Electric Pedal Power Across America

Riding electric bicycles makes you tall.
Really, REALLY tall.

Think it would be just about impossible to bike across the country? Think again.

Longtime bicycle enthusiasts and environmentalists Anna Mostovetsky and Boris Mordkovich are taking on the 4,000 mile journey on their EVELO electric-assist bicycles in an adventure called the Trans-American Electric Bike Tour.

EVELO sent the team out to prove their claim that 1,000 miles of land can be crossed on a little more than the cost of a single gallon of gas today. The team set out on April 7 from New York City. Tomorrow, they will be crossing through Chicago, 800 miles from their starting point.
The Trans-American Electric Bike Tour and EVELO hope to prove a point: that bicycling can be done in spite of distance and tough hills. The electric assist makes it possible to power through any problem. Plus, you get all the added benefits of riding bikes: exercise, fresh air, low/no fuel costs, and easy (free!) parking.
Electric bicycles have already been embraced in Europe. In fact, BMW is going to be launching its new pedelec electric bike at the London 2012 Olympics - and really, could there be a better venue for showing new products?

Good thing the streets were closed off,
 or drivers would have been mad.  

Electric bikes are finding a wider and wider audience across America, as well.

The second annual CicLAvia event, held on April 10 in Los Angeles, saw thousands of participants ditching their cars in favor of earth-friendly alternatives, including skateboards, roller blades, hula hoops, and yes, electric bicycles. A 7.5-mile route was made available so that the enthusiasts could enjoy a fun long ride. I can only imagine how well this kind of event would be attended in the Willamette Valley!

So what makes electric bikes great for the Northwest lifestyle?

• Fresh air! Nobody likes being cooped up inside a car on a beautiful day. These babies are like one-seater convertibles.
• Keep up with your friends. I admit I'm not in prime shape, and when I go biking with my friends I fall behind on hills. Electric-assist would help me to keep up and allow them to keep their pace.
• Health benefits. If it's easier to bike, you'll bike more. Get your cardio and fat-burning in while you get groceries!
• Cheap to run. The EVELO bikes go 40 miles on one battery charge, and one battery charge is just eight cents.
• Good for the planet, of course! Electric companies are starting to offer wind and water-power programs, and that clean electricity fed into your bike means that you are riding renewable.

So get ready to start seeing more occupied bike lanes and people putting up hills, because this isn't just some fad. Electric bikes are going to take hold in our culture, and it's going to be great!

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via EVELO.com, TransAmericanBikeTour.com, AAA.com, BBC.co.uk, LATimes.com

Incandescent to Fluorescent Made Easy

Green light bulbs, for that Earth Day party
you're throwing this weekend

Finally - an easy tool to help you make the switch!

Light Bulb Finder, a free app for Android and iOS smartphones made by Eco Hatchery, won EPA's Apps for the Environment - and for good reason. It makes the switch to energy-efficient light bulbs incredibly simple. And you can use it on whatever platform you have - iPhone, iPad, Droid phones, Droid tablets...

Not only does it recommend energy-saving bulbs that work for your light quality and fit specifications, but also it provides you with information about how much you're saving in energy costs (calculated by zip code).

To see just how easy this app is to operate, I tried it out on my Droid X2.

First: fixture. I'll look for something to fit my overhead kitchen light.
Second: bulb type. I have a standard incandescent one in right now.
Third: base type. Mine is just a regular ol' Edison Screw.
Fourth: features, between dimming, 3-way, and on/off. Mine is a basic on/off.
Fifth: wattage. 60.
Sixth: bulb usage. I'd say five hours per day.
Seventh: quantity needed. I need two.
Finally it asks me to nickname the location where these bulbs are needed so I know for future reference. I said, "Kitchen."

Presto... I need a CFL Twister ENERGY STAR. It'll run me $4.82 per bulb, and I'll end up saving $45 over the lifetime of the bulb.

Easy walkthrough. Easy recommendation. Easy cash savings. And a super easy way to conserve energy.
It's free, so why not try it out for yourself?

Need more details? Check out their video:

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via Challenge.gov, lightbulbfinder.net

Welcome!

Welcome to Impact Northwest!

This blog's purpose is to help you discover ways to impact your life and your environment positively by becoming informed about the latest green news and trends and by making small changes that lead to a more sustainable lifestyle.

I am an Oregon State University student heralding from north Idaho, and since my transition I've learned that the best ways to be green in the Northwest is to keep my eyes open to all of the opportunities that surround me. So not only will I offer stories about news and events, but also I hope to share my own experiences in applying sustainability to my own life.

While I intend on sharing news and ideas that I find interesting, I'd love to also focus on things that interest you! Do you like hearing about electric or hybrid cars? Do you want to learn how to make a worm compost bin? Let me know what interests you in the comments!

Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy!