In 1995, a young immigrant (from South Africa via Canada) turned his back on Stanford University’s PhD program after being enrolled for just two days. Without fanfare, he stepped onto the world’s stage with a vision of changing the world and humanity
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Coming Soon: “Leaf to Home” Emergency Electrical Backup
Today about 4,000 households in Japan are utilizing their EVs to manage home energy use. They can be used as a backup power supply for blackouts and emergencies.
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Sustainable Neighborhoods: The Value of the Community
In modern neighborhoods, a move towards sustainability has become the expectation, and for good reason.
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5 Eco-Friendly Car Products
While walking and riding a bike are the greenest methods of transportation, they aren’t very practical for most people, especially suburbanites.
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New Year, New You: How You Can Spend More Time Outdoors
If you’re ready to resolve to spend more time outside, here are five creative, Portland-friendly ways to do so.
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10 Suggestions to Detox Your Car
Months of scouring the marketplace and test-driving vehicles reminded me of just how many chemicals most people use in the maintenance and upkeep of their vehicles. Here are 10 ways to detox your car based on my new book, Weekend Wonder Detox
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Regular Auto Maintenance Is Good for You, Your Wallet, and The Environment
Why should you spend time and money maintaining your vehicle? The average new car cost $30,500 in 2012. That’s a pretty steep investment, so it makes sense to squeeze every dime out of it. I asked Tom Dwyer, owner of Tom Dwyer Automotive Services in Portland, OR, for the best way to keep our vehicles on the road for years to come… “Maintenance.” said Tom. “The absolutely best way to ensure safe and reliable performance is to follow a sensible, proactive maintenance plan. With consistent maintenance, your vehicle can last for many years and hundreds of thousands of miles beyond its warranty period.” Beyond protecting your investment, Tom gave other…
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Lean, Green, and Working from Home
Environmental, Social and Economic Effects of Your Commute Do you love to leave your warm house every morning and get into a cold car? Does rush hour traffic fill you with joy? Do you enjoy donating thousands of dollars to the petrochemical companies in exchange for their gasoline? If so, this article is not for you. If, on the other hand, you wish there were real alternatives to car-based commuting, read on. Best to Worst – Ways to Get to Work #1. Work from home. The number one most environmentally benign way to get to work is to walk into the next room. There is no commute. You’ll get more…
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Mr. Graunke and His Dream Car
There are some dreams that just never die and there are some people that will never quit pursuing them. Gary Graunke had such a dream and for the last 46 years he has been pursuing it. The dream began in 1966, when two representatives from General Motors came to Gary’s high school and talked about electric drive fuel cell vehicles, which they believed were “just around the corner”. In an electronics shop course, Gary was already working with electric drive motors to propel a large three-wheeled robot, so it was easy for him to see the potential for an electric car. The quest was on, but he was a little…
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Studded Tires
Studded tires have bothered me for years. The driving on ruts, the road noise, the dangerous hydroplaning, and the costs to repair the roads are all concerns for me. As a citizen activist, I contacted my legislator and the Oregon Department of Transportation, but couldn’t get any justifiable answers as to why studded tires are still legal. According to an Oregon legislative fact sheet, only 10 percent of drivers use studded tires west of the Cascades, yet they cut road life by 50 percent. They were banned in Minnesota in the 1970s and if any state has winter weather, its Minnesota. The more research I did, the more I learned…
