Natural Environment Blog

Hybrid cars are often thought of as a new concept, a breakthrough, a rarity. However, when we look deeper into their history, it turns out that hybrids are not as recent an innovation as we might think. In fact, hybrid-engined cars are older than any of us, as their history dates back to the beginning of the 20th century…

How it all started…

Electric cars were invented in the 1860s, several years before petrol-engined vehicles appeared in 1875, but the story of hybrid cars begins in 1902.

The first vehicle that could be called a hybrid, as it used two sources of power, was the ‘Mixte,’ designed by Ferdinand Porsche. The car had a petrol engine to run a generator, which powered electric hub motors. The newly invented vehicle was later produced by several companies such as Krieger, Lohner-Porsche and Auto-Mixte.

…and then came to a standstill

Unfortunately, at that time, petrol-engine technology prevailed. The turning point was when Henry Ford started his first assembly line – the Ford company had developed the idea between 1908 and 1915. Ford introduced many improvements to petrol engines and subsequently decided on mass production to introduce the first affordable car – the Model T.

That car is now a legend.

From then on, the technology for steam-, electric- and hybrid-powered cars was neglected. Few were trying to work on the idea, and it was only when the issues of air pollution and global warming became serious that petrol alternatives were once again brought to the center of attention.

The rising price of oil also played its role and spurred interest in different energy sources. There was a massive increase in the price of oil in the 1970s, and in those years many automotive industry players, with governments’ blessings, came back to the idea of hybrid autos.

In those years, Volkswagen launched a hybrid-engined car (the VW Taxi); Toyota began working on the concept and built its first hybrid prototype; and the American government decided to use electric vehicles produced by American Motors.

A new beginning…

The launch of the Toyota Prius to the Japanese market in 1997 was a breakthrough in hybrid-car history. It was the first mass-produced modern vehicle of that type.

Soon, other manufacturers followed suit and hybrids were launched on the European and American markets. The fastest imitators were Audi and Honda.

Starting off, buyers were cautious and in the first year only 18,000 hybrid cars were sold. Nevertheless, the manufacturers were not discouraged and due to constant improvements, the popularity of hybrid cars has grown. In fact, from 2004–2007 the demand for the Prius was higher than the supply, and waiting lists were created for those willing to buy the car.

Hybrids are back for good

To sum up, it seems that the future of hybrid cars is now secure, as the technology is getting more popular and is supported by many governments. All the major car manufacturers are constantly working on new models and improving the older ones.

It seems that, after a century of neglect, hybrid technology is now here for good and hybrid cars are becoming the norm, not a rarity owned by few.

This post was contributed by Car Buyers’ Guide. Car Buyers’ Guide is the publisher of Ireland’s leading motoring websites and magazines. CBG.ie is the only motoring website to have exclusive partnerships with the leading national newspaper websites (The Iris Times and Independent Newspapers). CBG.ie is visited by buyers over 450,000 times per month and users view over 11.5 million pages on the website per month. 

Find hybrid cars and other cars for sale at Car Buyers’ Guide.

Online colleges are gaining in popularity by the day, not just because they’re more convenient for people who want to work and study, but because they’re offering more comprehensive and accepted degrees as well.

Most of us are aware of the various advantages to studying online as opposed to going to a regular college – we save on commuting costs, we’re able to earn as we learn, and we’re allowed flexible learning schedules.

But how many of us know that an online degree helps in the fight against global warming too? If you’re asking how, read on to find out:

• By minimizing our carbon footprint: When we cut down on commuting costs, we’re also cutting down on the usage of gasoline. And the less gas we use, the lower the impact of fossil fuel on the environment. Even if you were to stay in a hostel or dormitory on campus, it’s a cheaper option to study online because you’re minimizing the use of electricity. Online colleges do not have to use electricity to power classrooms and dormitories because there are no buildings.
• By reducing the effect of construction on the environment: Since there is no need for classrooms, you’re reducing the use of materials, especially the natural ones like wood.You’re also saving the use of fossil fuels in their transportation and in the energy that would be expended to construct the buildings. When there’s no construction, you also minimize the amount of water that’s used.
• By reducing the use of paper: When you study online, your word processor replaces all your notebooks. All your essays and lessons are submitted online in the electronic form, so you don’t have to use paper. When you minimize the use of paper, you’re saving trees in the rainforest from being cut down and are thus contributing to increasing rainfall around the world.Trees play an important role in bringing us rain, holding on to the soil so that the loose earth does not cause landslides, and in providing natural canopies that shade us from the harsh heat of the summer sun. In this way, they reduce the need for air conditioners and provide natural cooling effects.

This post was contributed by Claire Webber, who writes about the best schools online.  She welcomes your feedback at Claire.Webber1223 [at] gmail.com

Hybrid cars are becoming much more affordable.

by Jack Taylor

Hybrid autos are often criticized as being expensive, but this false belief needs to change. 

This belief was caused by the high prices that hybrid autos had when the new technology was introduced. If you were to spend more on a hybrid auto than you’d have spent otherwise, you were unlikely to ever get your money back - even if you got rid of a gigantic, fuel-sucking SUV. This may have been true when hybrids were really expensive and the initial cost outweighed the gas savings. But it doesn’t seem to be true anymore.

Today, petrol prices are rising, used cars are getting cheaper, and the new car industry needs to lower the prices to be selling at all. Now, hybrid autos are within the same price range as other new and used cars. 

New Hybrids Cheaper Than Used Ones?

Some estimate that a new hybrid may even be cheaper than the used one. The example car for costs estimation was the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid. John O’Dell claims in his article that price drop on the car market combined with the industry’s ubiquitous cut-rate financing offers, has made it cheaper to buy new than used cars. 

The hybrid autos’ manufacturer has lowered the costs of purchasing new cars, so much so, that it was cheaper to buy a 2009 Civic than a year old used one. The research was based on many factors and took into account several reasons for price reductions, like the national interest rate deal when choosing between new and used cars. 

Used Hybrids Cheaper Than Used Non-Hybrids

Extensive research has shown that used hybrid autos have become cheaper than other cars, especially if we take into account the rise in oil prices. 

Research has shown that the 2008 Toyota Prius Hybrid with 1.5L 4-cyl engine and 75HP electric motor/generator was far more fuel efficient than other used cars. The Prius’ measured fuel cost on a distance of 676 miles was 39 Euros. Other used cars didn’t even come close.

Surprisingly, driving 2008 Smart ForTwo with 1.0L 3-cyl engine cost 9.7 Euros more. The numbers do not lie. 

The 2008 Ford Focus costs around 30,000 Euros and is over 30% more expensive. A 2008 Toyota Prius Hybrid can be found for not much more than 20,000 Euros. 

Higher Standards

Owning a hybrid auto is also a step towards introduction of higher technological and ecological standards in automotive engineering. 

The European Commission has already adopted an action plan to achieve a 20% substitution of diesel and gasoline fuels by alternative fuels in the road transport sector by 2020. This is one of the reasons why car manufacturers are redesigning the drive train concept towards hybrid systems. 

To respond to the needs of our environment, with an ever-rising number of cars, we will have to make the switch to hybrid autos in the immediate future, then possibly solar powered cars one day.

Hybrids Are Here To Stay

Today, hybrid autos should no longer be perceived as new technology cars. Hybrids are an integral element of everyday economic and eco lifestyle. 

Whether you’re on the market for a  new or used car, you should look at all the costs of buying a car - not just the purchase price. You’ll find that a hybrid auto makes sense for both the sake of the environment and your budget.

Find used hybrid autos at Car Buyers’ Guide.

Jack Taylor is an expert in ‘green’ automotive industry. He is particularly interested in biofuels and hybrid cars.  

In six days, the world will have a global election. There are two candidates:

1. Candidate 1: Earth
2. Candidate 2: Global Warming

Earth Hour is when you need to cast your vote. Earth Hour 2009 is being held on Saturday, March 28 at 8:30pm (your own local time).

How Do I Cast My Vote?

Voting is easy.

• To vote for Earth, turn your lights off for an hour between 8:30pm and 9:30pm
• To vote for global warming, keep your lights on

Show Your Support

If you intend to vote for Earth on Saturday, you can show your support by downloading a banner, poster, badge, and more.

Here’s a sample of some of the badges you can display on your own blog or website to show your support for Earth.

For more information on how to support Earth on Saturday, see the VoteEarth2009 website.

Last year I mentioned that this year’s Earth Hour will be the biggest to date, but it’s also turning out to be even bigger than the organizers expected. 

No less than 1,539 cities and towns in 80 countries will participate in this year’s Earth Hour 2009. 

This number, which will almost certainly grow over the next eleven days, exceeds the organizers’ target of 1,000 cities. 

With more and more cities and towns signing up every day, the event organizers say that the success of Earth Hour 2009 is limited only by the will of the global community to want a say in the future of their planet.

“Earth Hour is an opportunity for the global community to speak in one voice on the issue of climate change, while at the same time coming together in celebration of the one thing every single person on the planet has in common – the planet” said Earth Hour Executive Director, Mr Andy Ridley.

“Whether it’s joining your community in a town square to watch the city lights go dark or hosting a lights out party in your own home, I encourage everybody across the world to be a part of this historic occasion. Turn off your lights, celebrate the planet, enjoy the moment and cast your vote for Earth,” he added.

With increased involvement from populous countries such as China, it is hoped that Earth Hour 2009 will be observed by over 100 million people around the world.

Satellite image of the ozone hole on 24th September, 2006.

You may have heard about the “ozone hole” that’s located somewhere above us, in the Earth’s atmosphere. You may also have heard that it’s not really a good thing for us here on Earth. If you’ve heard this, you heard right.

But what exactly is the ozone hole?

The ozone hole is an area of extremely depleted ozone in the ozone layer above the Antarctic. The ozone hole is not present all year round though. It only occurs during the beginning of the Southern Hemisphere spring - between August and October. 

The problem with the ozone hole is that, it allows harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun to reach Earth. These UV rays are usually filtered out by the ozone layer, but when the ozone has been depleted (as is the case with the ozone hole), the UV rays are no longer filtered out.

Why are UV Rays Harmful?

Although in small doses, UV light can be beneficial, overexposure can cause sunburn and some forms of skin cancer. Prolonged exposure to UV rays can also cause other problems for the skin, eyes and even the immune system.

UV rays don’t only affect humans. Studies have shown that hundreds of species of plants and animals display a negative reaction to increased UV rays. There are however, some species that react positively to an increased exposure to UV light.  

What Causes the Ozone Hole?

Here are the main factors that contribute to the ozone hole:

• Stratospheric sulfate aerosols - In other words, volcanic eruptions
• Stratospheric winds
• Greenhouse gases
• Sunspot cycle - an 11 year cycle that causes variation in the UV radiation produced by the sun
• Stratospheric chlorine - coming mainly from man-made halocarbons

While we generally have little control over natural occurrences, we do have control over the man-made ones. You may have heard that chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) are causing the ozone hole to grow bigger. CFCs are a group of chemical compounds that consist of alkalines such as methane or ethane. They also have one or more halogens linked, such as chlorine or fluorine.

CFCs find their way into the atmosphere from refrigeration and propellant devices and processes.

Basically, man-made products are contributing to the increasing size of the ozone hole.

What’s Being Done About It?

Many countries have banned the use of most CFC-emitting aerosol products, such as fly spray, deodorants, and hair spray. The bans generally require that those types of products are produced in a way that doesn’t result in CFCs being emitted.

Such a ban was introduced in the U.S. in 1978, and although most CFC-emitting products were banned long ago, there are still some that are being phased out. For example, albuterol metered dose inhalers (MDIs) will not be available in the U.S. after 31 December 2008.

There is also an international environmental treaty called the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. At present, 191 countries are involved in this agreement, which is designed to phase out substances that lead to ozone depletion. There is also a belief that, as long as the treaty is adhered to, the ozone layer will recover by 2050.

I recently wrote about an “Online Treehouse”, where you could find furniture and every day items that are certified by the Rainforest Alliance. Well, along the same theme, here’s another way of finding eco-friendly furniture.

The Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) is a non-profit industry association, which was established to promote sustainable practices within the furniture industry.

Well, its original focus was on the furniture industry when it was first established in October 2006, when it was called the Sustainable Furniture Council. However, since then, it has changed it’s name to Sustainable Furnishings Council, to better reflect it’s more diverse membership base. Its 250+ members include suppliers, manufacturers, importers, and designers of accessories, lighting, rugs and other categories.

The goals of the SFC are:

• To raise awareness of the sustainability issue
• To assist companies in adopting good practices
• To serve as an information clearing house
• To create a symbol of assurance for consumers

Earth Hour 2009 will be at least 3 times bigger than 2008 with more than 76 cities officially participating. These before/after photos were taken during Earth Hour 2007 in Sydney. Photo: madradish.

Earth Hour 2009 stands to be the biggest Earth Hour to date. Last year, 26 cities officially participated in Earth Hour. The current count for 2009 is almost 3 times that figure - and we’re still more than 3 months away from the event.

Furthermore, organizers anticipate that over 1 billion people will take part in 2009 - up from 50 million in 2008. This is largely due to China’s involvement in 2009, where populous cities such as Beijing and Shanghai will participate

The official number of cities to participate in Earth Hour 2009 currently stands at 76 cities.

Official Cities To Particpate In Earth Hour 2009

Here are the cities currently listed for participation in Earth Hour 2009. Note that this figure is sure to increase over the coming months as more cities are announced.

Australia

• Adelaide
• Brisbane 
• Canberra 
• Darwin 
• Hobart 
• Melbourne 
• Perth
• Sydney

Bolivia

• Santa Cruz de la Sierra 

Bulgaria

• Sofia

Canada

• Toronto 

China

• Beijing
• Hong Kong
• Shanghai

Costa Rica

• San Jose

Denmark

• Aalborg
• Copenhagen
• Odense

Federated States of Micronesia

• Ponphei

Fiji

• Suva

Finland

• Espoo
• Helsinki

Guatemala

• Guatemala City

Italy

• Bologna
• Florence
• Milan
• Naples
• Palermo
• Rome
• Turin
• Venice

Jordan

• Amman

Mexico

• Mexico City

New Zealand

• Auckland
• Christchurch
• Hamilton

Norway

• Oslo
• Tromso
• Trondheim

Phillipines

• Manila

Poland

• Gdansk
• Lodz
• Poznan
• Torun
• Warsaw

Portugal

• Lisbon

Russia

• Moscow
• Petropalovsk-Kamchatsky

Singapore

• Singapore City

South Africa

• Cape Town

Sweden

• Ekero
• Gothenberg
• Kalmar
• Kiruna
• Lilla Edet
• Malmö
• Mullsjo
• Nassjo
• Norrkoping
• Orebro
• Sodertalje
• Ulricehamn
• Vaxjo
• Ystad

Turkey

• Istanbul

United Arab Emirates

• Abu Dhabi
• Dubai
• Fujairah
• Sharjah

United Kingdom

• London

United States

• Chicago
• Las Vegas
• Los Angeles
• San Francisco
• Miami 
• Nashville

Note that China has already indicated that more chinese cities will be announced in the future.

About Earth Hour 2009

Earth Hour is a global WWF climate change initiative. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 28, 2009 at 8:30 PM to show their support for action on climate change.

On Monday, WWF officially announced that China will participate in Earth Hour in 2009.

Back in April,  WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) indicated that China would have more involvement in Earth Hour next year, but the extent of its involvement was largely unknown.

Hong Kong is already on the list of cities to take part in Earth Hour 2009. On Monday it was announced that Beijing and Shanghai would also participate.

WWF has also indicated that more Chinese cities will be announced in the future. 

2009 To Be Bigger Than 2008

In 2008, 26 cities were officially part of Earth Hour (although more than 370 cities, towns and councils took part unofficially). 

For 2009, the official count currently stands at 76 cities across 62 countries. It is anticipated that more than 1,000 cities, towns and councils will participate unofficially in 2009.

About Earth Hour

Earth Hour is a global WWF climate change initiative. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 28, 2009 at 8:30 PM to show their support for action on climate change.

The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. In 2008, more than 50 million people around the globe participated. In 2009, it is anticipated that more than 1 billion people in 1,000 cities will participate in Earth Hour.