America’s consumption of gasoline is insatiable, which is, of course, the engine that drives the BPs of the world to search for more crude. Every dollar we spend at the gas pump is another request, from us to them, to go forth and seek more oil even though we all know that means drilling in more challenging areas. For decades there were just too few options for breaking our addiction to oil. But now, thanks to the Nissan Leaf, the Chevrolet Volt, the Ford Focus, the Mitsubishi iMiEV, and others, the electric vehicle (EV) will be available to consumers at the end of this year or in 2011. This means…
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SoupCycle Delivers Organic Soup-Based Meals Made from Locally Sourced Foods
A several years ago, a couple of college students made a business plan to make and sell locavore soup and deliver it by bicycle. The students came to Portland and set up their business, SoupCycle. Jed Lazar and Shauna Lambert are the creative cooks and bicycle peddlers behind the food service business. They source local produce whenever possible and actively pursue environmentally sustainable, socially responsible business practices. They do have help with deliveries from fellow SoupCyclers Jen and Matt and they’re avid bicycle advocates twittering support for bike events and get-togethers. Soups and soup meals are available by subscription. Ordering online is easy and both the soup…
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Tires Made from Trees Save on Fuel and Energy
Kaichang Li, an associate professor of wood science and engineering in the OSU College of Forestry believes that microcrystalline cellulose, a material made from trees and other plant fibers, may be able to replace about 12% of the silica used as a reinforcing filler in rubber tires. Photo: Materials scientist and OSU doctoral student, Wen Bai, develops rubber composites in an OSU laboratory using a new technology that incorporates microcrystalline cellulose – an approach that may lead to automobile tires which cost less, perform better and produce improved vehicle mileage. Lower production costs, more heat-resistant, fuel-efficient tires similar in traction and strength to conventional tires appear to be some of…
