Alternative-fuel options for cars include flexfuel, biofuel, diesel, hybrid, plug-in plus gas, and all-battery; all of which are renewable and will help reduce the United States dependency on foreign oil. In the future, cars may be mixing and matching these alternative-fuel options. Volkswagens line of Touareg sport-utility vehicles will have 3 types: gas-powered, diesel-powered and gas-electric hybrid. The Touareg hybrid's drivetrain is designed so that the gasoline engine can be disengaged and shut off at speeds of up to 32 mph on a level road, or up to 75 mph going downhill. Regenerative braking can recover electric power during deceleration. The hybrids base price is $60,500, with the gas version costing $44,450, and $47,950 for the diesel version. The hybrid is estimated to get 25 miles per gallon on the highway, the diesel is estimated at 28 miles per gallon, and the gas-powered is estimated at 23 miles per gallon. The Touaregs fuel economy isn’t as good as the Toyota Prius, but the 3 options show that there can be energy options for a luxury SUV class vehicle. Volkswagen is looking next at coming out with a Jetta hybrid. There also may be all-electric Volkswagens in the future. Creating cars that use ...

Kites and blimps are on their way to becoming the next big force behind wind energy. This is because the higher up in the sky you go, the stronger and steadier the wind and as a result, more energy can be reached. Scientists suggest that a wind turbine placed high up in the sky could potentially generate 20 times the energy of a traditional wind turbine model standing 200 feet off of the ground. This suggestion has inspired a multitude of inventors and entrepreneurs who are now making efforts to capitalize on this potential energy business. Building new systems can help decrease our reliance on fossil fuels. The United States Department of Energy expects wind to provide 20% of the country’s energy by the year 2030. Wind provides 1.8% currently. Makani Power received a $20 million investment from Google in addition to a $3 million grant from the Department of Energy. Makanis engineers built an airborne wind turbine that can sweep across the sky, similar to a kite, but at 800 feet. The motion collects wind energy on the wing and sends it to the ground via an electrically conductive tether. Magenn Power in Mountain View, California is constructing helium blimps that ...

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals puts together an annual list of the main substances that are toxic for pets. They received over 160,000 phone calls in 2010 from people whose pets were exposed to poisonous substances. Keep your pets safe and be aware of the top pet toxins: Human Medication Human medications were at the top of the list in 2010 for pet toxins according to the ASPCA. Over the counter medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, as well as antidepressants and ADHD medications were the most common. Never flush unused medicine down the toilet, as it will pollute the water supply. Instead, look into safe ways to dispose of medicine to protect both your pets and the environment. Veterinary Medications Most medications for pets are flavored so they’ll ingest them easier. Thus, it’s easy for a pet to accidentally ingest the entire bottle of medicine because it tastes good. Arthritis and incontinence medications are common chewable medications that can be dangerous when consumed in excess. Human Food Some snacks are okay to give your pets, but certain others can be very harmful for them. For example, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, and xylitol can be bad for pets. Onions and garlic can cause ...

In 2007, the Abu Dhabi government announced that it would create the world’s first zero-carbon city, which would be known as Masdar (Masdar means source in Arabic). The announcement stated that Masdar would rely solely on renewable energy (primarily solar), while yielding no waste. Masdar would become home to a university with the purpose of studying sustainability and attracting the top clean tech companies. All of the transportation in the city would be via Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) car, instead of traditional cars. The PRT vehicles would run on electric motors, making it clean and free of carbon. The car is autonomous, driven by a computer that navigates direction with the aid of small magnets that are embedded in the road. The PRT vehicle is capable of sensing other vehicles, so as to yield to other traffic. The urban layout of Masdar would combine 21st century technology with classic Arab design. Thus, Masdar would become a real life functioning lab for a clean and green future, as well as a bridge for Abu Dhabi as it preps itself for the eventual day when its oil will run out. A Middle Eastern emirate, Abu Dhabi controls 8% of the world’s oil ...

A group called LiveProud recycles trash collected from landfills and puts it to use in an athletic apparel clothing line. While other clothing manufacturers utilize recycled polyester, wool or plastic bottles, LiveProud picks up all sorts of electronics that are found in the trash to produce their clothing line. Some of LiveProud’s products include a $75 pair of Dahlia Yoga pants that are made from 60% recycled nylon, 10% lycra, and 30% coconut shells that were found in the trash. They also sell a Gutter-Bunny Flow Coat for $210, which was crafted specifically for people who commute on their bike. The coat has a shell made from recycled cell phones, computer shells, and keyboards, while its inner fleece was crafted from plastic bottles. Charles Bogoian and Phil Tepfer, the cofounders of LiveProud, were chosen as America’s Best Young Entrepreneurs in 2010 by Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Their unique point of view on recycled fashion brought LiveProud’s clothes to Boston’s GreenFest in 2010. Nearly 60% of Americans claim that they do not recycle printers, cell phones, televisions, or computers, according to a 2010 survey. Thus, there is plenty of electronic waste out there to be recycled into all sorts of new products. This wide ...