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Researching yield vs. planting date.
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July 2008
James Whistler's Birthday, Jul 10th
Inventor, Nikola Tesla's Birthday, Jul 10th, 1856
John Quincy Adams's Birthday, Jul 11th
Hybrid Vehicles
Tired of high prices at the pump? Or looking for a tax credit? You might want to consider purchasing a hybrid vehicle.
Hybrid vehicles use a small, gasoline-powered engine in combination with an electric motor, allowing them to use electricity at low speeds and gas at higher speeds. The electric motor is operated off a battery pack, which is recharged when the gasoline part of the engine produces more power than is needed to operate the vehicle.
Hybrid vehicles achieve approximately 50 to 60 miles per gallon (mpg), comparing favorably with the 20 to 40 mpg of equivalently sized vehicles. That’s good for you, and the environment. Since every gallon of gasoline burned results in over twenty pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, a hybrid can lead to a decrease of three tons of greenhouse gas emissions per vehicle, per year!
The top selling hybrid vehicle is the uniquely-shaped Toyota Prius, which gets about 47 miles per gallon, based on conversations with Prius owners. (The popular Honda Civic hybrid version averages 45 miles per gallon).
You can even get a hybrid SUV. The Toyota Highlander, Mercury Mariner, Saturn Vue, Lexus 400h and Ford Escape offer the roominess and towing capacity of an SUV, but get much better mileage. Prefer a luxury passenger car? You’re in luck – the hybrid Honda Accord, Lexus GS 450h and Toyota Camry are on the market, and a hybrid version of the Nissan Altima and Chevy Malibu are due out this year.
Besides great gas mileage, hybrids often come along with tax credits from the Federal government and some states. Federal tax credits are based on vehicle type, and range from $650 to over $3000!
Other benefits exist as well. Many states allow hybrid vehicles to drive in the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes – saving valuable commute time. And some cities, such as Los Angeles and San Diego even offer free parking at city meters.
From gas savings and tax credits to free parking – there are many benefits to driving a hybrid! For more information on hybrid vehicles (models, tax credits, etc, visit www.hybridcars.com).
Tommy Linstroth is Head of Sustainable Initiatives for Melaver, Inc., a vertically-integrated, sustainable real estate firm based in Savannah, GA. He is also President of the Savannah chapter of the US Green Building Council.