Its Not All About The Oil - America Has Sustainable Power

The world is in a frenzy, the oil crisis is making economies to cause a downturn that may even be greater than the great depression. The war as they say is the cause. The budget deficit for 2008 is now over $400,000,000. This money certainly would have been put to better use within America itself.

Its Not All About The Oil - America Has Sustainable Power

Conspiracy Theory

Most people will say that the president of the United States waged war with a middle eastern country due to oil America after all is one of the world’s largest oil consumer. Everything in the US is automated, or electrical. To run machineries you need oil products, to produce high demands of electricity you barrel and barrels of oil to run the generators.

It is quite easy to assume that President bush whose family business is oil has a vested interest in acquiring a country so rich in mineral deposits. First of all it will make oil sources available anytime they want without having to bother with diplomacy and pass through another government. Second more profit for the Bush family, because they have an oil business if they can get fossil fuel at cost then they will have more earnings. The theory makes sense and could very much be possible.


Sustainable Power Resources

We are not here to discuss political and personal issues. We are here to point out that there are other faces to this scenario. Yes, America is one of the world’s largest energy consumer, but America also has the largest alternative energy resources in the World

Geothermal, Hydro, Wind and etc

The United States of America is considered as the world’s greatest geothermal energy producer. The Geysers located just north of San Francisco was the planet’s first and largest dry steam field. The amazing thing about these power plants (since there are several) is that sewage waste from surrounding cities are pumped into the geothermal plant in order to replenish the supply of steam needed for energy production. States such as Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Utah among others have their own geothermal plants.


Considered the fourth country with the largest hydropower capacity, the Americas revolutionized hydropower by building numerous dams in highly calculated areas all over the US. Perhaps the most popular is the Hoover Dam. At the time it was fully operational Hoover Dam was said to be the world’s largest electricity generating hydropower plant. Located on the cusp of Nevada and Arizona, the Hoover dam supplies electricity to the states of Nevada, Arizona and most of Southern California.

Rock Port Missouri is a city in North America who is fully powered by wind farms. Of the 56 states in America over half have wind farms which help supply their security needs. Some states may have aesthetical issues, but wind farms will definitely become indispensable in the future especially when the impact of dwindling oil supplies from the east is felt.

A Closing

The States have its own oil resources right within its backyard. Texas and just off shore from New Orleans a new sight is emerging. That of drilling areas, but one thing remains clear. Fossil fuel as an energy source is not viable for human health and the future of our environment. If you’re still asking why the American government is waging war for oil? Perhaps it’s not oil after all. Maybe it’s just a peace crusade with a sword in hand.

Read More

Can You Use a Green Energy Source like Water to Power a Car?

For more than a century, we rely on oil to fuel our cars. But did you know that the world’s oil is close to drying up because it is a nonrenewable resource? Well that may not happen tomorrow or next year but we are getting closer because of the demand in the world market. Why wait for that day when we can rely on a green energy source like water to power our cars.

 Green Energy Source

Water can power a car? If you think that’s impossible, well it is already here but this is not yet being made on a commercial scale.

The German automobile BMW has produced the world’s first ever hydrogen powered car. While only 100 of these units were produced, you can already imagine if more of these vehicles are on the road.

The initial model namely the BMW Hydrogen 7 uses the body of the 760i model. Once you pop the hood, you will notice that the engine is different since it uses gas and hydrogen.

This just means we have not yet totally abandoned are dependence on gas. Given more time and money, the current 4.7 miles per gallon it can travel using water alone could hit double digits in the future.

The biggest challenge to using water as a green energy source as opposed to oil in vehicles is the engine. While there are cars around like the Prius which runs on electricity and gas thanks to fuel cell technology, the hydrogen combustion is less than 10 years old so you could say we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg.

To prevent the water from evaporating, this has to be stored in a large, 30-gallon, bi-layered and highly insulated tank so this does not evaporate into compressed gas. Another safety mechanism is the valves which are designed to open should the pressure within the tank exceed 5 bars.

With the success of the BMW H7, the company came out with a new car that is also partly powered by water known as the H2R. While we cannot yet put our garden hose into the fuselage to fill it up, this vehicle uses liquid nitrogen as a fuel.

Tests on this vehicle have shown it can achieve 285hp and reach a top cruising speed of 185.5 miles per hour. It can also accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour under 6 seconds.

But why use water? It is because hydrogen combustion is clean so it does not emit harmful gases into the atmosphere unlike cars that run on petrol or diesel that emit carbon monoxide. Studies have shown that it also weighs less than hydrocarbon-based fuels and burns faster than conventional gasoline.

So when can you expect to buy a car that uses water as a green energy source? Hopefully in the next 10 to 20 years. It is really up to the automakers because all we can do is wait until a better and clear car hits the dealership.

Right now, the best option we have are electric cars. Since its introduction in 1999, more people are using it because they don’t want to spend anymore for gasoline that could hit an all time high of more than $110 per barrel.

If water as a green energy source can be used to power a car, why don’t we do the same for solar power which has been around much longer?

Read More

Is Biomass Green Energy Source

Is biomass a green energy source? According to experts, yes it is. In fact, it is one of the three main areas of bioenergy.

But what is bioenergy? Well, it is a process by which organic material such as animal waste, plants and wood are used to generate electricity, produce heat and also aid in the production of biofuels.

In the case of biomass, hot air or water is generated to produce electricity. This is done through direct combustion and is considered the simplest and most common method of generating energy from biomass.

Aside from generating electricity, biomass can be used for hot air production so you can keep a place warm. For this to work, biomass has to be combusted in a furnace where it heats either water or air. Speaking of water, this enables you to have warm water so you can take a shower. In short, biomass in itself can also be used in a small scale as a heating system.

Since you can generate electricity and heat, some people have been able to combine the two which is known as combined heat and power or CHP. Something that many consider to be good as you use one energy source for two purposes.

If you are able to compare the amount of electricity generated between biomass and let’s say solar energy, you will notice that biomass produces more because the energy in plants is already captured and stored.

You don’t have to collect it first which is what happens with solar or even wind energy since this is manufactured technology. It is readily available unlike the other two which is totally dependent on the weather.

Another is the fact that you can even use organic waste to product electricity. No other green energy source can do that and by using this extensively, any government can save money because you don’t have to spend money to dispose of the waste and you will no longer depend on foreign oil that much to power your plants.

The downside to biomass is that because you have to burn waste and other organic materials to product power, you add to the pollution which is already in the atmosphere. But this can be offset of course by planting more crops which we know helps reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

You will also have to shell out a lot of money initially for the costs of labor, the transport of these fuels and how these should be stored.

Biomass uses renewable natural resources which is why it is considered a green energy source. This means that we have an endless supply of it around just like the power of the sun or the wind which flows from the ocean. The challenge is to find suitable land that has a sufficient water supply so these will be able to grow.

This means that in areas where water is not that abundant, you cannot rely on biomass technology to generate power. When that happens, you use other means and one good example given the right geographical location is wave energy which is the process of generating power from the water.

There is a way to generate power without causing harm to the environment. We have the technology and the green energy sources. We just need to muster the willingness to make it happen.

Read More

Biofuel As A Sustainable Power Source

Biofuel As A Sustainable Power Source


The energy crisis has already prompted a war; that is if you believe conspiracy theorists and the media. There might be some truth to this matter, at least if we take a closer look at the dynamics of supply and demand of fuel all over the world.

What Is BioFuel?

Biofuel is an energy source derived from recently deceased biological matter while fossil fuel (i.e. raw material for gasoline, kerosene, diesel and etc.). In theory biofuel can be derived from any carbonated source, but in practice it usually comes from plants like corn, palm, sugar cane, wheat, jatropha and algae. These feedstock sources are popular for the two most popular end products which are used for cars and machineries: bioethanol and biodiesel. Bioethanol comes from either sugar crops or fermented starch.  Biofuel does not just come from plant crops, although a margin of them does.

Biomass

Since bio fuel maybe gaseous, liquid or solid fuel other categories also apply. Way up in Tibetan mountains biofuel have been in use for hundreds of years. Tibetans use manure from their goats, donkeys, horses and cows as a substitute for wood. Animal waste are common pollutants, converting it into useful energy helps eliminate its negative effects.

Biowaste

Other alternative fuel resources are used oils. People eat, and thousands and millions of gallons of used oils are thrown down the drain which leads to rivers and oceans. Oil does not decompose ergo recycling and converting it into biofuel is in order. In addition, landfills maybe of some use after all. Landfills emanates polluting gas which contain methane, a combustible gas which is the primary content of the gas we use for cooking, and heat.

Liquid biofuels are getting generous media attention because of the worsening air conditions in severely populated areas. Cars produce almost 60% of our air pollution. Vehicles need highly combustible energy so that it will function. Liquids and gases are easier to handle because it can be contained and pumped, so handling is less expensive.

Biofuel And Cars

There are two types of biofuels that maybe used in cars: biodiesel and bioethanol. Biofuel is very popular in Europe. In that part of the world most car manufacturers make vehicles with diesel engines, so using biodiesel instead of pure diesel is a relatively easy transition. If a car is unmodified owners may blend up to 20% biodiesel with regular diesel. Biodiesel comes from fats and used oils, these by products are the processed through what’s transesterification. Transestirification is a chemical reaction produced by adding an acid base to the fats. The result is biodiesel.

Bioalcohol is produced when starch, sugar and cellulose are fermented. The results are three popular types of alcohols: ethanol, butanol and propanol. Among the three it is argued that either ethanol or biobutanol maybe used in gasoline running cars, but it seems that biobutanol won the bid because it now called biogasoline. Biogasoline is formed by acetone, butanol, and ethanol fermentation and through scientific modifications.

With social enlightenment and a new found concern for the welfare of the environment more and more sustainable power resources are being discovered and invented. When all hope seems to have been lost a new glimmer looms in the horizon. It is heartening to see that men who cause the slow but sure death of the earth are trying to find ways to help it recover and be its vital self again.

Read More

Biofuels are a Green Energy Source | solar power and green energy

Biofuels are a Green Energy Source

Biofuels are also a green energy source. It has been around for a very long time and lately, people are beginning to take notice.

Liquid biofuel which is the one used in cars is a natural and renewable domestic fuel that can only be used for diesel engines. This can be made from vegetable oils mostly soy and corn. The nice thing about it is that it contains no petroleum, is nontoxic and biodegradable.

By fueling up with biofuel, you decrease the pollutants in the air because it does not emit anything. Right now, it is the only fuel approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), passed every Heath-Effects Test of the Clean Air Act and meets the requirements of the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

One example of this is biodiesel which is made from alcohol like methanol and a chemical process that separates glycerine and methyl esters (biodiesel) from fats or vegetable oils. Aside from methanol, some countries have also experimented with corn and sugarcane to create their own version of biofuel. 

Glycerine is a common products and this is used in making toothpaste and soap. Since it is quite new, the process of converting it is quite expensive and right now, this is still much more expensive per gallon compared to petroleum.

But if you look at what you pay for it, the returns are huge because you get to do your share to preserve a cleaner environment, an improvement in air quality and a reduction of cancer-causing agents. 

A cheaper and primitive way to make bio-diesel is by collecting cooking oil and then processing it. This may not good your car’s engine so be careful if you decide to use it. 

If you are skeptic about biodiesels, studies have shown that its performance on the road is just as good as petroleum in terms of power to efficiency, hauling and climbing. You can use this in its pure form or blend with petroleum fuel. The most common mix in the market is 20/80 and is referred to as "B20." This means that 20% is biodiesel and the remainder is 80%. Another version is the E85 which is fuel composed of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. 

The best part about using biodiesel is that you only have to make a few changes in your engine to be able to use it. Aside from making the car run, it also helps clean the engine. If you are concerned that this will void the warranty of your vehicle should there be a problem, don’t worry because it doesn’t. In the US, B20 is the most common one available but there are only a few gas stations that carry it. 

When car’s first rolled out in the beginning of the 20th century, Henry Ford planned to make these vehicles especially the Model T’s run using ethanol. Tests have even shown that these may also run using peanut oil. 

This never materialized because huge oil deposits were discovered and diesel was cheap. It was only when our demand for oil increased in the 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s and in the early part of this year that people began to realize that to reduce our demand for foreign oil that we should try using biodiesels and other forms of alternative energy. 

Is it too late? Not yet because there is still time to use biofuels and others as green energy sources. 

Read More

most Types of Biofuel | all Sources of Biofuel | solar power

Nothing brand-new within the sun? Potrzebie! These types of biofuels feedstocks arranged data intended for effectiveness, large insanity and also a liberal dosage regarding “what, me fret? “

Almost all of the reports all of us generate on the subject of biofuels feedstocks get into the well-established area regarding normal. Yet every single from time to time, the feedstock out that may be and so compellingly unusual that any of us document the report away within our “yecch, ptooey! ” document, set for your round-up which often forms our own Leading Report today.

It's unlikely that any on the feedstocks might modify the earth, although many of them, though highly outside-the-box, have serious worth. Others…well, barstools2u . com offers these individuals since cautionary myths. Another thing each will reveal in accordance – all of us aren’t generating some of these items up.


1. Martian CO2 along with space-based residues
However money intended for commercializing biofuels are generally since rare since normal water about Mars, a couple tasks are finding R&D funding to check out chances intended for developing biofuels inside space. Final July, all of us included a gaggle in NASA’s Ames Investigation Middle who're attempting to transform space-based plant residues, from plant life produced by means of astronauts to produce food along with breathing in air flow intended for long-period space travel, in causes of energy resource, substances along with food.

Throughout Walk 2010, jatropha vegetables gone in orbit for the space taxi, certainly where an scientific study looked at growth premiums. Perhaps some time inside space, NASA can buy the bank willing to give income to get a commercial-stage development.

a couple of. The modern Orleans Times-Picayune
It absolutely was the unfortunate morning to its readership, along with intended for countrywide discourse, when the New Orleans Times-Picayune introduced of which it could be mooing for an all-digital format; although as it happens, it will be bad for biofuels, also. Throughout Louisiana past summer season, Tulane College scientists discovered a whole new microbe pressure of which turns newspaper publishers in butanol. This scientists are making use of aged models from “The Times-Picayune” like a feedstock because of their microbe pressure branded “TU-103″ to make the ethanol. Harshad Velenkar, the post-doctoral investigator claims, “In the united states alone, no less than 323 thousand a great deal of cellulosic resources that might be used to generate butanol are generally dumped on a yearly basis. ” Some sort of patent can be approaching for your scientists practice.

3. Psychedelic hammer toe
Throughout Pennsylvania a couple summers before, scientists have determined brand-new hammer toe gene history of which improve the upload regarding carbohydrates from hammer toe foliage along with could cause larger produces intended for biofuels. Both the gene history that had been isolated are generally handling the movements regarding carbon from foliage in order to other places on the plant, along with and thus handle carbohydrate generation. This scientists, doing the job beneath the USDA Farming along with Foodstuff Investigation Initiative, think that treatment on the metabolic path can give methods of improved food or even energy resource in the plant.

several. World Conflict Two’s aging canvas fungus
In this report from Present cards 2010, all of us looked at WWII canvas aging fungus like a biomass conversion technologies, the fungus of which produces diesel powered, the fungus of which synthesizes ethanol, one who produces cellulase, and also a symbiotic garden regarding fungus been able by means of leafcutter ants to help you in their leaf-converting things to do. However the topper had been the news of which up to 90 pct regarding Missouri’s Conservation Hold Software area, wherever fescue can be managing rampant, might be contaminated having ergot (a fungus from which LSD can be synthesized). “A heft quantity of carbon can be sequestered by means of endophyte-infected fescue, then it provides a few carbon help. Yet that may be for it's capability to powerfully minimize microbial lifestyle inside it's developing journey along with, by means of building a nanoscopic, subterranean Chernobyl, stocking carbon of which otherwise will be munched along with introduced by means of those bothersome plant structur generally known as lifestyle forms. ”

5. Kudzu, moose manure or even demolition debris…your decide on
Lower inside Florida, kudzu can be a very unpopular theme, because the “weed of which Consumed the South” can be essentially anywhere in the Southeastern quadrant, however, many Pine Form scientists imagine many people might be able to transform all of that unhappiness in energizes. Back 2010, the Global Business Problem in Pine Form Nation's Clinical gave the venture in order to transform waste material in green aircraft energy resource, from COSI Catalysts, reputable refer to yesterday from the “Advanced Products intended for Eco friendly Energy” classification.


6. Stinkweed
Yes, it’s the stinking flower, all right. Famweed, that may be, or even industry pennycress — you might have heard of the idea since stinkweed, or even this particular language marijuana, or even mithridite mustard. You might have heard of the idea referred to as the bagful regarding income ready for being prepared. It’s the mustard seed products, on the list of Brassicaceae. It’s not really rooted as an alternative, although like a cross over crop, the cover crop.

“There’s 130, 000 massive areas sitting right there inside The state of illinois, along with the targeted regarding 250 gallons per acre, that’s 26 thousand gallons. 130, 000 massive areas can be precisely what our own collaborator farmer team cultivates every year, ” said Arvens Engineering CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Sudhir Seth. “Potential massive areas that will turn into for sale in the Cornbelt, corridor among I-70 along with I-80 among NE along with WOW, is about 40 thousand massive areas. That is competent at generating 8 thousand regarding alternative biofuels every year without having influencing the food present. This can generate more farmville farm cash flow of approximately in comparison with $4 thousand every year in $100 per acre. ”

7. Bunnies
Sweden’s obtained a typical dilemma: a great number of bunnies, reproduction including, very well, rabbits. Sweden’s obtained a silly answer, pitfall ‘em, wipe out ‘em, along with shed ‘em to come up with electric power. An ideal ecologically natural electric power supplier intended for plug-in electrics…oh, not really. Eew. Many of us profiled the most popular dilemma and the icky answer with this report from past October.

Apparently, Stockholm, which has an overstock regarding stray, outdoors rabbits which can be doing damage to local theme parks, sanctioned the culling functioning, and the mortally wounded bunnies ended up mailed intended for control. This Stockholm capability can also be incinerating dead cats and kittens, cows, deer along with race horses, according to the statement. Yikes.

This continues to be proper up right now there having 2008-09′s plastic cosmetic surgeon that switched liposuction fat in biodiesel since on the list of strangest biofuels reports actually registered.

8. Soda
Within a report of which usually appear proper outside the marketing and advertising intended for Shot Cola (“all the sweets, along with 2 times the caffeine…and the handy carry energy resource in order to boot…”), scientists in Ok Condition College documented of which throw away from soda pop output can be utilized since feedstock intended for ethanol output by just incorporating nitrogen along with fungus. This reputation regarding sodium benzoate, a typical food additive, had been the major sign inside no matter if a particular model of soda pop would likely ferment very well or even not really. Soft drink throw away is commonly disposed of by means of modifying the pH amount along with transmitting the idea with a local wastewater cure plant, a method which might be expensive mainly because it can be completed only inside constrained quantities.

9. Expand Your – Pot (the hemp kind) intended for biofuels
It’s the feedstock report proper beyond Cheech along with Chong. Throughout Sc before this coming year, experts in the USDA documented of which maqui berry farmers from the Southeast might generate the exotic legume sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) along with incorporate the idea in crop rotations by means of farming the fast-growing annual intended for biofuel. Case study had been conducted by means of Gardening Investigation Program (ARS) experts inside Florence, SOUTH CAROLINA, along with facilitates the USDA priority regarding acquiring brand-new causes of bioenergy.

This experts assessed possible energy output regarding feedstocks by means of primary combustion in order to estimate the feedstocks’ larger heat value (HHV), which often shows the amount energy can be introduced by means of combustion. This HHV intended for sunn hemp biomass surpass the HHV intended for switchgrass, bermudagrass, reed canary grass along with alfalfa. Though decreased rainfall ended in cheaper hemp biomass produces inside 2006, sunn hemp’s HHV intended for equally research decades had been several in order to 5 pct higher than the HHV regarding cowpeas.
Within a report from 09, all of us monitored the 43-acre biomass tryout inside California which includes hemp like a feedstock. This notoriety regarding hemp’s uncle, pot, has produced equally passionate practitioners along with oppositions on the feedstock, which often since then provided helpful by-products including string, although acquired an immense brand personality dilemma soon after reefer acquired broad acceptance from the sixties like a fun substance.

10. Body fat Rustlers! Extra fat along with oils, in the developing wedding ring regarding Sauces Crooks
Fryer gas can be a cool feedstock, for sure – although any time the idea spawns the offense wave, that’s any time the idea tips around into the entire world on the unusual. Not too long ago, the Nation's Renderers Association believed of which oil thieves provides increased up to six thousand lbs per annum throughout The united states, along with just as much as $1 thousand inside dropped profits intended for members regarding (the other) NRA. This numbers come up within an amusing loom in oil thieves released inside Area. los angeles, which often looked at the rise regarding “grease rustling” from the circumstance of an rise inside yellow oil costs, from beneath $300 per tonne, in order to greater than $900 per tonne today.

Final summer season, Nc Sales rep. Ruben Torbett answering the increasing thieves regarding yellow cooking area oil, recommended the costs that may make it the criminal offence in order to grab $1, 000 or even more regarding yellow oil, and also a misdemeanor in the event much less ended up taken. Additionally, Torbett can be advising of which virtually any yellow oil lovers must be qualified along with checked out when the lovers plan to market often pet extra fat or even vegetable oils intended for make use of since energy resource. Lastly, the lovers must have the ability to confirm they may have $1 thousand inside liability insurance policy. Maqui berry farmers that make use of these kinds of oil for your unique reasons will be exempted in the event Torbett’s suggestion can be implemented completely.

Colorado front range attorney at law Jon Jaworski is known as “the Sauces Lawyer, ” focusing on counseling about conditions concerning oil thieves. “I had some guy who had been compensated that has a bottle of wine regarding vodka and also a few cartons regarding smokes in order to grab oil. When i likewise get plenty of telephone calls from biodiesel organizations curious about how you can guard them selves from folks thieving their grease…If it’s rancid gas, the pollutant, sitting in a trash package, is it actually thieves? Beneath gigantic court regulation, in the event it’s in a rubbish can certainly, it’s rubbish. ” In 30 cents the gallon, of which yellow crud is becoming the brand new “Texas Tea”.

This technologies, unique out of your College regarding South Florida, is founded on the patent-pending catalytic practice of which transforms moose manure, demolition dust or even kudzu vines in energy resource, and the firm proprietors said that they're searching for up to $2 thousand to get a 10, 000 gallon per annum start plant.

10. Individual liposuction fat
It could only happen inside L . A ., all of us suppose. Throughout California a couple of years before, the Beverly Mountains cosmetic surgeon that employed liposuctioned individual fat in order to electric power a couple SUVs having biodiesel, challenged a study in the California state open well being specialists, intended for possible abuse of an state regulation of which forbids the usage of individual health-related throw away intended for vehicle energizes. This “lipodiesel” hot debate erupted any time Medical professional Craig Bittner had been sued by means of 3 individuals intended for removing unwanted fat along with leading to disfiguration. In accordance with stories, Bittner, that shut down his process inside Nov 2008, still left america intended for South usa.

Read More

Biofuels are a Green Energy Source

Biofuels are a Green Energy Source

Biofuels are also a green energy source. It has been around for a very long time and lately, people are beginning to take notice.

Liquid biofuel which is the one used in cars is a natural and renewable domestic fuel that can only be used for diesel engines. This can be made from vegetable oils mostly soy and corn. The nice thing about it is that it contains no petroleum, is nontoxic and biodegradable.

By fueling up with biofuel, you decrease the pollutants in the air because it does not emit anything. Right now, it is the only fuel approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), passed every Heath-Effects Test of the Clean Air Act and meets the requirements of the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

One example of this is biodiesel which is made from alcohol like methanol and a chemical process that separates glycerine and methyl esters (biodiesel) from fats or vegetable oils. Aside from methanol, some countries have also experimented with corn and sugarcane to create their own version of biofuel.

Glycerine is a common products and this is used in making toothpaste and soap. Since it is quite new, the process of converting it is quite expensive and right now, this is still much more expensive per gallon compared to petroleum.

But if you look at what you pay for it, the returns are huge because you get to do your share to preserve a cleaner environment, an improvement in air quality and a reduction of cancer-causing agents.

A cheaper and primitive way to make bio-diesel is by collecting cooking oil and then processing it. This may not good your car’s engine so be careful if you decide to use it.

If you are skeptic about biodiesels, studies have shown that its performance on the road is just as good as petroleum in terms of power to efficiency, hauling and climbing. You can use this in its pure form or blend with petroleum fuel. The most common mix in the market is 20/80 and is referred to as "B20." This means that 20% is biodiesel and the remainder is 80%. Another version is the E85 which is fuel composed of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.

The best part about using biodiesel is that you only have to make a few changes in your engine to be able to use it. Aside from making the car run, it also helps clean the engine. If you are concerned that this will void the warranty of your vehicle should there be a problem, don’t worry because it doesn’t. In the US, B20 is the most common one available but there are only a few gas stations that carry it.

When car’s first rolled out in the beginning of the 20th century, Henry Ford planned to make these vehicles especially the Model T’s run using ethanol. Tests have even shown that these may also run using peanut oil.

This never materialized because huge oil deposits were discovered and diesel was cheap. It was only when our demand for oil increased in the 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s and in the early part of this year that people began to realize that to reduce our demand for foreign oil that we should try using biodiesels and other forms of alternative energy.

Is it too late? Not yet because there is still time to use biofuels and others as green energy sources.

Read More

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Green Energy Sources?

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Green Energy Sources?

Today, we are now aware of the effects of global warming. Fortunately, it’s not too late and we can still change which is why many are pushing for green energy sources.

The advantage of using green energy sources is that it is clean so it does not emit anything harmful into the air which has an impact on the environment. It is also renewable which means we will never run out of it unlike oil which is expected to dry up in a decade or so.

Although green energy facilities are expensive to build, it requires less maintenance so you don’t have to shell out a lot of money to operate it.

It can also bring economic benefits to certain areas even boost tourism.

While these sound good, there are some who say that there are advantages to using such technology.

While green energy sources can produce electricity, how much it can generate is not consistent. This is because we have no control of the weather so if a certain area relies on solar energy and there is a weather disturbance, it will not be able to convert sunlight into electricity.

Building these facilities also requires a lot of land so we may have to cut on farmland which is what many are concerned about if more wind turbines are to be put up.

Another disadvantage is the fact that some of the green energy sources cannot be installed in certain areas of the planet. For instance, wave energy can only be utilized if the waves coming from the ocean reach at least 16 feet. The use geothermal energy can only be done in geologically unstable parts of the planet.

But if you look at such arguments, places that cannot use one form of green energy source can be substituted for another. If wind turbines need more space, they can be installed near the coast instead of putting these on land. A study shows that you can generate more electricity while these are in the ocean.

While the weather is something we cannot control, it is not everyday that there is a weather disturbance so this too shall pass. If solar energy is being used and the sun is covered, the emergency generators will be activated and use up the energy that was stored.

The point is that there are ways around the arguments put by certain individuals which discourage the use of green energy sources. In fact, research is ongoing to try and harness other means to generate the power we need.

A very good example of this is called ocean thermal energy. Power is generated by harnessing the different temperatures in the water. It is currently being used on a small scale both in Japan and Hawaii.

In the US, only 7% of green energy sources are used nationally. This was much higher 11 years ago and if we don’t have to worry about the cost of oil or even reduce our dependency on it, we have to invest more in this clean energy.

We can get it from green energy sources such as biomass, biodiesel, geothermal, solar, water and the wind. These are things we have all around us and all it takes is for someone to harness it instead of relying on traditional non-renewable means to produce energy.

Read More

How to Choose the Best Solar Energy System

How to Choose the Best Solar Energy System

With the recent advances in technology in recent years, being able to produce viable and clean energy to be used to power your home is now a reality. Alternative sources of power and energy will not only help you avoid burning fossil fuel to help provide electricity for your home, but will also help you save a considerable amount of money on the cost of your utility. One of those alternative energy sources is solar energy.

There are actually a number of different solar energy systems that are available in the market today. Since solar energy has become more common and more viable in the recent years, developers have begun to develop different solar energy systems that you can choose from, depending on your needs and limitations. Choosing a solar energy system that would fit best for your home is not necessarily an easy thing to do, which is why it is important that you learn how to choose the best one in order to get the right type of solar energy system for your home. Here are a couple of hints.

Know Your Solar Energy System

Before anything else, the very first thing that you must do is you must make sure that you know what different solar energy systems there are that you can choose from. Basically, there are two different types of solar energy systems, and those are the photovoltaic (PV) panels and solar thermal systems.

Photovoltaic Panels
Photovoltaic panels are solar energy panels that convert solar energy and turn them into electricity that you can use to power up most of your appliances and household lighting, and should only be used for those particular uses. Unfortunatley, among the solar energy systems that are in the market, photovoltaic panels are considered to be one of the more expensive ones, if not the most expensive in the solar energy market today.

Solar Thermal Systems

Solar thermal systems, on the other hand, simply generate heat, and are well-suited for boilers, furnaces and water heaters, as this type of system allows you to make heat using direct solar energy at a much lower cost as compared to using conventional energy and electricity. However, if you want to retrofit your home with one of these solar thermal systems, you need to sacrifice a little bit of space in your home. The good thing about using this type of solar energy system though is that you will save up to 80% of your total energy cost per year.

Calculate Your Energy Cost

Once you have a much better understanding and grasp of what solar energy systems are out there, and how they work, you simply need to learn how to calculate the cost of your energy consumption. This will actually help you determine which type of solar energy system you should choose from the two. When calculating the cost of your energy consumption, you need to create a list of all the things that might need energy and electricity. Include appliances, lighting, water heating, space heating, space cooling and air conditioning. If you can, try and figure out first if there are ways that you can reduce your electricity and energy consumption without having to resort to retrofitting your home with solar energy system.

Read More

A War Between Eating And Sustainable Power

Today climate change is a reality that is acknowledge by even the most doubtful of skeptics. The warmer temperatures in areas where its supposed to be cool, scorching summers, and bone chilling winter have become a pattern that people cannot simply ignore.

What The War About?

Funny enough it seems that people are getting desperate and all are turning to bio-fuel like it’s the savior of all mankind. So what is bio-fuel? Bio-fuel is any gaseous, solid, or liquid material derived from biological materials. The argument ensues when people talk of the future. Bio-fuel’s raw materials are usually agricultural crops that are made to undergo fermentation and certain processes in order to produce bio-fuel.

The Problem

Who is the world’s largest oil consumer? Those with the highest number of vehicles running their roads, countries like the US, England and generally most of the European nations. When you think about it bio-fuel is made from corn, sugarcane, palm oil, vegetable oil, and etc; where do these agricultural crops come from? Third World Countries.

In Mexico they have this “tortilla crisis”. Corn which is the basic ingredient of tortilla is now sold five times the price it used to be marketed for. The reason for the inflated prices? The demand of bio-fuel in highly developed countries has severely altered the business people’s sense of profit. Why sell for a dollar when you can for 5 because the demand is now higher.

Who Suffers?

The first world countries will have to export goods from the third world countries to fuel their increasing demand for energy. The third world countries are usually tropical ones located near the equator, hence a higher crop growth of corn, and all those needed to manufacture bio-fuel; but for these countries corn is food, so is sugar cane. For the first world to survive the t poorer countries must either starve in hunger or break their back working to be able to afford the price hikes of the most basic of all commodities: food.

A Compromise

So what should we do? We need to address the problems of the environment and pollution, but it is also not right that to solve a problem we must create one. Think about it if the agricultural countries go into decline because its people can’t afford food then who will till the land to supply the giants with endless bio-fuel?

Sustainable energy is geared to sustain life, not make it harder. A proposal is in order. Since the crops needed for the production of bio-fuel can only survive in tropical countries then the governments of the more well off countries will have to invest in the agricultural countries to supply their own demand. These crops must be independent from those for local consumers. Stringent rules governing pricing and distribution must be implemented to further protect the source of the energy.

Sustainable power means the world working hand in hand to create a better way of life for the future. The road to betterment is paved with hard work and dedication. The ancient Egyptian used sails to go up and down the Nile; they were patient and they reached their destination. Let us all be patient but diligent in our quest for sustainable power to sustain life.

Read More