways to green your everyday routine is by taking a look at your regular actions and determining how you can either reduce, reuse or recycle. How can you reduce your vehicle emissions? How can you reuse that material you are about to throw away? What can you recycle?

When it all comes down to it, many of us have “green” actions built into our daily routines right now. Take some time and see how you can make your daily routine a little greener. Then let me know – I’d love to hear what you are doing to green your everyday routine!

Image by Creativity103 / Creative Commons

The year is coming to a close and while some people may be fearful of making New Year’s resolutions, because they rarely keep them, here are 10 resolutions you’ll probably find pretty easy to keep. The key is to keep this in mind: go small and go simple.

I think it is important to make resolutions you can include in your daily routine. Whether your resolution is to recycle your water bottle, switch to using reusable bottles, or turn off the water when you brush your teeth, just pick one small, simple action per day. These little actions will add up throughout the year until you’ve actually made some fairly significant and smart, green changes in your life.

1. Smile. Once every day, for no reason at all, smile. Even laugh a little if you feel like, and definitely if you don’t feel like it. You will find a smile or laugh will brighten your day and your mood. Try it, it really does work.

2. Unplug. I don’t just mean at the end of the day. I mean at various times throughout the day. Whether it’s deciding to unplug while you enjoy your lunch break, unplug while you take a quick walk, unplug while you run to the grocery store, or whatever. The key is to get unplugged. Yes we live in a technology-driven society, but that doesn’t mean your electronic devices need to define who you are and what you do.

3. Grow something of your own. I mean grow some vegetables, or maybe a few herbs to add some new flavors to your food. If you think you have nowhere to grow anything or don’t know how, check out UrbanOrganicGardner.com. My friend Mike has some wonderful tips and ideas, stemming from his personal experiences, for growing food right on your balcony.

4. Even if you are not a vegetarian, nor have any desire to become one, try skipping meat at least one day a week. Opt for another type of protein. It’s a relatively simple thing to do and if you need some good recipes, I recommend the recipes at Green Wine Guide. Jerry can take almost any food and make it look and taste good.

5. Cut down on your water waste. This one has many facets. You can turn off the water when you brush your teeth, take shorter showers, use bathtub water to water plants, put your lawn sprinklers on timers (or opt for native plants instead of a lawn), only wash dishes with a full dishwasher, only run your washing machine with a full load, use a waterless car wash and more. You simply need to act.

6. Be a smarter consumer. Whether this applies to food, goods, materials, clothes or whatever, the idea is to buy only those items which you and your family will truly use. If you don’t need to buy a bulk package of carrots, don’t. Be honest with yourself and figure out which items you tend to let go to waste, then make a change to become a smarter consumer. I’ll bet you notice your costs will go down and the amount you throw away will go down too.

7. Go outside. I say this a lot and I really mean it. Every day resolve to go outside, look around and soak in the beauty of nature around you. Not only will the light of day do you some good, but you might find you like it and then you’ll spend even more time outdoors.

8. Ditch the car. Wait…before you start ranting about how you cannot do that, all I’m talking about here is ditching your car for one day a week. Try going car-less at least once a week and see how you like it. Walk, ride your bike, jog, take public transportation, whatever will get you where you need to go without driving your car.

As an added bonus, for those of you who are interested, Biofriendly Corporation has a proven fuel additive that can help you lower emissions while improving your fuel economy (on those days you do drive).

9. Throughout the year, take any good deed another does for you and pay it forward instead of backward. Do a selfless act for someone else. Not because it would be cool, or because you expect to get something in return, but because it’s a good thing to do. Can you imagine all the good will if we all took steps to pay it forward? If you need help, here are 3 Eco-Friendly Ways to Pay it Forward.

10. Last but not least, as my friends at EcoSalon put it so well, “Hope Less. Realize more.” This one is pretty simple when you think about it. Stop hoping things will happen and take responsibility for making them happen. This is probably one of the most basic resolutions anyone can make.

There are many green New Year’s resolutions you can and probably will make today, tomorrow and throughout the year. I say, if you’re going to make them, make them simple so you can actually get them done. Wishing you and yours a truly happy and biofriendly New Year!

Image by Stella Blu / Creative Commons

The holidays are here and as we all scramble to finish up our shopping or finalize those last minute plans, I wanted to take a moment to wish each of you a happy holiday. Here are my biofriendly wishes to you and yours:

1. May your days be filled with smiles, laughter and other eco-friendly ways to brighten your spirits and lift your mood.

2. May the beauty of nature draw you outside to experience the natural wonders of the world around you.

Image by Per Ola Wiberg / Creative Commons

3. May you have lower emissions and higher fuel efficiency as you travel to visit friends and loved ones.

4. May your house be filled with natural decorations, soy candles, and plants that help clean the air and improve your indoor air quality. A healthy dose of fresh air wouldn’t hurt either.

5. May you have little waste, and may you finds way to recycle, reuse and reduce during the holiday season.

6. May your meals feature lots of organic, healthy and local foods, like those found in these gourmet vegetarian recipes, perfect for Christmas dinner.

Image by Andy Roberts / Creative Commons

7. May you have just enough food to provide for you and your loved ones. May any leftovers find their way back to the table to be used and enjoyed. And may your compost be your friend.

8. As often as possible, may your home be warmed by the natural heat of visiting family and friends. The rest of the time, may your home heating oil be tempered with a little Green Plus® to reduce your costs and help save the environment.

Image by Cody / Creative Commons

9. May you take the time to unplug, both at work and home, during the holidays. I don’t mean just log off your computer, unplug. Even those of you who do not have time off work should spend your downtime unplugged. Who knows, you may find you like it.

10. For those of you with kids (or even for those of you who do not have kids), my friend Bethe says it best with her 12 Days of Christmas: Kicking it Grass Stain Guru Style!

Image by Biofriendly

Last, but not least, may the following quotes help inspire your actions and activities throughout the holiday season and into the new year:

“ Take care of the earth and she will take care of you.“  ~Author Unknown

“There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed.“  ~Mohandas K. Gandhi

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.“  ~Native American Proverb

Wishing you and yours a truly biofriendly holiday!

Image by foto4lizzie / Creative Commons

New inventions come to light every single day. Many shoot into the spotlight as the latest and greatest thing to hit a particular market, while others only get so far as a design or prototype before they are shot down. It is almost impossible to try and keep up with the newest inventions. Sometimes the only way you can find out about a particular invention is by doing a Google search and seeing what comes up. Well, here are some eco-friendly inventions I came across recently, which you may not know exist.

The first is the iPhone 4 bicycle charger kit. There is a lot of talk, and efforts are being taken, in favor of more eco-friendly transportation options, to lower harmful emissions. Besides walking, riding a bicycle is one of the best ways to get where you need to go, get exercise while you are doing it, and have relatively no emissions along the way.

Image from EnviroGadget.com

For those of you who are getting back into bicycling, are bicyclists at heart, or who might want to give bicycling a try, there is a pretty smart invention you may want to check out. The bicycle charger kit allows you to ride your bike and charge your phone at the same time. Never again will you be left with no charge on your phone. Simply start riding and your phone charges right up.

The next eco-friendly invention is that of compostable car parts. As it is, around 10 million cars are recycled every year in the United States. In fact, the number one recycled product in the U.S. is the car. By adding in mushroom-based compostable car parts, car production climbs the next rung on the sustainable ladder. This particular material is a more natural option which can be used to replace bumpers, dashboards, side doors and other components without compromising safety features. Once buried, the product decomposes within about one month.

Take a look at some of the other actions Ford has been taking to make more eco-friendly materials for their vehicles:

This next one is one of my favorites because it is extremely simple and it uses/reuses materials that would otherwise have to be recycled or would end up in a landfill. This invention isn’t your typical invention, it’s more like a bright idea. A very bright idea in fact. This one is called “A Liter of Light” and is part of a program in the Philippines to bring light into the homes of people who either don’t have electricity, cannot afford to pay high electric bills or those who want to tap into the power of the sun. Solar panels are great, but the cost can be a major deterrent. This invention works right away and the cost is almost nothing.

This last one is a smog-eating roofing tile. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s a tile designed to help reduce harmful emissions and essentially digest smog. According to the company that makes the tiles, within one year, 2000 square feet of this particular tile can destroy the amount of NOx produced by driving a vehicle for 10,400 miles. In essence, your roof tiles could cancel out the pollutants produced by your vehicle. That, along with using Biofriendly Corporation’s Green Plus® liquid catalyst in  your vehicle, and you could end up getting rid of more pollutants than your vehicle generates.

It is interesting to see the different ideas people have and the eco-friendly inventions which result from those ideas. Sometimes instead of thinking bigger is better, it helps to think smaller and simpler. Either way, eco-friendly inventions are out there and I’m sure we will see many more in the next decade. Do you have a favorite eco-invention? Do you have an idea for an eco-invention? We’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

Image by Fredo / Creative Commons

When you hear someone talking about climate change, what is the first thing you think? Most people immediately think about global warming and the environmental controversy about who is to blame for this so-called “global warming”.

Climate change, however, is believed to come from two main sources. There is a cycle the planet goes through which is altered by natural occurrences such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, changes in the Earth’s orbit, solar events, the ocean’s current, and more. Then there are the actions we take which contribute to climate change and alter the greenhouse gas effect here on Earth. Every time you use the energy provided by the local utility company, fill up at the gas station, heat your home, or any number of other activities which produce carbon dioxide, you are contributing to the greenhouse gas effect.

The question then becomes, what can we do to combat climate change? Well, there are many steps which can be taken, but in this post I thought it would be good to highlight a number of alternative energies which could help us combat our contribution to climate change.

1) Solar Energy: The sun continues to provide us with a natural form of energy day after day. The problem becomes in the capture and processing of this resource. Currently only about 1% of the electricity in the U.S. is powered by solar.

Image by David Trebosc / Creative Commons

2) Wind Energy: The wind is another natural and renewable resource we can tap into. This study was done to look into the stability of wind energy in the face of global warming.

Image by Chuck Coker / Creative Commons

3) Tidal Energy: Tidal energy is another alternative energy which has the potential for becoming a major player in the renewable energy arena. Why? Because the tides will keep coming in and going out. Recently Scotland made a major move to boost subsidies in favor of tidal-power.

Image by Horizon2035 / Creative Commons

4) Wave Power: Like tidal power, wave power is another source of alternative energy which more governments and countries are investing in, in order to meet their renewable energy goals. In fact, the UK is determined to be the ‘Rolls Royce’ of marine energy (wave/tidal).

5) Plastic Conversion: Per reports, existing technologies could be used to convert all the non-recyclable plastics, that are tossed into U.S. landfills each year, into energy. Those plastics alone could power over 5 million homes a year. Just think what could be done with all the other waste.

Image by Mackenzie / Creative Commons

6) Energy Cane: It seems sugar cane is now front and center, ahead of corn, when it comes to crops which could be grown for energy purposes. The idea is that the sugar cane could be used for biofuel and the fibrous waste could be turned into alternative energy.

Image by Carolyn / Creative Commons

Now, let’s face facts here. Even if a person invests in a variety of alternative energies to power their home, vehicle, working environment and other activities in their life, they are still in some way or form contributing to climate change. This is because there are a variety of factors which cause man-made climate change. Additionally, regardless of our efforts, the Earth’s natural cycle will continue to happen.

Our contributions to climate change, however, can be lessened and we can take steps to help lower CO2 emissions below that critical level of 350 ppm. In my opinion, it’s all about deciding how you want to live and how you want your children, and their children to live. What are your views on the subject?

Image by USDAgov / Creative Commons

With gasoline prices as high as they are and many analysts predicting they will reach the $5 per gallon mark in the not too distant future, people are beginning to turn more and more to alternative fuels. Hybrids, electric vehicles and solar-powered vehicles may be a hot ticket item now, but what about all the other alternative fuels out there?

We know about corn-based ethanol, however, that has become a heated subject with foodies, environmentalists and the general public alike, especially since U.S. farmers are beginning to grow genetically modified corn solely for ethanol production. This has sparked concerns about cross-contamination and aid organizations are already warning that having farmers produce corn for fuel instead of food, could severely impact global food supplies.

So, what other options are available? Well, let’s take a look at some of the oddly edible gasoline, diesel and other fuel alternatives which could eventually make it into the mainstream market:

Image by orgadem / Creative Commons

Farmers, automakers and airlines had at one point been looking into the possibility of biodiesel made from the fruit of a jatropha tree. Countries like China, India and Brazil have already been tapping into the alternative fuel advantages of the jatropha tree. We’ll have to see if this little fruit can make a stand in the alternative fuel arena.

Image by Kate Webster / Creative Commons

How about taking your morning cup o’ joe and turning those coffee grounds into a biodiesel which could get you to work. Although coffee ground biodiesel will probably never be used as a major fuel alternative, as long it is used coffee grounds they are talking about, this one could be a cool alternative fuel option.

Image by Lee McCoy / Creative Commons

The idea behind this eco-race car is extremely innovative. Not only does the race car use a biofuel made partially of chocolate (sorry all you chocolate lovers out there), but parts of the car itself are made from vegetables. That’s right, vegetables. Carrots went into the making of the steering wheel and potato starch and flax seed were used in the production of the mirrors and front wing.

Image by Sean / Creative Commons

Here’s a green, well actually yellow, fuel made from banana waste. In this example researchers figured out a way to turn banana skins into briquettes that could be used for cooking, heating and to produce light. Can you imagine firing up the BBQ with banana briquettes?

Image by Steven Guzzardi / Creative Commons

Of course I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention beer waste energy. Instead of breweries trying to sell or get rid of their spent grain, why not turn it into energy to help power their own plants? It worked for China and Thailand with their rice and sugar cane, so why not for the beer industry? Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is already tapping into their beer waste in addition to using fuel cells to help power their buildings and the beer-making process.

Image by Lorenzo Blangiardi / Creative Commons

Here’s one I thought was a very odd choice for an alternative fuel…rabbits. In Sweden, due to the over population of rabbits, combined with laws against the disposal of raw meat or carcasses, one company began using rabbits to produce the fuel needed to heat homes. But it wasn’t just rabbits, they used reindeer, pigs, horses, cows and other animals.

Image by Nathan Goddard / Creative Commons

Unfortunately turkeys have recently managed to find their way onto the alternative fuel chopping block as well, with turkey parts being used to make biodiesel. One particular company set up shop right next to a company who raises and slaughters turkeys for food. This way they are able to capitalize on the turkey “leftovers” as a key component to their biofuel.

Image by Ian Collins / Creative Commons

Since we’re on the subject, another animal-derived biodiesel which has recently surfaced is alligator fat biodiesel. Not surprisingly, this one comes from researchers in Louisiana. Every year over 15 million pounds of alligator fat (wow, what a figure) is dumped into landfills. I guess when you look at it that way, it’s better to use the fat as fuel than let it go to waste. Of course, who knew there was such a demand for alligator meat?

Image by lee / Creative Commons

Last but not least on my list is a plan which surfaced in the United Kingdom to use oil from stale pastries, pies and crisps to fuel cars. Now, I knew Cornish pastries were popular in the UK, but that’s a lot of good pastry going to waste if a whole new eco-friendly fuel can be generated.

Of course, if you aren’t quite ready to switch your car over to one of these alternative fuels, you can always check out Biofriendly Corporation’s Green Plus® gasoline fuel saver which is proven to reduce emissions, improve engine power and increase fuel economy.

But keep in mind, the next time you munch on a piece of fruit, snack on a baked good, or sip on your favorite beverage, you may just be looking at the next oddly edible gasoline, diesel or other fuel alternative. I mean if alternative fuels are going to become part of a worldwide change, a variety of options must be available so we don’t exhaust any one resource.

Image by charmar/creative commons

Believe it or not, the work week has come to an end yet again. But before you head out for the weekend, and whatever activities you and your family have planned, I wanted to share a few of the green and environmental articles that came across my plate this last week. I know if you are as busy as I am, it’s nice to have a recap or place to get a little injection of information. So, here is your weekly glimpse into the world of green:

1)Videos on Fuel Efficiency to Help Reduce Emissions and Save Money: Who doesn’t like to save money? And if you can do so while lowering your emissions, then you’ve got a win-win situation. Here are a few videos which give you some tips to help you do just that! Oh and of course, using a proven fuel additive (hint,hint) can also do wonders for your emissions and fuel efficiency.

2) Ford, SunPower Want to Plug Homes, Electric Cars into Solar Energy: Of course having a hybrid or electric car is a great way to improve fuel efficiency and lower emissions. Add to that the use of solar energy to power your EV (and your home at the same time) and you cut down your dependence on the oil industry and coal industry at the same time.

3) Solar Powered Street Lights and Trash Can “City Context”: Okay, I like this idea. The idea of having street lights not only powered by the sun, but also using them as receptacles for trash, recycling, etc. In my opinion this type of idea could lead to much cleaner, greener public spaces.

4) Solar Grill Stores Latent Heat for 25-Hour Cook Time at 450F: The sun generates an enormous amount of heat and power, tapping into that energy is smart not only to power vehicles and lights, but to use for cooking as well. This solar grill might just be the answer to a cleaner, greener and more sustainable cooking option for both the developing and modern world.

5) Passive Solar – As Old As The Sun Itself: Since I was on the subject of solar power, this particular article by my friend Nan came to mind. Although there are many innovative ways to capture the power of the sun, there is nothing new about passive solar.

6) 7 Ways to Celebrate National Farmers Market Week: National Farmers’ Market Week is quickly coming to an end. If you haven’t yet taken advantage of the fresh, organic and local goods offered at a farmers’ market near you, now is the time to do so.

Last but not least, I want to share this article, These small steps add up to a greener daily routine. Although it’s nice to read about different green and environmentally-friendly things going on around the world, it’s even better to be able to implement some green into your own life. I hope you enjoyed this brief glimpse into the world of green. Here’s to hoping to get to enjoy some time outdoors. Have a truly biofriendly weekend!