Ask Our Experts Blog - Sustainable Living, Going Green, Expert Advice

Are Old Canning Recipes Safe to Use?

By Robin Mather — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:22:01 CST

When it comes to safe methods for canning foods, this is one instance in which modern advice is better than old-time techniques. Use canning recipes that have been tested and verified safe by food scientists, who have learned a lot about food preservation over the years.

Do You Need to Warm Up Your Car?

By Richard Backus — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:58:45 CST

Although you might think warming up your car is best on a cold morning, doing so is a bad idea - and not just because it wastes gas.

Expensive Hybrid Car Battery Replacements Are Unnecessary

By Jim Motavalli — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:10:11 CST

Hybrid�cars�now have a 12-year history in the United States, but hybrid car battery replacements have been surprisingly unnecessary. Most of the hybrid cars on the road are still using their original battery packs�- even many of the 300,000-mile Ford Escape Hybrids used as taxis in New York and San Francisco.�

Electric Car Range in Cold Weather

By Jim Motavalli — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:14:45 CST

Electric car battery range is worse in cold weather: A drop of just 10 degrees could theoretically sap up to 50 percent of a battery's charge.

The Longevity of Diesel Engines

By Todd Kaho — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:10:33 CST

Diesel engines are engineered and built to be more robust due to the higher compression ratio in the combustion chamber and the high torque output they produce.

Cars With 40 MPG

By Todd Kaho — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:16:21 CST

Comparing today's cars that get 40 mpg or better to the high-mpg cars of a few decades ago is neither an accurate nor fair comparison.