There are really two stories here. First, from my headline is the ability to print a car. Note, only the body is printed. You may already know that 3D printing is becoming common place. Currently you can get your hands on one that uses ABS, Syrup, and other materials as the medium. One of the more advanced units I read about recently uses two substances, one of them that will dissolve easily in water so that the finished item can be more complex than the printer would be able to create without temporary supports as part of the print out.

Printing a car with one of these printers is really a neat idea. This allows very quick one-off production of a CAD design without the tedious process of clay modeling. However, I think the artists that do clay modeling will be upset.

The second story here is the lightweight aerodynamic car is estimated at 200 MPG! This kind of efficiency may be better for the environment in the near future than hybrids. Of course, all electric vehicles will likely be the best in the foreseeable future and who knows what comes after that.

To read a bit more on vehicles and understanding the impact of high MPG cars, use the search feature and look for "MPG" or click here.

To read a bit more about the Urbee Blue, follow the related link below.

I know the rains have just started, but in California and other arid locations, droughts are always in the future. We consistently need to plan our water usage, conserving wherever it is convenient and continuing to be frugal with its use.

According to statistics, about 30 percent of all water used by an average household is devoted to outdoor uses. Even more painful is the stat that about 50 percent of all outdoor water goes to waste through evaporation and improper system design.

An easy way to cut down on this waste is lower the requirement of the number 1 water user in the yard, the lawn.

The Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance (TFCA) is trying to reduce domestic water use by identifying new water-sipping, drought-tolerant grass. So far the organization has been able to produce and test several types of Bermuda grasses that retain 70 percent of their green color after two months in summer temperatures without irrigation.

The research has also shown that this new variety of drought-tolerant Kentucky blue grasses could save up to 10,000 gallons of water over a single growing season as compared to some heat-tolerant varieties.

While this research is still young, it is very promising and may be something we want to look at for our future yards.

In a never ending quest to be green, there are things in our daily lives that are beyond our immediate control. Styrofoam seems to sneak into my life no matter what I do. The problem with it is that it does not break down. Once you make it, it's basically here forever. The best way to deal with it is to reuse it so we don't make any more. However, this concern may be changing in the future.

Researchers at the Case Western Reserve University in Ohio have devised a recipe to make biodegradable Styrofoam substitute from milk and clay. According to the researchers, the foam-like material is strong enough for commercial uses and a third of it is biodegraded within a month's time. Different variants of the material can be used in insulation, packaging, furniture and even cushions.

Read more by following the related link below.

This is the best kind of bombing. Using a retrofitted C-130, Lockheed Martin Aerospace is able to plant more than 90,000 trees a day! The technology is simple, the bomber drops pointed tree cones in remote areas that bury themselves in the ground at a uniform depth and spacing. The cones contain fertilizer and material that soaks up surrounding moisture to water the roots of the tree.

Note that this project originated in 1999, but has not been implemented. Hopefully with recent changes in environmental focus, it will be given a real opportunity.

To read more, follow the related link below.

Technology to get power from water comes in many forms and many ages. From the simple Grist Mill to the modern turbines that make electricity from steam. However, there is another form of water energy that comes from the Hydrogen in the water.

A Japanese company believes they have found an affordable way to break down water into it's primary components allowing the Hydrogen to be collected and used in fuel cells. There are some costs to the process that have to be worked out. Currently, the water must first be processed into what they call "functional water". To make functional water, it must be filtered through Aluminum or Magnesium. Apparently this causes the bond between the Hydrogen and Oxygen to become loose. After this treatment, the separation happens more efficiently.

They claim the process makes enough hydrogen to create 1kWh of power for about $0.18. This is competitive with utility companies mid day rates right now. It will be interesting to see if the claim is true, or just a lot of speculation.

What we know for sure is that they have improved the efficiency for breaking down the water. Good job.

For more information, follow the related link below: