I read a Contra Costa Times article today, “Hydrogen Highway stuck in first gear.” To start, hydrogen-fueled engines are propelled by fuel cells that produce electricity from oxygen and hydrogen. Somehow the electrons are separated from the protons, croutons and futons…let’s just say it gets you to the grocer and furniture stores! But unless you live a few minutes from the whopping 24 hydrogen fuel stations in California, it’s likely you don’t own a hydrocar. Why so few stations? Well, there’s always the chicken-egg scenario…the automakers won’t build hydrocars en masse until there is a network of refueling stations. The state has offered matching funds to build the $3M stations but requires the stations to jump through some environmental hoops that reverses the economic benefit. A $3m investment requires a return of at least $300,000/year in net profits (10% interest) before hydrogen stations will be embraced, which would require at least 176 cars($300k/$1700 per yr gas bill) dedicated to using each particular station and right now there are a total of 175 hydrocars in California. I didn’t factor in the yearly operating costs of a hydrogen fuel station, which would mean more cars are needed. Anyone know the op costs? It doesn’t make economic sense for the oil companies that own the distribution system. Their money gets better returns with less doubts by focusing on oil production and better-recognized alternative fuels like ethanol. I’m not saying hydrocars won’t be a significant part of the energy mix, but it is foolish to push environmental technology at taxpayer expense unless the buyers see the economic benefit, along with the environmental one. In this case, the buyers are the automakers, gas companies and drivers and only when all of their economic concerns are met will this technology flourish. If California politicians want to use our money to advance this technology, fine. But focus it on businesses with local car and truck fleets who are most likely to reap the economic benefit of building and operating a hydrogen-fuel station, without requiring them to jump through so many hoops. This will slowly build a market for hydrocars and keep businesses from leaving California. In fact, if you focus on businesses you think are getting ready to leave, maybe you can achieve a double win! Fast Facts: $3M per hydrogen-fuel station to build, 24 stations in California, 3 in Bay Area, and 175 hydrogen vehicles in California including the Chevrolet Equinox (180-mile range) and the Honda FCX Clarity (270-mile range). In 2005, the Legislature provided $19M to the Air Resources Board to boost the hydrocar market.

2005 Silver Ford Escape Hybrid Green SUV All Wheel Drive

Go Green with room for the kids and all their stuff on your way to Squaw Valley for a pow-pow day!

Roominess: Seats 5 people comfortably with good leg room and ample trunk space. Seats fold down flat in the back and there is a roof rack for additional storage space.

Fuel Savings: I saw an average of approximately 30 miles per gallon fuel efficiency - lower for hill driving, higher on the flats and in the city. If you drive 70 miles roundtrip each day to work, 250 days a year, pay $3/gallon at the pump and:

you get 20 MPG now, you may experience $875 gas savings per year
you get 15 MPG now, you may experience $1750 gas savings per year
you get 10 MPG now, you may experience $3500 gas savings per year

Engine Power: A traditional gasoline-powered 2.3L I4 Atkinson Cycle Engine and a hidden-rechargeable battery that works together with the combustion engine to improve fuel efficiency. Most of my driving was highway so if you are a city driver, you can expect better MPG than I experienced. The Reason? When you come to a stoplight the engine turns off. If you ease the gas pedal down to accelerate, the SUV runs exclusively on battery power until the computer decides more power is needed (over 25-30 MPH or when you need some quick zip).

Factory Warranty: 3yrs/36,000 miles overall and 8 years/100,000 miles on Hybrid components.

Extended Service Plan (Premium Care): 5yrs/48,000 miles overall (cost me $1500). This policy will be transferred at time of sale at my cost ($50).

Mileage: Less than 32,000 miles and was serviced recently. I can provide all records.

Exterior: Excellent condition. The silver color hides dirt well so you don’t need to wash as often - a plus for the planet and your pocketbook. There is a small dent on the tailgate (as shown in the picture) which I can fix before transferring ownership or lower the asking price if you want to do it yourself.

Features: All-Wheel Drive, Navigation System, Grey Leather Seats, Roof Rack, Privacy Glass, Cargo Cover, 110v Outlet, Alloy Wheels, Keyless Entry, Alarm, Fog Lights, Power Door Locks, Power Seat, Power Windows, Power Steering, Alloy Wheels, Cruise Control, Dual Front Air Bags, Premium Sound, ABS (4-Wheel), Tilt Wheel, Multi Compact Disc, Heat/Air Conditioning, and AM/FM Stereo.

An article on the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid:
http://trucks.about.com/od/suvreviews/fr/05_hybridescape.htm

Asking price $22,000. To test drive my Escape Hybrid, please email me at MongoSpeaks@HowToConserve.com. I’m located in Contra Costa County, California.

Thank you,
Eric
MongoSpeaks@HowToConserve.com

Had a great breakfast with some friends this morning at the Volunteer Park Cafe.. The prosciutto and egg panini was pretty tasty. Even tastier was the owner’s conservation habits. Heather shows how she cuts down the trash that her business creates - huge compost tub, huge recycle tub and a wee-bitty garbage can that I actually mistook for an overflow recycle can. She buys grass-fed meat from Tacoma now. In addition, she buys much of her produce from local farmers, some of whom actually deliver their berries in person! I would too for this Hot Mama Bird conservationist!

What else could a cafe owner be doing to reduce her and her customers’ footprints?

The Volunteer Park Cafe
1501 17th Ave. East, Seattle, WA
http://www.alwaysfreshgoodness.com/

I also visited the Swap Shop, a hardware store that buys and sells used furniture and tools, in addition to selling new! This is the first one I’ve ever seen! Now there’s a hardware store where I can feel good spending my money!

Hardwick’s Swap Shop
4214 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, Washington
http://www.ehardwicks.com/

Here are some great driving tips for improving your auto’s fuel efficiency:

http://www.greenercars.org/drivingtips.htm

Everyone tells you to reuse your supermarket bags but these bags are never where I am, when I need them. One solution is to create your own Bag Packs and to put them in things that will be with you next time you are shopping like purses, brief cases, car glove compartments and so on. Here’s a step-by-step guide for making Bag Packs so you too can take advantage of conservation opportunities when and where they occur. Remember, if you used every bag that touched your hands at least twice, you would be cutting your bag waste in half!

For Bag Packs, start with two paper or plastic bags and a rubber band…

fold the bags in half and then in half again…

roll up the sheet like you would a sleeping bag…

and wrap the whole thing with a rubber band!

Don’t forget to make lots of these and put them in places you will have access the next time you go shopping.

Invented a new way to conserve water, paper, plastic or peace-of-mind on the road? Share the wealth! Let us all know what to do, how to do it and when to do it.