Alternative Fuel Vehicles Are Here To Stay

Consumers looking to reduce carbon emissions and save money on fuel costs should consider vehicles that run on alternative fuels. Recent advances in alternative fuel technology by the giant automakers have resulted in more eco-friendly and economical vehicle choices.

If you're a potential new car buyer you can choose between the hybrid cars, electric cars or the hybrid electric vehicles available. Looking for a used car? How about one of the pre-owned hybrids or used electric cars. Another option is to convert your current vehicle to run on two other alternative fuel sources, biodiesel or hydrogen.

 Hybrid cars are the most popular of the alternative fuel powered vehicles. Hybrid vehicles use a combination of energy sources for power. A hybrid car burn gasoline and an alternative fuel. Common alternative fuel sources are hydrogen, compressed air, liquid natural gas and even electricity.

Electric vehicles exclusively use one alternative fuel source, electricity. The advantages of electric cars is they are virtually emissions free and buyers get a tax credit in the year they are purchased.

The disadvantages of electric cars are they have a limited range before they need to be recharged. They also have limited storage space because electric cars need lots of the space for the batteries.

If you have a diesel engine you can convert it to use an alternative fuel source called biodiesel. Biodiesel is a non-petroleum based product made by converting vegetable oil to fuel. Biodiesel can be used directly in diesel powered vehicles. Some consumers are using cooking oil from fast food restaurants to make biodiesel.

Another alternative fuel source available to power cars is hydrogen gas using an old technology called "Brown's Gas". It works by splitting the hydrogen and oxygen atoms in water to generate energy that increases fuel efficiency. The addition of a fuel cell is required.

The variety and choices of alternative fuel vehicles available to consumers is steadily increasing and becoming more affordable.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Kit (15 Cell)

New York City To Reduce Greenhouse Gas By Thirty Percent

The City Counsel of New York City has passed legislation that will reduce greenhouse gases by thirty percent by 2030. According to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, NYC will focus on reducing the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the hundreds of thousands of buildings in the city and it's boroughs.

This legislation, the most sweeping of its kind, is aimed at reducing the greenhouse gas emissions produced by buildings using fuel oil, natural gas, electricity and steam for power. A 2007 report by the Mayor's office showed that almost eighty percent of the city's greenhouse gases were emitted by buildings using these conventional power sources.

The new legislation puts New York City out in front in the green energy effort and a model for the rest of the country to follow.

"It's one of the most comprehensive, aggressive efforts anywhere in the country," said Donna De Costanzo, a senior attorney specializing in energy policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Part of the measure calls for the city to create a New York City energy code that existing buildings will have to meet whenever they make renovations.

A third bill requires buildings larger than 50,000 square feet to upgrade their lighting systems to comply with the new energy code by 2025.

The passing of this legislation is a great step toward the use of viable alternative energy and green living.