Drop in gas prices.

When we began this course gas prices were $4.00 per gallon and more. People were worried. SUV's sat on car lots. Hybrids flew off the lots. People thought twice before getting in their cars to make an unnecessary trip. The demand for fuel took a nosedive. The reason for the recent drop in gas prices is precisely because of decrease in demand. Today I saw gasoline at $1.55 per gallon. (Dec 9, 1008) The article below calls for keeping gas prices at or above $4.00. (Remember our concept of the conservation reserve?)

http://theredelectric.blogspot.com/2008/11/bring-back-4-per-gallon-gas.html

What are your thoughts?

Alternative Energy

Today we researched Solar, Geothermal, Hydroelectric, Tidal, and Wind as alternative energy sources. The great thing about all of these methods is that there are no CO2 emissions. Solar, wind, and tidal energy is there for the taking. Remember that there is more initial outlay of moneyat this time to have an energy system based on these alternatives that will power a home or a building. But, considering costs at this point, within 8 - 10 years, the owner should reach a break even point. The coast of North Carolina has great potential to utilize wind power. Solar energy is possible in most of the state, although a back up heating system might be necessary for days when there just isn't enough sun to produce enough heat to heat the building or heat water to adequately supply the building. Just recently, several North Carolina energy providers have joined a number of other states that allow homeowners who produce their own energy to upload to the grid and receive credit.

http://www.ncsc.ncsu.edu/news/news_story.cfm?ID=336

There is a real necessity for people who are building or remodeling a home to decrease the impact of that home on the environment. This article speaks to incentives available in North Carolina to help realize energy efficiency and more.

http://www.ncsc.ncsu.edu/information_resources/renewable_energy_incentives.cfm

Remember, we talked about utilizing the constant temperature of the soil or groundwater found right in the backyard to heat and cool homes. Here is are articles that addresses savings to be had by pumping air or water into the earth where the temperature is constant year round!

http://nexplanrecycling.com/geothermal.html

http://www.waterfurnace.com/

These are all methods of heating, cooling, and generating electrical power that will be common during your adult years. Have fun becoming informed before you even think about purchasing your own home!!

I'm also including an article I read this morning on CNN about alternative fuels to power cars. Human beings are very smart! Even though we have depended on the gasoline engine for decades, I am certain that some enterprising soul or company will develop alternative engines that are cleaner and better for the environment and also an affordable alternative to the current vehicles. We just need to change how we think. Change is always hard, isn't it? Sometimes changing for the better will require a little inconvenience.

http://www.cnn.com/TECH/

A Comment on Books to Read

I'll do the alternative energy stuff a little later. I was perusing the web and was suddenly struck that I really need to recommend a couple of books. If you are one of my students.....pay attention here!! If you are a friend, well.....these are great, IMHO.

First: The Beak of the Finch, Jonathan Weiner. This book actually demonstrates how evolution occurs in response to changes in the environment. The author describes actual research that is ongoing (I think it's still ongoing) in (where else?) the Galapagos, measuring changes in beak size in populations of Darwin's finches! If you are a science person, or just don't understand how we can actually measure changes in a population of a species, this book is a must read. There are also descriptions of changes in isolated populations of fish that live in lakes left over from the melting of the glaciers.


http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=The+Beak+of+the+FInch

Second: This one speaks to my spiritual side: Same Kind of Different as Me. By Ron Hall and Denver Moore. I began reading this book, thought how touching the story, then looked at the names of the authors and realized this is a true story. An international art dealer and a homeless ne're do well become friends, bonded by the love of a woman they both hold dear. I'm giving this book to several friends for Christmas.

http://www.amazon.com/Same-Kind-Different-Modern-Day-International/dp/084991910X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228344071&sr=1-1

If you peruse, leave me your suggestions!!

A Look at Nuclear Energy

Dec 1, 2008



We've been studying Nuclear energy for the past week or so. We have explored how a nuclear reactor works. We have compared nuclear energy to burning coal both in the impact on the environment in obtaining the ore, the release of radioactivity (yes, the burning of coal releases radioactive isotopes), and the energy required to feed the power plant with fuel (coal or uranium). We've also discussed the issues of dealing with nuclear waste (no we can't blast it off into the sun; think $$$). Several of you have had really good questions about possible uses for nuclear waste.



If you still wonder how a nuclear power plant works, here are a couple of videos to view.

So what's the plan for all that radioactive waste? Here's a site that explains everything you wanted to know about Yucca Mountain, and maybe some stuff you didn't want to know.

http://www.ocrwm.doe.gov/ym_repository/index.shtml

Kyle, you wondered about the use of radioactive waste.

http://www.pollutionissues.com/Pl-Re/Radioactive-Waste.html

This article does a good job addressing those issues.

And what about the future of nuclear power in the US? http://web.mit.edu/nuclearpower/

Next: Alternative Energy