Elm Grove, WI — February 16th, 2010 — Valentin Technologies has given the public its first glimpse of its IngoCar, currently in the stage of development. This release of three teaser sketches shows the five-seat, four door sportwagen, brimming with innovation.

The company’s founder, Ingo Valentin, has stated that “Finally outstanding performance and extremely high mileage are combined in a mid-size passenger car.”

Concept images can be viewed on this website link: www.valentintechnologies.com/images

The vehicle’s estimated mileage is 170 mpg based on a mix of city and rural driving. This extraordinary fuel efficiency is achieved by a revolutionary hydraulic-fluid drive. This hybrid gasoline/hydraulic drive system can deliver acceleration from 0-60 in 4 seconds. Read the rest of this entry »

Have someone in your life who brings hardcore to a new level by biking through the winter to save our climate? Reward his or her courage and tenacity this year with a handmade bike chain bracelet. Here’s a simple warm and fuzzy ‘how-to’ via ThreadBanger to get you started. Note: a quick trip to your local jewelry shop and you’ll have plenty of clasp and embellishment options!

View bike chain bracelet video here. See note below.

Environment Week is nearly upon us! Tune into what Environment Canada has to share about the event:

Five Easy Ways to Celebrate Environment Week

May 31 – June 6, 2009

Canadian Environment Week is a time to focus on simple changes that contribute to a greener future for everyone. You don’t have to look far to find easy ways to green your lifestyle or appreciate the beauty of nature. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Buy locally grown food. Take some time to visit local Farmers Markets and learn more about the benefits of choosing locally grown foods!
2. Change at least one light bulb to a compact fluorescent. Those qualified to ENERGY STAR® use about a quarter as much electricity as a conventional light bulb to produce the same amount of light. Compact fluorescents cost a bit more than incandescents, but they last up to ten times longer.
3. Take a walk on the wild side. Go for a day hike on a local nature trail and revel in the beauty and serenity you’re trying to preserve for future generations. Read the rest of this entry »

I met a fellow active community member recently. She mentioned that she had read about the Mill Creek NetZero Home (MCNZH) here, and included a short lament about how her family would afford to upgrade her own home. I felt a pang of guilt – why should my family be empowered to build our way to energy independence when so many others aren’t? Read the rest of this entry »

TIPtoeing Toward Sustainability - A Reader Question On Doing an Electric Car Conversion

Q. My father and I are thinking about embarking on converting an ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) car to fully electric to cover his daily commutes to and from work. I have two questions:
1. Will the Canadian government provide any rebate for building this type of vehicle as it will be significantly more fuel efficient than the current green rebate cars?
2. Where do you have an Electric Car inspected in Canada? We will be building the car in Nova Scotia.
~Joe from Ontario Read the rest of this entry »

Ever heard that if you want something done, to do it yourself? When it comes to carpooling, I’d agree full on. As much as you wish your employer or city had a carpooling system to take you to work and back and save you some green in the process, it’s probably not going to happen on its own.

Green Living Online editor Shelagh McNally even wrote up a how-to guide for you. So get your fanny moving, start a carpool, and cut your carbon emissions today.

Tonight, my volleyball team will be using 2 cars instead of 6 to get to a game that’s 27 Km from where I live. See how many cars you can get off the road the next time you go somewhere.

Resources

Car Sharing and Carpooling Services in Canada

Trip Driving Cost Calculator – Gives you directions, a map, the fuel cost for your trip, and a cost comparison with other car models.

Pickuppal.com

Not only will a hybrid car save you money on your gas budget, it may also shrink your insurance premium too! TD Meloche Monnex gives hybrid ownership all the more allure with what they call Green Wheel – a 10% discount (5% in Ontario) on insurance premiums on hybrid cars.

Whether you have an existing policy with the company or are considering switching over, your new or existing hybrid qualifies for the rebate. As a current client of this company, I can vouch for it’s quality of service. In a recent claim for a parking lot hit and run (don’t you hate those?!) our deductible was waived, and a rental car provided at no charge. Our premium didn’t change a cent either.

So, if you’ve been sitting on the fence about what car to choose, get a hybrid, and then get a quote from TD Meloche Monnex. And, I know you’re clever enough to compare hybrid fuel efficiency ratings before going ahead. Many cars with hybrid technology offer worse fuel consumption than those without it. For example:

2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid 33 miles per gallon (8.5 Litres/100Km)

2008 Hyundai Accent (Not a Hybrid) 38 miles per gallon (7.4 Litres/100Km)

The insurance rebate is unfortunately unavailable in BC, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. But, if you live in any of those places, demand that your insurance companies raise the bar!

Of course, if affording a hybrid is still a problem, keep walking, cycling, and taking transit. Plus, good safe fuel efficient cars are still out there. Just keep demanding better and letting manufacturers know that there’s a robust demand for greener cars.

The folks over at Eartheasy have done some great work pulling together not 7, not 12, but 17 tips to help you cut your gas costs by up to 30% with simple driving style changes, maintenance and more.

I’ve been paying attention of late to the fuel economy of my own car with the shady suspicion that it hasn’t been reaching the posted 38 miles per gallon or 7.5 Litres/100 Km. It is hard to tell since I drive less than thrice weekly. In any case, this dandy tip list will help me troubleshoot, and ideally reach or exceed my car’s posted fuel efficiency ratings.

In the meantime, my current approach to saving money on gas also works on melting off that lingering winter muffin top: I bike where I reasonably can bike, blade where there’s a safe strip of pavement, and walk for the love of my dogs and for the scent of June’s lilacs.

Resources

Energy Efficient Driving Tips From Natural Resources Canada

Carpooling may be the one thing many of us guilt-ridden Canuck car owners mean to do, but never get around to. Perhaps it’s because it can be tricky to coordinate. In the States, companies like Zipcar make a lifestyle free of car ownership simple and convenient. With hundreds of cars in their fleets, a quick online or phone reservation, and automated access system, it’s easy to reduce the number of carbon-mobiles on the road.

Yet in Canada, car-sharing coops often have small fleets, inconvenient access, and high fees. Luckily, things are getting better. Check the list below and find an option that works for you. Some require memberships, others offer different plans and rates based on how much you use them. Fleet size ranges from one car to hundreds. Hourly rates can be as low as $2.50 or as high as $7.50 with long-distance trip options and different-sized vehicles – even hybrids! Read the rest of this entry »