Fluorescent Efficiency From The Energy Superstore

Gas Prices

Gas prices have recently dropped with our slowing economy. At roughly $1.70 a gallon, it has been a minor relief for our pocket books. Yet OPEC recently cut production, which will cause prices to rise in the near term.

OPEC’s price targets will matter less as production itself becomes challenged, no matter how much they want to produce.

Yields Are Still Declining

The world’s mature oil fields that produce most of the world’s oil face production declines, with the prime fields showing a declining yield. Although oil exploration has been a priority, new infrastructure will be a long time coming before it can reach more recent finds like the Tupi field off Brazil’s coast.

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Biofuel Conversion

When it comes to biofuels, the current economic crisis should be the siren song to the most plausible and profitable bio-matter available for manufacturing.

Unfortunately, the most common bio-matter tends to be corn-based or sugarcane-based. Though plentiful, these fuels will not be able to sustain a large portion of the fuel market for a variety of reasons.

We will examine the pros and cons of such biofuel sources as corn, sugar, cellulose, cooking oil, and algae; and of such processes as gasification and bioengineering.

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Palm Trees

We have been asked on several occasions to follow up on our previous discussion about using palm oil for biofuel, as a sustainable alternative energy resource. We didn’t like it then, and we don’t much like it now. So without further ado, here is a second perspective on palm oil as a biofuel.

What is Palm Oil?

Palm oil is an edible plant oil derived from the fruit of the Arecaceae Elaeis oil palm. It is the world’s second most widely produced vegetable oil, after soybean oil. Apart from consumption, it has also found a new use as a biofuel, a greener alternative to energy sources.

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Nuclear Power Plant

Energy bill H.R.6 was passed and signed into law by president Bush in December 2007. The bill seeks to establish a comprehensive energy plan for the United States. The bill is aimed at addressing multiple problems facing the country.

• The dependence on foreign sources for our energy needs which puts the country in a vulnerable position where national security is concerned.
• The global problem of climate change, of which the United States is one of the largest contributors.
• The depletion of world energy resources.
• The U.S. consumes approximately 25% of the worlds oil production yet estimates are that only 2 to 4 percent of the remaining oil reserves are located within the United States.
• The bill also addresses green job creation.

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Wind Turbine

Currently, 1.5% of UK power is provided by wind and it is estimated that by the year 2010, that will have increased to 8%. Current provisions for this new capacity are both on and off shore power sites (off shore sites are extremely useful in generating power as they have unlimited waves & tidal energy).

February 2007 allowed for the opening of the Braes O’Doune wind farm with a capacity of 2GW of power. In fact, in the last 7 years, wind has been the fastest growing energy source. At this time there are approximately 269 farms providing enough power for 4,759,898 households.

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Indoor Wood Stove

Wood stoves are specially designed stoves that use wood as the source of fuel for combustion and heating. Many varieties of wood stoves are available on the market. Each stove differs in its mode of operation, type of fuel used, brand, the heating capacity, and the type of materials used in their manufacture.

Standard Wood Stove Accessories

A standard wood stove can have a lot of accessories that can be purchased separately and are normally not supplied by the manufacturer with the product. With these accessories, you can create a custom wood stove with your own personal look and feel.

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Energy Bill H.R. 6

Energy Bill H.R. 6, The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, is an energy bill that was passed to help the United States break away from relying on other countries for energy.

This bill was supposed to accomplish several goals:

• to help the United States develop internal resources for providing energy by increasing production of fuels that are clean and renewable
• to increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles by promoting research on greenhouse gas capture and storage options
• and to improve the Federal Government’s energy performance

Representative Nick Rahall of West Virginia sponsored the bill, and it was made law on December 19, 2007, almost one year ago. Let’s see how much of an impact this bill has made so far.

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Biofuel

Today’s world is plagued by hunger and war, and despite all technological advancement, these are two things that humanity has been unable to eradicate since ancient times.

With global warming, the earth’s climate has changed drastically, influencing the seasons and thus crop growth around the globe. While global warming is contributing on one end to the ever-increasing food prices, another major contributor to this issue is oil.

OIL vs FOOD

The fossil fuels are undergoing fast depletion with excessive usage, and as the stock runs out, the prices increase steadily. But how does rising fuel cost affect food, you may ask.

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Indoor Fireplace

This sentimental piece on wood stoves was written by a friend of the Energy Superstore, Julie, from Colorado. Here’s what she has to say about an old American tradition: burning wood in a wood stove for heat during the colder seasons.

The Magic of an Indoor Fireplace

I think about all the times I have spent in front of a roaring fire in my husband’s arms, staring out over the beautiful Colorado mountains. A roaring fire invokes a certain warmth, not just from the heat of the flames, but from the feelings it stirs inside.

It is a sight to behold–the crackling warmth of the fire, the sparks rising into the air–both real and metaphorical. Nothing gives a more definite sense of comfort than a real wood fire. The smell of the burning wood, the flickering light, and the warmth can make even the most temporary of places feel like a real home.

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Winter 2008

As winter approaches here in the US, many people are breathing a major sigh of relief. Just three short months ago, the price of crude oil was at historic highs.

Americans first felt the impact of high oil prices to their wallets in the price of gasoline. As the price of gas rose, people began to drive fewer miles in order to budget appropriately.

Looming in the distance, however, is the winter season.

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