2008 Chevy Malibu Hybrid

Posted by A. Caleb Hartley on May 21st, 2008 filed in car, hybrid, miles per gallon, transportation
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General Motors has introduced a hybrid Malibu. Sounds like America’s largest automaker is finally getting it, huh? According to reports about the vehicle, it is solid competition for the Toyota Camry or the Honda Accord, both its direct competitors.

A standard Chevy Malibu is rated at 22 miles-per-gallon (MPG) in the city, and 30 MPG on the highway. The Hybrid version Chevy is now producing gets…

wait for it…

24 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway. Yes, you read that right - today, with oil prices reaching a new record of $133 per barrel - General Motors’ hybrid version of one of their most popular vehicles obtains a whopping TWO MPG more than the standard version. I’m going to take a wild guess and say that a feat such this could have obtained much more simply than adding a hybrid drive. Also, there are “standard” vehicles that match, exceed, or even kick the crap out of the Hybrid Malibu’s MPG rating - like, for instance a STANDARD Honda Accord, or a STANDARD Toyota Camry.

So I say - “Way to go GM!” Way to show the world that you are no where near ready to answer the issue of skyrocketing oil prices and help drivers with vehicles that make it not only more affordable to fill the tank, but maybe even are powered by something other than oil.

While I appreciate the gesture of bringing another hybrid to market - GM is greenwashing their product line without pissing off their oil company comrades by actually making any significant improvements.

Blah.

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley

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How do you feel about the minute improvements made by hybridizing the Chevy Malibu? Do you think it’s greenwashing? Do you think it’s a valid first step for GM to really improve its vehicle offerings? Flood the comments with your opinions… maybe GM will even hear you!

environmentastic!’s eco-directory

Posted by A. Caleb Hartley on May 19th, 2008 filed in directory, eco
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I’m starting to get pretty comfortable with this blogging thing, even though I’d still like to post more often than I have been. environmentastic! is beginning to be recognized in the blogging community, with no small thanks to Entrecard, and I’ve been receiving emails from blog directories asking if I’d like to list my blog (with reciprocal link backs, no doubt), I’ve been asked for link exchanges from green blogs, sites, and others (some not remotely coinciding with the topic of environmentastic), and I’ve even begun to be sent products to review… watch for a review of some products being sold at a large office supply chain very soon - and an interview with the product manufacturer’s CEO!

Having said that, I feel that my comfort zone has expanded. So what’s a good entrepreneurial-minded, blogger, website manager to do? START SOMETHING COMPLETELY NEW!

So that is exactly what I am doing. Having never really done anything like this before and having seen some small success at blogging, I’ve decided to add an “eco-directory” to environmentastic!. You can see its (very bare and sparse) beginnings at http://directory.environmentastic.com. The only category in it as of today is “News and Blogs” so it’s a good time to get your green blog submitted (I know at least two or three of my five readers host their own green blog)!

So, if any of you have any experience starting a directory, or even if you just have some ideas on categories that might belong in an eco-directory, please comment or suggest them on the eco-directory. So far, it seems to be very easy to use and update. One disclaimer - I am, right now, the only person managing the directory… this means I will be the only one approving or declining suggested URLs. So don’t expect a quick turnaround on approval - but I promise I will get to it!

Here’s to encouraging ecological goodness and Earthy-friendliness on the world wide web - and in the world of bricks and mortar as well!

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley

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Don’t forget to leave a comment if you think of appropriate categories and/or subcategories for the eco-directory! I thank you in advance; I want this directory to become the number one place on the web to find green, natural, sustainable businesses and information.

Central Ohio “Public Green” installation

Posted by A. Caleb Hartley on May 12th, 2008 filed in art
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The Worthington Arts Council is seeking donations of plastic bottles and containers for a “visual-arts installation” this summer called Public Green.

Supported by Sustainable Worthington, these plastic bottles and containers will be collected until June 18th, and will be used by William Cravis to create the “installation” during the summer of 2008. Mr. Cravis is a professor of sculpture at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Check out the above sites for more information or for drop-off sites for your plastic bottles and containers.

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley

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I hope the installation gets recycled at the end of it’s run. What do you think about this concept? Tell us all about it in the comments!

3 inches of mulch + a few months = garden bed

Posted by Joe Bauer on May 7th, 2008 filed in gardening, landscape
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When you want to start a garden, chances are you’re going to have to get rid of some grass.  You could spray non-selective herbicides or till, but those methods require harsh chemicals or hard labor.  My favorite method is to smother the existing lawn, usually with mulch.  I think the best time to start this is in the fall, because then you have a good grass free zone by spring.  If you use leaves to accomplish this you get the added bonus of a thin layer of compost in the spring.  Those who have a deep hatred of weeds would wait a whole year- then there’s little chance of any seasonal weeds slipping through, but I think that’s a bit excessive.  If you’re planting native plants you don’t normally need to get crazy with tilling the land after you’ve smothered it.  Remember, nobody tills the land for these plants in the wild and they do just fine.  Remember to use a thick layer (about three inches) of leaves or mulch, let it stay untouched for a few months, and you’ll do just fine.  This is my kind of gardening- no hastle, no rush, and no chemicals :)

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Interested in a type of garden but want to know more about it?  Looking for a plant to fit a specific site?  Add some comments and I’ll make sure to factor in your feedback when deciding what to write about next

Dying to offset your carbon emissions?

Posted by A. Caleb Hartley on May 5th, 2008 filed in carbon footprint, tree
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A cemetery in Australia, Adelaide Centennial Park, has decided to plant a tree for each burial or cremation it conducts.

Based on a study of the environmental impacts of cremations and burials done by the cemetery, cremation produces less carbon emissions in the long run because of ongoing upkeep of the burial site; however, in the “short run,” cremations generate about 353 pounds of carbon dioxide, compared to 86 pounds for a burial.

The cemetery’s research showed that planting about one tree for each service would offset Centennial Park’s carbon footprint, so chief executive Bryan Elliott set a goal, “to be carbon neutral within the next six months.”

Read more about it by clicking here.

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley

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What do you think about this? What would you think about “green burials,” where a tree is planted on top of the grave site? Sick? Cool? Ambiguous? Plant your opinion in the comments!