Amazing Energy Facts

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:30:16 +0000

Politicians and the media are constantly giving deceiving and tainted facts about the energy crisis. Many of the lies that these two sources feed are commonly accepted as truths because they are told so many times. Let these facts act as some clarification for those of us who want to know the truth.

#1 Coal produces what percentage of America’s electricity?

Answer: 50%. Coal is a dirty 19th century technology, yet still produces half of our electricity. France, in comparison, produces more than 80% of its electricity from carbon-free nuclear power.

#2 Which produces more greenhouse gas emissions, exhaust from automobiles or emissions from coal power plants?

Answer: Coal power plants. Coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel, more so than oil and natural gas. As plug-ins and electric cars hit the road in the coming years, it will be increasingly important to clean up our power plants.

#3 When Saudi Arabia announced, on June 23, that it would produce more oil to relieve pressure on prices, oil was already at $136 per barrel. How much did the price of oil fall?

Answer: Not one dollar. In fact, the price rose that day. Even Saudia Arabia, which has the largest proven reserves in the world, has little control over oil prices. Proponents of offshore drilling, like John McCain, claim that more drilling will reduce prices. Yet, with only 3% of proven reserves under U.S. control, this is one problem we cannot drill our way out of.

#4 The wind power potential in the United States is equivalent to what percentage of our current electricity use?

Answer: More than 500%. America’s Midwest is rich with wind resources–that’s why it’s called the Saudia Arabia of wind. North Dakota by itself can power 1/3 of America. The challenge here is providing incentives for wind developers and building a more robust grid to transmit the electricity.

#5 What percentage of their carbon emissions do “clean coal” power plants capture and store safely in the United States?

Answer: Zero. None. Industry groups tout “clean coal”, but there are no utility scale power plants that capture their carbon dioxide. Carbon capture is not cost-effective for reducing carbon emissions, and probably will not be for a long time. Which are proven cost effective technologies? Increased efficiency, wind, hybrids, and increasingly, solar.

#6 How much of America’s nighttime electricity needs could be met with solar power?

100%. The United States is flush with sun, especially in the southwest. While the sun only shines during the day, solar thermal power plants can produce power at night by storing the sun’s heat in liquids like molten salt. Young companies like Ausra and eSolar are rapidly advancing these technologies and claim that solar thermal will soon be cheaper than coal.

#7 What percentage of America’s electricity could come from solar thermal arrays covering an area 100 miles by 100 miles in the American Southwest?

100%. That’s right. All of it. Even at night, as discussed above. This is an encouraging fact. America can transform its electricity grid with one plot of land in the southwest. The challenges include upgrading the electricity grid, mobilizing resources, and overcoming political opposition. But with concerted leadership, such as T. Boone Pickens and Al Gore have demonstrated, this could be a reality.

So why is it that the media has not already informed us on information of such importance?

Washer Uses Just One Cup of Water Every Load

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:33:03 +0000

Have you ever really figured out how much water you use just for washing clothes? Lets do some quick math… My washing machine uses 13 gallons to fill it.

13(wash) + 13(rinse) = 26 gallons.

I would guess I do a load once every three days. 365 * .33 = 120 loads a year.

120 load * 26 gallons = 3120 gallons per year.

Now lets say there was a new dishwasher that used only 1 cup of water for every load. Lets see how much water we would really save.

1 cup(wash) + 0 cup(rinse) = 1 cups = 1/16 gallon.

1/16 gallons * 120 loads = 7.5 gallons in a whole year!

That would save you 3,112.5 gallons per year. That is just for one person! Families would do 3 or 4 times are much laundry as I do, and therefore save 3 or 4 times more water.

Now you may be a little bit more interested in Xeros Ltd’s washing machine. This washer will use just a cup of water, a pinch of detergent, and 1,000 plastic chips. Not only is this an extremely efficient way of washing clothes, it is also very effective. This washer has been proven to be able to clean stains most washers could not.

The process is pretty simple. You throw your clothes into the washer, put the cartridge of plastic chips in the back, and add a cup of water with a pinch of detergent. The water will dissolve the dirt, and then is absorbed by the chips. The chips then fall through a grill at the bottom of the washer, and can be used for 99 more loads, which is considered to be 6 months for an average family.

This washer can be expected in the UK within a year, and let’s hope it spreads!

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Top 10 World’s Strangest Trees

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 04:32:40 +0000

Heres a look at the 10 strangest trees in the world. Enjoy! Thanks Daily Cognition for the photos.

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Hydrogen Car Nothing New

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:02:26 +0000

Jack Nicholson is one of the few celebrities that has not been given the option of driving around in BMW’s Hydrogen 7 car for a few days. Then again, why would he want to? After all he was on top of the technology a whole 30 years before everyone else! Not only does his car in this video run on hydrogen, but that hydrogen was made using solar.

Jack states in the movie that by using hydrogen cars, it would eliminate 58% of all pollution in every major city in the world. He also seems excited about the political change that would occur breaking the dependence on oil.

The company in the video says they will be able to produce enough solar electricity to heat and light homes, aswell as converting to hydrogen and powering your cars. On top of that, they will be able to offer this service for a 1/4 to 1/2 the cost(at that time which would be $.35/gallon). The company planned on opening hydrogen stations, and every cars engine can easily be modified to run on hydrogen.

So it appears in 30 years, we have made no progress.

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PICS: Water & Lava

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:06:21 +0000

Hey guys, little off topic but I thought you all might enjoy these amazing pictures of nature. After all this is a environmental blog, why not see the environment!?

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California Listens to Gore

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:24:29 +0000

California has made an important step forward creating the first statewide green building code just after Al Gore’s appeal last week for a carbon-free US energy policy. The new code will mandate significant improvements in energy efficiency as well as water consumption in all new construction.

Not only will new building be held to new standards, but there will be a variety of goals regarding already built residential and commercial buildings. These include reducing water usage by 20% in houses and commercial buildings and by 50% for landscaping. Techniques such as rainwater harvesting, graywater reuse, and drought resistant landscaping will all be promoted.

As for new buildings, the code aims for a 15% decrease in energy usage, eco-friendly materials, and thermal insulation and acoustic wall and ceiling panels.

Commission Char Rosario Marin has stated: “Once again California is leading the nation and the world in emissions reductions and finding new ways to expand our climate change effort . . . The commission should be commended for bringing everyone to the table including representatives of the construction and building trades industry, environmental groups and labor organizations, and achieving something no other state has been able to.”

This code will not be enforced until 2010, so that proper enforcement can be regulated. It is expected that most will abide by the regulations early to prepare themselves for the new code.

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Depp’s Eco Island

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:18:17 +0000

A ways back, somewhere along the lines, Johnny Depp threw down $3 million to buy a small island. It is small and remote, and now power line run to it. Rather than using diesel generators to power his enormous island house, Depp decided to go green.

Depp hired Mike Strizki to help him devise a plan to power his need. The result is a solar system that stores excess energy as dydrogen for use at nightm or during cloudy times. There is a 10 thousand-gallon propane tank needed to store enough hydrogen to get the island through the night.

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Doing 30 on Your 30

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:43:45 +0000

This redneck is just loving his little 30 rack scooter. Looks like it’s all he needs to have a productive day. I love when he starts carving it back and forth. At the speed he is moving this has to be the most dangerous vehicle on the road.

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Carbon Producer to Carbon Reducer

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:13:46 +0000

Herzog and de Meuron began designing the Tate Modern Extension in 2006, with the idea of a modern, glass filled aesthetic that contrasted the museums origins as a former power station. This pyramid shape above has been recently unveiled as an addition to the museum. This extension not only will help better suite the needs of the museum, but it will also set a new standard for sustainability.

The museum will use industrial features from the old power station such as old oil tanks as part of there gallery spaces. Rather that than complying with benchmarks, Merzog and de Meuron’s new design has set a new standard with their 40% energy savings and 35% cut in emissions. The project will be completed by 2012, and has received £70 million in government funding. Take a look below to see just how green and beyond they went.

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First US Town Powered by Wind

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:36:33 +0000

Rock Port, MO., has successfully become the first US town to be powered completely by wind power. Just four wind turbines produce enough power to supply 1,300 residents with more power than they can use. Infact, it is expected that the Missouri wind farms will bring in more than $1.1 million annually in county real estate taxes.

Residents of Rock Port are the largest advocates of these turbines, and many want to lease their land to be used for wind turbines. These wind turbines are now an extremely important part of Rock Ports economy, and there is alot of more to be made from this.

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