Our Environment

You may not have heard of hypermilers but as gas prices continue to soar, you may find that you have become one. Hypermilers is the name adopted by a group of hyper-conscious drivers who represent the "quest for ultimate efficiency in hybrid, alternative and future transportation fuel technologies". Through the use of hybrid cars and conservative driving techniques, hypermilers are reporting mileages of 75 miles per gallon or more.

Most hypermilers prefer hybrid vehicles, but you can become a hypermiler in your traditional vehicle by consistently practicing the following gas saving techniques.

By following these tips, you can become a hypermiler and save money at the pump this summer.

Virtually all laptops use rechargeable batteries in addition to the laptop ac adapters. These batteries consist of either Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) or Lithium-Ion (Li-ion). Although neither type is considered and environmental hazard (Nickel is considered only semi-toxic), it is still important to dispose of them in a proper fashion. The Nickel in Nickel Metal Hydride batteries can be extracted and recycled for reuse. Lithium-Ion based batteries are not reused, but should always be returned to a reclamation center for proper disposal since the electrolyte inside can become flammable if exposed to moisture.

Many municipalities have reclamation centers that will accept most household items including laptop batteries. You can check with your local city sanitation department or call 1-800-8-BATTERY for a reclamation center near you. You can also check with the manufacturer of your computer for recycling options. Most computer and technology companies have instituted recycling programs for their products.

Dell Lithium-Ion batteries can be recycled free of charge. Just provide your shipping information at http://support.dell.com/ and dell well send a pre-paid shipping container for any dell product.

Even with all of the options available for the recycling of laptop batteries, currently only 1 in 6 are returned in the US. Compared to automobile batteries which have a 98% reclamation rate, there is still ample room for improvement.

Getting the word out about your non-profit organization can be a challenging task. Most charitable organizations often have limited resources of both cash and man power. These days, “word of mouth” advertising has been replaced by social networking and blogging.

Here are a few tips to expand the reach of your non-profit organization:

Functional and Up-to-date Web Site – If your organizations web site was designed by your 15 year old cousin in 1998, then you probably need to trash it. There is no shortage of talented young web designers who will design a modern and appealing site for little or nothing. Often, a start-up design company may do your site pro-bono just to have a referral and a link back to their own site.

Print Publications – Many publishers offer generous ad opportunities for non-profits. Temecula & Murrieta's Entertainment Magazine donates a free page of ad space every month and, in return, they simply ask for a link back to their site. You can find out more by visiting Temecula & Murrieta Local Charities.

Google Grants Program – Google offers free advertising for qualifying non-profits. With this program you have an opportunity to expand your reach across the largest advertising market in existence. Google does not approve every one, but they have given away tens of millions of dollars in ad space since the program began.

Start a Blog – A blog is a great way to let the world know what is going on with your organization. Best of all, they are free and the search engines love a blog that is updated regularly. There are dozens of free blog services such as Blogger and Wordpress.

Social Networking – Facebook, Myspace, and others are all great channels to spread the word about your non-profit. Because younger people who are active in the community spend a great deal of time on these sites, social networking has become a great way to recruit volunteers.

Hopefully, these tips will help you grow your non-profit and make the most out limited resources. No doubt there are plenty of people out there that want to support your charity but they have to know about it first.

Every industry is going green and web hosting is no exception. A web hosting company provides servers to host web sites and it may offer the ability to register domain names. What can make a hosting service green? Well, this mainly depends on who you ask as there is not a fixed standard. Most of the time, especially with tech companies, green means that they take measures to offset their carbon footprint. Since technology companies may have dozens if not hundreds of power hungry computers, the energy usage can be considerable.

Many hosting companies opt to simply donate to non-profit environmental groups or purchase carbon credits. Other hosting companies guarantee that the energy they use is produced in an eco-friendly manner such as wind, solar, or geothermal. A growing number of companies have even started producing their own power.

Whether you are looking for cheap web hosting for your blog or starting the next big .com company, ask what your provider is doing to offset their energy usage.

Many current home owners in the US and UK are approaching the adjustment period on the ARM’s (adjustable rate mortgages) that were used to purchase homes during the housing boom in the early 2000’s. Once again, although due to different economic circumstances, interest rates are at historic lows and the mortgage industry is struggling to retain customers.

There are many options available when re-financing. Green mortgages are becoming very popular since they give you a benefit for energy efficiency upgrades made to your home.

Here are some common questions asked about green mortgages:

What types of green mortgages are available?
The most common is the energy efficiency subsidy that actually discounts your interest rate for meeting the requirements. Also available is the donation type green mortgage. This usually involves a donation by the lender to an ecological organization that will in turn plant trees for carbon offset or promote other sustainability programs.

How can I qualify for a green mortgage?
In the US, you will need to make sure that your home is Energy Star compliant. This means that the home uses 15% less energy than the minimum federal requirements. If your home was built energy start compliant, you will most likely have a sticker on the breaker box of the home.

Can I get a green bad credit remortgage?
Yes, even with a low credit score you may be able to qualify if your house meets the energy efficiency requirements.

Where can I learn more?
Visit the Green Mortgages Guide for more details about qualifying for a green mortgage or remortgage.