Let’s be honest with ourselves for a moment and finally admit that when it comes to the world of alternative energy fuels, we don’t know half as much as we probably should. There is no shame in admitting it, I’ll be the first to say that I could probably use a primer, an update course on the in’s and out’s of biodiesel. Given the fact that the landscape of the biodiesel world is ever changing, I think it’s wise we all freshen up.
Good news, I found just the refresher course, from a very awesome source. So, without further ado on this fine Wednesday, check out 25 things you need to know about biodiesel. Numbers 1-19 are all the things that are RIGHT about them, while 20-25 are all the other sides of that coin. It’s always good to play devil’s advocate, right? As always, head over and check out the full article for more details:
“Biodiesels are more available than you may realize
A lot of people resist the idea of a biofuels simply out of fear of not being able to find any in their area. Well take a look around, you might be very surprised how common biofuel is. Two great maps to search for alternative fuels are Mapmuse and Mapquest.
Biodiesel is environmentally friendly Biodiesel contains a gentle formula which does not cause near as much harm to the environment as conventional diesel fuel does.
Biodiesel can help reduce dependency on foreign oil
Folks are always wondering how to reduce their dependency on foreign oil, but until the electric vehicle becomes widespread, our options are very slim. Some of the most popular options include walking and biking, but if you need to drive, biodiesel is an effective way to get away from the foreign oil market without changing your lifestyle drastically.
Biodiesel helps lubricate the engine by reducing wear
Biodiesel with its high concentrations of vegetable oil, enables the moving metal mechanical parts in the engine to be constantly bathed in lubrication. This essentially slows the process of diesel engine wear and its eventual failure. Discovery’s How stuff Works estimates that biodiesel in concentrations of no more than 1 percent are able to increase fuel lubricity by as much as 65 percent.
Biodiesel cleans the engine
Biofuels are a much more effective solvent than conventional diesel fuel. They help to loosen deposits inside the engine which could potentially cause clogs. This results in a better running engine in less need of major mechanical maintenance. But for this very reason you will need to change your fuel filter on a regular basis, but we will get to that in fact #20.
Biodiesel increases engine life
Since pure biodiesel leaves no deposits of its own, it actual is able to increase the typical diesel engine’s life substantially.
Biodiesel can be used in almost any diesel with little or no engine modification
A common misconception is that engine modification is needed in order to use biodiesel. Pretty much any diesel engine can burn biodiesel, especially vehicles post-1992. Check with your manufacturer to see their specific recommendations for using these blends. The only caveat is if you are looking into using either waste vegetable oil (WVO) or straight vegetable oil (SVO), you may need a retrofit kit, such as the one discussed in fact #22.
Biodiesel is non-toxic
The basic ingredients of most biodiesels are rather simple. It is fundamentally methanol, sodium hydroxide, and any vegetable oil. It has been said that biodiesel is often 10 times less toxic than regular table salt.
Biodiesel does not effect most new vehicle warranties in the US
It is common myth that using biodiesel in your vehicle will void its warranty. This is just not true for many US made vehicles. This should be one of your first requirements when shopping for a new diesel vehicle.
Biodiesel has a higher flashpoint than conventional diesel fuel
What does this mean to you? Well, it means that if you have a tank of this in a wrecked vehicle, or even in the back seat for an emergency, it is much less likely to accidentally catch fire. It takes more heat for biodiesel to ignite than conventional diesel. This allows for both the commercial and personal transportation and storage of biodiesel to be much safer for all parties involved.
Biofuel not only reduces pollution, but can help clean it
It’s a good idea to know where your biofuel is coming from, as its different sources offers different benefits. Soybean based biofuel crops actually help clean the Earth’s atmosphere of excess carbon.
Biofuels can reduce a lot of waste
Biofuel based on a waste products, such as sawdust, make a great way to use such a fundamentally useless bi-product that would otherwise end up in a landfill somewhere. Sawdust biofuel burns very clean too.
Biofuels crops may one day be set-up in landfills Rotting material in the landfills creates a liquid called, leachate, which can seep into ground water if not properly processed and cleaned up. Waste Recycling Group has proposed using this leachate as food for algae which would be grown on-site at local landfills. The leachate would then eventually turn to fertilizer, which could then be use to grow willow coppice’s (mostly used in the UK), which can be used for biofuel.
Biodiesel is more biodegradable than conventional diesel
Biodiesel which has bacteria introduced to it can decompose in a manner that is four times faster than conventional diesel. This means that in the event of a tanker spill, its clean-up would be much less devastating to the surrounding water, wildlife, fish, and plants.
Biofuels do not always involve food crops
Biofuels in general get a bad rap for having to use food crops as their source, such as soybeans, corn, sugar cane, etc. However there is a third generation of biodiesels in development today that will allow algae to be used instead.
You actually have a say in your biofuel
The greenest way to contribute to better biofuels is to get active in groups which are lobbying to elected officials to increase funding for viable biodiesel. If you don’t like the source of your fuel in your area, the only way to make a change is to voice your opinion and make sure that you are heard.
Brewing your own biodiesel is as easy as 1…2…3…
Okay, perhaps it is more like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7…but each of these steps are not particularly difficult by any means. The first step involves filtering the oil (if using a waste oil). Second step involves heating oil to remove any water (optional). Third, perform a titration test to determine amount of catalyst needed for the mix. Fourth, is to prepare the sodium methoxide. Fifth, allow mixture to settle and remove glycerin (make some soap with it while you’re at it, fact #18). Then the Sixth step involves washing and drying your batch, until you are ready for the final step, which is testing for quality. There is also the Willie Nelson blend of biofuel that can easily be accomplished with a blender in about 20 minutes.
A free bonus that comes with brewing your own biodiesel, is a lifetime supply of soap Glycerin is the bi-product formed during the process of making biodiesel. If you make enough batches of biofuel, you will probably find that you will have enough glycerin left over to never have to buy another bar of soap again. You can make high-lathering smelly foo foo soap, thick burly workshop soap, or just plain and simple, clean, natural soap. Its all in how you mix the ingredients together.
Another added bonus for those of you who fry your turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas
Your deep fried Christmas and Thanksgiving turkey may pay for itself if you use the leftover grease to power your diesel.
First generation biodiesels may increase poverty by raising food prices
This is a common case brought against biofuels which are derived from such food crops as soybeans or corn. The belief is that one day, especially in developing nations, the crops that are currently being sold for human and animal consumption, would be sold for biofuel production. This could subsequently cause a food shortage, which could also drive the price of food up substantially.
Change fuel filters more often
Since the composition of biodiesel is partially a solvent, some vehicles may experience substantial clogging in their fuel filters due to the dislodged particles that will accumulate. What happens is the biofuel essentially cleans the path that the old fuel has traveled, essentially leaving fragments in the fuel line that can lead to a blockage or malfunctioning fuel pump. Diesel vehicles prior to 1992 are especially prone to this. The best way to combat this problem is to check with your manufacturer on their recommended biofuel blend. Then make sure that you change the fuel pump and fuel filters shortly after switching to a high-concentration of biodiesel.
Biodiesel has been known to breakdown rubber components in engine as well as cause other mechanical failures
This refers to a diesel vehicles fuel lines and fuel pump seals in older vehicles mostly. This is where a retrofit kit, such as a Greasecar system may come in handy, especially when using SVO.
In some engines, there can be a slight decrease in fuel economy and/or power
On average, when switching to a biofuel blend you should expect about a 10 percent reduction in available power. It has been said that approximately 1.1 gallons of biodiesel equals 1 gallon of conventional diesel, which should give you an idea of how little your fuel economy will be effected in the long run.
Blends of 5% biodiesel and over may not flow properly during the cold winter months
Without a heated fuel line, biodiesel may not flow well enough to reach the engine’s combustion chamber. This is why most retrofit kits designed for high concentration blends will include a heated fuel line, such as the one mentioned in fact #22.
The recommended shelf life of biodiesel is only 6 months
Conventional diesel is about six months as well, but when you are manufacturing this stuff yourself in advance, you certainly don’t want to waste any due to it being out of date.”
Just yesterday I mentioned the Top 10 Electric Cars making their way to the United States sometime this year. The car that filled the number 1 spot intrigued me, to say the very least, and I just found some video footage of it actually in motion, in action and in real life.
The car looks exciting, that is to be sure, but I must say it left me wishing and wanting one thing: An electric car that can combine exciting technological advances, great design, AND functionality. Why can’t we have an amazingly futuristic, energy efficient vehicle that can also fit more than 2 people, or that has a trunk that can actually hold a Television, groceries, or maybe even a lawnmower or something? I think we can.
Nevertheless, it is wildly exciting to see the future, now. Watching this thing cruise around on the roads is, to say the very least, amazing. Welcome to the future of the automobile industry…we’re just getting started. Alternative Energy and energy efficiency is key, and so far, so good. Have an amazing weekend, and we’ll see you here Monday morning.
2009/2010 could very well be the year of the Electric Car. We’ve done the hybrid thing, we’ve dabbled in bio-diesel and we’ve heard all about ethanol, but where it really seems to be getting exciting is in the world of electricity. If the reports I’m reading hold true, this very well could be the most exciting and innovative year ever when it comes to new, electric vehicles making their way to our shores.
Gas 2.0 just did an amazing article that profiles the Top 10 most exciting, most innovative, and yes, most COOL electric cars that could potentially be showing up in the U.S. this year. As always, head over and check out the original article for much more info, but for your abbreviated reading pleasure, here are the Top 10 Electric Cars coming our way soon:
Nissan Electric Car - $22 - $25k, 100+ miles per charge.
BMW/Mini Electric Car - ?? - ?? , Unknown Mpg.”
There you have it! You should be quite excited for each and every one of these, even though you might not actually own any of them. This is an exciting year for electric vehicles and I can’t WAIT to see what happens. Stay tuned, as we know more, you’ll know more.
Any day I wake up and I see the words “Solar Power” or “Solar Energy” coupled with any phrase like “Cut costs” or “reduce price” or anything like that, I know, just know it’s going to be an ok day. Today is one of those days. I just caught wind of a new breakthrough in Solar Energy research that, if fully realized, could potentially cut the cost of using such devices by HALF. Yes, by 50%. This is big.
According to reports, a new United States company has found a way to create a new type of photovoltaic solar panels that could cut the cost by 50% and help bring in a brand new age of solar energy and accessible solar power all over the world. A spokesman for Mulk Holdings and their subsidiary American Building Technologies was quoted as saying:
“We hope the success of this project will lead to an upsurge in the development of more solar energy plants, which will not only lessen the strain on existing energy resources, but also severely reduce the pollution levels that are currently witnessed in power generation.”
I hope so too Mr. Spokesman, I hope so too. Currently, solar panels are either heavy and archaic, or if they are thinner and easier to handle, the prices are so high that few people could actually afford to implement them into their daily lives. This new, smaller, lighter and easier to put-up version could make its usage both affordable and easy.
Stay tuned to this to see just how easy, and just how affordable. The larger this news gets, the more we’ll all be hearing about it. This is one we should all follow.
I hate to say it, but it’s about time! That’s right, it’s about time our very own United States Department of Energy started heavily adopting some of the very same technologies they have been stressing as important to all of this country’s citizens!
According to recent reports, the U.S. Dept. of Energy is actually having some pretty major architectural changes in light of a winner emerging from their recent “Solar Wall” competition. The winner has been announced, and they were proud to give the award to New York architecture firm Solomon Cordwell Buenz. Their new “Sun Wall” will cover 32,000 square feet and will cover the South Elevation of the Dept. of Energy’s Washington D.C. headquarters. First off, congratulations to Solomon Cordwell Buenz, and second off, congratulations to the Department of Energy for not only adopting such awesome technology, but inspiring such a great competition in the first place.
“As the largest building-integrated solar energy system on any US federal building, the sun wall will generate 200 kW of energy. SCB’s design also includes a solar thermal installation for hot water in addition to photovoltaic panels.”
I’m guessing the installation will be wildly expensive, but nevertheless, it’s great to see that such beautiful design can come from such beautiful technology. Gone are the days of the gigantic square solar panels on the roofs of 1970’s homes. We’re in the future now baby.
I know that the weather in some parts of this country, Montana where I live especially, is not always conducive to getting up, getting dressed and actually making your way outside to get your fitness goals met each day. Sometimes it’s the sub-zero temperatures, sometimes it is the freezing rain, sometimes the snow, ice, wind or hail. Wherever you live, there are always going to be reasons to just work out inside, but guess what…there are so many BETTER reasons to work out outside, no matter what the weather is doing.
That’s right, this week’s “Green Fitness Tip” is to get outside and exercise. No matter what your weather, you can find at least 30 minutes a day to give all of those “electricity-heavy” machines you rely so heavily upon a much needed break, and the environment they affect an even better reprieve. Don’t believe me that they do in fact damage the Earth? Try this on for size:
“The average treadmill produces about 2 pounds of CO2 over the course of a 30-minute workout. Shrink your fitness footprint by adding an outdoor run, walk, or bike ride to your routine. In urban areas, choose side streets to decrease your exposure to car exhaust. Still snowbound? Burn those calories by snowshoeing, skiing, or shoveling the driveway.”
Surprising, no? The bottom line is, in a day and age where we’re so focuse on and so reliant upon electricty and gadgets and devices, sometimes the absolute best thing for our mind, bodies and yes, the Earth too, is to just turn it all off, step outside your front door, and take off. Try it, I guarantee the results will go much further than just your BMI.
Looks like some good news, finally, out of the auto industry! You know all those massive Toyota Semi-Trucks you see on the highways, the ones that suck up all the gas, and always make you go about 20 miles per hour under the speed limit on 2-lane roads? Yeah, those. Well looks like a Toyota Subsidiary company is going to make a new type of Toytoa Truck that is a hybrid style. If all goes according to plan, the new trucks will be 2.5 times more fuel efficient than current trucks on the market. Wow, 2.5 times.
Hino Motors, Ltd., a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation will introduce a significantly improved fuel efficient hybrid truck in Japan, the U.S. and Australia around 2010. The new hybrid truck, using a high-capacity battery and improved motor, will be 2.5 times more fuel efficient than conventional models. In fact, the new hybrid truck even doubles the fuel economy compared to Hino’s current hybrid truck models.”
Looks like the price of these new hybrid babies might not even be that scary. It looks like they could be about 500,000 yen more pricy than the current models, which is only about $5,600 more. Considering the fact that they are going to be much more efficient, the fuel savings alone make it worth the jump.
Not quite sure just how important this news is? Try this on for size: Hino is the fastest growing truck manufacturer in the United States, and the third largest in the entire world.
WOW. Sorry for the rather unimaginative first word, but Wow. I just got wind of this amazing feat of engineering, ingenuity, and alternative energy genius, and I’m still stunned and wildly impressed. I can’t say it much better than the article I just read, so, here you go, get amazed with me:
“A new electric car that is solar-powered has traveled 32,000 miles through 38 countries. The vehicle gave rides to about 1,000 people and can travel up to 55 mph…”This is the first time in history that a solar-powered car has traveled all the way around the world without using a single drop of petrol.”"
Believe it. The simple fact that there are people out there, RIGHT NOW, doing things like this gives me great hope for the future. It is easy in today’s day and age to get caught up in the worry of global warming, the sour economy and all we’re Not doing to stay as green as possible, but when something like this pops up, it gives you great hope.
The fact is, if this can happen, there is No reason that the major auto companies can not be making some serious Solar Power changes and Electric Cars that can do similar things. I don’t know about you but I’m insanely jealous I wasn’t on the round-the-world voyage with them!
The world is a very big place, with a lot of very big places inside of it. While I was pleased to report the news about the United States becoming the largest producer of wind energy in the world, the fact remained…the world is a big place and we need a lot of those big places to be doing a whole lot more in the world of alternative energy solutions.
One such “big place” that IS taking a very positive step forward this New Year’s Eve, is Japan, and I couldn’t be happier. For such a small island, they use a whole lot of energy to power their light-heavy cities like Tokyo, and hopefully this new, well, renewed push towards alternative energy use will help take a huge chunk out of their energy debt. According to reports, the Solar Power push for Japan is officially back on and might even be stronger than ever. Get this…while Japan is so tiny, they are the 2nd largest economy and, yikes, the 5th largest contributor to greenhouse gasses. Not good.
“Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced on Tuesday 9 billion yen (AUD$145 million) in the first quarter of 2009 to encourage home solar power; with further funding to come. Japan aims to have solar power systems installed on over 70% of new houses…In an action plan tabled in November, Japan confirmed targets of increasing the number of installations of solar power generation systems tenfold by 2020 and 40-fold by 2030, while halving the current price of systems within three to five years. The new program will have a substantial positive impact on Japan’s solar industry and generate thousands of new jobs.”
Home Solar Power Systems in 70% of new houses?! I love it! To help themselves reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, they are going to need every bit of this, as well as educating their people, which is part of their larger plan. All in all, it is great to see a country stand up and take responsibility for their future, and the future of this whole planet.
Wow, just yesterday we were talking about how Ohio is doing great things to incorporate alternative energy, wind power especially, in their energy future, and today, I find this?! What a week! As the title says, the United States has officially become the single largest wind power producer in the entire world! That is an honor we are PROUD to take, and one of the only times the perceived “bigger is better” mentality of us Americans seems, well, awesome!
That’s right, the U.S. has officially overtaken Germany as the largest producer of wind power on the planet. Try this on for size…using wind power alone, the United States generates enough energy to completely eliminate the burning of 91 MILLION barrels of oil each year. 91 MILLION Barrels! Wow. Reports are saying:
“US wind producers enjoyed another record year of growth in 2008—the third in a row. The country now has an installed wind power capacity well in excess of 21,000 megawatts (MW), enough to supply electricity to over 5.5 million American homes…“Wind energy installations are well ahead of the curve for contributing 20% of the U.S. electric power supply by 2030 as envisioned by the U.S. Department of Energy.”
I couldn’t be prouder. The article mentioned, and I couldn’t agree more, that this makes it all the more exciting for the next 4 years. All of this progress on alternative energy was made during a political time of almost indifference towards alternative energy. Imagine what we can do if we have an administration that is pushing for it full steam ahead! Keep up the great work guys, this is truly great news!
2009/2010 could very well be the year of the Electric Car. We’ve done the hybrid thing, we’ve dabbled in bio-diesel and we’ve heard all about ethanol, but where it really seems to be getting exciting is in the world of electricity. If the reports I’m reading hold true, this very well could be the most exciting and innovative year ever when it comes to new, electric vehicles making their way to our shores.
I hate to say it, but it’s about time! That’s right, it’s about time our very own United States Department of Energy started heavily adopting some of the very same technologies they have been stressing as important to all of this country’s citizens!
I know that the weather in some parts of this country, Montana where I live especially, is not always conducive to getting up, getting dressed and actually making your way outside to get your fitness goals met each day. Sometimes it’s the sub-zero temperatures, sometimes it is the freezing rain, sometimes the snow, ice, wind or hail. Wherever you live, there are always going to be reasons to just work out inside, but guess what…there are so many BETTER reasons to work out outside, no matter what the weather is doing.
Looks like some good news, finally, out of the auto industry! You know all those massive Toyota Semi-Trucks you see on the highways, the ones that suck up all the gas, and always make you go about 20 miles per hour under the speed limit on 2-lane roads? Yeah, those. Well looks like a Toyota Subsidiary company is going to make a new type of Toytoa Truck that is a hybrid style. If all goes according to plan, the new trucks will be 2.5 times more fuel efficient than current trucks on the market. Wow, 2.5 times.
