Monthly Archives: August 2013
Your Questions About Sustainable Energy Without The Hot Air
Chris asks…
Are there ways to save energy without unplugging appliances?
admin answers:
I have a HUUUUGE list available at www agua-luna com it’s like 33 pages long and would just spam this whole answer. But here’s a few cut from the list below. If you’d like the entire list feel free to visit www agua-luna com or email me through the site directly and I’ll send you a copy.
Also Agua-Luna com now offers Carbon Offsetting Credits, since our Team of Volunteers is already accomplishing several carbon eliminating projects, we’re now converting the carbon offsets to you. Visit www agua-luna com for a FREE carbon calculator to calculate your carbon footprint for free and more info on carbon credits.
You could also Volunteer with us, planting a tree or working on a Sustainable Renewable Energy Building Project in Mexico with us. Again see www agua-luna com for more info.
I also do some free consulting, there’s more info on the site about that too. Here’s some more ways to help the environment…
Recycle paper, cardboard, newsprint and magazines.
Recycle aluminum cans.
Recycle all batteries.
Recycle and reuse. Roughly 50% of the average person’s trash can be recycled. Don’t forget that hazardous waste like batteries, your printer’s ink cartridges, and cell phones can be recycled too! Find out how and where to recycle in your area. Always buy recycled paper. Just 1 ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees.
Just because your community doesn’t pick up all recyclables on the curb, it doesn’t mean there are not viable alternatives nearby. Check with dry cleaners, supermarkets, manufacturers, your local public works department and civic organizations to find out where recycled goods can be dropped off, at a location near you.
Did you know that just in 1995 alone, recycled toner cartridges kept over 21,000 tons of trash out of landfills? Believe it or not, now you can recycle your printer’s toner cartridges! Every year, Americans throw out enough printer cartridges to stretch from Los Angeles to New York City and back again. Toner cartridges can be recycled, having just as good a performance as an unrecycled cartridge. To recycle your toner cartridges, find a local business that does printer cartridge recycling, or contact the manufacturer of your current toner cartridge and ask about a cartridge recycling program.
Not only should you recycle, but buy products that are recycled. By purchasing these products, you are helping to conserve natural resources, and to protect the environment.
Wash clothes in cold water.
Hot water is unnecessary for most clothes. When needed, use warm water.
Fill your toilet tank.
Put a plastic bottle or two, filled with water and rocks, in your tank to reduce the amount of water used in each flush.
Clean your filters.
Clean the filters of your air-conditioners once a month to improve energy efficiency. While you’re at it, change your car’s filters as recommended in your manual.
Get a low-flow shower head.
Stop at the hardware store on your way home, and get a low-flow shower head. Takes a few minutes to install, and it’ll save gallons of water a day.
Lower your thermostats.
If you use heating, get by with less heat and wear warmer clothes. If you use air-conditioning, get by with less cooling and wear cooler clothes.
If it’s a nice sunny day, hanging clothes only takes a few minutes, and you’re using solar power instead of electricity to do the job. It also makes your clothes last longer.
Turn down your water heater.
Most people have their water heater’s thermostat turned up too high, wasting energy. Turn it down to 130 degrees, saving energy but still hot enough to kill bacteria.
Use CFC light bulbs.
If your light bulb burns out, replace it with a Compact Flourescent bulb (those spiral-looking ones). They’re more expensive, but if you just replace them one at a time, it doesn’t cost much, and the energy savings is great. And as they last longer, over the long run, you’ll save money.
Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and dishes.
Follow your community’s water use restrictions or guidelines.
Install a low-flow shower head.
If you are not looking to change your car just yet there are a number of ways you can be more environmentally friendly and help you save money by conserving fuel.
Lighten your car to reduce weight by not carrying unnecessary items.
Cut your speed and stick to the speed limits
Drive smoothly avoiding heavy accelerating and braking.
When stationary for a long time, switch off the engine.
Closing windows will make the car more efficient by being more aerodynamic. Remove roof bars when not is use also helps.
Make sure your tyres are properly inflated as under inflated tyres cause more resistance.
Where possible, walk, cycle or even use public transport.
If possible lift share to reduce the number of cars on the road.
Try mass transit.
Millions of people use it, and it saves tons of fuel. If you don’t already, give it a try.
Unload your car.
Remove excess weight from your car (such as stuff that might be in the trunk) to reduce the amount of fuel you use.
Walk instead of drive.
You don’t have to do this all the time, but walking the short trip to a store, or to lunch from work, or some other short trip like that, can reduce the amount of fuel you use over the long term, and you shed some fat at the same time. Or at least burn off that morning donut.
Buy a smaller car.
You won’t be able to do this today, probably, but the next time you’re in the market for an automobile, get a smaller and energy-efficient car rather than a big, lumbering one. It’s one of the best things you can do to reduce your fuel consumption.
Inflate your tires.
Many people don’t realize that their tires are under-inflated. Check the recommended pressure for your tires, and fill them up to that pressure. It only takes a few minutes, but it will save you on fuel consumption (a little) and more importantly, make your tires last longer and reduce the rubber that’s worn off your tires.
Get creative with gift-giving. The gift of time, services, or environmentally positive gifts may be more appreciated than disposable goods that are not to the taste or needs of the recipient.
Look into those lifestyle changes you’ve been putting off
Work from home more. Many organisations, when prodded a little, will accept flexible work arrangements where there is no impact to the work that needs to get done.
Use your oven less.
The oven not only uses a lot of energy, it heats up your kitchen, requiring more cooling. Instead, use toaster ovens, crockpots, microwaves, and electric grills when you can. And when you do use your oven, open it less – you lose 25% of the heat every time you open the oven door.
Mend your stuff.
Try not to throw stuff away and buy new stuff if the old stuff can be fixed. Torn clothing? Takes a few minutes to sew up.
Install a water filter.
If you buy a lot of bottled water, use your tap instead. Some places need a filter to make tap water taste drinkable, but they don’t cost much and they can save money, water, and plastic bottles over time.
Unplug appliances.
If you don’t use an appliance several times a day, it’s better to unplug it, as they often use energy even when turned off
Use rechargeable batteries.
Instead of throwing your batteries away all the time, reuse rechargeable batteries. Costs a little more, but cheaper in the long run.
When you’re looking to buy appliances, be sure to research the most energy-efficient ones. They may cost a little more, but they’ll more than make up for that in the long run with lower energy bills.
Buy a smaller home.
The next time you’re home-shopping, instead of buying the McMansion, look for a smaller home that’s big enough to meet your needs comfortably. Reducing the amount of stuff you own is a good way to need less house. It’s cheaper, and requires less energy to heat and cool. And easier to clean at the same time.
Look for energy efficiency.
Use acryllic paint.
Compost.
It’s not hard to set one up (look it up online), and you can save a lot of waste from the landfill and help your garden at the same time
Water grass early in the morning.
Reduces the amount of water you need to keep your grass looking fabulous.
Plant shade trees near your house.
It’ll take awhile before they can make a difference, but shade trees greatly reduce the need to cool a home.
Coat your roof.
This’ll take up an afternoon, but you only have to do it once every few years. And it’ll save you a lot of money and energy in heating and cooling over the long-term, more than making up for the cost of paint.
Avoid fast food.
Instead, eat at home or at a sit-down restaurant. Fast food restaurants are one of the worst polluters of the environment, both in the massive amounts of beef they must raise, in the wasted packaging, and in the energy they use in so many ways. And they’re tremendously unhealthy.
Buy a manual reel mower or electric mower.
If you’re looking for a new lawn mower, and you have a small yard, consider getting a manual one. They’re much advanced from the reel mowers of our grandparents’ generation, much quieter, cheaper, and they save on fuel and pollution. Electric mowers are also quieter and use much less energy.
Clean up.
Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if you’d like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, I’m willing to walk you step by step threw the process. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at www agua-luna com on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others help the environment.
Dan Martin
Alterative Energy / Sustainable Consultant, Living 100% on Alternative & Author of How One Simple Yet Incredibly Powerful Resource Is Transforming The Lives of Regular People From All Over The World… In
Lisa asks…
What can we do to avoid further negative impact of global warming?
admin answers:
One important thing we can do is get more people to realize that global warming and climate change is real. It is hard to believe that there are some that can’t see what global warming is doing to the planet and that we can just go on without doing anything to reduce and eliminate it, but there are: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjtSjGqmYUtFD73QACdiNsXsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20100522093338AAjOu9z&show=7#profile-info-WcvGeYaoaa
Part of my answer to the problem can be found in my answers to other questions:
Yes, it is real…
I honestly believe “global warming”, now referred to as climate change, is real. From where you and I live, we can see it in longer growing seasons, snow that melts a lot faster, more rain and ice than snow, etc… We can also see local warming trends, called urban “heat islands”. The next time you go shopping, realize that the parking lot that you stand on, on a hot summer day, is a lot hotter than the forest that used to be there before the land was developed by the stores you shop at… Your car is only one of millions and millions of vehicles, cars, planes, etc… That send emissions into the atmosphere that cause more and more heat to be trapped near the earth’s surface – enough for most people to realize that global warming and climate change are indeed real.
With all this said, scientists and many others know that the earth has been on a warming trend naturally for thousands of years, since the last ice age, and scientists also know that the billions of people on earth and our industrial and commercial activities are adding to and perhaps even accelerating this warming.
So, with all this knowledge, we can at least try and reverse this trend before things go out of control on the only planet we have to live on. One thing that has been done already is the phasing out of CFCs in air conditioners and other gadgets so that we do not destroy the ozone layer, the thin layer of gas in the atmosphere that prevents ultraviolet rays from reaching the planet’s surface. Now, we are in the process of finding ways to run our economies without the use of fossil fuels and using alternative energy, so that we do not destroy this world that we have taken so long to build…
No, “global warming” isn’t a government trick. Governments have a vested interest in continuing on as they have by growing their economies and if they can, finding a way to reduce global warming without reducing economic growth…
And
Read about:
1) Going off the “grid”. There is a movement called sustainable living, where you can make an attempt to live on power that you create (hydro-electric – dam generated power, geothermal, solar, wind, etc…) so that you are not dependent on fossil fuels.
2) Driving a Hybrid vehicle. Although it isn’t the final solution, it is a step in the right direction. People I know that drive Priuses and other hybrids just love the fact the their car is helping to reduce pollution, and, they can’t remember that last time they had to fill up their gas tank !
3) Building an Eco friendly “greenhouse” to live in… There are new ways of building houses that make clever use of recycled materials and allow for much larger energy savings…
4) Read up on the subject at the following websites to find out about more or about anything that you can do :
Stop global warming: http://www.care2.com/causes/global-warmi…
Yahoo!’s green page: http://green.yahoo.com/
Yahoo’s green directories: http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture…
http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture…
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/green-1…
http://www.care2.com/channels/ecoinfo/gl…
http://www.treehugger.com/
http://www.futurefriendly.com/Home.aspx
http://everygreenthing.net/
and,
those are just a few of my thoughts on the subject, you’re more than welcome to read my other answers that I’ve posted to this topic…
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Alternative Energy in Ireland
The Irish are currently pursuing energy independence and the further development of their robust economy through the implementation of research and development into alternative energy sources. At the time of this writing, nearly 90% of Ireland’s energy needs are met through importation the highest level of foreign product dependence in the nation’s entire history. This is a very precarious situation to be in, and the need for developing alternative energy sources in Ireland is sharply perceived. Ireland also seeks to conserve and rejuvenate its naturally beautiful environment and to clean up its atmosphere through the implementation of alternative energy supplies. The European Union has mandated a reduction in sulphuric and nitric oxide emissions for all member nations. Green energy is needed to meet these objectives. Hydroelectric power has been utilized in Ireland in some areas since the 1930s and has been very effective however, more of it needs to be installed. Ireland also needs to harness the wave power of the Atlantic Ocean, which on its west coast is a potential energy supply that the nation has in great store.
Ireland actually has the potential to become an energy exporter, rather than a nation so heavily dependent on energy importation. This energy potential resides in Ireland’s substantial wind, ocean wave, and biomass-producing alternative energy potentials. Ireland could become a supplier of ocean wave-produced electricity and biomass-fueled energy to continental Europe and, as they say, make a killing. At the present time, Ireland is most closely focused on reaching the point where it can produce 15% of the nation’s electricity through wind farms, which the government has set as a national objective to be reached by 2010. But universities, research institutes, and government personnel in Ireland have been saying that the development of ocean wave energy technology would be a true driving force for the nation’s economy and one which would greatly help to make Ireland energy independent. A test site for developing wave ocean energy has been established in Ireland, less than two miles off the coast of An Spideal in County Galway Bay. This experimental ocean wave harnessing site is known as Wavebob. The most energetic waves in the world are located off the West coast of Ireland, says Ireland’s Marine Institute CEO Dr. Peter Heffernan. The technology to harness the power of the ocean is only just emerging and Ireland has the chance to become a market leader in this sector. David Taylor, CEO of the Sustainable Energy Initiative,or SEI, tells us that SEI is committed to innovation in the renewable energy sector. Wave energy is a promising new renewable energy resource which could one day make a significant contribution to Ireland’s electricity generation mix thereby further reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.
Padraig Walshe, the president of the Irish Farmers Association, tells us that with the closure of the sugar beet industry, an increasing amount of Irish land resources will become available for alternative uses, including bioenergy production. Today, renewable energy sources meet only 2% of Irelands total energy consumption. From a farming perspective, growing energy crops will only have a viable future if they provide an economic return on investment and labour, and if the prospect of this return is secure into the future. Currently the return from energy crops is marginal and is hampering the development of the industry. Biomass energies need to be further researched by Ireland.
Your Questions About Renewable Energy For Kids
Michael asks…
What are renewable & non- renewable energy resources?
What are renewable energy resources? Give three examples
What are non-renewable energy resources? Give two examples
btw this is out of curiosity i never really listened in science… =]
admin answers:
Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources—such as sunlight[2], wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat—which are renewable (naturally replenished). Renewable energy technologies include solar power, wind power, hydroelectricity, micro hydro, biomass and biofuels.
Http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/whatsenergy.html
Non-renewable energy is energy taken from “finite resources that will eventually dwindle, becoming too expensive or too environmentally damaging to retrieve”, [1] as opposed to renewable energy sources, which “are naturally replenished in a relatively short period of time.” [2]
Fossil fuels:
Coal exists as a mined solid.
Petroleum is a liquid, and forms the basis for heating oil, diesel fuel, and gasoline.
Natural gas is commonly also referred to just as gas. It is mostly methane, and most of the additional material is removed before use as a fuel.
Nuclear energy fuel for fission is mined as Uranium ore, see Renewable energy#Nuclear power.
Goodluck! Sometimes I agree science is BORING!
Jenny asks…
is the solution to the energy problem under our feet?
I refer to geothermal energy. With modern drilling techniques it ought to be possible to drill in many locations throughoiut the world to obtain clean, polutionless heat in unlimited quantity. Why has this idea not taken off?
Oh dear! These answers are all crap.
admin answers:
I was wondering the same thing. Apparently ample amounts of geothermal energy is not accessible in many areas. It is used in a few places here in N.C. At youtube under “alternative energy” many video’s about people all over the world creating a generator that runs strictly on magnets is shown (either they stole the idea from each other or all got the same idea on the same day – not sure lol) but its about the size of a small outdoor central air conditioning unit, and will run an entire house of electricity, and will probably hold up to punishment for about 30 to 40 years before it needs replacing but all utilities would be free as well as zero pollution. The magnets would probably be recyclable for reuse as well. At TEDtalks.com a huge amount of video’s there on future energy inventions, the best of which is being tested at UCLA now in California, of hydrogen powered refrigerators. They actually got one working but its enormous size is not useable but they are working to reduce it in size. The project came up by African nurses that travel from village to village to give insulin injections to those off grid. The trouble is to keep the insulin cold while traveling since it has to be refrigerated. An Ice chest just won’t stay cold in the extreme heats of the arid country so UCLA set out to invent something portable. They say soon, everybody will be able to create their own power with their own water which of course is non polluting as well. Frankly tho the gov talks big about renewable energy, there are many proven techniques to achieve this and they don’t seem interested in any of it. Therefore, I don’t think renewable energy is a true concern of theirs but a front for something “not green” unless its money. If we could all make our own power image the billions lost each year in kick backs to officials who all get free shares in nuclear power etc. They want our dollars and blame it on the environment. They could care less about pollution, or costs or damage to the earth frankly. Its all about the dollar. But check out Tedtalks.com for tons of inspirational video’s. TED stands for Technology, entertainment, and (i forget what D is for) anyway, its worldwide experts in every field you can imagine. They show a super poor boy that lived in africa, saw a book once about wind energy from a traveling library in a bus. Years later he built the most incredible wind turbine out of scraps from the near by dump. This thing looks like total trash and yet he burns like 4 lights in his mothers hut all equivalent to 4 christmas tree lights. Not much light, but for a kid, in a 3rd world country, who only checked out a book once, all that info stuck in his head. Imagine what he could do with an actual battery or LED lights. Its a web site of the most amazing things i’ve ever witnessed. GL on your search. Elon College in North Carolina has 4 geothermal wells dug so far and is going to expand they are so pleased with their new system so check that out online as well. Good luck on your search and peace
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
An Alternative Energy Education Method
The best method of educating young people about alternative energy production that this writer has ever witnessed is the use of the PicoTurbine Company’s kits, books, and projects. The PicoTurbine Company produces these things for the purpose of advancing the cause of renewable (alternative) energy and getting young people to look into the future and see that the environment that’s being seeded now is the one they will inherit then. As the late, great Gerry Ford said, Things are more like they are now than they have ever been before. If we are to change the future world for the better, then it starts right here and now with the advent of green energy systems.
One of the core concepts of PicoTurbine can be stated: Tell me, and I will forget. Show me, and I might remember some of it. Involve me, and I will master it. Based on this old tried and true adage, the kits that the company produces come with activity suggestions to get the young people into hands-on learning situations. One suggestion of the company is to demonstrate how heat can be produced by wind energy (the company’s specialty) through using a picture wire for the heating element. PicoTurbine has found that people typically think of wind energy as being cold energy, and are pleasantly surprised to see how wind can be used for generating heat in the home. Another project suggestion that the company offers is to have different groups split off in the classroom and then compare their respective wind turbines that they have built. They can see which ones produce the most or least electricity which ones start up with need of the least amount of wind power and for very young children, which ones have the most aesthetic appeal.
There is a core curriculum that PicoTurbine has in mind for teachers to instill in their pupils. Renewable, alternative sources of energy include solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass in addition to wind-produced energy. When we use more alternative sources of energy, we decrease our nation’s dependence on foreign oil supplies, which often come from nations who cannot really be called our allies. Alternative energy is already becoming cost effective when set against the fossil fuels that we are so reliant on currently.
PicoTurbine points out that wind farms and solar arrays are already letting their makers enjoy commercial success. In the last two decades, the cost of photovoltaic cells expressed in terms of per-watt has gone from nearly 1000 to just 4! It has been predicted by analysts that by the year 2015, the cost per watt should only be about 1 (in today’s dollars). Students also need to be taught about the hidden cost of fossil fuels: pollution and environmental degradation. Air pollution from burning fossil fuels has been shown through studies to increase incidences of asthma attacks, heighten the effects of allergies, and even cause cancer. Switching over to clean, green energy found in the alternative forms would prevent air pollution and help bolster the environment.
Your Questions About Sustainable Energy Definition
Mandy asks…
What is a sustainable Development in biology terms?
I have this biology project and don’t know what it means because I missed the module because I changed schools late. Can anybody help me?
admin answers:
Well the technical definition is: a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This basically means, growing enough food and sourcing our energy and raw material needs without doing irreversible damage to the environment.
Hope it helps!
Laura asks…
How is sustainable development sustainable? *sigh*?
I know its a hard question. At our school the statement ‘sustainable development as a concept is unsustainable’ came up. i disagreed but couldnt come up with any valid arguments.
Lets see if anyone here can. it will be much appreciated ; )
admin answers:
Sustainable development :
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use that aims to meet human needs while preserving the natural environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but in the indefinite future. The term was used by the Brundtland Commission which coined what has become the most often-quoted definition of sustainable development as development that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
The field of sustainable development can be conceptually broken into three constituent parts: environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and sociopolitical sustainability.
The United Nations Division for Sustainable Development lists the following areas as coming within the scope of sustainable development:
* Agriculture
* Atmosphere
* Biodiversity
* Biotechnology
* Capacity-building
* Climate Change
* Consumption and Production Patterns
* Demographics
* Desertification and Drought
* Disaster Reduction and Management
* Education and Awareness
* Energy
* Finance
* Forests
* Fresh Water
* Health
* Human Settlements
* Indicators
* Industry
* Information for Decision Making and Participation
* Integrated Decision Making
* International Law
* International Cooperation for Enabling Environment
* Institutional Arrangements
* Land management
* Major Groups
* Mountains
* National Sustainable Development Strategies
* Oceans and Seas
* Poverty
* Sanitation
* Science
* SIDS
* Sustainable tourism
* Technology
* Toxic Chemicals
* Trade and Environment
* Transport
* Waste (Hazardous)
* Waste (Radioactive)
* Waste (Solid)
* Water
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Renewable Energy Companies
Daniel asks…
Where to start for Investment Banking hopefuls?
I am a college junior with a summer’s experience in investment management of renewable energy companies. Where should I look to gain knowlege in career advice for investment bank analyst? A specific reference to website, forum or books would be appreciated.
admin answers:
The Valut.com career IB guide is a great resource for anybody interested in investment banking. I would also suggest you attend information sessions hosted by all of the banking firms at your college or university. The campus recruiting process is fairly rigid and you must adhere to the process very carefully. Many firms will not consider applicants who did not attend their on-campus information sessions. For companies that participate with your school’s career office, look there first for investment banking career opportunities. Be sure to also submit applications to firms that don’t recruit at your university. This can be a numbers game, so the more applications you submit, the better your chances of landing a job. A high GPA is very important to investment bankers, so be sure to keep on top of that. One of the classic books on an interview prep reading list is called Liar’s Poker.
Sharon asks…
What’s the name of the wind and solar energy companies… How can I buy stock?
I want to invest in the clean and renewable energy but I don’t know how? Don’t know the names of the companies?
admin answers:
It’s not a good idea to invest in individual stocks, or even sectors, unless you really understand what is going on. If you are an adult, you can buy stock in companies through scottrade, etrade, td ameritrade, or a similar online broker. But do your homework first, unless you are just playing and can afford to lose all the money. For example, if you had this mindset at the end of 2007, you might have bought Suntech Power, the world’s largest maker of solar panels, for $90 a share. So let’s say you bought 100 shares for $9000. Today, Suntech is still the largest maker by wattage, last I checked, but the stock is at 0.80. So your investment would be worth $80. Just saying.
There are exchange-traded funds such as (stock symbol) TAN, which invest in solar. I’m not saying to go out and buy shares in it, but do research into it to see the list of companies they picked. You can do similar things with other alternative energy ETF’s.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Commercial Energy Auditing Reference Handbook, Second Edition
 | Updated and expanded, this edition includes new material on early replacement business justification, lease arrangements and effect on ECM project interest, coordinating upstream/downstream set points, semiconductor fab multi-stage HVAC air tempering, commissioning, HVAC overlapping heating and cooling, and much more. The book begins with the premise that when commercial facilities are subdivided into categories based on business type, many useful patterns can be identified that become generally | |
| Read more |  | |
Biofuels as Alternative Sources of Energy
Biofuels are produced by converting organic matter into fuel for powering our society. These biofuels are an alternative energy source to the fossil fuels that we currently depend upon. The biofuels umbrella includes under its aegis ethanol and derivatives of plants such as sugar cane, as well as vegetable and corn oils. However, not all ethanol products are designed to be used as a kind of gasoline. The International Energy Agency (IEA) tells us that ethanol could comprise up to 10 percent of the world’s usable gasoline by 2025, and up to 30 percent by 2050. Today, the percentage figure is two percent.
However, we have a long way to go to refine and make economic and practical these biofuels that we are researching. A study by Oregon State University proves this. We have yet to develop biofuels that are as energy efficient as gasoline made from petroleum. Energy efficiency is the measure of how much usable energy for our needed purposes is derived from a certain amount of input energy. (Nothing that mankind has ever used has derived more energy from output than from what the needed input was. What has always been important is the conversion the end-product energy is what is useful for our needs, while the input energy is just the effort it takes to produce the end-product.) The OSU study found corn-derived ethanol to be only 20% energy efficient (gasoline made from petroleum is 75% energy efficient). Biodiesel fuel was recorded at 69% energy efficiency. However, the study did turn up one positive: cellulose-derived ethanol was charted at 85% efficiency, which is even higher than that of the fantastically efficient nuclear energy.
Recently, oil futures have been down on the New York Stock Exchange, as analysts from several different countries are predicting a surge in biofuel availability which would offset the value of oil, dropping crude oil prices on the international market to 40 per barrel or thereabouts. The Chicago Stock Exchange has a grain futures market which is starting to steal investment activity away from the oil futures in NY, as investors are definitely expecting better profitability to start coming from biofuels. Indeed, it is predicted by a consensus of analysts that biofuels shall be supplying seven percent of the entire world’s transportation fuels by the year 2030. One certain energy markets analyst has said, growth in demand for diesel and gasoline may slow down dramatically, if the government subsidizes firms distributing biofuels and further pushes to promote the use of eco-friendly fuel.
There are several nations which are seriously involved in the development of biofuels.
There is Brazil, which happens to be the world’s biggest producer of ethanols derived from sugars. It produces approximately three and a half billion gallons of ethanol per year.
The United States, while being the world’s greatest oil-guzzler, is already the second largest producer of biofuels behind Brazil.
The European Union’s biodiesel production capacity is now in excess of four million (British) tonnes. 80 percent of the EU’s biodiesel fuels are derived from rapeseed oil soybean oil and a marginal quantity of palm oil comprise the other 20 percent.
Wind Power – Renewable Energy Science Kit
 | Build a working wind turbine to harness power out of thin air. Wind is one of the most promising sources of clean, renewable energy available today. Wind energy has been used for centuries to pump water and crush grain in windmills, and is now increasingly being used to generate electricity to power our modern world. Warning Choking Hazard! Contains small parts, not for children under 3. | |
| Read more | | |
Didax Renewable Energy Kit
 | DD-81170 Designed to make understanding of renewable and sustainable energy generation an exciting and tactile experience using solar, wind and water power. For indoor or outdoor use, this resource comes in a modular format with 4 interchangeable monitors to show differing outputs from the 3 interchangeable power heads (one base). Kit includes suggested activities and general teachers information. Made of high-impact plastic, the base is 7" x 10", the maximum height is 20", monitors are 3 1/2" i | |
| Read more | | |
Your Questions About Sustainable Energy Companies
John asks…
What is the best energy company to go with in Houston?
Finally gettin my own place but damn im overwhelmed i come from a city where there was just on energy provider but in houston there’s like at least 20, does neone know who is the best to go with as far as rates and where i could save money every month
admin answers:
I would suggest going with the energy company that provides wind power, a sustainable natural resource. 🙂
Susan asks…
I just want to know what is Obama planning to do with alternative energy if he wins the Presidency?
Obviously, we can’t rely on fossil fuels anymore.
*Please no links. If you’re a die-hard Obama supporter, then please provide me with a one or two sentence summary of his alternative energy plan.
Thanx Danny Boy.
admin answers:
This is what he proposes, from his website:
“Require 25 Percent of Renewable Electricity by 2025: Obama will establish a 25 percent federal Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to require that 25 percent of electricity consumed in the U.S. Is derived from clean, sustainable energy sources, like solar, wind and geothermal by 2025.
Clean Technologies Deployment Venture Capital Fund: Obama will create a Clean Technologies Venture Capital Fund to fill a critical gap in U.S. Technology development. Obama will invest $10 billion per year into this fund for five years. The fund will partner with existing investment funds and our National Laboratories to ensure that promising technologies move beyond the lab and are commercialized in the U.S
Deploy Cellulosic Ethanol: Obama will invest federal resources, including tax incentives, cash prizes and government contracts into developing the most promising technologies with the goal of getting the first two billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol into the system by 2013.
Double Energy Research and Development Funding: Obama will double science and research funding for clean energy projects including those that make use of our biomass, solar and wind resources.
Convert our Manufacturing Centers into Clean Technology Leaders: Obama will establish a federal investment program to help manufacturing centers modernize and Americans learn the new skills they need to produce green products.
Increase Renewable Fuel Standard: Obama will require 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels to be included in the fuel supply by 2022 and will increase that to at least 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels like cellulosic ethanol by 2030.
Establish a Grant Program for Early Adopters: Obama will create a competitive grant program to award those states and localities that take the first steps to implement new building codes that prioritize energy efficiency.
Reduce Carbon Emissions 80 Percent by 2050
Cap and Trade: Obama supports implementation of a market-based cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions by the amount scientists say is necessary: 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Obama’s cap-and-trade system will require all pollution credits to be auctioned. A 100 percent auction ensures that all polluters pay for every ton of emissions they release, rather than giving these emission rights away to coal and oil companies. Some of the revenue generated by auctioning allowances will be used to support the development of clean energy, to invest in energy efficiency improvements, and to address transition costs, including helping American workers affected by this economic transition.
Expand Locally-Owned Biofuel Refineries: Less than 10 percent of new ethanol production today is from farmer-owned refineries. New ethanol refineries help jumpstart rural economies. Obama will create a number of incentives for local communities to invest in their biofuels refineries.
Renewable Fuels: Obama has worked on numerous efforts in the Senate to increase access to and use of renewable fuels. Obama passed legislation with Senator Jim Talent (R-MO) to give gas stations a tax credit for installing E85 ethanol refueling pumps. The tax credit covers 30 percent of the costs of switching one or more traditional petroleum pumps to E85, which is an 85 percent ethanol/15 percent gasoline blend. Obama also sponsored an amendment that became law providing $40 million for commercialization of a combined flexible fuel vehicle/hybrid car within five years.”
Planning and proposing is one thing, but to actually do it is another. Let’s hope Obama can actually implement and execute what he wants to do if, and only if, he becomes President.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
