IF THEY CAN DO IT, SO CAN WE

     Iran and Brazil are well on their way to energy independence. So is China. They’re using uncomplicated technology that the U.S. has largely ignored. But, if they can do it, so can we.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/
2008/07/03/AR2008070303250.html

WIND ENERGY IN AMERICA

     The AMERICAN WIND ENERGY ASSOCIATION website gives you the latest news on such things as wind power legislation. It also leads to several other sites dealing with various aspects of harnessing the wind.

http://www.awea.org/

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

     Here are the basics of geothermal energy and what it can do. A fascinating subject. I learned, for instance, that “since the 1960s, France has been heating up to 200,000 homes using geothermal water.” Geothermal reservoirs are something we can drill for, as we drill for oil, only it’s a renewable source of energy. I also learned that use of geothermal energy is already under way, and that “the United States alone produces 2700 megawatts of electricity from geothermal energy, electricity comparable to burning sixty million barrels of oil each year.”

http://geothermal.marin.org/

UNUSUAL AND FUEL-EFFICIENT VEHICLES

     This page tells us about the “STEAM-O-LENE ENGINE,” and, if you look off to the right, you’ll see links to information on battery and solar powered and electric vehicles, and to the ENERGY BLOG, which says, “The Energy Revolution has begun and will change your lifestyle.”

http://www.fuel-efficient-vehicles.org/energy-news/?p=94

RUN YOUR CAR ON SALAD OIL

     You can use vegetable oil to run your car for free. Really. If it’s diesel powered. In this British video, they recycle used cooking oil from a fish and chips shop to run their diesel powered automobile. For free.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5IjzsgDll8&feature=related

     Learn much more about vegetable oil fuel at MSN MONEY:

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/
savinganddebt/saveonacar/p115218.asp

     And get a kit from GREASECAR.

http://www.greasecar.com/

     OR USE WATER FOR FUEL. This video is much more technical, but it gives a clear description of the process. (See Part 2 video off to the right.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCvnhQR7slY&feature=related

HOW YOU CAN AND CAN’T SAVE ON GASOLINE

     I ran a newsletter item stating ways you could make your gasoline go further, such as getting it in the early morning. Turns out these “gasoline saving” hints are more like urban legends. This item in SNOPES.COM explains what is wrong with them:

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/gastips.asp

     What DOES work? There are several sites that will tell you what different gas stations in your area charge. Here are two:

http://gasbuddy.com/

http://gasprices.mapquest.com/

     And this site will tell you whether driving to a cheaper station will actually save you money. They have you “first, enter your car's gas tank size and fuel efficiency. Then enter the distance you drive to each gas station and the price of gas there. The calculator will tell you if the drive costs more than the money you save on gas.”

http://bankrate.com/brm/calc/gasprice.asp