HARNESSING THE SUMMER SUN: CHEVY VOLT OWNERS LOOK TO THE SKY FOR CLEAN ENERGY
Well, as we wrap up National Tire Safety Week, my thoughts are about finding some time this weekend to soak up some well-deserved summer sun, and I'd imagine I'm not alone in the Ask Patty Nation. So it seems only fitting that today I'm sharing with you a couple of gentlemen who are also soaking up some rays - but they're not working on their tans. The new generation of electric cars is the latest step in a long journey toward clean, green energy that we started decades ago. I marvel at how far we've come, but some people take good ideas and push them just a little farther. This post highlights two particular gentlemen who not only own and drive a Chevy Volt, but also choose to charge its batteries with a little help from above. Solar panel arrays offset their grid consumption, and keep their Volts on the road. Head past the jump for more. ZD Wines Winemaster and CEO Robert deLeuze with his Chevrolet Volt and a solar panel array in the vineyard of his Napa, Califor [Read More]published June 14, 2011 at 1:13pm CDT
GAS-SAVING TIPS FOR TRYING TIMES
Brought to you by ASE - National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence Every day seems to bring higher prices at the gas pump. Some commuters are sharing rides, others are taking public transportation. But if you are like countless others, you depend on your personal vehicle. So here are some easy-to-follow gas-saving tips from the experts at the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and#40;ASEand#41; on how to conserve fuel and make sure your car or truck gets optimal miles per gallon. Monitor tires. Under-inflated tires or poorly aligned wheels waste fuel by forcing the engine to work harder. Remove excess weight. Remove unnecessary items from the vehicle. Less weight means better mileage. Consolidate trips and errands. Also, try to travel when traffic is light so you can avoid stop-and-go conditions. Keep your engine "tuned up." Replace filters and fluids as recommended; have engine performance problems and#40;rough idling, poor acceleration, e [Read More]published May 16, 2011 at 1:12pm CDT
HAVE AN IDEA TO GREEN YOUR COMMUNITY? FORD AND GREEN FESTIVAL COULD MAKE IT HAPPEN.
If you've been thinking green lately, you're in good company here on the AskPatty Blog, but your thinking could pay off for you to the tune of $5000. Ford and the Green Festival have teamed up to help improve five US cities, and they're asking you for your ideas. They'll be choosing the most innovative green schemes to receive a $5000 grant to make the plan happen. The Community Green Grant program asks individuals and organization to think ahead, and come up with new and amazing ideas that would improve the environment in their local communities prior to the start of a local Green Festival. Attendees at the Green Festival in each city will vote to select the project proposal that will receive the $5,000 Community Green Grant. Green Festivals are slated to take place in Chicago, Seattle, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco this year. Before each event opening, a panel from Green Festival and Ford will select a group of Community Green Grant finalists from among the pro [Read More]published May 12, 2011 at 3:25pm CDT
WHEEL ACTION: MAY IS NATIONAL BIKE MONTH
Despite what recent chilly temperatures and#40;at least in LAand#41; may be telling us, spring really is on its way! This is the start of National Bike Month so we thought we’d bring you some new bikes and cycling accessories to get you and your family ready for two-wheel transportation: National Bike Month Notes: May 16 – 20, 2011 is officially “Bike to Work Week” and Friday, the 20th is the 17th annual “Bike to Work Day.” Sadly, there is also an official “Ride of Silence” to honor fallen cyclists–which is also a nationwide observance on May 19. Join cyclists worldwide in a silent slow-paced ride in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways. The League of American Bicyclists promotes awareness of National Bike Month by offering “50 ways to celebrate bike month.” Cool bike accessories and Pretty Tough Picks. With all the attention on healthy lifestyles and the importance of exercise–bike month might be just what [Read More]published May 3, 2011 at 6:44pm CDT
FORD'S RECYCLING CARPET - INTO ENGINE PARTS!
The green news from Ford just keeps on rolling in, and I just had to share this one with you. Ford's been using a material called EcoLon®, a nylon resin, in its cylinder head covers. What's so special about that? Well, EcoLon® is made from 100% recycled carpet. They've been using the stuff since 2010, and they report that they've saved more than 4.1 million pounds of carpet from landfills, the equivalent of nearly 154 football fields and#40;Plush, shag-covered football fields, no less. This I'd like to seeand#41;. It also amounted to recycling more than 985,000 yards of carpet and reducing the consumption of more than 430,000 gallons of oil. Once again Ford, you stand up as a leader in Green practices. When are you going to change that logo of yours from blue to green, and be done with it? These amazing non-metal cylinder head covers are manufactured by Dana Holding Corporation, and are used on the 3.0-liter Duratec engine in Ford Fusion and Escape. They can als [Read More]published April 20, 2011 at 8:16pm CDT
DRIVE A LITTLE GREENER WITH G-OIL
As the month of April approaches, and with it Earth Day, the focus of the Blog begins to shift to the green side of the spectrum. We'll be featuring lots of eco-friendly products and tips in the coming 30 days or so, and the first of those is Green Earth Technologies, who is already a leading manufacturer and marketer of Green products. This month they announced a partnership with the EPA's Design for the Environment and#40;DfEand#41; Program, touting the environmental, technological, and efficiency benefits of their products. The product and#40;or products, more accuratelyand#41; in the spotlight for this initiative is called G-Clean, which, as the name implies, is a line of cleaning products. I know, I know - this is an automotive blog. Why am I telling you about the stuff you should use in your pressure washer? Well, the answer is this company's flagship product: G-Oil, an environmentally safe, biodegradable engine oil. Yeah, I said that. Is it great? Could be... but as [Read More]published March 26, 2011 at 11:14pm CDT
EARTHGARAGE: FUEL ECONOMY - THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT.
This month's featured article from our friends at EarthGarage.com is all about apps - apps that allow your iPhone or Andriod smartphone to calculate your gas mileage for you. It's just another way that our mobile devices are connecting us more than ever not just to each other, but to our cars as well Read the whole article here Connect with Us View Our Compliance Statement Subscribe to our RSS Feed Subscribe to our E-News AskPatty® and Certified Female Friendly® are U.S. registered trademarks owned by AskPatty.com, Inc. [Read More]published March 25, 2011 at 11:48am CDT
ME AND GOJI DELIVERS A HEALTHY BREAKFAST OPTION
Crunchy. Crispy. Chewy. Healthy? With nine base cereals offered and over fifty “enhancers” everyone is sure to find a tasty combination of Me and Goji custom artisanal cereal. My creation, the “Mighty Mango” and#40;don’t ask me why I picked that nameand#41; included healthy hoops, golden granola, corn flakes, sliced almonds, dried cranberries, and sunflower seeds. Yum. The only thing I’d do differently on the next order would be to add more ingredients. Maybe some dried raspberries and strawberries? Mixed with mulberry and acai powder? I felt like I was already putting in too many ingredients, but in the case of cereal, I guess the more ingredients the merrier. If you aren’t feeling too creative, Me and Goji also provides a list of pre-designed organic cereals. One mixture that looked particularly appetizing was “Adam’s Apple.” This recipe includes amaranth and flax infused organic corn flakes, apples, cinnamon, cranberry, goji, golden raisons, and pumpkin. The pre-made r [Read More]published March 15, 2011 at 12:08pm CDT
published February 23, 2011 at 11:36am CST
NAIAS CARNIVAL OF CARS: IN SNOWY DETROIT, ALTERNATE FUEL VEHICLES ARE HOT
Neither snow nor rain nor delayed flights can keep the automotive world out of Detroit for the North American International Auto Show, which is being held at Cobo Hall through January 23. Press days were held on January 10 and 11. Here are some highlights: Alternative Fuel and Engines Reign Chevrolet's game-changing Volt continued its winning streak of Car of the Year awards and#40;it was also named Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto Show in Novemberand#41;. This was the first electric vehicle to be named North American Car of the Year -- but judging from all the new electrics, hybrids and alternate fuel concepts on display in Detroit, it won't be the last. Volkswagen showed off its TDI line of clean diesel cars, the new hybrid version of its roomy Touareg crossover vehicle and#40;which we liked last April, when it debuted at the New York Auto Showand#41; and an all-electric Golf which they say will have an 80-mile range when fully charged and#40;currently [Read More]published January 18, 2011 at 3:21pm CST