At the heart of the matter is the solar powered system that will be used to provide power to produce the new 2012 compact Ford Focus and the Ford Focus Electric model. People who buy the 2012 Ford Focus Electric can reveal in the fact that a portion of the electricity used to manufacture the car came from the sun rather than from local oil refineries.

In addition to the 500 KW solar panels that will produce electricity, is the storage facility that will accompany it. There will be 2 million watt-hours of stored energy available to use at Ford’s discretion.

An Austin-based energy company, Xtreme Power is pairing up with a Michigan based energy company to provide the $5.8 million plant. Ford is covering around 13% of the total costs or about $800,000 US. The Michigan Public Service commission will pick up $2 million US and Detroit Edison will cover $3 million US of the project.

The Michigan location will allow Ford to draw power from the lithium-ion storage batteries during off-peak times to charge their electric hybrid Ford Focus. Renewable power is employed at other Ford plants. Electricity is produced from wind turbines at the Dagenham Diesel Centre in the UK as well as photovoltaic arrays at the Ford plant in Bridgend Engine Plant in Wales.

Ford (NYSE:F) Uses Solar Panels to Produce Electric Vehicle was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

In an effort to get more gas guzzling automobiles off of the highway, banks and credit unions are focusing on environmentally sound vehicle loans and offering much lower interest rates for full-efficient or hybrid vehicles than they are for less environmentally-friendly vehicles. While there has always been some consistent lenders who have been offering better green auto loans for many years, it seems the growing trend for lenders is to improve on the rates for the greener vehicles. As the green vehicle choices also continue to grow, many more lenders are jumping on board to follow suit.

Qualifications Are Many
In order to qualify for a green loan, many lenders will require that the vehicle of choice must be certified as green by the Environmental Protection Agency. Once certification has been established, lenders will learn of their decreased rate of interest. Banks benefit from the offer because according to research, statistics show that customers who purchase fuel efficient cars have also are more consistent in meeting their payment obligations than other groups of borrowers. Less defaults mean more profit for the bank or credit union.

Longevity Of Loans
While it is still early in the game when it comes to green loans, it seems it is a promotional deal that will carry on for some time. More up and coming drivers may have a tendency to be more environmentally conscious than perhaps their parents are, meaning future sales of environmentally friendly vehicles are likely to climb within the next generation. Even with the current generation, sales records show that despite the slump in auto sales (until the Cash for Clunkers program was introduced) in the last two years, sales of hybrids have overall remained strong. People who experienced the personal financial negatives during the recession are also likely to stick with the vehicles that will save them money over the long term since gas prices have been once again rising.

Hunting a Green Loan
Finding a green loan will take some effort on your part. Amongst financial institutions, there is a difference between what constitutes a green vehicle. Some lenders will only consider the deal with hybrids while others rely on the information provided by the Environmental Protection Agency. The personal research will require that you contact several lenders to find out their policies on “green loans”. Not every lender offers the same discounts or the same criteria so it pays to ask specific questions about what kinds of vehicles qualify and in turn if that kind of vehicle meets your own financial needs.

Clunkers Are Out, Green Is Still In was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

• Gauge your level of commitment- This may seen like an odd piece of advice, however your success as a green shopper will be based on how committed you are in reducing your carbon footprint. Keep in mind that any effort to lessen further damage to the environments is worthwhile, however your level of interest and therefore commitment will play a role in how aggressive a strategy you should take in greening your shopping.

• Research products before shopping- Knowing beforehand which types of products you can find and use in a more environmentally friendly way can save a lot of time and money in your quest to implement green shopping into your budget. You may be able to find coupons online for certain products or shops which sell environmentally friendly products at a lower price than other stores.

• Understand product labeling- A recent study suggests that while more consumers are interested in doing their part in reducing environmental impacts, many people do not understand or trust certain product labeling. This means more people will pass by environmentally friendly products in lieu of proven products. It is important to know what each product does and how it is environmentally friendly. For example, sometimes a product itself is not different, however it was produced in a green way.

By taking the time to evaluate your own goals and strategies before becoming a green shopper you can eliminate some common errors that can end up costing you more money with fewer benefits to the environment. You don’t have to be a “full-fledged” environmentalist to make changes in your life that will have a positive impact on the planet. Education and a willingness to make small changes in your day-to-day living, including your purchases can go a long way toward preserving our natural resources for the next generation.

How To Become A Green Shopper was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

1. Replace your doors with weatherproof, insulated versions.  These doors offer 1.5 inch thick insulation and have been proven to keep in five times the amount of heat or cooling that a traditional wood door does.  The styles can match your home, whether you have a traditional style home or a contemporary home.  The prices range between $200 and $400 – but over the lifetime of the door you would see much more savings in your heating and cooling costs. 
2. Recycle rain water for gardening and outside water tasks.  There are specifically designed collection containers for doing this- that cost under $130 and are even outfitted with hose fittings, hand pumps and filters.  You can direct your home’s roof downspouts directly into the collection containers to harvest as much of this water as possible.  The water is better for your gardening than tap water, and it reduces your water bill as well as wasted water.
3. Create an all-natural windbreaker.    Planting rows of evergreen trees around your property border will help reduce the effect of wind blowing through and around your home- and therefore reduce the amount of your precious heating that gets carried away with it!  You’ll start experiencing savings within three to five years of planting the trees.
4. Install heavy draperies correctly.  In the winter, many families cover their windows with heavy drapes.  Not only does it help to keep the heat in and the drafts out; but it prevents people from peaking in, as well!  Along with the draperies, you’ll want to install window cornices on the top to prevent warm air from being sucked up like a vaccuum from the bottom of the draperies, cooled as it moves past the windows, and then spit out like air conditioning from the top!  The cornices will reduce the airflow that is pulled up from the back of the draperies, as will draperies that hang so that the bottoms just touch the floor.  Draperies hung correctly can save 25% of your heating and cooling bills.
5. If your home seems either freezing cold or scorching hot at various intervals of the day, it may be time to replace your thermostat.  Many older thermostats have trouble registering the actual temperature after the air conditioning system or heat has run for awhile and so the system runs longer than necessary.  An inexpensive thermostat replacement offers an easy way to conserve on  utility bills.

You Can Live More Green and Save More Green at the Same Time was created by and is property of American Consumer News.