What is a chip fat bus and why has it been making headlines? This bus is the invention of Andy Pag, an environmentalist who wants to make a difference. The bus uses renewable energy sources and alternative energy sources because it is run on discarded cooking oil, that which is commonly used to create potato chips. This bus represents sustainable energy, and that is what Andy Pag is trying to prove.  Continue Reading »

Alternative energy at the University of Virginia is big news. This college has made a big investment in sustainable energy on campus. Four teams of students at the school have been chosen to receive seed grants worth $30,000 for projects relating to alternative energy sources and renewable energy sources. The grants were given to increase research in ways to use alternative energy at the University of Virginia.  Continue Reading »

Landfill biogas is one of the renewable energy sources, and this gas is a sustainable energy source as well. Natural gas and landfill biogas have a lot in common, and landfills can be alternative energy sources which are eco friendly and efficient at the same time. When organic waste, such as food scraps, paper, and other garbage are put into a landfill, the material starts to break down and decompose. As organic matter decomposes, it releases methane gas, and this is present in natural gas that is used to create electricity and heat homes. This gas does not have any smell or color, so it is impossible to detect without special equipment. Landfills may accumulate the gases released from the decaying organic material, and it is explosive and hazardous if not released.  Continue Reading »

What is the Missouri renewable energy initiative? This was a ballot initiative in the state of Missouri for the November 2008 election, to make the switch to renewable energy sources. Started by the Missourians for Cleaner Cheaper Energy, the Missouri renewable energy initiative involves investing in solar power and other renewable energy sources. The ballot initiative passed by two thirds of the votes, showing that the residents of the state of Missouri are ready to do the right thing for the environment. This initiative amends the law in the state, so that electric utility companies which are owned by investors must either purchase or generate a specific amount of electricity from renewable power sources. The percentage required increases over time, and the consumer rate increases are capped at one percent.  Continue Reading »

Green power at West Bank has made news headlines, for a number of different reasons. The first is that renewable energy sources and sustainable energy were used, the second is that the project was undertaken by Israelis to benefit a village of Palestinians, and the third reason is the impact that this project has had on the lives of the villagers. Alternative energy sources include solar and wind power, and this may be just the first step in the right direction. Green power at West Bank villages which have no electricity or power was undertaken by Comet-ME, which is a peace activist group which includes Israeli physicists, scientists, and environmental activists. The group saw that the village of Susya, West Bank did not have any power at all, and this is one of the poorest villages in the region.  Continue Reading »

• Many renewable energy sources show promise, and may be part of the answer to energy in the future
• Fossil fuel use and dependence must be stopped to prevent even more damage to the environment
• Wind, geothermal power, the sun, waves, tides, and others can provide power that is clean and renewable

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The world economy relies on many different factors, and one of these factors is energy. Energy can be divided into two types… Continue Reading »

Hydro power generation is one of the oldest of all power sources used by man, but the technology used for this process has advanced significantly. In times past mills were powered by rivers, including grain mills… Continue Reading »

American electricity dependence has become a big problem, especially since many electrical energy generation plants use coal to produce the electricity needed. Electricity dependence means a… Continue Reading »

The term green chip investors has been in the news and financial pages lately, but who are these investors? Green chip stocks are stocks that are in businesses which benefit from the renewable energy market and technology. Green chip stocks are stocks for companies that facilitate alternative renewable energy technologies. This can include geothermal energy, wind energy, solar energy, biomass energy, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles that plug in and use electricity as well as another energy source, clean water, waste to energy conversion, smart grid technology, organic foods, biofuels, smart grid technology, and carbon testing, as well as many others. Ocean thermal energy conversion, wave energy, current energy, and tidal energy companies are also green chip stocks. Continue Reading »

How petroleum engineers locate new oil fields? Petroleum engineers have a college education, and they have taken classes in math, geology, physics, chemistry, all aspects of engineering, and other essential areas. These engineers are used to evaluate the potential of an area to contain underground reserves of oil and natural gases. Petroleum engineers are also responsible for all the drilling methods and activities performed, the type of recovery that is used to recover the fossil fuels, and are usually the ones who design any treatment or collection facilities that are needed to receive, store, process, and treat any fossil fuels recovered. Super computers and advances in computer technology are also used by petroleum engineers, to analyze any data and run simulations to try and predict the behaviors of any underground fossil fuel reservoirs.  Continue Reading »

Who doesn't want to save money on their utility bills? We constantly remind our family members to shut off the lights, shut the door, or turn off the faucet. The United States federal government is known as the largest… Continue Reading »

The global warming effect on Antarctica has had some serious consequences, not just for the Antarctic area but the entire world. Global warming is caused by many different factors, and some of these factors are greenhouse gas emissions. The biggest cause of these emissions currently is the automobiles and vehicles used that run on fossil fuels like diesel and gasoline. Global warming has many effects on Antarctica, and this in turn has many effects for the rest of the world. One big global warming effect is the melting of ice and snow in the Antarctica Peninsula. The ice shelves in the area are breaking up and melting. This can lead to increased sea levels, which can have an effect that is global wide.  Continue Reading »

The future of energy will include alternative renewable energy sources like biomass energy, which includes biofuels… Continue Reading »

Al Gore recently released his 5-step plan for clean energy, and this plan has a lot going for it. The plan takes steps to end our energy dependence and to stop harmful pollution, while at the same time encouraging employment and economic growth. This plan could stop the use of fossil fuels and instead make a move to alternative renewable energy sources that are environmentally friendly and can be produced right here in the United States. The plan addresses both the economical crisis we face and the ecological crisis faced by the entire world.

The first step in the 5-step green plan would create alternative energy incentives so that wind farms are developed in the American Midwest, solar power plants are constructed in the American Southwest, and geothermal energy plants are built in areas that are considered hot spots for geothermal energy. This could allow us to end our dependence on fossil fuels and create needed energy right here in the U.S. with environmentally friendly methods. Step one of the 5-step green plan would stop harmful carbon emissions from the burning fossil fuels and would reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that contribute to global warming. Continue Reading »