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Let’s be honest with ourselves for a moment and finally admit that when it comes to the world of alternative energy fuels, we don’t know half as much as we probably should.  There is no shame in admitting it, I’ll be the first to say that I could probably use a primer, an update course on the in’s and out’s of biodiesel.  Given the fact that the landscape of the biodiesel world is ever changing, I think it’s wise we all freshen up.

Good news, I found just the refresher course, from a very awesome source.  So, without further ado on this fine Wednesday, check out 25 things you need to know about biodiesel.  Numbers 1-19 are all the things that are RIGHT about them, while 20-25 are all the other sides of that coin.  It’s always good to play devil’s advocate, right?  As always, head over and check out the full article for more details:

1. “Biodiesels are more available than you may realize
   A lot of people resist the idea of a biofuels simply out of fear of not being able to find any in their area. Well take a look around, you might be very surprised how common biofuel is. Two great maps to search for alternative fuels are Mapmuse and Mapquest.
2. Biodiesel is environmentally friendly
   Biodiesel contains a gentle formula which does not cause near as much harm to the environment as conventional diesel fuel does.
3. Biodiesel can help reduce dependency on foreign oil
   Folks are always wondering how to reduce their dependency on foreign oil, but until the electric vehicle becomes widespread, our options are very slim. Some of the most popular options include walking and biking, but if you need to drive, biodiesel is an effective way to get away from the foreign oil market without changing your lifestyle drastically.
4. Biodiesel helps lubricate the engine by reducing wear
   Biodiesel with its high concentrations of vegetable oil, enables the moving metal mechanical parts in the engine to be constantly bathed in lubrication. This essentially slows the process of diesel engine wear and its eventual failure. Discovery’s How stuff Works estimates that biodiesel in concentrations of no more than 1 percent are able to increase fuel lubricity by as much as 65 percent.
5. Biodiesel cleans the engine
   Biofuels are a much more effective solvent than conventional diesel fuel. They help to loosen deposits inside the engine which could potentially cause clogs. This results in a better running engine in less need of major mechanical maintenance. But for this very reason you will need to change your fuel filter on a regular basis, but we will get to that in fact #20.
6. Biodiesel increases engine life
   Since pure biodiesel leaves no deposits of its own, it actual is able to increase the typical diesel engine’s life substantially.
7. Biodiesel can be used in almost any diesel with little or no engine modification
   A common misconception is that engine modification is needed in order to use biodiesel. Pretty much any diesel engine can burn biodiesel, especially vehicles post-1992. Check with your manufacturer to see their specific recommendations for using these blends. The only caveat is if you are looking into using either waste vegetable oil (WVO) or straight vegetable oil (SVO), you may need a retrofit kit, such as the one discussed in fact #22.
8. Biodiesel is non-toxic
   The basic ingredients of most biodiesels are rather simple. It is fundamentally methanol, sodium hydroxide, and any vegetable oil. It has been said that biodiesel is often 10 times less toxic than regular table salt.
9. Biodiesel does not effect most new vehicle warranties in the US
   It is common myth that using biodiesel in your vehicle will void its warranty. This is just not true for many US made vehicles. This should be one of your first requirements when shopping for a new diesel vehicle.
10. Biodiesel has a higher flashpoint than conventional diesel fuel
    What does this mean to you? Well, it means that if you have a tank of this in a wrecked vehicle, or even in the back seat for an emergency, it is much less likely to accidentally catch fire. It takes more heat for biodiesel to ignite than conventional diesel. This allows for both the commercial and personal transportation and storage of biodiesel to be much safer for all parties involved.
11. Biofuel not only reduces pollution, but can help clean it
    It’s a good idea to know where your biofuel is coming from, as its different sources offers different benefits. Soybean based biofuel crops actually help clean the Earth’s atmosphere of excess carbon.
12. Biofuels can reduce a lot of waste
    Biofuel based on a waste products, such as sawdust, make a great way to use such a fundamentally useless bi-product that would otherwise end up in a landfill somewhere. Sawdust biofuel burns very clean too.
13. Biofuels crops may one day be set-up in landfills
    Rotting material in the landfills creates a liquid called, leachate, which can seep into ground water if not properly processed and cleaned up. Waste Recycling Group has proposed using this leachate as food for algae which would be grown on-site at local landfills. The leachate would then eventually turn to fertilizer, which could then be use to grow willow coppice’s (mostly used in the UK), which can be used for biofuel.
14. Biodiesel is more biodegradable than conventional diesel
    Biodiesel which has bacteria introduced to it can decompose in a manner that is four times faster than conventional diesel. This means that in the event of a tanker spill, its clean-up would be much less devastating to the surrounding water, wildlife, fish, and plants.
15. Biofuels do not always involve food crops
    Biofuels in general get a bad rap for having to use food crops as their source, such as soybeans, corn, sugar cane, etc. However there is a third generation of biodiesels in development today that will allow algae to be used instead.
16. You actually have a say in your biofuel
    The greenest way to contribute to better biofuels is to get active in groups which are lobbying to elected officials to increase funding for viable biodiesel. If you don’t like the source of your fuel in your area, the only way to make a change is to voice your opinion and make sure that you are heard.
17. Brewing your own biodiesel is as easy as 1…2…3…
    Okay, perhaps it is more like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7…but each of these steps are not particularly difficult by any means. The first step involves filtering the oil (if using a waste oil). Second step involves heating oil to remove any water (optional). Third, perform a titration test to determine amount of catalyst needed for the mix. Fourth, is to prepare the sodium methoxide. Fifth, allow mixture to settle and remove glycerin (make some soap with it while you’re at it, fact #18). Then the Sixth step involves washing and drying your batch, until you are ready for the final step, which is testing for quality. There is also the Willie Nelson blend of biofuel that can easily be accomplished with a blender in about 20 minutes.
18. A free bonus that comes with brewing your own biodiesel, is a lifetime supply of soap
    Glycerin is the bi-product formed during the process of making biodiesel. If you make enough batches of biofuel, you will probably find that you will have enough glycerin left over to never have to buy another bar of soap again. You can make high-lathering smelly foo foo soap, thick burly workshop soap, or just plain and simple, clean, natural soap. Its all in how you mix the ingredients together.
19. Another added bonus for those of you who fry your turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas
    Your deep fried Christmas and Thanksgiving turkey may pay for itself if you use the leftover grease to power your diesel.
20. First generation biodiesels may increase poverty by raising food prices
    This is a common case brought against biofuels which are derived from such food crops as soybeans or corn. The belief is that one day, especially in developing nations, the crops that are currently being sold for human and animal consumption, would be sold for biofuel production. This could subsequently cause a food shortage, which could also drive the price of food up substantially.
21. Change fuel filters more often
    Since the composition of biodiesel is partially a solvent, some vehicles may experience substantial clogging in their fuel filters due to the dislodged particles that will accumulate. What happens is the biofuel essentially cleans the path that the old fuel has traveled, essentially leaving fragments in the fuel line that can lead to a blockage or malfunctioning fuel pump. Diesel vehicles prior to 1992 are especially prone to this. The best way to combat this problem is to check with your manufacturer on their recommended biofuel blend. Then make sure that you change the fuel pump and fuel filters shortly after switching to a high-concentration of biodiesel.
22. Biodiesel has been known to breakdown rubber components in engine as well as cause other mechanical failures
    This refers to a diesel vehicles fuel lines and fuel pump seals in older vehicles mostly. This is where a retrofit kit, such as a Greasecar system may come in handy, especially when using SVO.
23. In some engines, there can be a slight decrease in fuel economy and/or power
    On average, when switching to a biofuel blend you should expect about a 10 percent reduction in available power. It has been said that approximately 1.1 gallons of biodiesel equals 1 gallon of conventional diesel, which should give you an idea of how little your fuel economy will be effected in the long run.
24. Blends of 5% biodiesel and over may not flow properly during the cold winter months
    Without a heated fuel line, biodiesel may not flow well enough to reach the engine’s combustion chamber. This is why most retrofit kits designed for high concentration blends will include a heated fuel line, such as the one mentioned in fact #22.
25. The recommended shelf life of biodiesel is only 6 months
    Conventional diesel is about six months as well, but when you are manufacturing this stuff yourself in advance, you certainly don’t want to waste any due to it being out of date.”

If your travel plans are taking you anywhere in or around the Sundance area this year, I have great news!  This year, unlike many years, there are actually quite a few great green films that you can take in!  That’s right, this year’s Sundance Film Festival doesn’t JUST have to be the glitz, glamour and independent showcases that you’re all accustomed to hearing.

This year, if you are lucky enough to be in attendance, you can actually choose to see some films that are striving to make a difference; some films this year are going green, and as such we here at Northern Tool and From the Workbench want to give our endorsement!  Here, according to reports, are 5 Green Films you shouldn’t miss this year:

“Earth Days: From the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970 sprouted an environmental consciousness that would infiltrate Americans’ hearts and minds for decades to come.Through the eyes of nine citizens, including a congressman and an astronaut, this documentary recounts the modern environmental movement and the sweeping progress it prompted.

Dirt! The Movie: With humor and honesty, this film digs deep to deliver the voices of farmers, physicists, church leaders, children, wine critics, anthropologists, and activists sharing anecdotes about the ground beneath our feet — and the dangers of destroying it.

The End of the Line: You’d expect a documentary that trawls in the facts about overfishing’s devastating effects to have beautiful underwater scenes mixed with chilling scientific testimony, and this one does. It also incites shock and offers solutions to save seafood.

Crude: Filmmaker Joe Berlinger spent three years capturing the David-and-Goliath tale of five indigenous tribes fighting for justice against one of the world’s largest oil producers. After Chevron dumped 18 billion tons of toxic oil waste in the Ecuadoran Amazon, the people fight for their day in court in this broadly scoped documentary.

The Cove: Flipper inspired a love for dolphins that mutated over the years into an multibillion dollar entertainment industry, quietly supplied by Japanese porpoise-snatchers. Guards in Taijii, Japan, the world’s largest supplier of dolphins, patrol the coves to prevent photography from leaking their secret, until a small documentary team, led by a famous dolphin trainer, infiltrate and expose the cruel practice.”

There you have it.  Check out any of those films and fill your mind with Green and Good this year.  Who knows what could happen!

Welcome back to the work week!  Where I am working it’s currently very cold, very snowy and the worst is on the way.  That said, what do you do if you are like me and you crave a good farmer’s market?  You prefer fresh vegetables to packaged ones, organic produce to store-bought?  Simple, you look for a winter market.

That’s right, a winter market, if available in your area, can be the perfect solution for filling your grocery bags with good, healthy, organic produce and food without having to head into your nearest Safeway or Albertons.  According to the article I read, there are many great ways to utilize a Winter Farmer’s Market, here is what they had to say:

Many farmers’ markets go dormant during winter, but there are exceptions, such as the winter market in Portland, Maine. Use LocalHarvest or the USDA’s National Agricultural Library to find a local market or CSA in your region. Expect to find cold-tolerant vegetables like potatoes, carrots, beets, rutabagas, winter squash, and onions. In some regions, greens such as kale will be available. Applesmeat, eggs, and dairy are year-round foods. If you live near the coast, opt for sustainable seafood. store well and are often sold at winter markets. If you can’t find fresh produce, remember that local

So, do some research, find a winter market near you and start doing some green, organic shopping in your home town!

Stay Warm. Stay Full, and shop local!

(image via modernforager.com)

In case you did not know what today was, well, you’ve either been living under a rock for the last few months or…I don’t know what.  Today we welcome in the 44th President of the United States of America.  Today, is a big day.  As you well know, Barack Obama has been a very vocal supporter of alternative energy and the need for as many of us as possible to live Green Lives.  That said, wouldn’t he be happy if on this momentous Inauguration Day, we made it a Green one as well?

Lucky for all of us, I just found an incredibly helpful article that offers us all some very easy, very cool tips on how to make today a Green Inauguration Day.  There are only 4 tips, and the 4th one is beyond obvious, so in reality, there are 3 great, easy, Green ways to make today both enjoyable, and Environmentally friendly.  Check out these awesome ideas:

1.  “Watch the Inauguration with Friends
Because spending the evening clutching your Obama ‘08 Move On sticker alone in your dimly lit living room is sort of depressing. Also, with millions upon millions of people tuning in, let’s cut back on a couple of those millions upon millions of TVs that will be turned on. Watch with friends, and consolidate TV usage, or even better, head to a local bar and watch with the entire neighborhood—just try to ignore that disgruntled McCain supporter who keeps talking about how Sarah Palin would’ve been a way hotter VP than Biden.

2.  Do Not Drive to Washington D.C.
It’ll only be filled with screaming liberals anyways. Two million people are predicted to cram into the nation’s capital to watch what on paper sounds like the least riveting succession of events ever: a parade, a prayer, and an oath-taking. Oh yeah, and probably the most mind-blowingly eloquent speech since the Gettysburg Address. But seriously, you’ll be able to see it better on TV, and the traffic is going to be a grotesque, exhaust spewing gridlock.

3.  Throw an Inauguration Day Party
A fine way to complete both #1 and #2 on this list. Just make sure you keep the ol’ impact as low as possible whilst you throw the block’s most rocking prayer/oath/speech observation fest. A few ideas—reuse all that campaign literature, those pamphlets and unused bumper stickers as décor. Offer up the finest green beer as beverages, and of course, have but a single TV on at your place (not sure what sort of Obama nuts would demand otherwise, so as to have an entire screen to themselves—but I’m sure they’re out there).

4.  Oh yeah, and enjoy yourselves
It’s going to be one hell of a historic day.”

Do those and both Mother Nature and President Obama will be extremely pleased with you.  Do those, and I will be too!

We are officially knee-deep into 2009, and while you might still be having trouble remembering to actually write the correct dates on your checks, letters and emails, a simple glance at your new calendar should remind you that it is not, in fact, 2008 any longer.  That said, what do you do with all those old 2008 calendars you’ve got lying around?

You know the ones, the “Golden Retriever” calendar, the Outdoor Photography calendar, the golfing, knitting, cars, women, men or heck, even your old “Far Side” calendars are probably lying all around doing nothing but waiting for the trash or recycle bin.  The fact is, there IS something else you can do with them to help recycle and reuse them…for starters, you don’t have to throw them away!

I just found an article that had 5 great ways to reuse those calendars of yours, doing nothing but taking up space.  Every single little bit helps, I’ve said that time and time again, and in a world where we need as much alternative energy and recycling as possible, lets start here, and continue to do so every year!  Here, according to the article, are 5 great ways to reuse them:

1. Place mats: Throw a dinner party for 12. Place a month beneath each place setting for a great conversation starter.
2. Framed art: Update your home decor with framed calendar images. Make unique art by collaging several months together or by incorporating your own drawing.
3. Packing material: Wrap fragile holiday ornaments in calendar pages for storage.
4. Envelopes: Turn colorful calendar art into distinctive envelopes and notecards. Find a tutorial here.
5. 2036 calendar: Save a 2008 calendar until 2036, when the dates will match up. Find out how what year old calendars can be used again by checking a repeating calendar calculator.

There you have it!  Once you’ve done some, send us in some photos and we’ll put them up here.  Any other creative ideas?  Sound off…

(image via earthday.ca)

So we all know by now that the Department of Energy is going to be installing an absolutely massive Solar Wall on their headquarters in Washington D.C..  What some of you might not know, however, is that there are other buildings all over the world that use solar walls as we speak as a great way to cut down on power consumption, and in the process, eliminate a great deal of greenhouse gases.

I just found a pretty awesome little video to end your fantastic week this fine Friday with.  This video is of the “SolarWall, solar air heating system provided by Conserval Engineering” in Manitoba, Canada.  While it’s nowhere near as fancy, as cosmetically beautiful or as large as its soon to be built cousin in Washington D.C., the fact remains it IS a Solar Wall, and it IS doing the exact same things.  The point is, anyone, anywhere can start implementing solar technology into their lives, you don’t have to have the budget of the Government, or the design skills of a New York City Architecture Firm, you just have to fine the right products, and the right people to help you do it.

So, check out the video, then I highly suggest you head over to Northern Tool and check out our amazing line of Solar Energy products.  This is the year to turn things around, and what better way to start than cutting down your home energy costs AND saving the environment at the same time.  Start now!

I know that the weather in some parts of this country, Montana where I live especially, is not always conducive to getting up, getting dressed and actually making your way outside to get your fitness goals met each day.  Sometimes it’s the sub-zero temperatures, sometimes it is the freezing rain, sometimes the snow, ice, wind or hail.  Wherever you live, there are always going to be reasons to just work out inside, but guess what…there are so many BETTER reasons to work out outside, no matter what the weather is doing.

That’s right, this week’s “Green Fitness Tip” is to get outside and exercise.  No matter what your weather, you can find at least 30 minutes a day to give all of those “electricity-heavy” machines you rely so heavily upon a much needed break, and the environment they affect an even better reprieve.  Don’t believe me that they do in fact damage the Earth?  Try this on for size:

“The average treadmill produces about 2 pounds of CO2 over the course of a 30-minute workout. Shrink your fitness footprint by adding an outdoor run, walk, or bike ride to your routine. In urban areas, choose side streets to decrease your exposure to car exhaust. Still snowbound? Burn those calories by snowshoeing, skiing, or shoveling the driveway.”

Surprising, no?  The bottom line is, in a day and age where we’re so focuse on and so reliant upon electricty and gadgets and devices, sometimes the absolute best thing for our mind, bodies and yes, the Earth too, is to just turn it all off, step outside your front door, and take off.  Try it, I guarantee the results will go much further than just your BMI.

(image via prolitegear.com)

Let’s face it, we’re all doing much better than we used to do on really trying to be as Green as possible.  We’re drinking less out of plastic bottles (hopefully), we’re turning off lights when we leave a room (right?), we’re recycling anything and everything that is recyclable in our homes (aren’t we?), and we’re doing our best to cut back on how much gas we need to buy for our vehicles.  If you’re not doing these things, well, you should be, because I’ve been trying my best to get each and every one of you involved, but if not, now is the perfect time to start.

For all of you that think you’re Green, and that think you know all you could know about being Green, I have a challenge for you!  I just found, on the Sierra Club’s website, a “Green IQ” Test that will show you just how Green your mind really thinks!  There are 10 fun questions that can help show you just how green minded you really are.  The quiz wraps up the entire year, a year in which “Green” was a keyword that everyone said, everyone understood and everyone tried to learn a great deal more about.

So, what do you have to lose?  The Sierra Club “Year in Green” Quiz might just open your eyes a bit to the state of things on this beautiful planet of ours.  I’m pleased to say that I got 9 out of the 10 questions correct.  I wish I would have aced it, but alas, it was not meant to be.

Nevertheless, head over, check it out, see how you score.  We’re only 12 days into this new year, what better time to jump head first into making 2009 the Greenest Year yet for you!  Sound off in the comments as to your scores!

It is officially 2009.  I don’t know how long it’s going to take me to get used to typing 2009 instead of 2008, but if the previous years are any indication, it should be sometime around April when it officially sinks into my mind that we did in fact, progress to a new year.  That said, I’d be lying if I said 2008 was a great year when it came to most of the nation’s finances.  The truth is, it hurt, bad, and now we need to do something about it.  The good news is, there are ways to invest to make more of the green, while staying green at the very same time.  That’s right, Green Investing!

I’m not going to lie, I’m not the best person to turn to when it comes to investing your money.  I suppose that’s why I’m writing a Green Blog on how to save the environment instead of a blog on how to earn enough money to buy a Lear jet.  That said, I just found a pretty awesome article that is packed with some helpful tips to help you invest in Green this 2009.  I know it takes green to make green, but the time is now and the fruit is ripe if you’re willing to jump in.  That said, there are some rules…according to the article:

“First, resurrect the old rules: Do your homework. Don’t invest money you can’t afford to lose, and don’t put all your money into any one sector…Throughout the economy, companies large and small are champing at the bit to advertise themselves as green — and cash in on what many believe will be a revolution in energy, household products and other areas…”

It is no secret that the world of Going Green is a tough one to crack.  Toyota makes Hybrids, yes, but they also make SUV’s, what to do?  Research, that’s what.  Take time, look into companies that say something to you personally and if you love the message, get behind it.  The bottom line is, there are a lot of companies looking to do a lot of good for the environment; investing in them can mean a lot more than just money in your wallet, it could mean years on this planet.

Check out the article, and if you have any Green investing tips, sound off, we’d love to hear them!

Image via Wikipedia