7 WAYS … TO STAY MOTIVATED
January 10, 2010 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
“Do what you love.” We’ve all heard this before. It’s great advice, though not many people truly take it to heart. But sometimes doing what you love isn’t enough to keep you going. Inspiration, passion, and motivation are difficult things to hold on to. They always seem to slip away right when you need them most.
7 WAYS TO … KILL YOUR EXCUSES
December 9, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
We all make excuses. But the successful ones are those who can kill them and move on toward their goals.
“I’m too tired. I don’t have the time. I don’t feel motivated. I’d rather do nothing. I don’t have the money, equipment, space. I can’t because” …
We’ve all made the excuses. Here’s how to kill them…
10 Reasons Santa Should Go Vegan
December 6, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
As Christmas day nears, I’ve been thinking about jolly ol’ Santa and his love for milk and cookies … how his turning vegan could be the biggest gift to vegan activists everywhere.
The Dirt on Salt (and Water)
December 6, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
Salt is a vital substance for the survival of all living creatures, particularly humans. Water and salt regulate the water content of the body. Water itself regulates the water content of the interior of the cell by working it’s way into all of the cells it reaches. It has to get there to cleanse and extract the toxic wastes of cell metabolism.
10 Tips for Greening Your Workout
November 3, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
Who doesn’t like a great workout to get your adrenaline going and have a burst of energy? But is that burst of energy slowly draining the environment? Eco-expert Kim Carlson is encouraging workout enthusiasts (and those less enthusiastic) to green their routine. Before hitting the gym, check out Kim’s top 10 tips to consider when greening your workout.
Life is a Mirror
October 26, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
A girlfriend Skyped me this morning. She recently moved back from London, has already changed states, has been through a bunch of short-lived jobs, and on Thursday was frog-marched out of her latest boring admin position. She is lost, directionless, and has no idea what to do. “And to top it all off,” she said, “My knees are killing me. I think I have arthritis. I’m off to get some herbal drugs.” I raised my eyebrows and responded, “Um, hel-LO… do you know what legs and knees symbolize? Your direction in life!” She was stunned. But it makes sense, doesn’t it?
7 WAYS … TO DEAL WITH NEGATIVE PEOPLE
As children we’re raised on Utopian ideals of community based on cross religious and cultural variations of ‘love thy neighbor’. But where exactly do you draw the line when it comes to negative, energy-draining, drama-inducing people who seems to thrive on negativity? Negative people are black holes, the “Blue Meanies” of our world.
MOVE YOUR STUFF, CHANGE YOUR LIFE Karen Rauch Carter
August 3, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
Why it’s great: Traditional feng shui guides can be somewhat to downright confusing. Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life is not only a cinch to follow, it presents the ancient Chinese system of creating balance and chi (energy flow) with a sense of humor. It’s Rauch’s ability to bring on a giggle or two that makes this book not only practical, but also entertaining.
Simple Improvements for Greening Your Home
August 1, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
What are some simple low cost improvements I can do to my home to make it greener? — Stefan Lonce, via email
According to consumer advocate Remar Sutton, there are many ways to save energy and other resources around the home without spending a lot of money. And taking action sooner rather than later will lead to ongoing savings on utility bills, so a little cash outlay now will more than pay for itself in the long run.
Can Cars Really Be Modified to Run on Water?
July 22, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
I’ve heard that cars can be modified to run on water. How is this possible? — Diane McMorris, Rockport, ME
There are a number of online marketing offers of kits that will convert your car to “run on water,” but these should be viewed skeptically. These kits, which attach to the car’s engine, use electrolysis to split the water (H2O) into its component molecules—hydrogen and oxygen—and then inject the resulting hydrogen into the engine’s combustion process to power the car along with the gasoline. Doing this, they say, makes the gasoline burn cleaner and more completely, thus making the engine more efficient.
But experts say the energy equation on this type of system is not, in reality, efficient at all. For one, the electrolysis process uses energy, such as electricity in the home or the on-board car battery, to operate. By the laws of nature, then, the system uses more energy making hydrogen than the resulting hydrogen itself can supply, according to Dr. Fabio Chiara, research scientist in alternative combustion at the Center for Automotive Research at Ohio State University.
Moreover, Chiara says, the amount of greenhouse gases produced by the vehicle “would be much larger, because two combustion processes [gasoline and hydrogen] are involved.” Finally, there is a safety consideration for consumers who add these devices to their cars. “H2 is a highly flammable and explosive gas,” he says, and would require special care in installation and use.
The electrolysis process could be viable in saving energy if a renewable, non-polluting energy source such as solar or wind could be harnessed to power it, although capturing enough of that energy source on board the car would be another hurdle.
Researchers today put more focus on using hydrogen to power fuel cells, which can replace internal combustion engines to power cars and emit only water from the tailpipe. And though hydrogen is combustible and can power an internal combustion engine, to use hydrogen in that way would squander its best potential: to power a fuel cell.
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are gaining traction, but commercialization of hydrogen fuel has not yet been accomplished. “The potential benefits of fuel cells are significant,” say researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). “[H]owever, many challenges must be overcome before fuel cell systems will be a competitive alternative for consumers.”
The state of California operates a “Hydrogen Highway” program that supports development of hydrogen fuel cell technology and infrastructure. And many companies are working on ways to produce, store and dispense hydrogen. Cars powered by fuel cells are in prototype stages now, nearing production.
While we all wait to see how that shakes out, the best choice today for high mileage and low emissions is still the gasoline/electric hybrid car.
CONTACTS: Center for Automotive Research, http://car.eng.ohio-state.edu; NREL, www.nrel.gov; California Hydrogen Highway, www.hydrogenhighway.ca.gov.
SEND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS TO: EarthTalk, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; earthtalk@emagazine.com.
