In addition to the great strides most manufacturers have made regarding fuel economy, car builders are making conscious decisions regarding environmentally friendly materials in other areas of the vehicle, like car seats and fabric. Jim Holland, chief nameplate engineer at Ford, outlines that, “Ford has made tremendous strides, not only in improving fuel economy in the new Explorer, but also in using more environmentally friendly materials”.

The foam in the seats of the SUV is made with 40% soy polyurethane made from soybeans. It is estimated that the use of the soy foam or ‘bio foam’ has reduced Ford’s oil consumption by 10,500 barrels and helped them reduce carbon emissions by 11 million pounds.

Fender baffles, inserts between the wheels and the body, are now made from left over steel from other vehicle manufacturing rather than using virgin steel. GreenCarCongress.com reports that in addition to saving Ford money on purchasing new steel, it will in turn reduce the associated CO₂ emissions from steel manufacturing by approximately 119 tons – “about the same amount emitted by a midsize car driving the circumference of the earth 14 times”.

Carpeting and the fabric on the seats are also made from recycled material. The use of recycled material nets a reduction in the energy consumption of around 20% and a 14% reduction in carbon emissions associated with the seat materials.

“By increasing the use of recycled or renewable content in our vehicles whenever possible, Ford is helping reduce waste to landfills by millions of pounds. And the new Explorer is no exception,” said Amy Marentic, group marketing manager.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Ford (NYSE:F) Explorer is 85% Recyclable was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

While there are many new recipes for creating your own cleaning materials such as window cleaners and laundry soap, there are also smell-good alternatives for scenting your home without the expensive prices tags, the dangerous chemicals, or the long process of making your own candles.

Here’s mine:

• Collect small jars such as those that come with baby food.

• Wash them out and let them dry.

• Add in a cotton ball.

• Pick up a few essential oils from the health food store or online shop.

• Carefully punch holes into the jar lid.

• Add a few drops of essential oils to the cotton ball and secure the lid.

This makes a great substitute for families with little kids who should not be around lit candles. You can use these little jars all over the house. It can be a fun project to do with your kids as you can use scraps to decorate the jars. Make sure you don’t buy a lot of scents you are not familiar with just in case you don’t like them. Choose a few at a time until you know what you like and then you can feel free to mix and match scents.

As you perfect the art of creating scents and decorating your jars, you can get ready to include your signature scents into gift packages you give to family and friends during the holidays or other special occasions, saving you additional expense in the gift department. Remember to keep your scent-sational gifts in mind and recycle common items around the house to use as decorations such as scrap paper, extra buttons, and other things that may serve another purpose beyond becoming trash.

Make Your Home Smell Good For Less was created by and is property of American Consumer News.