Alternative Fuel and Transportation Options

YAY! Finally Americans are doing something about it

2008-07-31T05:20:00.000-07:00

Man, it's been a ferocious battle over our wallets. I just can't believe it finally is actually starting to pay off. Americans - the world's largest oil consumer (by far) - have finally put their feet down and done something about the out of control oil prices.

I am extremely happy to post a link to this article that talks more about the details of how this happened, and if it will keep going.

He expects gasoline prices to average $3.75 to $3.85 nationwide for the immediate future. "That won't likely be enough to bring back that demand that we've lost," he said.

"The trend is unmistakable" -- people are using less gasoline than in 2007 and a 20-cent per gallon or so price break isn't likely to disrupt that trend, he said.

Charles Perry, president of energy-consulting firm Perry Management, admits that "adjustment" in demand is a long-term project since "we are creatures of habit as far as our driving is concerned." But demand for gasoline has dropped and "will continue to drop as the public changes its driving habits and moves into smaller cars."

I am proud to be a part of this movement against oil companies. Not just with my ethanol stills, but personally. For the last 2 months I've ridden my bike to work (at least 3 times a week), not just to save money on gas (yes, of course), but also to stick it to these people who KEEP driving up the price of oil. It's ridiculous!

AND YET - there's always some freak out there with a negative comment.

Here's a second great article about this topic:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-gas29-2008jul29,0,4637883.story

You can see from this comment, though, that some people just can't be satisfied no matter which direction things go. Although, I must say, I wasn't surprised that this one comes from some sort of government agency...

-- cutting back so much that Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters warned Monday of a looming shortfall in the fund that pays for highway and bridge construction and repairs.

Thanks,
Al

Wow... Auto makers are FINALLY getting the idea

2008-07-25T19:45:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I'm finally reading this stuff in the news.

I mean, I've been asking this question for months. And you probably have as well.

It looks like they've finally decided to actually start heavily manufacturing more gas efficient vehicles.

WOW! I coulda had a V8.

It's about freaking time, oh, and the article's worth reading too.

Gas may be getting just a bit cheaper, but major changes in how Americans live and drive are already in motion.

Car buyers have been fleeing to more fuel-efficient models. U.S. sales of pickups and sport utility vehicles are down nearly 18 percent this year through June, while sales of small cars are up more than 10 percent.

While slashing production of more-profitable trucks and SUVs, automakers have been scurrying to build their most fuel-efficient models faster.

I'm loving the first and second part of the quote. Hopefully, just hopefully, things have already gone past the tipping point - where people are no longer willing to let things stay as they were. When everything's good, nobody's willing to make changes. But when everything goes to crap, American's decide to make changes. And, I think, that will cause some major ripples to emanate through the marketplace. Which will be good. Some people need to WAKE UP, and see what's coming.

As for me, I've been catching a lot of time on my bicycle, going back and forth to work (and yes I work in Florida - and YES it's hot)

I put in about 10 miles on the days I ride. Not too bad! When I think about getting 16 miles to the gallon, my bike rides seem like a great deal.

All the best,
Al

Forced 10% ethanol mixture with gasoline

2008-07-20T21:59:00.000-07:00

I was listening to the radio on the drive into work this morning.

They were saying it could become mandatory for gas stations to include up to 10% ethanol in their gasoline in the near future. Some stations have already been doing this, but not all. And some drivers choose to avoid those stations.

However, it could become a law, that all the stations would have to supplement their normal gas supply with ethanol in the future.

I haven't read anything about this yet, but as I get more info on it I'll try and add it in.

Al

Cool new house - Big bucks now, for lower costs later?

2008-07-07T10:34:00.000-07:00

I learned about this place at work, the other day.

This guy built this house to run on Hydrogen. It's got some pretty amazing features.
It's definitely worth taking a look at:
Hydrogen House

Picture - David Biello / © SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN

As you read through, it's pretty impressive...
until you see how much it cost.
And then, once you pick yourself up off of the floor, you can finish reading the rest of it.

Talk soon,

Al

Cool new higher mpg gas engine out of Australia

2008-06-26T19:00:00.000-07:00

This is an amazing article, from Nick Chambers at gas2.org.

It talks about a killer new engine design out of Australia.

Here's a little clip, but you've got to see more, at the bottom.

a little known company from the Gold Coast region of Australia, may be on to something huge: they’ve created an engine that is 50% smaller, 50% lighter, has 50% lower emissions and is cheaper to manufacture than a conventional internal combustion engine of the same horsepower. Oh yeah, did I mention that it doubles the fuel economy too.

What that means is a car like the 2007 Toyota Yaris, which is rated at 40 mpg on the highway, would get 80 mpg with a Revetec engine.

This isn’t some hoax… They have a prototype which has been attached to an actual vehicle and independently tested to substantiate their claims.

Check it out here:
http://gas2.org/2008/06/26/low-cost-gas-engine-innovation-doubles-fuel-economy/

All the best,
Al

Ethanol helps keep gas prices low

2008-06-12T21:48:00.000-07:00

One of the things I haven't even talked about yet,
but this article covers it pretty well...

Ethanol is actually helping to Keep the current
gas prices lower than they actually would be.

How?

Well, I don't know if you've seen it, but the next
time you fill up at the gas station...

Look at the stickers on the pumps.

Most of them that I see now say something like this...

This gas is using a mixture of 5%, or 10%, or 12% ethanol.

So...

Many gas manufacturers are already supplementing
their regular fuel with just a small portion of ethanol, and
at that mixture level it's not really damaging most
automobiles.

Now - just because a 10% mix won't damage your car,
DOES NOT mean an 85% mix won't.

PLEASE be VERY CAREFUL about your cars capability
with ethanol gas. Don't just add E85 into your
gas tank the next time you're at a gas station.

You'll really screw up your car - AND your pocket
book in the process.

"It is clear ... that biofuels are already moderating gas prices," Energy Department Secretary Samuel Bodman and Agriculture Department Secretary Edward Schafer wrote in a letter to the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

"That impact is likely to grow substantially as more biofuels come to market."

The agencies estimate gasoline prices would be 20 cents to 35 cents per gallon higher if ethanol weren't blended in.

Harness free energy — the footfall of trudging shoppers

2008-06-08T13:49:00.000-07:00

This is a pretty interesting article...

It's a topic I haven't thought about much, but now that I see it, I realize it could be possible.

Anyhow...

Capturing power from people's footsteps is the subject.

The plans for heel-strike generation follow successful trials last year at a bridge in the Midlands where generators converted energy from trains passing above into electricity powering a flood detector.' Possibly the most important thing for the readership is at the end: 'There could also be a range of domestic uses, for example powering iPods by plugging them into batteries placed in the owners' heels, using technology which is already available.'

Anyhow, this seems like a pretty cool, low energy source.

Al

Police are figuring out how to save money

2008-05-26T18:56:00.000-07:00

It's wild - I'm not even sure it was a year ago that I was asking the question about WHEN gas prices would start affecting our every day lives.

Well - I think we finally have an answer...

$4 per gallon!

Is FINALLY starting to really cause things to get stirred up.

More scooters are selling. More small cars are selling.
SUV's and big trucks are NOT selling.

And another important indicator...

Police departments are starting to dust off their old bicycles from 20 and 30 years ago.

Check out this great article, from DAN NEPHIN, Associated Press Writer - (photo also from the Asoociated Press)

In the 1980s and 1990s, many departments started bike patrols, which were then a relatively new concept, said Wes Branham, a police officer with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in North Carolina. But after the Sept. 11 attacks, he said, they went "totally out the door. Money went elsewhere."

Now bikes are coming off the rack.

Branham, who heads his department's bike unit, said it began with two officers in 1994 and has grown to 25 full-time officers and 150 part-time riders. The department has about 1,800 officers.

"Departments are just trying to find more economical ways to patrol," he said. "A lot of departments are starting to realize they're getting a lot of bang for their buck with a bike."

Even departments that implemented bike units for other reasons are noticing gas savings.

Talk soon,
Al

Small / Smart Cars FINALLY catching on...

2008-03-07T07:20:00.000-08:00

We have been talking about smaller cars and better gas mileage for a couple of years now. And it looks like it's finally catching up with the American consumer.

$3+ a gallon -- OUCH!

Anyhow, this series of articles is a good read about the current status of smaller cars on the market right now.

Particularly the Smart Car from Daimler Chrysler.

Image courtesy ©1998-2006 DaimlerChrysler. All rights reserved.

Study: Ethanol may add to global warming

2008-02-07T17:32:00.000-08:00

Here is an interesting article from Yahoo.

I thought it was at least worth checking out.

"The researchers said that past studies showing the benefits of ethanol in combating climate change have not taken into account almost certain changes in land use worldwide if ethanol from corn — and in the future from other feedstocks such as switchgrass — become a prized commodity.

'Using good cropland to expand biofuels will probably exacerbate global warming,' concludes the study published in Science magazine."

I'm not sure how good their assumptions are, but you can decide for yourself.

Al

Harnessing the East River's Currents for Electricity

2007-12-28T18:30:00.000-08:00

I've written about using water to create energy before - but that was with the ocean's wave power.

But this article - from ANTHONY DePALMA, at the N.Y. Times, is another cool leap into the use of water for energy. But this time it comes from the current of river waters:

"six underwater turbines that turn the river’s currents into electricity"

Photo from Verdant Power

But the project hasn't been without problems.

Despite a string of mishaps that has taken a bit of the luster off the project, there is still sufficient optimism about tidal power to attract investments, and even some old-fashioned competition.

Even still, once they iron out a few of the issues they're having, this looks like it could be a very interesting alternative energy option.

Al

U.S. doing away with regular light bulbs

2007-12-19T12:12:00.000-08:00

I posted about this issue quite a while ago - the fact that countries are starting to phase out regular / incandescent light bulbs. Now - it looks like the U.S. will be following along with other countries. This report By Marianne Lavelle, from U.S. World and News Report talks about it clearly.

My biggest concern at the time was the fact that there was mercury inside the bulbs. See the comment just below:

"I've heard that CFLs have mercury in them--isn't that bad? Consumers are rightly concerned about the toxic substance mercury that helps CFLs produce light. Even though the amount sealed in each bulb is small--one old-fashioned thermometer had about 100 times as much mercury--contact local trash collection for disposal instructions. Environmentalists agree that more work must be done on bulb recycling programs."

However, they make another point which I hadn't thought about before here...

By the way, don't think that incandescent bulbs are mercury free. In the United States, the chances are at least 50 percent that their light is generated by a coal-powered plant featuring mercury as well as other types of pollution. Popular Mechanics recently crunched the numbers to find that even if the mercury in a CFL was directly released into the atmosphere, an incandescent would still contribute almost double that amount of mercury into the environment over its lifetime.

Isn't there efficient lighting without mercury? Yes. By 2012, the chances are good that consumers will have many more options to replace incandescent bulbs.

I don't know the answer, you'll have to decide for yourself. Actually, NO, you won't have to decide. The choice has already been made for you. Isn't that great?

Uh, Yeah! I'm not sure how I feel about that, but they make lots of choices for us already, so what's something this small going to hurt, right?

Al

Enertia - The Electric Motorcycle That Could Change the Way YOU Travel

2007-07-10T19:48:00.000-07:00

This plug-in two-wheeler has a driving range of about 50 miles,

For our ride, the power level was set to the 40% minimum, for which Brammo claims a realistic range of 40 to 50 miles between charges (far exceeding the 29-mile average U.S. commute).

After a completely uneventful, serenely quiet and emission-free 30-mile loop around Portland, (where it truly felt as if I were driving in the future), we returned the bike to Brammo with the gauges still showing 30 percent battery range available.

Brammo has just begun taking online orders in the U.S. for a limited edition "Carbon" model ($14,995), set for delivery in the first quarter of 2008. You can also reserve the standard model ($11,995) which is expected to reach full-scale production by the third quarter of next year. Figure less than $300 for delivery to your door. Check out www.enertiabike.com for more details.

Wind power taking over the U.S.

2007-06-05T07:06:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting article, from Reuters...

Many aim to catch money blowing in the air that Ric O'Connell of engineering and consulting firm Black & Veatch says will total $500 billion in wind energy development in the next 25 years.
"It can be bigger than the entire dot-com revolution," said wind energy advocate and former South Dakota Democratic Senator Tom Daschle. "This can have the same economic impact."
President George W. Bush' said last year that 20 percent of the nation's power needs can be met by wind. Since Bush's remarks, the AWEA and other wind energy advocates have worked to map out how to get to that target.
That would mean by 2030 there will have to be 325 gigawatts of installed wind turbines in the United States, said Michael Robinson of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Where gas costs under $.50, and why YOU can't have it

2007-05-08T06:37:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting look at the gas prices, from CNNMoney.com staff writer, Steve Hargreaves.

In Saudi Arabia gasoline costs about 45 cents a gallon. In Iran it's 33. Venezuelans pay under a quarter.

More importantly, though, is why they get to pay so little for their gas and why you and I have to pay SO much.

These absurdly low prices are a direct result of massive government subsidies.

it's not allowing the free market to do its job. Higher prices on the open market are not leading to a drop in demand, which is keeping the cost of oil high for everyone else.

"Roughly two-thirds of new oil demand is coming from countries that have subsidized oil markets," said Christopher Ruppel, a senior geopolitical analyst with the consulting firm John S. Herold. "So demand is not going to be affected if oil goes from $60 a barrel to $80."

By no means does this let motorists in the Untied States off the hook. Gasoline consumption in this country has been rising even faster than normal, around 2.5 percent annually over the last couple of months, despite average prices over $3 a gallon, close to an all-time record.

Wow - what's so surprising is that us in the U.S. are STILL consuming that much fuel, even at these prices. That is absolutely staggering. I would have assumed that the sales of alternative energy and smaller vehicles would begin to soar - but apparently the things that you might think are obvious aren't as clear-cut and simple as you thought.

Al

True Story: Bio-refinery MAKES electricity out of trash

2007-05-03T06:59:00.000-07:00

When I first read this article, from Michael Behar at Popular Science, I was extremely skeptical. That is until I read this...

Warner and the Purdue team demonstrated the machine for Army officials last November and are building a second prototype to test later this year.

So, then, my next question was - what does this thing do?

About the size of a moving van, the biorefinery is entirely self-contained and self-powered. Feed it 2,500 pounds of trash a day, and it pumps out enough electricity (60 kilowatts) to run a large mess-tent operation or three homes.

The refinery works like a giant digestive tract. After a shredder chews up trash, enzymes digest it into simple sugars, which yeast metabolizes to produce ethanol. Any leftover waste (paper cups, plastic forks and so on) is packed into pellets and burned to produce a gas composed primarily of methane, propane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The refinery blends this gas with the ethanol and uses it to run a modified diesel generator.

At this point the biorefinery is super expensive, and pretty big, so a lot of us won't be able to pick one up and use it around the house. But think about the implications of being able to do this kind of thing around the U.S. or the world. STAGGERING!

Now I'm not saying this is the saviour of our human decent into environmental death, (I actually don't think we are completely headed in that direction as badly as others say), but this certainly has to help alleviate some of the nasty pollutants out there.

What do you think?

Al

Biotechs try to take corn out of ethanol

2007-04-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

By PAUL ELIAS, AP Biotechnology Writer

Scientists are engineering microscopic bugs to extract fuel from a variety of non-corn sources, including the human urinary tract, a Russian fungus and the plant responsible for tequila.

The quest for alternative energy is more complicated than just finding a replacement for petroleum. Scientists and a growing number of biotechnology companies are attempting to remove corn from the ethanol equation because it has created huge demand for the global food staple.

"There is enormous growth potential" for alternative fuels, said McKinsey & Co analyst Jens Riese. "But we need to be smarter than just building the next corn ethanol plant."

Researchers are racing against time. Already, 114 U.S. ethanol biorefineries are in operation and 80 more are under construction. Producers made nearly 5 billion gallons of ethanol last year, a 25 percent increase from the previous year.

In February, the U.S. Energy Department awarded $385 million in grant money over four years to six projects dedicated to producing so-called cellulosic ethanol, which avoids the corn problem by making fuel from straw and other inedible agricultural leftovers. Cellulose is the woody material in branches and stems that makes plants hard.

Breaking cellulose into sugar to spin straw into ethanol has been studied for at least 50 years. But the technological hurdles and costs — specifically the expense genetically engineering exotic microbes to produce enzymes — have been so daunting that most ethanol producers instead relied on heavy government subsidies to squeeze fuel from corn.

That's now changing. Enzyme costs have fallen from about $5 a gallon to less than 20 cents a gallon. Analysts said once enzyme prices gets below a dime, cellulosic ethanol will become affordable.

"There really has to be an incredible improvement in the enzyme cost," said Kevin Baum, an executive vice president at Diversa Corp. "This can't be underestimated."

The growing number of biotechnology companies redirecting resources to capitalize on ethanol's popularity said they are getting close to making cellulosic ethanol profitable.

"It will be a very large chunk of what we do," said Per Falholt, an executive vice president with Novozymes Inc., an enzyme maker and the largest industrial biotechnology company. "It has the potential to transform the company."

Biofuel: Green savior or red herring?

2007-04-11T15:03:00.000-07:00

Farmer Power is the Key to the Future - Final Part

2007-03-30T21:31:00.000-07:00

Food sovereignty is not against trade and science. But it does argue for a fundamental shift away from "business as usual", emphasising the need to support domestic markets and small-scale agricultural production based on resilient farming systems rich in biological and cultural diversity.

Networks of local food systems are favoured because they reduce the distance between producers and consumers, limiting food miles and enhancing citizen control and democratic decision-making.

------------------------

The good news is that all this is not inevitable. The political choices made by governments and their corporate friends can still be decisively rejected and reversed.

But this depends on creating inclusive alliances between farmers, fisher-folk, indigenous peoples, scholars and other citizens to exert countervailing power - which is perhaps the biggest challenge facing the food sovereignty movement.

Farmer Power is the Key to the Future - Part 2

2007-03-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

Towards sustainable agriculture

Combinations of indigenous and modern methods lead to more environmentally sustainable agriculture, as well as reducing dependence on expensive external inputs, reducing the cost-price squeeze and debt trap in which the world's farmers are increasingly caught.

------------------------

Scientists recently reported that a series of large-scale experimental projects around the world using agro-ecological methods such as crop rotation, intercropping, natural pest control, use of mulches and compost, terracing, nutrient concentration, water harvesting and management of micro-environments yielded spectacular results.

For example, in southern Brazil, the use of cover crops to increase soil fertility and water retention allowed 400,000 farmers to raise maize and soybean yields by more than 60%. Farmers earned more as beneficial soil biodiversity was regenerated.

Farmers boost corn production to meet ethanol demand

2007-03-30T21:12:00.000-07:00

This article is the start of something big on the horizon for the U.S.

Food pricing, especially corn prices, are going up. And it's due, in HUGE part, to ethanol production. I think the whole thing speaks for itself...

Corn should be planted by mid-May for good yields and soybeans can be planted as late as June, which could be a fallback plan for farmers if corn doesn't get planted in time.

The move to plant corn is in large part due to a rush to produce corn-based ethanol, which is blended with gasoline. There are now 114 ethanol refineries nationwide and another 80 under construction.

The corn rush was sparked by President Bush's initiative to support flexible-fuel vehicles, which are capable of using gasoline and ethanol blends, and his administration's plan to cut gas consumption by 20 percent in 10 years.

Corn prices were already rising when Bush announced the initiative in Washington on Jan. 23 and there has been growing concern that the corn rush could hurt the poor in less-developed nations such as Mexico, where the crop is a staple used in tortillas.

On Thursday, Cuban leader Fidel Castro wrote in an editorial for the Communist Party daily newspaper that President Bush's ethanol plan could deplete corn and other food stocks in developing nations, putting the lives of 3 billion people at risk worldwide.

"You're in the middle of an emergence of a food versus fuel debate," said Lincoln Ellis, director of asset management for the Linn Group, a Chicago-based privately held financial trading business focusing on commodities and futures. "This is the pregame show. We haven't even hit the first quarter."

Unfortunately, I think the last comment may be WAY more true than I ever thought. I just heard the other day that milk prices are headed towards $5 / gallon. I already thought $4 was too high. I'm not sure If I'm going to be drinking too much more milk.

What do you think?

Al

Farmer Power and Sustainable Agriculture - the Keys to the Future

2007-03-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

This is an interesting editorial comment article, presented by the BBC and a guest editor Michel Pimbert, (photos by AFP - Associated Free Press)

Basically, he pushes the concept that local farmers should have the say in the crops they grow. It's a concept called Food Sovereignty.

Food sovereignty is all about ensuring that farmers, rather than transnational corporations, are in control of what they farm and how they farm it; ensuring too that communities have the right to define their own agricultural, pastoral, labour, fishing, food and land policies to suit their own ecological, social, economic and cultural circumstances.

Why is it needed?

everyone has an unconditional human right to food,
and it is simply unacceptable to allow over 850 million people
go to bed hungry in a world that produces more than enough food for all.

Food prices driving up because of fuel pricing and shortfalls

2007-03-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

NATE JENKINS, an Associated Press Writer, offers an intriguing look into the new fuel / food issues. (Photo by Reuters)

All of the sudden, this is becoming a HUGE problem. EThanol is driving a craze that turns our food into fuel, but at the same time, it's also driving our food prices ever higher. In this day and age, these are problems we are all going to have to address to make things work out right.

Even if you're not hit with rising fuel prices. You might be hit with rising food prices. And if you're not hit with either of those, then you'll still have to deal other economic hits because of the impact these things have on our lives.

The combination of rising energy prices and the demand for corn, which is used to produce ethanol, will continue to drive up commodity prices, he said.

Corn prices have already begun to soar. A rush to turn more acres into corn production could decrease supplies of other commodities, driving up prices of them as well.

The resulting higher market prices could then dampen the public's support for government subsidies that are designed to help farmers reap profits when markets are down.

We need to start sitting up, thinking about how these things will impact us, and then make some plans to counter-act the negative results in our lives.

What do you think? Just blowing smoke?

Poop - Did you ever think you'd be writing on it?

2007-03-27T07:22:00.000-07:00

Well, although this isn't energy related specifically, I couldn't help but include this article from CNN.com, and the Associated Free Press picture.

There's a team of 40 pandas in China (Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Base in Sichuan province), and they make about 2 tons of droppings a day. The base has devised a plan to make eco-friendly paper out of the poo.

They're not sure how much panda poop paper that'll be, but they think it should be enough to use for themselves, at the base, and then maybe sell some as well.

the idea came to them after a visit to Thailand last year where they found paper made from elephant dung. They thought panda poop would produce an even finer quality paper, he said.

The base is in talks with several paper mills on how to turn the droppings of Jing Jing, Ke Bi, Ya Ya and dozens of other pandas at the base into reams of office paper and rolls of wrapping paper, Liao said.

They hope to have a product line available by next year, he said.

"We are not interested in doing this for the profits but to recycle the waste," said Liao. "It's environmentally friendly. We can use the paper ourselves, and also we can sell whatever is left over."

Something smells fishy to me - but it's still a novel idea for a pretty smelly problem.

Ethanol's reliance on corn still a problem

2007-03-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

This is a great article, (from the Associated Press / picture too) talking about the benefits and drawbacks of ethanol. I reported an article, just the other day, that said we are using about 25% of the U.S. supply of corn to produce ethanol - right now.

The problems and concerns are many - and this article points to one HUGE problem:
Corn is one of our main agricultural crops, and instead of eating it, we're using it to provide fuel for our vehicles.

Although it's renewable, we still need to have food for ourselves and for our animals we raise (chickens, cows, pigs, dogs, etc.)

So this article really is worth taking a look at and figuring out where we can go from here.

The problem is, ethanol really isn't ready for prime time. The only economical way to make ethanol right now is with corn, which means the burgeoning industry is literally eating America's lunch, not to mention its breakfast and dinner. And though ethanol from corn may have some minor benefits with regard to energy independence, most analysts conclude its environmental benefits are questionable at best.

Proponents acknowledge the drawbacks of corn-based ethanol, but they believe it can help wean America off imported oil the way methadone helps a junkie kick heroin. It may not be ideal, but ethanol could help the country make the necessary and difficult transition to an environmentally and economically sustainable future

All the best,
Al

U.S. struggles to build green homes

2007-03-09T15:41:00.000-08:00

This is a pretty cool article, from Daniel Trotta at Reuters (photo as well), discussing some other options for energy efficiency besides just vehicles. In fact, the article points out that some of the really good, simple, and easy options for environmental help will come from better home efficiency.

"While gas-guzzling vehicles draw the most criticism, homes and businesses consume even more energy -- 40 percent of the U.S. total in 2005 versus 28 percent for transportation -- and provide the biggest potential for savings.

The U.S. Green Building Council says structures built to its standards can cut energy usage 20 to 80 percent using available technologies such as compact fluorescent lighting and high-efficiency building shells and water heating.

The Paris-based International Energy Agency, which advises rich governments, says more efficient use of energy can do far more to cut carbon dioxide emissions than either a shift to renewable energies or nuclear power in coming decades.

Advocates for efficiency call it "low-hanging fruit," so what keeps it from being picked? Woeful public awareness, timid policy-makers and resistance from the building industry to mandate greater standards, experts say."

This is a good article - worth the read.

All the best,
Al

Meat Prices going up because of Demand for corn

2007-03-09T14:52:00.000-08:00

Ethanol's insatiable demand for corn is driving the price of meat - ALL KINDS - higher.

That includes chicken, cattle, and pork.

Because most of the meat products above are fed a large portion of their diet on corn, and that corn is now being used to power the thriving ethanol industry, the cost to feed and produce all of our meat is going up.

You'll see higher meat prices at the grocery store because of this spike in demand. This is a 'must read' from Associated Press' Food and Farm Writer - LIBBY QUAID.

Strong demand for corn from ethanol plants is driving up the cost of livestock and will raise prices for beef, pork and chicken, the Agriculture Department said Friday.

Meat and poultry production will fall as producers face higher feed costs, the department said in its monthly crop report. Ethanol fuel, which is blended with gasoline, is consuming 20 percent of last year's corn crop and is expected to gobble up more than 25 percent of this year's crop.

The price of corn, the main feed for livestock, has driven the cost of feeding chickens up 40 percent, according to the National Chicken Council. The council says that chicken, the most popular meat with consumers, will soon cost more at the grocery store.

Maybe it's time to start that small, home garden and farm you've been thinking about for a while. If you're interested in keeping backyard chickens, here's a site you might check out:
www.ChickenCoopPlan.com

All the best,
Al

GM targets 2010 production for electric car

2007-03-09T13:06:00.000-08:00

GM revisits its plans to produce an electric car - with a strong statement about producing it within the next couple years. This is a really cool article, from Reuters (picture from Reuters as well), describing where the electric car market could be in only a couple of years.

GM scrapped an earlier experiment with an electric car marketed in California as the EV1, an unpopular decision that made it the target of criticism and the 2006 documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car?"

But GM billed the Volt as a return to the once-failed idea of a mass-market electric car. The Volt is intended to draw its power exclusively from a next-generation battery pack capable of being recharged by a small onboard engine or a normal electric outlet.

GM has said it is aiming for the Volt to be able to run for 40 miles on pure electric power, meaning many commuters would be able to get through a day without using gasoline.

Let's hope GM gets their ideas and their production right this time. It could be a good thing for a lot of commuters.

Al

e-waste causing tech firms to go green

2007-03-09T11:56:00.000-08:00

As our ever growing hunger for technological advances continues, one thing is certain...

there is more waste from aging e-products - computers, batteries, tv's, cellphones, etc. And dealing with this growing mountain of high-tech waste is something that tech companies are starting

e-waste is a growing environmental and public health concern as the world becomes more wired and companies introduce new products at a faster pace.

Discarded computers, televisions, radios, batteries, cell phones, cameras and other gadgets contain a stew of toxic metals and chemicals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, brominated flame retardants and polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs.

The U.S. 'Environmental Protection Agency' says American consumers generated nearly 2 million tons of electronic waste in 2005. Gartner estimates that 133,000 PCs are discarded by U.S. homes and businesses each day.

Only 10 to 15 percent of electronics are currently recycled, industry analysts say. The rest collects dust in people's homes or gets dumped into municipal landfills, where environmentalists worry toxic chemicals can leak out.

I can definitely see a LOT of this stuff ending up in landfills.

Mostly an FYI article, from TERENCE CHEA, an Associated Press Writer.
Photo also from the AP.

Al Speer

Toyota developing and researching plug-in electric car hybrid

2007-03-03T10:14:00.000-08:00

Toyota is leading the charge - still again - in an attempt to develop better, more efficient electric powered cars. Taking the lead from the Toyota Prius, they are looking for partners to help in the process.

Toyota, which leads the market in hybdrid sales, has not detailed plans to build a plug-in, although some environmental groups have modified its top-selling Prius hybrid so that it can be recharged with an electrical outlet.

"We are doing consumer research right now as well as product development," Toyota North America President Jim Press told Reuters in an interview, when asked about plug-in hybrid development.

(great article from Reuters, and Toyota picture from the Associated Free Press)

They might actually have a shot of getting the electric car done right - since their's is about the only market viable alternative out there (as far as mass market cost). GM actually killed their electric car option a couple years ago, and is just this year announcing they plan to enter the commercial market in 2010.

Sounds like a good idea.

Al

Unlikely Green Energy Team Announced

2007-02-25T17:18:00.001-08:00

The United Arab Emirates and MIT joing together to form an unlikely green energy team. Kinda like the Wonder Twin powers being activated. Do you remember that? WOW - I'm really dating myself with that one.

Anyhow, it sounds like a great combination of money and mind power to develop some new energy ideas. And it looks like solar power's going to be one of their first strategies. Great article, from Associated Press writer - JAMES CALDERWOOD.

The agreement signed Sunday between the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. and MIT created the Masdar Institute of Technology in Abu Dhabi. Masdar will pursue Abu Dhabi's plan to use its oil income to develop a more sustainable renewable energy sector and an economy based on green energy expertise.

We want "talent and innovative technologies to enhance economic development and promote new industries using renewable energy," said Sultan al-Jaber, ADFEC's chief executive.

Solar power in the sun-drenched country is one chief research area. The government of Abu Dhabi emirate has already dedicated $350 million to a giant solar power initiative.

What do you think? Is it a good idea that a leading oil producing country is looking into green energy?

Al

Pump hydrogen right from the comfort of your home

2007-02-22T06:14:00.000-08:00

This sounds like a pretty promising short commute vehicle energy source.

Pump hydrogen to your car, right at your home. Test of this system have already begun, and commercial trials are a couple years away.

Not bad for a technology that's still so new.

Hydrogen fill-ups from home might not be too far off.

Al

Synthetic fuels to help our energy woes

2007-02-22T06:05:00.000-08:00

Here's a new fuel alternative right out of the story books - synthetic fuel.

Unfortunately, it looks like cost of building the plant will be its biggest challenge to its producers.

"...made from carbon-based products like natural gas and coal in a process that dates back to the 1920s. In December the Air Force successfully tested synthetic jet fuel in a B-52 bomber; it plans to test the fuel's cold-weather performance early this year.

Better yet, the fuel will work in any vehicle powered by a diesel engine without any retooling. And the price is right: Coal-to-liquid fuel should cost about $45 a barrel. A government tax credit would then kick back $21 a barrel to Syntroleum, making the fuel very competitive anytime oil prices are above $30 a barrel.

Only one snag: scale. Agee says it would take at least $1 billion to build a plant capable of producing 10,000 barrels per day."

Good quick read and this synthetic fuel technology looks like it has a bright future ahead of it - picture from Syntroleum.com.

All the best,
Al

Australia is doing away with Light Bulbs!

2007-02-20T08:57:00.000-08:00

Shocking - isn't it?

The government of Australia has decided to get rid of light bulbs.

Incandescent light bulbs - that is.

The Australian government on Tuesday announced plans to phase out incandescent light bulbs and replace them with more energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs across the country.

Legislation to gradually restrict the sale of the old-style bulbs could reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by 4 million tons by 2012 and cut household power bills by up to 66 percent, said Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Australia produced almost 565 million tons of greenhouse gases in 2004, official figures show.

Prime Minister John Howard said the plan would help all Australians play a part in cutting harmful gas emissions: "Here's something practical that everybody will participate in."

You know, I think it's great that they are trying to be more energy efficient by doing this. One of my biggest questions and concerns about using these energy efficient light bulbs is the environmental impact of using this type. I've heard they have much bigger negative environmental impact. Apparently that won't be as much of a problem (since they last SO LONG), but I still gotta ask - at what cost to our environment?

Mostly just a thought - on this great article, from Rohan Sullivan, an Associated Press Writer (picture also from the AP).

All the best,
Al

More details on the Smart ForTwo

2007-02-09T07:13:00.000-08:00

I've been covering this a lot lately, but I think it's a pretty cool ride...

the Smart ForTwo

It looks great and it's pretty fuel efficient. Definitely NOT a family car, but for getting around town on the cheap the Smart ForTwo is a great idea. Plus it's fairly cheap.

Three models will be available: The Pure with optional air conditioning starts at $11,000; the better-equipped Passion will cost $13,000 and the Convertible will be $15,000.

It's a quick read, and well worth a look.

All the best,
Al

No terrorist has touched this oil! We think...

2007-02-02T07:57:00.000-08:00

Here's an interesting marketing twist on the gas and oil crisis...

Make it seem as if no terrorist country has been involved in producing your oil. Now that actually seems like a great idea, but as you can see it's not always practical to figure out.

The Omaha station, recently acquired by the Terror-Free Oil Initiative group, only sells gasoline provided by Sinclair Oil Corp.

TFOI works only with companies that sell oil from "countries that do not export or finance terrorism" and because the majority of Sinclair's oil comes from the United States and Canada, the company meets the group's criteria, TFOI founder Alex Porter told CNN.

But both Sinclair and TFOI acknowledge there is no way to track the origin of all the oil from the ground to the pump.

Dalton Kehlbeck, Eastern regional manager for Sinclair, confirmed that the majority of the oil his company sells is from the United States and Canada, but he added there is no way to know what oil from other countries has gotten mixed in during transport through the pipelines - which Sinclair does not operate.

And while it may be absurd to say the oil is from terror free countries, what isn't absurd is the absolute AVALANCHE of coverage and publicity generated by the articles like this one from Katy Byron (CNN business desk editor). (Photo from KETV Brandi Peterson report)

President wants to cut back consumption of gasoline

2007-01-23T10:52:00.000-08:00

Not too long ago we saw that the President is wanting to invest more in alternative energy sources.

Couple that, now, with his desire to cut gas consumption and pretty soon we're going to start seeing some real change within the transportation and energy markets.

According to this Jennifer Loven, Associated Press article (photo Ron Edmonds), the President wants to cut gasoline consumption by up to 20%.

WOW - and how does he plan on using less gas?

primarily through a sharp escalation in the amount of ethanol and other alternative fuels that the federal government mandates must be produced. The rest of the fuel use reduction is to come from raising fuel economy standards for passenger cars

Just a quick update on the State of the Union and Gasoline.

Al

Wal-Mart enters the hybrid truck market - Semi truck that is...

2007-01-19T06:54:00.000-08:00

Love em or hate em, Wal-Mart is doing something that other companies won't even try to do yet. They want to develop a semi truck that runs on diesel and electric.

Why it's taking so long to begin development of these ideas is astonishing, but now that Wal-Marts involved it might actually happen. (article by Anita French at Arkansas' 'The Morning News')

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is teaming up with ArvinMeritor, an auto component supplier, to develop a diesel-electric hybrid truck that may be the first of its kind in North America.

The companies said in a news release this week they had agreed to develop a dual-mode, diesel-electric drivetrain for a class 8 truck, called the "workhorse of the U.S. long-distance trucking industry" by ArvinMeritor.

What do you think?

Al

EPA ratings drive new car gas mileage down, down, down

2007-01-19T06:37:00.000-08:00

From the shocking headlines you would think that new car models are dropping their mileage and becoming more fuel inefficient.

But that's not the case at all.

Instead, the EPA has been using outdated testing methods to determine gas mileage on vehicles. And that all changed with 2008 models.

So you are going to see a surprising drop in mileage ratings for cars in 2008, but it has more to do with the EPA than the cars themselves.

Here are the new tests, as explained By Jon Alain Guzik...

While the EPA's machinery for testing hasn't changed, what has changed is the fundamental way they test cars. "We have no new machinery. What we have are three additional tests. One each for interstate and city driving, as well as a new air conditioning test," Millett continues. "The EPA began to look at changing the tests on March 24, 2004. While no test is perfect, due to real world variables that are impossible to recreate in a lab, we can look at the overall general changes in the past 20 years and do a better job testing."

When asked how the changes will affect the new 2008 vehicles, Millett says, "It certainly will be even. Whatever we do has to be a level playing field for all of the automakers; it also has to be good for the consumers, so they will get the mileage on the sticker. On average, from the 2007 to 2008 models, it's going to be a 10% decrease in change on most vehicles. For vehicles with better fuel economy, the new testing will affect the vehicle more in a 20-30% range."

It's a good read though,
Al

Soaring gas prices coming... sometime soon

2007-01-18T08:51:00.000-08:00

I was surprised to read (from Reuters and CNN Money) that they expect the price to take this long to get back up there, but...

Auto executives expect the gas prices to hit $4 per gallon in 2015. Is that steady and constant pricing at $4.

I was surprised by this because we've already hit $3 - not that long ago. Does that mean prices are going to be staying this low for the next 8 years?

Anyhow, I thought it was an interesting read. I'm not sure if these auto execs and their gas prices are coming from planet earth - or where?

True - gas prices haven't been that high in a while, but I have seen no clear indications or statements about WHY it went that high in the first place and now WHY it's coming back down. It looks like hocus pocus or some kind of oil company magic making it happen. (Lots of rhetoric and behind-the-scenes comments - but nothing consistent that should show why the prices actually went that high)

U.S. auto executives are bracing for gas prices to more than double over the next decade and for sharply higher U.S. fuel economy standards - a step the industry has long resisted, according to an academic survey released Tuesday.

Gas prices will average slightly more than $4 a gallon by 2015 and just over $5 a gallon by 2020, according to the survey conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI).

Talk soon,
Al

Automakers race for better car battery

2007-01-13T17:41:00.000-08:00

Some automakers are betting on lower gas mileage through better car batteries. They are saying that the better the car battery the less gas.

So they're trying to get more money from the government to expand car battery development.

"What you're seeing with GM is that they're going for broke on batteries," says Tom Gage, president of AC Propulsion, a San Dimas, Calif., company that retrofits hybrid cars. "There is a very real race going on here, but not just with General Motors and Toyota. All the car companies understand battery technology is key to electrifying the automobile."

Electrify the auto with better car batteries.

It could happen... in about 5 years.

All the best,
Al

President will fund some alternative fuel research

2007-01-09T07:01:00.000-08:00

I was a little surprised to see how little this amount is (due to the size of this market), but it appears the President does and is going to put a little funding weight behind alternative fuel vehicle options.

This article, from the Independent, is a good general overview of the current state of commercially viable alternative fuel plans.

At $180m (£93m), the annual budget for the Department of Energy's vehicle technologies office has repeatedly been criticised as too modest given the scale of the environmental pollution from more than 200 million petrol vehicles on US roads. Only a fraction of the budget is distributed to groups working on alternative fuels, who have to compete for funds against academic institutions and corporate ventures working on light-weight materials and other projects to improve the efficiency of petrol vehicles.

Going Green - it's all about the Greenbacks

2007-01-08T14:06:00.000-08:00

Well, more and more companies, governments, and organizations are truly backing the 'Green' revolution. But it has a lot to do with getting cash from customers and investors. Even Victoria Secret is getting in on the act (thanks to Amercan Public Media for the article and the photo).

As energy costs and climate change made headlines in 2006, many businesses began to change their wasteful ways and adopt more sustainable practices. But it's still all about profit.

Investors are basically falling all over themselves trying to pump cash into startups that have anything to do with clean energy.

This is a good, quick read.

Al

U.S. carmaker finally getting smart about the Smart car

2007-01-08T13:55:00.000-08:00

I find this article, by the AFP, very intriguing.

On one hand they're saying the U.S. is a land of SUV's and huge vehicles - but on the other hand I'm thinking...

What options have they given us up until now to have anything but bigger vehicles? They continuously push the huge SUV's and giganto-trucks on the American consumer as if those are the only vehicles in the world.

What would happen if they actually started making and marketing cars that were a little more environementally friendly, and yes - even a little bit smaller. (But maybe built with more functionality anyhow)?

But in the United States, proud home to gas-guzzling trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), the notion that such a car might prove a hit seemed laughable until only recently.

According to DaimlerChrysler chairman Dieter Zetsche, even the group's head of US sales once "said it would fall into a pothole in Manhattan and you couldn't find it any more."

"That's not the attitude people are showing today. The Smart is simply cool," he said on an ice rink laid out to introduce new Mercedes-Benz cars, insisting that US drivers were ready for the two-seater vehicle.

"I think the simple equation that the larger the car the better, doesn't apply that much to the US market any more either."

DaimlerChrysler says that more than 770,000 Europeans have chosen the first generation of the Smart, which now comes in four models including a four-seater and a sporty convertible, often to replace a larger car for city living.

Anyhow, it's nice to see that some more sensible options are on the horizon for us.
Smart car and Smart Fortwo - you are welcome here anytime. Thanks for changing the landscape of our thinking.

All the best,
Al

GM electric concept car

2007-01-08T13:49:00.000-08:00

GM is entering the foray in alternative transportation with an electric car that uses very little gas.

In theory, this car (as reported by this Reuters article and photo), may not require you to buy any gasoline.

Why?

Well...

The Volt is designed to run for 40 miles on pure electric power, making it marketable for everyday family use.

For the average American driver who drives 40 miles a day, or 15,000 miles a year, the Volt will require no fuel and lead to an annual savings of 500 gallons of gasoline, GM said.

Pretty cool idea - unfortunately it's still 2-3 years away from production levels.

Talk soon,
Al

Italy brings wind farms to the U.S. and Canada

2007-01-05T10:26:00.000-08:00

Real quick - Italy's biggest utility is bringing 2 more wind farms to North America.

Enel said a 250 megawatt capacity wind farm will be built in Smoky Hills, Kansas, and a 27 megawatt plant in Newfoundland — reducing carbon emissions by 415,500 tons a year.

I'm sure we'll be hearing more on wind energy in the years ahead.

Al

Green laws may not breeze through new congress

2007-01-05T09:39:00.000-08:00

Although the new congress has entered with a bang, with a large backing of all things 'green'. It may not mean the green laws will flow through without any hitches. (great article from the L.A. times)

Powerful groups, job losses, and other money sources (certainly things that MUST be considered by all congress-men) might put a few hitches in the new congress' plans.

Boxer has set an ambitious agenda that includes advancing legislation on global warming and reinstituting a tax on the oil and chemical industries to pay for clean up of contaminated sites. She also has pledged tough oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency.

But she faces a daunting task in trying to move her bills through Congress — and past President Bush's veto pen.

For anything controversial, such as mandatory caps on emissions linked to global warming, she probably would face Senate filibusters — perhaps joined by some of her fellow Democrats.

This is worth a read, so you know where our congressmen will be heading over the next few years.

All the best,
Al

Which flat screen TV's use more power? LCD or plasma

2007-01-04T06:33:00.000-08:00

Here's part 2 of the article I reported earlier.

Flat screen TV's use more power than regular TV's. We know that now, and if it's a big problem you'll want to factor that into your household budget.

But, like I said, I think the space savings will probably override the energy costs.

Anyhow this next part explores which flat screen TV uses the most energy - the LCD or plasma. This article, from Robin Raskin a Yahoo tech Advisor, is well worth the read - and she even throws in a general energy / cost saving tip at the end.

From my look at all the data across multiple sources, you're going to save electricity most of the time by buying an LCD. (You'll also spend more on the initial purchase.) Meanwhile, the one loud and clear takeaway is that no matter which flat-screen TV you've bought, you will save power if you unplug it from the wall when you're not using it. Those savings increase if you've got DVD players, tuners, and other systems hooked up to your TV since they typically remain in a low-powered but standby mode when you shut them off as well.

I hope you like it.

Al

Flat Screen TV's use more power

2007-01-04T06:26:00.000-08:00

Well, not that it's a huge problem and it probably won't send the earth out of its atmospheric alignment, but here's an interesting article about the power usage of flat screen TV's.

And while I tend to focus on alternative energy vehicles and power sources, I think this might be a good article to look at for a more typical, indoor household item.

Some of the best research can be found at EfficientProducts.org. The site says that a typical U.S. household watches about five hours of television each day and that there are about 260 million TVs in our homes. They claim that our TVs are responsible for about 1 percent of our nation's electricity production a year (47 billion kilowatt hours). Most of this electricity is consumed when the TV is turned on (90 percent), but the remaining 10 percent is used in standby modes when the set has been turned off. It predicts that unless TV efficiency improves, the rapid growth in TV sales, increased hours of TV viewing, and multiple TVs per household will ultimately contribute to a rise in TV energy consumption by about 50 percent before 2010.

So before you rush off to pick up a flat screen TV this might be good to know for your family budget. Honestly though, to me, the space savings will probably be worth it in the end.

All the best,
Al

The First Electric Car

2006-12-29T06:15:00.000-08:00

This is COOL!

This vintage electric car is basically, the first Toyota Prius.

This is short and totally worth watching.

Al

Ethanol Refineries in the Midwest

2006-12-26T09:26:00.000-08:00

This graphic, from Bob Veierstahler at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is a great visual of what is happening with ethanol refineries in the Midwest U.S.

Ethanol boom - a blessing and a curse

2006-12-26T09:18:00.000-08:00

This is a great article, from Raquel Rugledge at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. (photo by Michael Sears) It has a lot of good information in it about ethanol and ethanol plants.

First it talks about who is gaining and who is hurting from the growth in demand for ethanol.

Then it goes on to talk about how ethanol production is exploding and it doesn't show any signs of stopping in the near future.

Casey and other farmers said they haven't seen anything like it in years: corn prices so high they don't even get their government checks. Demand so high they've already sold much of their 2007 crop.

When Greg Steele considers yellow these days, he thinks about surviving the future. The soaring price of corn is putting a financial squeeze on him and other dairy farmers who count on the grain to feed their cows.

For Sarah Lloyd, it means a major headache. Corn is fueling an explosion in the production of ethanol, the 200-proof, colorless liquid that the country is counting on to help wean it from addiction to foreign oil. Ethanol plants are springing up across the state - and around the corner from Lloyd, causing her and other neighbors serious concern.

The number of ethanol plants nationwide has jumped more than 30% since 2004, from 83 to 109. And there's no sign of slowing. Today, 57 plants are under construction countrywide, including several in Wisconsin. Congress and the president are mandating ethanol. The federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 calls for a near-doubling of biofuels such as ethanol to 7.5 billion gallons by 2012.

This one is definitely worth the read.

All the best,
Al

Eco-friendly apartment

2006-12-23T21:19:00.000-08:00

Interesting, but maybe not earth shaking - this article and photo from the Associated Press showcases a new trend in eco-friendly apartments for college students.

While these things may be eco-friendly, I am guessing a lot of college students might already be using these kinds of products, and maybe even some 'green' minded adults.

It's still worth the read.

The University of California at Berkeley recently unveiled a prototype eco-friendly "green apartment" to showcase its vision for life at college and beyond -- to show students they can reduce the damage they do to the environment without much extra expense or drastically changing their lifestyles.

Here's a little bit of what is actually eco-friendly:

But the room is also decked out with energy-saving televisions and refrigerators, water-miser showerheads, low-toxicity shampoos and detergents, non-disposable razors, aluminum water bottles, and bedsheets made from birchwood instead of chemically processed cotton.

All the best,
Al

Live in a Van Down by the River

2006-12-17T14:30:00.000-08:00

Well, you know, I've always been intrigued by the idea of sustainable living and trimming down.

This video is a live example of living on less. It's definitely worth watching.

Let me know what you think?

All the best,
Al

10 Myths about Hybrids

2006-12-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

Hybrid vehicles - love 'em or hate 'em they're stronger than ever in the American marketplace.

Here are 10 myths about hybrids - from hybridcars.com.

Being a history major, of course this one is my favorite...

Hybrids are a new phenomenon.
In 1900, American car companies produced steam, electric, and gasoline cars in almost equal numbers. It wasn't long before enterprising engineers figured out that multiple sources of power could be combined. In 1905 an American engineer named H. Piper filed the first patent for a gas-electric hybrid vehicle.

With the advent of the electric self-starter in 1913-making gasoline engines much easier to turn over and get started-steamers, electrics, and hybrids were almost completely wiped out. The following 80 years, characterized by cheap oil, created little incentive for auto engineers to play with alternatives.

The oil price shocks of the 1970s, and a growing awareness of environmental problems related to automobile emissions, sent engineers back to the drawing board. Research and experimentation by governments and car companies in the 1980s and 1990s led to the reemergence of hybrids in the U.S. in 2000.

For the other 9, click on the link above.

Thanks,
Al

4 Top Features of Hybrid Vehicles

2006-12-07T08:33:00.000-08:00

Here is a great article from Ron Cogan, at automedia.com, talking about the key features and benefits of hybrid vehicles.

This is definitely a 'Worth Reading' article.

'hybrid electric vehicles get pretty incredible fuel economy. In fact, the top three vehicles in EPA fuel economy ratings these days are hybrids'

Talk soon,
Al Speer

Higher gasoline prices DO change U.S. driver habits

2006-12-07T07:20:00.000-08:00

I was REALLY surprised to see this Reuters article.

I didn't actually believe that the average American driver would drive less due to the rising fuel prices. Not that pricing doesn't hurt our budget, but just because I didn't think the average consumer would worry about it.

But I was wrong!

That's okay though - you can check out the entire Reuters article and photo at the link.

The drop in driving was small -- the average American drove 13,657 miles per year in 2005, down from 13,711 miles in 2004 -- but it is more evidence that the market works and prices help control consumption, Boston-based Cambridge
Energy Research Associates said.

"Price matters," CERA Chairman Daniel Yergin
said.

The group's 2007 edition of "Gasoline and the American People" shows the U.S. romance with automobiles is changing, but not ending, due to tighter environmental rules, expanded fuel options, such as ethanol and biodiesel, and an aging of the population, CERA said in a news release.

The share of U.S. household budgets going to gasoline and oil has been relatively stable for decades, at 3.8 percent in 2006, compared with 3.4 to 3.6 percent in the 1960s, due to low fuel taxes and improved vehicle efficiency, the report said.

Miles driven per motorist was down partly because there are more elderly people driving, and they tend to drive less, the report said. Between 1980 and 2004, drivers under age 21 dropped from 18.8 million to 15.8 million and those over 65 almost doubled, from 15.4 million to nearly 29 million, CERA said.

Average annual miles per vehicle also declined last year, from 11,946 to 11,856. That number for cars is smaller than average miles per motorist because there are more cars than licensed drivers in the United States, 1,148 per thousand, CERA said.

All the best,
Al

Ethanol demand boosting corn prices

2006-11-30T15:55:00.000-08:00

The demand for ethanol is starting to hit the farmers directly, as this article from the Associated Press points out. They are
seeing and increase in the demand and pricing for their corn.

"It's a wonderful time for corn producers. They're extremely excited butthey're also apprehensive because they've seen booms before and they don't last," he said.

More than 150 U.S. ethanol plants are either under construction, planned or in operation, and market forces are pushing up demand for corn. The crop is ground into a mash mixture that's distilled into grain alcohol to become fuel.

That could mean bad things for the price of ethanol. But it might also lead to developing alternative forms of raw material for making ethanol.

I guess we'll see.

All the best,
Al

SUV's coming to a plug-in near you

2006-11-27T16:31:00.000-08:00

This is a pretty cool video.

Long time actor and alternative energy advocate Ed Begley Jr. shows off his latest electric ride - an SUV.

Very much worth the watch.

Talk soon,
Al Speer

Don't Worry - the gas prices are rising again

2006-11-19T16:01:00.000-08:00

The last few months have been really nice. The price of gas has fallen a LOT.

But, you always know now that the prices are going to keep rising. It's just the way the world is now. Everything is running low, and as supply goes down, demand will increase causing higher prices - and gas is no exception to this rule. Our basic transportation system in America is built on the back of gasoline. (I have to thank the Associated press and Getty Images for the image and the article.)

Anyhow, this shouldn't come as a shock to you, but...

"Gas prices are on the rise again, just as Americans hit the highways for Thanksgiving. Gas prices rose about 5 cents per gallon nationwide compared to two weeks ago, industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday. "

Hold on, it should be an interesting ride.

All the best,
Al

Pros and Cons of Diesel vehicles

2006-11-14T20:19:00.000-08:00

Here's a great article that talks about some of the pros and cons of diesel fuel engines.

Most importantly, I think, is the discussion about emissions. Due to higher and higher vehicle emission standards, not a lot of diesels are going to be compliant.

"...diesel vehicles attain better fuel economy than their gasoline counterparts. This fuel economy advantage is enhanced by the fact that a gallon of diesel fuel contains about 10% more energy than a gallon of gasoline. These two factors help modern direct-injection diesels achieve roughly 50% higher fuel economy than their gasoline counterparts."

All the best,

Al

Why Not to Buy a Hybrid? 4 Reasons...

2006-11-01T15:04:00.000-08:00

"Why not to buy a hybrid?
If you are thinking about a hybrid, but have some nebulous nagging concerns, then you probably want to get past all the feel-good praise about hybrids—and find some good dirt on the automotive darlings of the green techno-chic class. What are the hybrid cheerleaders hiding? What are the drawbacks?

- Extra maintenance cost? Nope. Not necessary.
- Too slow for highway driving? Uh-uh. Plenty fast.
- Battery replacement expense? No. The batteries last as long as the car.
- Low resale value? Not that either. Prices holding strong.
- Problems in snow and cold weather? Wrong again."

Click the link (Title above) for more info

Thanks,
Al

Concept Green Cars

2006-11-01T15:00:00.000-08:00

"Nissan has developed a bubble-shaped, three-seater electric car called the Pivo—short for pivot. It runs exclusively on electricity. The cabin sits atop a wheeled platform that can swivel 360 degrees, doing away with the need to reverse when emerging from narrow spaces."

I love the look of this car, and it has the look and feel of the cars that were showcased in the Tom Cruise (or was it Will Smith?) sci-fi thriller from a few years ago...

What was it called? I can't remember.

Anyhow, take a look at this car and take a look at that movie and tell me we aren't headed in that direction.

All the best,
Al

Prepare to Plug in for 100-mpg Hybrids

2006-11-01T14:57:00.000-08:00

If you're going to be going with an electric car or electric hybrid, you might want to be familiar with the energizer bunny. It looks like you'll have to add even more batteries to make the car more compatible with electric plug-ins.

"Unlike gas/electric hybrids on the market now, which can't be plugged in, PHEVs require more batteries in order to run on electric power alone.

So part of the process of converting an existing hybrid, such as the Toyota Prius, into a PHEV is to add more batteries, particularly newfangled ones like lithium-ion batteries, which are lighter and hold a charge longer than lead-acid or nickel metal hydride batteries."

Anyhow, it looks like these electric cars might become more standard in the years ahead.

All the best,
Al

U.S. gasoline prices jump up after the short breather for American drivers

2006-10-30T20:35:00.000-08:00

Well, I guess we knew it wouldn't be long, but it looks like the gas prices are starting to fluctuate after a nice long drop in the prices. I'm just hoping the prices stay down in this range for a while.
"After reaching a summer high of $3.04 a gallon on August 7, the pump
price had declined 83 cents, dropping for a record 11 weeks in a row.
The rise in the latest gasoline price mirrors last week's increase in crude
oil costs, after a government report showed an unexpected, large drop in
U.S. oil and petroleum product inventories and market concerns emerged about a possible al Qaeda attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities.
The price of crude oil accounts for about half the cost of making gasoline.
The new jump at the pump could be short-lived as oil settled down $2.39, or nearly 4 percent, to $58.36 a barrel in Monday trading at the New York Mercantile Exchange after traders became less worried about a threat of terror attacks on Saudi oil sites."
All the best,
Al

Higher weight = Lower gas mileage

2006-10-25T13:10:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting article, from LINDSEY TANNER, an Associated Press Medical Writer.
Although I probably already knew it, I've been surprised by the huge 'apparent' plummet in gas mileage based on the weight of the vehicle. But now, they're saying even small amounts of weight can have a big difference in mileage.
"That's the implication of a new study that says Americans are
burning nearly 1 billion more gallons of gasoline each year than they did in 1960 because of their expanding waistlines. Simply put, more weight in the car means lower gas mileage.
Using recent gas prices of $2.20 a gallon, that translates to about $2.2 billion more spent on gas each year.
'The bottom line is that our hunger for food and our hunger for oil are not
independent.
There is a relationship between the two,' said University of Illinois researcher Sheldon Jacobson, a study co-author."
All the best,
Al Speer

Diesel gets down and dirty, but is coming up clean...

2006-10-18T11:15:00.000-07:00

Here is great news about diesel. I've been looking into this quite a bit - because I think biodiesel might be a very viable option.

I'd love to get your thoughts and ideas about it.
(photo by the Associated Press - Sten-Ake Aronsson, a senior vice president at Volvo )

"The auto industry is already transitioning to more advanced engine systems as
new rules go into effect on Sunday that require fuel makers to produce a much
cleaner diesel that is largely sulfur-free.

At first, these so-called
ultra-low sulfur diesel regulations will mostly affect users of heavy-duty
engines that are the workhorses of U.S. industry. But automotive executives say it may not be long before soccer moms across America are driving with
diesel.

'It's a proven technology,' said Sten-Ake Aronsson, a
senior vice president at Volvo Powertrain's plant in Hagerstown, where
production of heavy-duty diesel engines has more than doubled -- to 300 a day --
in the past two years.

Next January, automakers will roll out engine
systems equipped with exhaust-scrubbing technologies that work in tandem with
the cleaner fuel to reduce soot and smog-forming nitrogen oxide emissions.The
auto industry is already transitioning to more advanced engine systems as new
rules go into effect on Sunday that require fuel makers to produce a much
cleaner diesel that is largely sulfur-free."

So, what do you have to say about diesel?
Good?
Bad?
Ugly?
Don't really care?

All the best,
Al

The leaders in fuel-efficient vehicles

2006-10-18T08:36:00.000-07:00

A bit more about fuel-efficient vehicles. The thing I find interesting is the small amount of hybrids - 2% of the market. (The handout photo is provided by the Honda Motor Company.)

I think this will go up over time.

Even though prices are down now - I believe the summer's super high prices may have caused many Americans to realize there is a sinking ship with regular gasoline vehicles.

There's still gonna be more push for more fuel-efficiency and greater diversity of energy resources - i.e. biodiesel, hydrogen, ethanol, and other renewable energy sources.

"Six gas-only vehicles made the top 10: manual and automatic versions of the Toyota Yaris, the manual version of the Honda Fit, the manual Toyota Corolla and manual versions of the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio.

The government compiles the list based on information from manufacturers. Fuel economy estimates are determined by averaging numbers from a specific set of tests.

'Each year millions of Americans buy new cars, and by using fuel economy information, each consumer can make a more educated decision that will help conserve energy and save money,' said Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman.

Hybrids comprise about 2 percent of the U.S. sales market but they have benefited from a federal tax incentive meant to help consumers recover part of the $3,000-$4,000 premium for a hybrid."

All the best,
Al Speer

Running Water - More info on using Water for Power

2006-10-05T19:28:00.000-07:00

Here's a bit more about the idea of getting energy from water.

Very interesting.

Anybody else know much about this. I've never heard that much about it until recently, when all of the energy costs around the world skyrocketed, causing people to scramble for newer lower cost energy alternatives.

And Another...

Anyhow, I hope you enjoy it.

All the best,
Al

Car running on water - Interesting but True?

2006-10-05T19:25:00.000-07:00

This is a KILLER concept - but the video seems old. Is this still a true and viable option?

Just wondering?

Thanks,
Al

Ocean Wave Energy Storage

2006-09-20T07:23:00.000-07:00

This energy source is pretty cool.

Getting energy from the ocean's waves

This is the first time I've heard of this concept, and it looks like it's in the infancy stages. But it seems like an interesting idea for the future.

"researchers believe that by harnessing just 0.2 percent of the ocean’s power that could be enough to power light bulbs around the world.

Engineers at Oregon State University have taken the first steps towards generating power from waves. They have built a buoy system capable of capturing the ocean’s power in the form of offshore swells, and converting it into electricity. One system bobs two miles offshore and is called the permanent magnet linear generator buoy."

Thanks again, LiveScience, for another interesting story.

Al

Floating Windmills Generate More Power AND not an Eyesore

2006-09-18T20:41:00.000-07:00

This is a pretty interesting article...

It talks about a new method of erecting windmills at sea. The technologies involved sounds amazing to me, but it actually seems like it might be doable.

This one is definitely a must read.

"Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have designed a wind turbine that can be attached to a floating platform. Long steel cables would tether the corners of the floating platform to a concrete-block or other mooring system on the ocean floor, like a high-tech ship anchor. The setup is called a 'tension leg platform,' or TLP, and would be cheaper than fixed towers.

'You don't pay anything to be buoyant,' said Paul Sclavounos, an MIT professor of mechanical engineering and naval architecture who was involved in the design.

The floating platforms to sway side to side but not bob up and down. Computer simulations suggest that even during hurricanes, the platforms would shift by only about three to six feet and that the bottom of the turbine blades would revolve well above the peak of even the highest wave. Dampers similar to those used to steady skyscrapers during high winds and earthquakes could be used to further reduce sideways motion, the researchers say."

Thanks to Ker Than, a LiveScience Staff Writer, for some interesting NEW technology news. And thanks LiveScience for the image.

Talk soon,
Al

BMW's (hybrid) Ultimate driving machine

2006-09-15T12:35:00.000-07:00

Here's a bit more on the BMW hydrogen powered cars that are gonna hit the market some time next year. There won't be too many. And they'll be pretty spendy.

But still, it's a very cool concept.

Using hydrogen.

The ultimate hybrid vehicle energy.

"The Bavarian automaker said Tuesday that it planned to build 100 or so BMW Hydrogen 7 cars and offer them to government and industry leaders, prized customers, movie stars and prominent figures mainly in Europe and the United States next year to tout the advantages of hydrogen.

'Crude oil is a limited resource, and we need to prepare alternative sources of fuel,' said Christoph Huss, senior vice president for science and traffic policies at BMW in Munich, Germany.

BMW has tinkered with hydrogen technology since the 1970s and has considered producing hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars, the path chosen by most automakers.
But BMW executives opted to develop an internal combustion engine capable of running on hydrogen that would be clean yet still offer the satisfying driving performance its customers expect."

Great article. Thanks to Christine Tierney from The Detroit News - and the images are from BMW.

Al

The Beginnings of 'Biomass' - Chicken Poo Style

2006-09-15T08:50:00.000-07:00

This is a great new and useful resource for energy...

Chicken Poo

Mostly just a very interesting article and idea - buy hey - this is the real deal. They are already doing this in the U.K.

"Robbins is in the running for a new kind of power plant that generates electricity from manure and other 'biomass' fuels.

A company called Fibrowatt USA has narrowed its site search to three places in central North Carolina. Robbins is one of them.

The technology comes from Britain, where Fibrowatt Limited built the world's first generator fueled entirely by 'chicken coop sweepings' or 'chicken litter.' "

This one's definitely worth a read.

And speaking of chicken poo...
If you're interested in raising your own chickens, you might check out this site, which talks about building your own chicken coops and taking care of chickens.

Cheers,
Al

Small Wisconsin Community Leading the 'Organic' Charge

2006-09-15T07:57:00.000-07:00

Here's a neat article about a small community in Wisconsin who is blazing a new trail about organic lifestyle.

They plan on a community type of co-op that will promote green, organic, sustainable resources and products.

"The plan includes roads, access points, eco-business locations, storm water storage areas, a wind turbine and landscaping elements such as prairies, buffer strips, rain gardens, an organic orchard, bicycle paths, mowed trails, and a food waste recycling storage shed.

Cashton village president Robert Amundson said village officials are excited by the Organic Valley move and other possibilities.

“I guess Organic Valley is hoping to get some of the companies they do business with to locate there,” Amundson said. “The Development Corporation also is working with investors on some other ideas.”

Some of those other ideas could include a methane production plant, perhaps to utilize manure for energy, and a bio-diesel production facility. No official plans for these business possibilities have been made public at this time.

'We're excited about the Cashton Greens project,” said Russ Dawber, project manager for Organic Valley, when the coop first announced its building plans. “Something like this is desperately needed to reduce the carbon dioxide overflow in the world.

“A green energy park using renewable energy sources, wing generators, possible hydro power and refineable products fits the Organic Valley mold and were proud to be part of such a movement.' "

It's definitely worth a read.

All the best,
Al

Injury Risk causes Segway to recall all it's Scooters

2006-09-14T06:25:00.000-07:00

Here's some URGENT news, from the Associated Press, if you use a segway as a vehicle. (Reuters Photo)

"Segway Inc. is recalling all 23,500 of the self-balancing scooters it has shipped to date because of a software glitch that can make its wheels unexpectedly reverse direction, causing riders to fall off. "

It looks like it'll just need a software upgrade to be back up and running. Segway says they'll pay to get it to an appropriate dealership for service as well, if needed.

Take a look,
Al

Car-Sharing a New Strategy for Corporate Vehicles

2006-09-13T16:34:00.000-07:00

This is an interesting idea for people who live in urban or highly populated areas. The idea of paying a kind of lease fee for a car service - and then you just check out the car whenever you need it.

If you're interested you'll definitely want to read more. So far, not too many of these options across the U.S. yet. But there may be more coming.

"Brown is one of a growing number of business owners using shared-car services instead of their own vehicles. No longer a curious fad, the services boast 530 shared cars in the Washington area, making them increasingly attractive to new kinds of customers, including universities and businesses.

Within the past year, the area's two shared-car services, Zipcar and Flexcar, have both received $20 million in private investment that they plan to use to expand. Using their popularity among politicians and transportation policymakers, the firms are aggressively cutting deals with cities for parking and marketing promotions."

All the best,
Al

The World Wide Web rides the Sun

2006-09-13T14:20:00.000-07:00

This is a fantasitc idea...

Solar Power may bring the internet to remote areas and villages around the world.

Very interesting story, from Ranty Islam (a Contributor to The Christian Science Monitor) - Photo from ROBERT ATANASOVKSI/AFP/GETTY IMAGES.

"The idea to develop and produce millions of simple, Internet-capable $100 laptops and give them to the poorest kids on the planet sounded appealing. But just how children in remote villages in sub-Saharan Africa were supposed to hook up to the Internet was unclear.

The solution may come out of thin air. Literally. All you need is a rooftop and the sun, claim the inventors of a solar-powered wireless device. 'Green' initiatives like theirs, together with a range of wireless technologies, may extend the Internet's reach to developing communities around the globe. "

This one is definitely worth the read.

Kids and families all over the globe could be affected by this low-cost energy source alternative. This is a topic to keep your eyes on.

Al Speer

US Army asks for 'green' power

2006-09-13T12:26:00.000-07:00

HMMM, this one is interesting from Mark Clayton, a Christian Science Monitor writer. (Photo from GUSTAVO FERRARI/AP)

Top military commanders are asking for 'green' power to keep the troops safer and more efficient.

Green technology must really be improving rapidly. It wasn't that long ago that solar panels and rechargeable batteries weren't very efficient. But now studies are showing that using these renewable sources is much more efficient.

"Memo to Pentagon brass from the top United States commander in western Iraq: Renewable energy - solar and wind-power generators - urgently needed to help win the fight. Send soon.

Calling for more energy in the middle of oil-rich Iraq might sound odd to some. But not to Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Richard Zilmer, whose deputies on July 25 sent the Pentagon a 'Priority 1' request for 'a self-sustainable energy solution' including 'solar panels and wind turbines.' "

This is a good read.

Al

Scientists do ultrasound on Mother Earth

2006-09-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

Now this is what I call taking it to the next level.

Instead of just doing ultrasounds of people, scientists are starting to do ultrasounds on Mother Earth.

But is she pregnant?

Apparently so, but it's with a different kind of ball of energy.
You can find out more, from Jason Szep's article, at Reuters.

"Hoping to unlock vast reserves of natural gas and oil trapped under layers of rock, scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have teamed up with Canada's biggest independent petroleum explorer, EnCana Corp., to test the ultrasound exploration technology in a Wyoming gas field."

This could be an interesting addition to the hunt for underground energy resources and reserves around the world.

Al Speer

Hydrogen-powered BMW to hit the market in 2007

2006-09-12T17:27:00.000-07:00

I just posted about this the other day.

I didn't think it would be a matter of days until it came to production line, but it's coming.

But here's the Reuters announcement where BMW announces the 7 Series... which will run on hydrogen and also standard petrol - but it looks like just Europe with have this capability for a while.

"The specially equipped 7-Series executive cars emit only water vapor when running on hydrogen.

The car hits the market next April and will be shown at the Los Angeles car show in November, the company said. It had said in March the hydrogen cars would arrive within two years."

That's pretty amazing stuff though.

Al

The Potential of Wind Energy and Cars

2006-09-11T08:39:00.000-07:00

This article is VERY interesting.

It talks first, about the explosion in hybrid / electric cars. Then it goes into the availability of renewable wind energy. Some very interesting thoughts and numbers in here, from Lester R. Brown at the Earth Policy Insitute.

And here is some numbers on the costs associated with wind energy from 1982 to 2003. HMMM? Not sure how accurate this all is, but it's definitely worth a look-see...

Cost of Wind-powered Electricity in the United States, 1982-2003
Year Cost Per Kilowatt-hour
(cents)
1982 38
1989 18
2003 4

Source: Larry Flowers, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, "Wind Power Update," viewed 19 June 2002.

"With gas-electric hybrid cars now on the market, the stage is set for the second step to reduce oil dependence, the use of wind-generated electricity to power automobiles. If we add to the gas-electric hybrid a plug-in capacity and a second battery to increase its electricity storage capacity, motorists could then do their commuting, shopping, and other short-distance travel largely with electricity, saving gasoline for the occasional long trip. This could lop another 20 percent off gasoline use in addition to the initial 50 percent cut from shifting to gas-electric hybrids, for a total reduction in gasoline use of 70 percent.

The plug-in capacity gives access to the country's vast, largely untapped, wind resources. In 1991, the U.S. Department of Energy published a National Wind Resource Inventory in which it pointed out that three of our 50 states�Kansas, North Dakota and Texas�have enough harnessable wind energy to satisfy national electricity needs. Many were astonished by this news since wind power was widely considered a marginal energy source. "

Talk soon,
Al

New Gulf Oil Find NOT as Helpful as Thought

2006-09-11T08:24:00.000-07:00

Here's the source of some pretty heated debating.

This is a great article talking about the pros and cons of finding additional oil reserves in the Gulf of Mexico. It lays out some serious, and I think, very real accusations against the oil companies.

Unfortunately, I don't think the typical American consumer can even see this. We just keep right on spending our money, living in our own little fantasy worlds.

Here's a brief clip of the article, by Aaron Glantz, at OneWorld US (oneworld.net)

"Many environmental and consumer groups argue that today's high gas prices are caused by oil company price manipulation more than anything else. According to the Washington, DC-based group Public Citizen, profits at the five largest oil companies skyrocketed to $59.4 billion for the first six months of this year.

In a new report titled 'Hot Profits and Global Warming: How Oil Companies Hurt Consumers and the Environment,' Public Citizen argues leading oil companies could have invested some of that money into alternative sources of energy but instead have spent $112 billion since 2005 to buy back their own stock and pay dividends rather than invest in infrastructure or alternative energy sources.

'Under the current market framework, oil companies aren't making investments in ways to break our addiction to oil and apparently have no intention of doing so,' Public Citizen's Tyson Slocum said in a statement. 'With $1 trillion in assets tied up in extracting, refining, and marketing oil, their business model will squeeze the last cent of profit out of that spent capital for as long as possible.'

Oil companies have also spent considerable energy lobbying Congress and in late June convinced the House of Representatives to lift a moratorium on new off-shore drilling, replacing it with a process that would require states to take proactive measures if they wish to maintain the environmental protections currently enshrined into law. "

Oh, well!

This one is definitely worth checking into.

Al Speer

Vaporize Garbage with 'Lightning-like' plasma energy

2006-09-10T23:17:00.000-07:00

If you don't think some of this stuff is amazing - I don't know what rock you've been sitting under.

This article, another associated press article and photo, from BRIAN SKOLOFF an AP writer, have some amazing points about this NEW capability.

It still sounds too much like science fiction to me. I don't even believe it's possible, but I am totally into learning more about this possibility.

"The 100,000-square-foot plant, slated to be operational in two years, is expected to vaporize 3,000 tons of garbage a day. County officials estimate their entire landfill � 4.3 million tons of trash collected since 1978 � will be gone in 18 years.
No byproduct will go unused, according to Geoplasma, the Atlanta-based company building and paying for the plant.

Synthetic, combustible gas produced in the process will be used to run turbines to create about 120 megawatts of electricity that will be sold back to the grid. The facility will operate on about a third of the power it generates, free from outside electricity.

About 80,000 pounds of steam per day will be sold to a neighboring Tropicana Products Inc. facility to power the juice plant's turbines.

Sludge from the county's wastewater treatment plant will be vaporized, and a material created from melted organic matter � up to 600 tons a day � will be hardened into slag, and sold for use in road and construction projects.

'This is sustainability in its truest and finest form,' "

I hope you enjoy the rest of the article.

Best Wishes,
Al Speer

Hydrogen vehicles on the Horizon

2006-09-10T23:06:00.000-07:00

WOW, this one is really interesting. I work in the silicon industry, which the 3rd largest element on the globe - and I thought that was impressive.

But Hydrogen is even more readily available than silicon. This could be HUGE news in the years to come.

This article, By SEANNA ADCOX, Associated Press Writer, is a great read. (Photo also from the Associated Press) And totally worth checking into.

"Using hydrogen as a fuel means cars will emit water rather than exhaust fumes, making it a clean, widely available alternative to fossil fuels. Hydrogen-run vehicles have been tested, but public availability is probably at least a decade away, said Todd Wright, director of the Savannah River National Laboratory.

Nearly every state has some sort of hydrogen initiative as they scramble to discover ways to cheaply and practically use the element as fuel. South Carolina lawmakers and business leaders believe the Savannah River Site's work since the early 1950s gives an edge to a state typically thought of as backward rather than futuristic."

All the best,
Al Speer

US drivers are starting to choose scooters - It's about Time!

2006-09-08T06:37:00.000-07:00

Image from Getty Images

Here's a great little article, by Virginie Montet from the AFP, about what life will begin to be like if gas prices stay around $3 or higher...

Scooters!

Unfortunately scooters are still mainly being sold in urban areas, but I bet high pump prices will cause more commuters to start buying as well.

Sure family's still need a bigger vehicle, but the big car will be used for kicking around and vacation trips - not for work commutes. Anyhow - that's my prediction, you can take it with a grain of salt.

"Scooters get a whopping 60 to 80 miles (97 to 129 kilometers) per gallon of gas compared to fuel hungry cars which average 20 miles (32 kilometers).

This year is set to mark a record in scooter sales although the streets are far from resembling traffic in Milan.

'The big markets are urban markets, vacation destinations and college towns,' said Mike Mount, spokesman for the Motorcycle Industry Council.
According to the industry group, 113,000 scooters were sold in 2005, up 18 percent from the year before."

But this article is definitely worth a read.

All the best,
Al

The First Motorcycle Airbag

2006-09-07T07:04:00.000-07:00

This is one of the most astonishing things I've seen in a LONG time.

This article, from MotorCycleCruiser.com, is truly amazing.

It says they've been testing motorcycle airbags for 3 decades, but apparently this is the first one to actually work in a way that functions properly.

If you get a second, I definitely suggest you get to this page...

"The airbag is not designed to stop the motorcyclist but rather to reduce the velocity at which the rider is ejected from the motorcycle. Honda says, 'Inflating rapidly after the impact, the airbag can absorb some of the forward energy of the rider, reducing the velocity at which the rider may be thrown from the motorcycle and helping lessen the severity of injuries caused by the rider colliding with another vehicle or with the road.' "

All the best,
Al Speer

Underground Homes and Dwelling spaces for under-world types

2006-09-01T15:18:00.000-07:00

This is a great article about new and innovative (or maybe not so new - but innovative never-the-less) ideas for building your home underground.

WHY? you ask?

Well, as CNN/Money staff writer Les Christie explains...
it's great on conserving energy both in heating and cooling costs.

Plus there are other safety reason people are choosing to live in these types of homes.

"reasons for occupying underground abodes still resonate with people. These days, many homeowners are thinking 'green' (see 'Green goes mainstream'), and are looking to cut energy use and conserve resources.

Underground dwellings are extremely energy efficient. Caves have year-round temperatures in the mid-to-upper fifties, making them a cinch to heat and unnecessary to cool. "

This article is a great read, and definitely worth taking a look at.

All the best,
Al

California presses rules on greenhouse-gas emissions

2006-08-31T09:48:00.000-07:00

Here is some interesting news out of California, provided by the AFP...

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the legislation of California have agreed to some serious greenhouse-has limits. This plan is an effort to cut these gases by 25%. Putting California even farther than the federal government in emissions standards.

"The move makes California the first state in the country to limit the emission of carbon dioxide and other gases accused of contributing to global warming.

California is the 12th largest carbon emitter in the world, Schwarzenegger noted, 'despite leading the nation in energy efficiency standards and its lead role in protecting its environment.

'Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is an issue we must show leadership on,' he said.

The proposed bill, called AB 32, would cut the state's carbon dioxide emissions -- the principal contributor to global warming -- by 25 percent by the year 2020.
It would require large firms that generate greenhouse cases, such as power plants, oil refineries, factories and cement kilns to report their level of emissions to California's Air Resources Board.

However, the bill includes a provision allowing firms who exceed the limits, or cap, on greenhouse gas emissions to buy 'credits' from companies with below-cap emissions."

My favorite, and the most interesting idea - is the bartering or buying of 'credits' allowed under the plan for people who go over their limits.

HMMM...

Maybe it's time for me to start a small manufacturing company, which produces ? (something - anything) and start selling my emissions credits.

Maybe I'm starting to see $$$.

Talk soon.
Al

Wind farming in Iowa

2006-08-31T06:33:00.000-07:00

Here's a very interesting read about another renewable energy resource - the wind.

Although the article talks mostly about the money factors involved in making this happen, it does give some of the energy and customer numbers that can be supported by wind farms of this size.

The information comes from the Associated Press, and the photo from Reuters.

"Iowa has nearly 900 wind turbines capable of producing 836 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 226,000 average homes, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Planned projects � besides the Franklin County farm � would add 120 turbines capable of generating an additional 249 megawatts of electricity, the group said.

Texas leads the nation with 2,400 megawatts of wind energy installed and California has 2,323 megawatts."

An interesting read - definitely worth a look.

Al Speer

Green building is hitting the mainstream

2006-08-30T13:52:00.000-07:00

Here is an interesting article, by Sarah Max, CNN/Money senior writer.

People are not necessarily interested in saving the environment, unless, of course, it just happens to lie in line with their goals of acquiring a styllish, high quality home. And maybe saving them money.

"'People are starting to ask about green building,' said Bill Hurme, vice president of building services for John L. Scott real estate in Seattle, who has noticed an increase in interest within the last year. 'They want to know what does it mean, and what's in it for me?'

Although environmentally friendly doesn't top most buyers list of needs, he added, the lower utility costs and a healthier feel are among the selling points. 'And I think they just think it's sort of cool.' "

I guess the good thing is... now that we've pulled all of the easy energy out of our ecosystems it is getting more cost effective to build with energy and resource efficiency.

Definitely worth a look-see though.

Al Speer

Some Basics about Diesel Vehicles...

2006-08-30T11:21:00.000-07:00

While ethanol has been getting a LOT of press lately, diesel is an interesting option that I have wanted to look into for quite a while.

This article, by Peter Valdes-Dapena, a CNN/Money staff writer, offers a great basic idea into the realities of owning a diesel vehicle.

I think we are going to see quite a bit more of these vehicles on the road in the years ahead.

"While diesel-powered passenger cars are common in Europe, they haven't caught on here.

That's partly because the diesels most U.S. drivers are familiar with are the noisy smelly trucks and buses they get stuck behind in traffic. Or they may remember the diesels their neighbors bought during the last big fuel economy crisis in the 1970s.

Either way, diesel has become associated with noisy clatter, puffs of black smoke and patience-testing acceleration.

Modern diesel engines are considerably better than that. No black smoke, fewer rattles and acceleration that's at least on par with gasoline-powered cars.
While diesel cars get about 30 percent better mileage, overall, than comparable gasoline-powered cars, they are most efficient in steady highway driving, said David Champion, head of auto testing for Consumer Reports. "

If you have any comments or thoughts, I would love to hear them.

All the best,
Al Speer

The Most Fuel-Efficient Cars on the Road

2006-08-30T06:31:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick look-see at Consumer Reports vehicle tests for the "Most Fuel-Efficient Vehicles".

They break it down by category so it's easy to see where your vehicle fits in the grand scheme of things. OR to see where your next vehicle fits...

From what I can see, 3 of the top 4 gas savers is a manual transmission.
I had no idea!

It's definitely worth checking out. Although it doesn't look like they've updated their gas pricing lately - that doesn't really matter for the testing of the efficiency of the cars.

Best Wishes,
Al Speer

Tiny Cars Are Taking Over the Planet

2006-08-30T06:25:00.000-07:00

This is a great article about what's hot right now...

Small cars - specifically the smart car, which has already been selling in Europe since 1998.

Frederick J. Staab, from BusinessWeek Online gives a step-by-step, blow-by-blow account of his experience driving this teensy little vehicle on the streets of Manhattan.

"In the automotive business these days, big is out and small is in. Sales of large sport-utility vehicles are down 45%. Small-car sales have increased 70%."

"After clunking over steel construction plates on 37th Street, my Smart commuter experience came to a successful end. I hadn't been run over by a Hummer nor laughed off the road."

This is definitely worth a read.

All the best,
Al

Gas Guru's gas price surveys very popular...

2006-08-21T08:58:00.000-07:00

Here is a great article about a gas price guru...

Jeff Wilson from the Associated Press talks about Trilby Lundberg, a gas price guru.

She condemns the "overzealous meddling" of the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies, and said government-mandated reformulation of unleaded gas and engine modifications aimed at curtailing emissions are more to blame for gas price increases than the worldwide Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

She also criticized the "woefully ignorant" media and public perception about gas prices.

"It is wild-headed and often destructive," she said of the reporting. "The explanation can be boring, it can be a little bit dry, it takes a long time, and the majority of folks simply do not have that time and do not have the interest."

Lundberg has strong opinions on other issues. For instance, she calls global warming a "boogeyman for political opportunism." Those who promote the theory are trying to create a power base and "believe global warming is a reason to hike taxes and hike prices," she said.

It's definitely worth a read.

All the best,
Al

High gas prices mean changes for some drivers...

2006-08-08T13:05:00.000-07:00

Well, there's not a lot new in this article, from STEPHEN OHLEMACHER, an Associated Press Writer.

But it does bring up an interesting question that I've been wondering about. When will the gas prices get TOO high? And what changes will it bring? And what will it mean?

You and I both know, there will come a time when gas will be too high to do normal everyday stuff. But what will that mean?

More bicycles
More motorcycles
More scooters
More mass transit buses
More mass transit trains
More carpooling
More types of fuel
More walking

And which of these will be the most important?

"Fifty-five percent of drivers said they had reduced their driving because of high gas prices, according to a poll released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center. About one in five said they had started carpooling or sharing rides more often, while 12 percent said they had begun using mass transit more often.

Economists say Americans' dependence on the automobile makes it unlikely drivers will change their driving habits dramatically, regardless of price increases, at least in the short term.

'There are small ways to cut down on driving. But in comparison to other products, there is no substitute for gasoline or for driving,' said Matthew Lewis, assistant professor of economics at Ohio State University. 'You probably can't buy a smaller car (in the short term). And people can't change where they live or where they work.'"

Anyhow, it's a great article. One you should definitely read more on.

All the best,
Al

Oil prices spike from Alaska oil pipeline shutdown

2006-08-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

Isn't it amazing how alarming the news can be. This report, from the Associated Press hits home seriously, with the possibility that gas prices are going to continue to go higher.

OUCH!

Unfortunately, finding alternatives is not getting a whole lot easier.

Ethanol and biodiesel remain some of best and most realistic options.

"BP Exploration Alaska, a unit of Britain's BP PLC, began shutting down oil production Sunday at Prudhoe Bay due to severe corrosion on a pipeline.
Once the field is shut down, in a process expected to take days, BP said oil production would be reduced by 400,000 barrels a day. That's close to 8 percent of U.S. oil production as of May 2006, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

BP officials said they didn't know how long the Prudhoe Bay field would be off line."

I don't want to shake things up too much, but I think it's a valid article to read. And anything that helps understand where we are heading can help us think up more solutions to the problem.

All the best,
Al Speer

Another interesting cost saving idea for your vehicle

2006-08-02T15:19:00.000-07:00

WOW - this is one I haven't heard of, but this is definitely a very interesting idea for saving more money on your gas costs.

I wonder if any of you have any experience with using this type of air in your tires.

"Bourque, an engineer, said he has seen a 1 to 1.5 mile-per-gallon increase since he began filling his tires with nitrogen, which is touted as maintaining tire pressure longer and resisting heat buildup on hot summer days.

'I analyze everything,' he said.

Nitrogen has been used for years in the tires of race cars, large commercial trucks, aircraft and even the space shuttle."

This great article by David Sharp, from the Associated Press, is definitely worth a look-see...
All the best,
Al Speer

Brief description of how Ethanol is Made?

2006-08-01T13:29:00.000-07:00

It's amazing. The amount of interest and buzz floating around ethanol right now.

What's even more amazing is how few people REALLY know how to do it. Lots of people share theories, but very few people have even tried the process of producing gas from a feedstock.

Here is a general overview of the process.

It's even so challenging that a guy called me and asked strategies for doing it. And guess what, I don't even know yet. I am working with another expert who builds stills and he is going to show me how to do it.

This article from the U.S. Department of Energy will give you an idea of where you will start in this process.

"The ethanol production process starts by grinding up the feedstock so it is more easily and quickly processed in the following steps. Once ground up, the sugar is either dissolved out of the material or the starch or cellulose is converted into sugar. The sugar is then fed to microbes that use it for food, producing ethanol and carbon dioxide in the process. A final step purifies the ethanol to the desired concentration."

I hope you enjoy it.

All the best,
Al

4 of the Top 10 Tech Cars for 2006 have alternative energy

2006-07-26T10:31:00.000-07:00

Not a lot here, but it's still an interesting article showcasing that 4 of the top 10 technology cars of 2006 have some alternative energy capability.

Another livescience.com article.

- Ford Reflex Concept Car, a turbo-diesel hybrid.
- 2007 Mercedes-Benz E 320 Bluetec, which will have the cleanest diesel engine on the planet.
- Subaru B5-TPH Concept Car, for its turbocharged gasoline-hybrid power plant and advanced manganese lithium-ion batteries.
- Mitsubishi Concept CT-MIEV, a four-door hatchback with four electric motors, one in each wheel.

Best Wishes,
Al