By: Garrett
Troops in Iraq are paying about as much for fuel as Americans back home. .. almost $3.25 a gallon for gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. Some soldiers are paying $88 a day per service member.Critics in Congress say the U.S. is getting suckered by the cost of the war, costing over half a trillion dollars... $10.3 billion per month. Baghdad subsidies let Iraqis pay $1.36 a gallon. Historically the average fuel consuption per soldier or marine in World War II was 1.67 gallons a day, in Iraq it is 27.3 gallons. The military is also expanding its aviation fleet including helicopters and its reliance on planes to shuttle troops. The Pentagon's demand for fuel in Iraq thankfully has had little effect on global oil prices.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Easy Solution to Cheaper Air Conditioning Bills?
by Vinny
Here is a video that shows what Elastek can do to help bring down the bills in the summer. It's a very cool idea!
Here is a video that shows what Elastek can do to help bring down the bills in the summer. It's a very cool idea!
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Sound Power
by Vinny
At the University of Utah, Orest Symko and a few of his students are trying to make an alternative energy with sound! It works like this: you heat an enclosed area where the air will expand and increase the pressure. Then, the air will move through a filter making an unfaltering constant sound. These sound waves pass through piezoelectric devices which changes the sound into electricity. It's still a work in progress, but let's hope that they can get some good results out of it.
For more information, click here.
At the University of Utah, Orest Symko and a few of his students are trying to make an alternative energy with sound! It works like this: you heat an enclosed area where the air will expand and increase the pressure. Then, the air will move through a filter making an unfaltering constant sound. These sound waves pass through piezoelectric devices which changes the sound into electricity. It's still a work in progress, but let's hope that they can get some good results out of it.
For more information, click here.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Amphibious Cars
By Clarissa
Are there really plans for amphibious cars?Believe it or not but there has actually been lots of these type of cars. The only problem is that they are EXTREMELY slow while in the water.For more information check out: http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/adventures/1278146.html
Are there really plans for amphibious cars?Believe it or not but there has actually been lots of these type of cars. The only problem is that they are EXTREMELY slow while in the water.For more information check out: http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/adventures/1278146.html
Worker Training for Colorado
By: Garrett
A $2 million state grant will help fund training for Colorado's energy boom. $400,000 will go to the Colorado Department of Labor. The remaining $1.6 million will be split between Montrose-Delta college development in the western part of Colorado. The money will be distributed over the next three years. Training should begin in August or July. Delta Technical College will be headed by Linda Brown. "In the first six months a customized curriculum will be established and new equipment purchased.
A $2 million state grant will help fund training for Colorado's energy boom. $400,000 will go to the Colorado Department of Labor. The remaining $1.6 million will be split between Montrose-Delta college development in the western part of Colorado. The money will be distributed over the next three years. Training should begin in August or July. Delta Technical College will be headed by Linda Brown. "In the first six months a customized curriculum will be established and new equipment purchased.
Oil and Gas rules
By Garrett
Many people joined hunters and enviromentalists Sunday in Colorado to call for new regulations to protect air, water, wildlife, and public health during the state's energy boom. These groups met a day before the planned release of the state's proposed comprehensive rewrite of rules for the industry. The rules would implement new laws that would have greater weight on oil and gas developement depending on wildlife, public health, and the enviroment. A news conference in Denver stated that Colorado is relying on outdated regulations, that haven't considered an energy boom.
Many people joined hunters and enviromentalists Sunday in Colorado to call for new regulations to protect air, water, wildlife, and public health during the state's energy boom. These groups met a day before the planned release of the state's proposed comprehensive rewrite of rules for the industry. The rules would implement new laws that would have greater weight on oil and gas developement depending on wildlife, public health, and the enviroment. A news conference in Denver stated that Colorado is relying on outdated regulations, that haven't considered an energy boom.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Is Plastic Destroying Our Oceans?
By Chris
Did you know that currently there is a giant field of plastic trash, twice the size of the continental United States, floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean stretching between our West Coast to Japan? This pollution is indirectly affecting humans, because it harms many animals that we eat, not to mention all of the other marine life in the Pacific area. How did the plastic get there? From steams and rivers, beaches and boats. Marcus Eriksen says that "There is no technology to get rid of plastic. The only solution is to stop adding it to the ocean."
Some countries have already announced bans on free plastic bags. China will outlaw the thinnest bags beginning June 1, and Australia is also working on a plan to eliminate them. In America, Whole Foods Market chain has pledged to be plastic bag-free on Earth Day, April 22.
Plastic bags aren't the only thing being targeted, though. In January, Chicago became the first major U. S. city to put a 5 cent tax on bottled water, in order to encourage recycling and discouraging consumption. Other American cities are debating a similar tax.
Did you know that currently there is a giant field of plastic trash, twice the size of the continental United States, floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean stretching between our West Coast to Japan? This pollution is indirectly affecting humans, because it harms many animals that we eat, not to mention all of the other marine life in the Pacific area. How did the plastic get there? From steams and rivers, beaches and boats. Marcus Eriksen says that "There is no technology to get rid of plastic. The only solution is to stop adding it to the ocean."
Some countries have already announced bans on free plastic bags. China will outlaw the thinnest bags beginning June 1, and Australia is also working on a plan to eliminate them. In America, Whole Foods Market chain has pledged to be plastic bag-free on Earth Day, April 22.
Plastic bags aren't the only thing being targeted, though. In January, Chicago became the first major U. S. city to put a 5 cent tax on bottled water, in order to encourage recycling and discouraging consumption. Other American cities are debating a similar tax.
Chipeta Elementary School- The Model Green School of District 51
By Chris
Superintendent Tim Mills announced last week that the new Chipeta Elementary School, which opens next fall, will be the prototype of energy efficiency. This is great news, because it means that schools built in Mesa County will be more "green," unlike the Fruita 8/9 (which we are trying to improve).
The new school will have lights operated by motion, waterless urinals and many windows. Ten percent of Chipeta will be built of recycled materials, including all of the steel pipes. It will also have multiple levels of lighting, some use of wind energy and will be painted using low-emitting paints. Students will be able to see what happens behind the scenes in the course of keeping a sustainable energy building. Choice parking spots will be built for alternative-fuel vehicles, along with an additional bike rack for the teachers. A shower will be available for teachers who wish to jog or bike, too.
The overall building costs will be about three percent more than a similar building, but the school will save an estimated thirty percent per year in electricity and water usage. Xcel Energy has said that they will incorporate designs used for Chipeta along other energy efficient technologies while building new schools in the district.
Superintendent Tim Mills announced last week that the new Chipeta Elementary School, which opens next fall, will be the prototype of energy efficiency. This is great news, because it means that schools built in Mesa County will be more "green," unlike the Fruita 8/9 (which we are trying to improve).
The new school will have lights operated by motion, waterless urinals and many windows. Ten percent of Chipeta will be built of recycled materials, including all of the steel pipes. It will also have multiple levels of lighting, some use of wind energy and will be painted using low-emitting paints. Students will be able to see what happens behind the scenes in the course of keeping a sustainable energy building. Choice parking spots will be built for alternative-fuel vehicles, along with an additional bike rack for the teachers. A shower will be available for teachers who wish to jog or bike, too.
The overall building costs will be about three percent more than a similar building, but the school will save an estimated thirty percent per year in electricity and water usage. Xcel Energy has said that they will incorporate designs used for Chipeta along other energy efficient technologies while building new schools in the district.
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