Earth-Save

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in Yosemite Valley today to commemorate the arrival of four hybrid electric/diesel tractors that will be used in the popular Yosemite Valley Floor Tours.

The state of the art tractors cost $150,000 each and pull trailers for the two-hour tour narrated by a National Park Ranger.  The new tractors replace propane powered vehicles used to pull the trailers.  Approximately 70,000 visitors take the Yosemite Valley Floor Tour each year.

“We are very proud of these new vehicles and take great pride in leading by example.  Going green is incredibly important to the park,” said Acting Superintendent Dave Uberuaga.

The new tractors will reduce emissions by 85% and get 800% better fuel economy than the previous vehicles.  They complement Yosemite’s fleet of 16 hybrid shuttle buses. 

Story at NPS
More National Park News

Big Bend National Park has completed the first phase of a project to improve exterior lighting throughout the park.  The goals of the “Night Sky Project” are to reduce night sky light pollution, reduce electrical energy consumption, and provide adequate lighting.

The work was accomplished with grants from the National Parks Foundation, the Friends of Big Bend National Park, Forever Resorts Inc., and park staff.

The new night sky-friendly lighting at the Panther Junction’s visitor center entrance has reduced lighting from 480 Watts to less than 14 Watts.  Yet the new lighting allows visitors to view maps and information after hours at the visitors center.

Story at KOSA
More National Park News

PepsiCo Inc is testing greener vending machines to reduce its environmental footprint and give businesses some relief on their electric bills.  The test involves 30 machines in the Washington, D.C. area.  Pepsi hopes to begin rolling them out worldwide over the next several years.

The new machines use 5.08 kilowatt-hours of energy per day, down about 15 percent from a nationwide average of 6 kilowatt-hours used by current machines, which already use 44 percent less energy on average than similar machines used six years ago.

The new machines also emit about 12 percent less greenhouse gas, in part by keeping the drinks cool with carbon dioxide instead of the usual hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which scientists say contribute to global warming.

Story at Reuters

(NAPSI)  Want to reduce your impact on the environment but are not sure where to begin? Follow these simple steps to leave a lighter eco-footprint:

Be Water Wise

According to the American Water Works Association, if each American used the water-saving functions on his or her water sources, we could preserve more than 5 billion gallons of water each day.  Simply install low-flowing showerheads and turn off the water while brushing teeth to dramatically reduce daily usage.

Cut Out the Chemicals

Reduce the amount of pollutants in your home by using environmentally friendly products, such as the Earth Essentials.  It features Aromatic Room Mists, which use ultra-concentrated, all-natural essential oils to remove unpleasant household odors effectively–without additives proven to cause harm to people, pets and the environment.  The nontoxic sprays even come in recyclable cans.  Earth Essentials also offers paper products made with 100 percent recycled fibers.

Plan Ahead

Start planning in advance and map out the shortest driving routes to save on fuel costs and cut carbon emissions.  Pick one-stop shopping destinations to maximize gas usage, and since 50 percent of Americans live within two miles of a CVS/pharmacy, you could even walk!

From xkcd: A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language

Valentine’s Day is coming soon, and love is in the air!  Or, is that global warming?

Either way, Sierra Club is hosting a “How Green is My Love Life?” quiz to help you find ways to spread your love and shrink your carbon footprint at the same time.

How Green is My Love Life?

If you don’t do well on the quiz, you can follow this advice to woo your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day with these green date ideas:

Be My Green Valentine