The 2011 Michelin Design Challenge is accepting pre-registration applications for it’s 2011 theme, “+10: The Best is Yet to Come.”

With the future in mind, France-based tire giant Michelin is now accepting pre-registration applications for its 2011 Design Challenge. The theme for the 2011 challenge is “+10: The Best is Yet to Come.” The company is asking designers to imagine what people will be driving in 2021 and put their ideas to paper. Continue reading 2011 Michelin Design Challenge

What’s the Prius Hybrid Electric bill going to be? Just how much electricity will this plug in hybrid use? Find out what EarthTalk says about the plug-in hybrid electric Toyota Prius.

EarthTalk® From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: When the plug-in Prius is released, how much electricity will it use? Will my electric bill double if my Prius is plugged in each night? Or will the increase be minimal? Also, will all this recharging put a strain on the existing electricity grid? — G.C. Marx, Colorado Springs, CO Continue reading Prius Hybrid Electric Bill From Earth Talk

What is the environmental impact of snow removal and deicing? Let’s find out what EarthTalk says about these issues.

Dear EarthTalk: What are the environmental impacts of all the de-icing and snow removal taking place on roads everywhere in the wake of all the recent storms? — Benjamin P Sander, via e-mail

The act of removing pure white snow seems innocuous enough, but it is actually fraught with negative environmental side effects. One major concern is the snow’s salt content, as most locales use sodium chloride (rock salt) to de-ice roads. But this salt can make nearby freshwater ecosystems uninhabitable for plant and wildlife species, and can affect the quality and taste of local drinking water supplies. Continue reading Environmental Impact Of Snow Removal