Archive for the ‘Alternative Transportation’ Category

The Miles Per Gallon race is on and where it stops nobody knows. It’s hard to believe it but not too long ago the argument against Green Cars was that the technology wasn’t there. Well, all of a sudden there it is. A hybrid car that can do 230 m.p.g. and other companies already saying that they have a their own model that can beat the Chevy Volt.

I guess necessity is the mother of invention. Faced with a bankrupt industry and an unwavering consumer the car companies seem to be letting go of the umbilical cord that has held them tied to the oil companies for what seems like forever.

In no time at all, the auto industry has gone from the most fuel efficient  car on the market, the Toyota Prius that does 50 mpg and 493 miles per tank, to a Hybrid, the Chevy Volt, that can do 230 mpg (city), would cost 2c per mile compared to 12c per mile on gas only, and would not use a drop of fuel in the first 40 miles.”It will use a lithium-ion battery with a gasoline-powered, range-extending engine that drives a generator to provide electric power when you drive beyond the 40-mile battery range.” (chevrolet.com)

Not to be outdone, Nissan has come out with their gloves on claiming the top dog position with their own Mega Fuel Efficient model. The Nissan Leaf 100% electric/ Zero Emissions claims that it would be rated at 367 mpg.

Whatever prompted the auto industry to take that leap in technology is most welcome. The important thing is that the leap has taken place and healthy competition has started that can only end in something good for the environment and the consumer.

bibi

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Video Voice calling and saving energy go hand in hand these days. Modern technology helps us Live Green by giving us the ability to work from home. Visiting our friends and family who live far away from us is easier and cheaper to do with video voice calling, while at the same time being kinder to our environment.

If businesses took advantage of video calling to the tune of cutting back  their travel by 20%, that would save 22 million tons of co2 from going into the environment. Not to mention how many millions could be saved by having to spend less on company travel. Money that in this economy could be used to put more people to work.

Video Voice Calling programs are free and easy alternatives to travel and it’s not just for business. It’s the most cost effective way to stay in touch with family, friends and business colleagues. But it is also the next best thing to being there.

Especially in this economy businesses and families that are looking for ways to stretch that dollar should really take a look at Video Voice Calling as a cost saving measure and as part of Greening their lives. Using  technology as eco-friendly economizing tools makes sense.

Skype is my personal favorite because I’ve been using it for years and it works great. I use it for personal purposes to get together with family in Europe and South America. With Skype you can make free calls over the Internet, the whole world can talk for free.

Here is a list of some of the Video Voice calling Programs out there:

AOL Instant Messenger

Brosix

X-Lite

Ekiga

Google Talk

KPhone

Linphone

Minisip

OctroTalk

OfficeSIP Messenger

QuteCom

SightSpeed

Skype

QuteCom

Tokbox

Yahoo! Messenger

bibi

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A Segway you can sit in. The new Segway P.U.M.A prototype is the result of a partnership between Segway and GM. P.U.M.A stands for Personal Urban Mobility & Accessibility. An alternative transportation solution with a small footprint all the way around. This electric vehicle is small and versatile making it perfect for congested cities. More on this vehicle can be found at www.segway.com/blog.

Passengers: Currently configured for 2, but could carry more
Top speed: Aimed to travel between 25 and 35 mph (40 – 56 kph)
Range: Aimed to have a 25 – 35 mile range (40 – 56 km)
Weight: Currently ~300 lbs/136 kg
Charge time: ~5-8 hours
Recharge cost:Based on the current battery configuration, it’s about $0.60 in electricity to recharge.

bibi

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