Energy independency

[john70t]

It's a constant 50-55deg under ground. Berm houses, geo-heat exchange loops, thermal mass sinks, etc.. are all sources of free heat that can be incorporated into existing designs.
Check out www.ourcoolhouse.com and http://www.earthshelters.com I saw one university project covered in snow which never turned on their furnace.
Soy-based foam insulation can keep the heat in, and radiant floor heating makes it more efficient. Inefficient incandescents can be replaced with LEDs.

Planned community growth and intelligent architecture make a huge impact on the running cost of a structure. The San Francisco water treatment plant supposedly runs its pumps off the the methane collected.
There are plenty of new cheapo stick-framed cookie-cutter housing subdivisions (out in the country by where I live), right next to a row of homes for sale. A whole lot of family farms could have been saved.
Denser population centers don't necessitate the energy to move people and materials which is important for an after-peak-oil economy. Energy costs from the bottom line subtract from company perks like health care and loose consumer spending cash.

Here's a car that runs on soybean oil:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/17/eveningnews/main1329941.shtml
Here's a canola vs. petroleum oil comparision:
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-029.html
Dr. Ferdinand Porsche designed a Hybrid in 1899:
http://www.hybrid-vehicle.org/hybrid-vehicle-porsche.html

The problem isn't technology, it's (corporate) greed and (consumer)stupidity. All that "alternative" stuff has been around since the 1974 OPEC oil embargo and before. Brazil learned, and made long term planning commitments while the U.S. 3-monkey culture has been actively running the other way in hopes of perfecting the tough guy yuppie image. So Americans want a dragstrip-king SUV as transportation, so the commercials keep telling me.

Hmm, but I can't figure out why Toyota is starting to lead in sales......

[artplumber]

Originally posted by turbo6bar
Where were these threads when oil was under $30/barrel 5-7 years ago? Energy independence was as much off the government's agenda as it was off our minds.

I dont think that's quite accurate. There have always been an attempt to reduce fossil fuels and become more energy independent. Remember that GM spent billions on the electric car (admittedly more for zero emissions than for energy indepence) and that this country once led the world in nuclear powerplant tech. But the nuclear option was drowned out by a alarmist enviromentalists even as they protested against new powerplants or use of domestic coal etc.

The amount of oil consumed by the US as a percentage of the world, is large. 23%, I believe. Alternative energy helps us cut that percentage, but we also need to push the conservation side, as well. The ever-growing 3800 SF McMansions aren't the step in the right direction.

Americans will never learn to become anything other than consumers until consuming becomes painful. The people idolized by this country are glorified simply because of their consumption (look at how many media shows are about celebrity excess beginning w/Robin Leach) eg/ whoever and their $3 million birthday party. Or just live in Kali for a while

[Don Ro]

Originally posted by john70t
The problem isn't technology, it's (corporate) greed and (consumer)stupidity.

Yes, corporate greed along with corporate buy-off of career politicians.
No, not consumer stupidity...
Yes, consumer apathy.

[sammyg2]

Corporate greed?
Please expain what you meant.

[on-ramp]

we need a car that runs on urine.

now that would be an innovation. no more gas, just pi$$ into the "gas" tank, free ride.

[red-beard]

Originally posted by Moses
China is building 30 cutting-edge nuclear pebble reactors. Helium cooling, virtually melt down proof. Amazing technology. The spent fuel (rdioactive waste) is mixed in heavily leaded glass blocks. The only possible exposure is from the surfaces of the block. Even if the block is fractured, the surface area is only slightly increased and there is no wholesale environmental threat. The blocks can be safely buried. They are seismically stable.

By the time we get short of uranium, we will have fusion reactors.

30 reactors will not do crap. We need 2000 reactors to supply our needs and growth for the next ten years. As far as fuel is concerned, we have enough refined for a long time.

I think we have enough for 40,000 weapons. The Former Soviet Union has something like enough for 100,000 weapons. We have stockpiles of weapons grade and there is only one way to truely get rid of it. Burn it in a nuclear reaction.

[Jim Richards]

Originally posted by legion
If everyone used on the planet used nuclear, would we have enough uranium?

maybe we could buy some from Iran.

[Jim Richards]

Originally posted by red-beard
30 reactors will not do crap. We need 2000 reactors to supply our needs and growth for the next ten years. As far as fuel is concerned, we have enough refined for a long time.

I think we have enough for 40,000 weapons. We have stockpiles of weapons grade and there is only one way to truely get rid of it. Burn it in a nuclear reaction.

Export it to Iran?

[RickM]

Originally posted by legion
When are we going to put MTBE back in gasoline?

East coast drivers could face gas shortages.

Scattered gasoline shortages and higher pump prices could make it a difficult week for East Coast drivers. Refineries and service stations are scrambling to change to ethanol-based fuel before the federal deadline on May 5 and the start of the summer driving season. AAA said a few dozen gas stations between Virginia and New Jersey had closed in recent days as they converted from fuels mixed with MBTE to gasoline mixed with ethanol, which burns cleaner. Experts expect sporadic supply disruptions to continue in coming days, likely to be accompanied by a widespread surge in prices. Many regions, including New York and Connecticut, stopped using MBTE years ago and have not been affected by the disruptions. The rest of the Mid-Atlantic region and Texas, primarily Dallas and Houston, face the brunt of the problems because they are the last remaining users of MTBE gasoline. (Page A8, New York Times, 4/22)



*The nationwide average price of a gallon of regular gasoline was $2.90 Sunday, up 1.6 cents from Saturday and 39.1 cents higher than a month ago, according to AAA. Statewide averages were $3 or higher in Hawaii, California, Washington, D.C. and New York. (Page 1A, USA Today)

[Don Ro]

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
Don:
There were those screaming and yelling about what finally is happening, but they were drowned out,...There are quite a few administrations that have let us, the public, down. Shame on them. All of them.

I just pray it is not too late.

Hello Bob S. (Moneyguy1),

"...those...they...people...I find the parallel chilling. ...I hope...I pray..."

Actually, my question had to do with what are *you* doing?...what have *you* done during those "...quite a few administrations..."?
Have you been - are you now - involved with/active in any concerned group, passed around any petitions, have a germane bumper sticker, rallied your friends and neighbors into the cause, gone to any meetings to listen to/speak with your representatives, sent them letters/faxes/emails, have you phoned them, etc?

My Q was about whether or not you have personally participated in the matter, and at what level.

I do agree that the dependency issue is serious.

[David]

I'd just like to remind everyone to replace all their fuel lines on a regular basis when they start adding ethanol to fuel. We have enough Porsche fires as it is.

[Moneyguy1]

Don

Absolutely.

Driving smaller cars, using public transportation to and from work up in the snow belt, Summer and Winter(Ya gotta try that to appreciate it) for 25 years, (Annual diving mileage was (and still is) under 3,600 miles). Have not bought a new car in 30 years...NEgotiating with municipal fleet operators to downsize pool cars from full size (successful, I must say...), member of Nature Conservancy, volunteer for Habitat, worked oin campaigns of candidates (very few, sad to say), that evidenced interest in energy conservation, and the beat goes on. I co-founded a publication back east called "The Peoples Yellow Pages" which listed individuals that would accept used appliances, electronics, repair them and donate same rather than winding up in landfills. It existed for 15 years until most of those volunteering their time and treasure either moved away or passed away.

A lot of that probably comes from growing up on a farm where nothing was wasted. In urbanized areas, somehow, the trash just miraculously disappears. Wow. Amazing. Once again, Someone else's problem.

Probably the most frustrating part of being interested and active in conservation is the absolute ignorance of the general public and their myopic vision that somehow the "system" will continue to be OK and fill their needs.

OTOH, I am not a true tree hugger. To make progress in a meaningful way, there have to be sacrifices. Which is more important? a viable water supply or the fate to the hairy chested nut scratcher?

Bumper stickers are for posers who want to be associated with "a cause" but are not willing to commit their time. Just my opinion....

[Jim Richards]

My wife and I take public transportation now and will be switching to foot power starting next month, when we move into the city to be nearer to work (and the neo-cons). Our home size will reduce to roughly 30% of our current size. Energy consumption should really drop, too. And no, no bumper stickers will be applied to my butt.

[gaijindabe]

I think this impending energy crisis is good for us. Stops us worrying about bird flu.

Only kidding, but really folks - things always need to get worse before they get better. Most of us are old enough, or have read enough to understand that.

I mean, why doesn't anyone plant decent trees anymore? Trouble of raking leaves too much for us?? They shade in summer, lets light through in winter and grow pretty much by thereselves - a win-win situation. And we can't even bother to put a sapling in the ground.

[Moses]

Originally posted by gaijindabe
And we can't even bother to put a sapling in the ground.

I have a friend whose wife had three beautiful redwoods cut down in her yard because some needles got blown into the pool. She then had her neighbor cut down his maple tree for the same reason.

Funny thing is the pool has a cover and a Polaris automatic sweeper that keeps ALL of the leaves and needles out of the pool, PLUS they have a gardener that keeps the yard in perfect shape. I think she just hates trees.

[Don Ro]

"...worked oin campaigns of candidates (very few, sad to say), that evidenced interest in energy conservation,..."
.
Bob,

That's what I was wondering about.
I applaud your involvement in the overall conservation cause.

LOL, I was being facetious on the "bumper sticker." Actually, I'd rather see them than not. Even if that's all one does, my hope would be that other more responsible and pro-active citizens might be prompted to act.
.
~~~
.
"Probably the most frustrating part of being interested and active in conservation is the absolute ignorance of the general public and their myopic vision that somehow the "system" will continue to be OK and fill their needs."
.
Several years ago I became active in volunteering my time and energy in a few causes, I have since noticed the depth of apathy in the general public. Pissin' 'n moanin' about something, yet being unwilling to be involved. "Why don't *they* do something about XYZ?"...etc.

Thanks for your response. You're one of us.

[Eric 951]

I remember the big push for gasahol in the late 70s.

I do not know what ever became of it though.

[red-beard]

There were serious problems with cars not running properly and fuel lines disintegrating.

[dd74]

Originally posted by john70t
It's a constant 50-55deg under ground. Berm houses, geo-heat exchange loops, thermal mass sinks, etc.. are all sources of free heat that can be incorporated into existing designs.

Yep - and Architectural Digest had an article on this 30 or so years ago. Half the house was underground. It was very cool!

[beepbeep]

I'm driving my daily driver on mix of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. 104 octane rating, pleasent smell annd 10% more power. Ethanol is made from spills from paper/wood industry.

Talking about long term solution, I just don't believe in wind/solar electricity. It's just too small. Fision nuclear plants can deliver megawatts required but are dirty and require costly disposal of highly radioactive materials.

I firmly believe in fusion nuclear plants: they run on deuterium (easy to extract from sea water) and produce only low-active radiation in reactor walls (due to neutron-flux hitting the walls).

Yes, it will costs tens of billions of dollars and yes, it will take a decade or two but it's our only viable option in long term.

You could then use electricity to produce hydrogen, to be used in fuel cells (for cars) etc.

Yes, I know there is lot of technology to be developed but it's elegant and non-polluting option. Best of all, fusion reactor cannot go "bang". Turn it off and it will simply fizzle out. Amount on reactants in reactor is small and there is no possibillity of runaway reaction like in fission reactors.