Bookmark This Page

Delicious Google Bookmarks Stumbleupon Digg BlinkList Blogmarks Facebook Ma.gnolia Reddit Twitter Yahoo My Web Livejournal

Steps to Decreasing Your Dependency on Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels have been the center of debate for decades. Not only are we dependent on them, but the pollution created from them is a source of worry as well. Despite what the government says or does, there are many things that you can do to minimize your individual need for fossil fuels. At a time when oil prices are out of control and many families have to decide between gas to get to work and buying food, it’s time to take matters into your own hands. It doesn’t look like the government has any intention of providing a plentiful alternative any time soon.

There are many alternative automobile fueling products up for debate at this time. From electricity, ethanol and hydrogen to biodiesel, which one is the healthiest and most cost effective? Let’s look at biodiesel, the alternatives that have made headlines lately for being quite possibly the best idea out there. Biodiesel is a non-toxic, biodegradable fuel made from vegetable sources such as soybean or corn oil. The military and many other state governments have already switched to Biodiesel.

However, because Biodiesel has not yet been approved for the average consumer, your best bet at this time is to invest in a hybrid vehicle that runs on both electric and gas. Take the Toyota Prius for example, the best selling hybrid vehicle since their introduction, not only will you save a ton in gas costs, but will also cut emissions to the environment by fifty percent. The car design is truly brilliant. Toyota has also created a minivan, however it has yet to be brought to the United States. The only downside to these vehicles is that they are expensive.

If you don’t have the money to invest in a hybrid vehicle yet, an electric scooter or electric bike may be the way to go to and from work or school. Of course, it won’t work for a family outing, but it is a great way to save on gas and energy for running everyday errands. With gas prices out of sight, more and more people are turning to such alternative to save big bucks. There are many different models on the market today.

The only thing you should know is that you definitely get what you pay for when it comes to scooters and electric bikes. If you don’t have money to invest in one that costs over $800, don’t bother until you do. There are a multitude of cheap bikes coming off the lines in China and they are not worth a dime. If you are going to get one, get one that will last and one that comes with a warranty as well. I guess if all else fails, walk when you can, it just makes common sense.

Aside from automobiles, many consumers have also made a conscious effort to change that way that they heat their homes. With natural gas prices rising almost constantly, alternative heating methods are very appealing, efficient and much healthier as well. Of course, a traditional fireplace is appealing, but now there are wood and corn pellet stoves that can heat entire households for pennies on the dollar. They may seem expensive at first, but an investment of this nature will save you hundreds of dollars each year and is much safer for your home environment.

You can also purchase a conversion kit that will convert your traditional fireplace into a pellet stove. One word of caution here is to do your homework. You will want to make sure that you invest in a unit that has a big enough BTU output to heat your square footage.