Hanging around the DOE....

The Department of Energy hosts a very informative website called Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy http://www.eere.energy.gov/. Their motto is: Bringing you a prosperous future where energy is clean, abundant, reliable, and affordable.

Well, let’s take a closer look shall we?

BIOMASS: Of most recent published data, Biomass comprised 47% of all renewable energy or 4% of the total energy produced in the United States (http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/biomass_today.html). Most of this energy was consumed by the pulp and paper industry who also supply the input material to produce the energy, as a by-product of the lumber industry. Other current uses of Biomass include Ethanol & Renewable Diesel. Also, certain products are now being made out of Biomass such as, textile fibers, polymers, adhesives, lubricants, soy-based inks, and other products. Use of biofuels reduces toxic air emissions, greenhouse gas buildup, and dependence on imported oil, while supporting agriculture and rural economies

BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES: http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ Our nation's 81 million buildings consume more energy than any other sector of the U.S. economy, including transportation and industry. DOE’s results have mostly been devoted to improving the Energy Star program which sets a basic threshold for appliance efficiencies. The Emerging Technologies division of the DOE is working on Advanced Refrigeratro-Freezer designs which will save ½ the energy of the latest government standards. Also, they have conducted a series of real-world tests which conclude horizontal washing machines save 60% of energy and 40% of water usage over their vertical competitors, giving new meaning to laying low. Last, but not least they have concluded that drop-in residential heat pumps are much more efficient than standard electric water heaters. We should see these quite soon according to the DOE.

FREEDOMCAR AND VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/ The FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies (FCVT) Program is developing more energy efficient and environmentally friendly highway transportation technologies that will enable America to use less petroleum. The long-term aim is to develop "leap frog" technologies that will provide Americans with greater freedom of mobility and energy security, while lowering costs and reducing impacts on the environment. Most of the research is derived from making improvements in Hybrid & Vehicle systems, energy storage, fuels & lubricants and materials technologies. This is where the nation’s fuel cell program lives.

GEOTHERMAL TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal EERE's Geothermal Technologies Program works in partnership with U.S. industry to establish geothermal energy as an economically competitive contributor to the U.S. energy supply. Geothermal reservoirs of low-temperature water are used to heat homes and offices, commercial greenhouses, fish farms, food processing facilities, gold mining operations, and a variety of other applications. Ya, but how much does it cost for me to put one in my house? According to a 1998 paper published by the Office of Geothermal Technologies, On average, a geothermal heat pump system costs about $2,500 per ton of capacity, or roughly $7,500 for a 3-ton unit (typical residential size). In comparison, other systems would cost about $4,000 with air conditioning. Sounds appealing, but’s we’ll need to updated those prices. More on this subject later.

WIND & HYDROPOWER: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/ Here we see a lot of action. Did you know Hydropower makes up the largest supply of renewable electricity? Did you know in 2005, the US was the largest installer of Wind supply in the world? Ok, maybe you did. Did you know you can see where the big wind power suppliers are looking when they assess a landing spot for that big, beautiful 150 tall wind turbine http://rredc.nrel.gov/wind/pubs/atlas/maps/chap2/2-01m.html?

SOLAR POWER: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/ Last, but not least is Solar. This subject seems to be beaten to almost death, yet reemerges just in time to give us all a glimmer of hope that one day we may all use the power of the sun as it comes to us in nature’s best form. Here are some of the highly interesting subjects in-use: Concentrating Solar Power: CSP systems use reflective materials that concentrate the sun's heat energy to drive a generator that produces electricity. Photovoltaics: PV systems use semiconductor materials that convert sunlight directly to electricity.

Solar Heating: Solar collectors absorb the sun's energy to provide low-temperature heat used directly for hot water or space heating for residential or commercial buildings. Check your local state initiatives. For example, Maine will give back up to 75% of the difference in materials and installation over a traditional water heating source.

Solar Lighting: Parabolic collectors focus sunlight into a fiber optic system to illuminate building interiors with sunlight.

All of this an much, much, more is available and well discussed at our local federal government’s virtual office!