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Terry Z. Voster asked:


biodiesel can extend the life of your engine whether it is in your diesel equipped auto, truck, tractor, bus or highway rig. Biodiesel can increase the longevity of your engine by up to 100 %. Costs are reduced - whether it be for maintenance or vehicle replacement. The engine last longer , breaks down less frequently resulting in longer vehicle life spans , greater reliability and overall less vehicle costs - again be it diesel equipped auto , car, truck ,tractor or highway rig.

How can this be so? The improved lubrication properties of biodiesel over regular vehicle diesel fuel results in increased parts longevity by up to 100 %. As a result commercial vehicles may be used for decades as well as travel millions of miles. Increased engine longevity translates into reduced maintenance costs, longer life spans and overall increases in reliability.

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel derived from vegetable oils, animal fats and cooking oils that are processed so that it can be added to diesel fuel as an additive. You cannot just mash up these fats and mix them with your diesel fuel. It is not as if any old Alvero character can make biodiesel in his garage at home. If the biodiesel is not prepared properly in a qualified industrial process - the contaminants of water, glycerols and other trace elements can well clog up your fuel injectors or even an expensive injection pump. Properly done biodiesel is a safe and beneficial fuel additive - now being routinely recommended and touted by major vehicle and diesel engine manufacturers.

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Energy Tags: battery technology, solar energy

Solar battery charger is one of these devices that became a necessity once we have all these electric devices that we use on a daily basis. iPod, laptop, mobile phone, PDA, GPS etc' just name it. The more we use these battery based gadgets, the more our lives in the 21st century depend on. These battery based portable electric devices need to be recharged pretty often which hook us to the grid outlet and reduce our mobility and portability. If we do not charge them they become useless. At this point the solar powered battery charger gives us back the freedom and releases us from being chained to outlet grid in order to charge our batteries.

They are not a matter of fashion, they are gaining popularity with very good reasons. Solar charger is simple to use on the go, where ever you are, all it takes is some sunlight. There are backpacks with solar cells on them, so they charge your batteries while you are on your daily activity without any need of your attention. There are portable flexible solar panels that you can place in your small bag and use them to charge your electrical devices' batteries when you need to without being attached to any electrical grid outlet. Most solar chargers are equipped with plug kits which match to variety of electric devices. The variety of solar chargers' sizes, shapes and uses continue to grow rapidly.

Renewable energy can supply a significant portion of our energy needs, creating many benefits, including improved air, water, and ozone quality. Why aren't many of the presidential candidates discussing this? We need to do something soon, as a country, to increase our use of renewable energy in America, to preserve our quality of life…

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Energy Tags: Renewable energy

Over half of the homes in the United States use natural gas to heat their homes. Natural gas is environmentally clean. It is the cleanest burning fossil fuel. Very few by products are emitted into the air as pollutants. For hundreds of years natural gas has been known as a very useful substance. Natural gas is one of the cheapest forms of energy available to the residential consumer. As a source of energy, natural gas has historically been much cheaper than electricity.

It has been best known around the home for heating and cooking. Some benefits of cooking with natural gas are temperature control, self cleaning and self ignition. Many top chefs in restaurants prefer a natural gas cook top and range over an electric one. The chefs like the ability to more accurately control the temperature of their food. Air conditioning equipment, like central systems, window or wall units cool the house by a refrigeration unit powered by natural gas.

Around the home, in the time an electric water heater heats a bathtub full of water, you should be able to heat two bathtubs full of water with natural gas for the same price. Also many people have natural gas air conditioners. They are a little more expensive to install but they should save you money in the long run. They should last longer and you may see that they are more efficient so you bill may intern go down. They also have a longer life expectancy. Natural gas appliances usually require less maintenance over their life. This should also save you money.

Energy Tags: wind power, energy

If you think back to the not-so-distant past you can remember a time where society was technologically deficient. There was no such thing as a computer, let alone the Internet, and the thought of taking a picture of a person then transmitting the image through a phone within seconds was unheard of. However, times have evolved just as humans have. And in that evolution we have seen some miraculous advancements, including floating bed mattresses, voice-activated cars (like in Knight Rider), and even human cloning. solar power is now an advancement to add to the growing list as it is now on the brink of changing our world. And soon, we may not have to depend on anything else if we so choose.

What is Solar Power?

Solar power, which is a term used interchangeably with solar energy, is simply defined as power or energy from the Sun. This form of natural power is the result of technological advancements that have allowed us to transform energy from the sun into electricity. And why not use the Sun's energy? It is readily available to us and emanates so much natural power that in just one hour it could meet the world's demand for energy in just one year.

Solar power is used in two major ways: as a heat source, and as an energy source. As a heat source, solar power is used to heat water and homes, ventilate, cook food, distill water and even disinfect. As a heating source, solar energy also has great benefits. Almost 10,000 Americans receive their electricity from solar power in a process that is called photovoltaic's. Photovoltaic's is the process of converting light into electricity through something called the photoelectric effect. While a lot of research was initially being conducted to begin the process of using this form of electricity in homes, some of the momentum was lost due to a sudden drop in oil prices that lasted for almost 15 years. Now that the world economy is once again in a crisis with oil supplies dwindling, researchers are stepping up their game to find alternatives to our current source of energy. How You Can Solar Power Your Life

There are many options sprouting up that allow people to incorporate solar energy into their lives. Here are a few:

Solar Lighting - Many people already use natural light as a secondary source of lighting for their homes. Approximately 25 percent of the electricity used in the United States alone is for lighting their homes so solar lighting works as a great way to cut down the cost of electricity; and the method is simple - just open your drapes and blinds.

Some say that the benefits of solar lighting extend to some psychological benefits, including increased physical energy and sharper concentration, so it seems the perks of solar lighting can be great, if only you can find a way to gather an ample supply for your home. Some architects have kept up with the times and are beginning to develop homes that have unique window orientations that will allow more lighting to enter. In addition, more homes are coming equipped with skylights and light tubes, both of which help to emit more sun beams.

Hybrid Solar Lighting (HSL) - Hybrid solar lighting is an even more advanced variation of solar lighting that goes one step further to provide illumination in the home. HSL collects sunlight using something called focusing mirrors, which actually track the sun. The collected light is then transmitted into your home's interior and works as a great supplement to artificial lighting; however, it has not yet been slated as a full replacement.

Solar Paneling - Many people are now catching on to solar paneling as a way to run electricity through their homes from the solar panels that sit on top. Solar paneling for the home is not only cost-efficient for the home owner in the long run, but also helps the economy by reducing the tons of carbon dioxide emitted into the air daily. Some states, like California, are working to require that 50% of its homes move to solar paneling by 2013 and are providing financial incentives for them to do so. But on the whole, it seems we still have a ways to go before everyone catches on to this effective energy source.

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