Have you ever parked your car in the bright sunshine on a clear chilly day in hopes that the car would be still be a bit warm when you got back inside? How about parking your car in the direct sunlight on a very hot day only to find that when you returned your chewing gum was melted to the dashboard and the steering wheel was too hot to touch? The light from the sun traveled through the glass window of your car, but that same glass window keeps the energy from escaping, hence heating your car. Whether it is hot or cold outside, the energy provided by the sun cannot escape and is only reflected back into the car. This effect is known as the “greenhouse effect”. When using this term globally it refers to the rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because there are certain gases in the atmosphere that act just like our glass window in the car, they trap the energy from the sun. These gases are vital to the earth because without them the heat from the sun would escape back into the atmosphere and the Earth’s temperatures would be freezing. Because these gases then have an overall effect on the temperature of our world; hence they are called “greenhouse gases”.

Greenhouse gases as a whole act like a mirror, reflecting back to the earth a part of the radiation of the sun. The higher the concentration of these gases in the atmosphere, the more heat energy is reflected back to the earth. Some gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are natural greenhouse gases, with water vapor and carbon dioxide being the more major of the list. Water Vapor is the most important of the gases as it contributes to roughly 85% of the Earth’s natural greenhouse effect. Carbon Dioxide comes in second at roughly 25%. But, the important thing to remember is that these gases are found naturally in our environment. Water Vapor is simply water itself in it gaseous state. Carbon Dioxide enters into the atmosphere through the natural decay of things made of carbon such as trees.

The Earth and its atmosphere rely on the delicate balance between the natural greenhouse gases and the sun to stay at its consistent temperatures and not freeze over. If this greenhouse effect disappeared then the earth’s temperatures as we know it would drop by approximately 60F. The reality is though that man has begun to pump up the greenhouse gases in our atmosphere beyond their natural levels. The burning of more and more fossil fuels has sent more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Emissions from agricultural and industry processes and burning solid waste has sent out more nitrous oxide. Producing fossil fuels and transporting them has allowed from more methane emissions. Overall, human industry has begun to send up its very own greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The delicate balance once created to keep our weather and temperatures consistent is now tipped. A large blanket of gases has now begun to cover our atmosphere and only we have a choice to decide whether it is a thin little throw blanket or one made thick as wool. It we as a world continue on this path we will see the effects of our choices as we succumb to “global warming”, an overall heating up of the only planet we have to call home, our precious Earth. Who knows what will happen when you park your car in the clear sunshine then!

The American Coal Foundation calls coal an “ancient gift serving modern man”. If one takes a look at just how this precious fossil fuel came to be you can see why. Coal itself is considered a fossil fuel because it is just that, a fossil. Long ago the earth was covered with steamy swamps, giant trees, and leafy plants. As the trees and plants died they sank to the bottom of the swamp and formed layers of soggy dense material called peat. Over the course of thousands of years, natural things like sand and clay would bury this peat and other mineral deposits; thus joining them together to form what is called sedimentary rock. As the sedimentary rock grew heavier with time the water within it was squeezed out of the peat. When this occurred the heat within would increase and the pressure would compact the peat forming what we know as coal.

Coal has been used in the United States since her earliest of days for cooking and heating, with the first mining operations beginning in the mid-1700. It’s abundance then led to its widespread use for powering railroads, generating electricity, and much more. Electric companies and businesses with power plants began to burn coal to make the steam that turns turbines and generates electricity. We began to burn coal to produce energy despite any cost or any real thought to the environment because it was so cheap and readily available. But, the sad truth is that the environment has been paying the highest cost because coal is truly the dirtiest of all fuels.

When coal is burned it produces emissions into the environment from its flue gasses, the dark clouds that you see coming from the smoke stacks. These emissions are released into the air creating acid rain, global warming, and polluting our water. But overall, from mining to processing to transportation, coal burning leaves more of a nasty footprint on our environment than any other energy source. While it is cheap to use, the price in the end is quite high indeed.

Today we are making strides to reduce the harmful effects of coal burning on the environment, thus giving birth to what is called “clean coal technologies”. Clean coal technology is the use of science and technology to reduce the effects of burning, clean coal, and even contain its emissions. Once such clean coal technology is one that happens before the coal is even burned. This is called coal washing and this process removes unwanted minerals by mixing crushed coal with a liquid and allowing the impurities to separate and settle. Then there is a technique that doesn’t burn the coal at all called Gasification, a process in which the coal is combined with steam or oxygen to force the carbon molecules apart. This process results in a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which is then cleaned and burned to make electricity.

If one is not burning clean coal then there is the technology of controlling the burn and the emissions. In some cases flue gas desulfurization systems, called Wet Scrubbers, are used to remove or minimize the sulfur dioxide (which causes acid rain) and nitrogen oxides. This type of system sprays the flue gases with limestone and water to form a mixture that will then react with the sulfur dioxide to form something called synthetic gypsum, which is used as a component of drywall.

Another technological idea that seems to be growing in interest is that of capturing and setting apart the carbon dioxide emissions. There is a technology called “pre-combustion” capture that can actually remove the carbon dioxide before it is burned as part of a gasification process. It is then secured it in order to prevent or hold off its reentry into the atmosphere. The issue with this type of technology is that the carbon dioxide does have to go somewhere in which the peak emissions can subside. In this case that somewhere can be one of two places, geological storage or oceanic storage. Geological storage, or “Geosequestration”, involves the CO2 injected into the earth in a liquid form and then stored indefinitely in areas such as depleted oil and gas fields, and deep saline aquifers. Oceanic storage would allow for the captured CO2 to be injected directly into the deep ocean keeping it separate from the atmosphere for centuries. It would be injected into the sea floor through the transportation via pipelines; however after researching this it seems that most believe this will never be a viable option due the harmful side effects. It seems that when CO2 is injected in that it harms the marine life in and around the injection site. This consequence may outweigh the good of taking the CO2 out of the air.

In our earliest of days the average American or business could honestly say that they had no idea what effects the burning of our coal was doing to our environment. Today awareness is alive and well, but we are dependent on our coal as it provides over half the energy that we use in the US alone. Until we find alternative sources to replace the power source as cheap and currently plentiful as coal we will have to continue our search for clean coal technologies. We have to seek plans to ensure that future generations will continue to value coal as the “ancient gift serving modern man” and not despise it as a cursed footprint we left behind.

I have to admit, I am not an environmental expert. I also am not an environmental wacko. I’m just a guy who likes the idea of doing good for the environment by utilizing alternative fuels. But I also don’t want to pay more either. You see, I believe that if you are going to “go freen” in areas of your life, then you shouldn’t have to sacrifice quality, or pay more. I don’t think that is too much to ask.

I also like the idea of green living. And I think that one of the best ways to do that is through using bio oil sources. Here is a little bit of info on Green Diesel that I learned from Wikipedia. This def has some potential in my opinion.

Green Diesel

Green diesel, also known as renewable diesel, is a form of diesel fuel which is derived from renewable feedstock rather than the fossil feedstock used in most diesel fuels. Green diesel is not to be confused with biodiesel which is chemically quite different and processed using transesterification rather than the traditional fractional distillation used to process green diesel.

Green diesel feedstock can be sourced from a variety oils including canola, algae, jatropha and salicornia in addition to tallow.

I know that is just a small definition, but I will do some more research and get back to you on it. i really think this one has the potential we are looking for!

As the world begins to become more and more environmentally conscious we have begun to seek alternate and renewable energy sources to sustain our daily living. One such renewable source that has grown in interest and market is that of “Biofuel”. A biofuel is a fuel that is made from ingredients rather than of fossil fuels such as crude oil. One of the major biofuels is called “Biodiesel”. Biodiesel is an alternative or additive to standard diesel fuel that is created from animal fat or plant oils through a series of chemical reactions. It is mostly derived from plant oils such as those of plants found commonly in the average American’s kitchen. Plant oils such as soybean, canola, palm, cottonseed, sunflower, and peanut all contain fats that are liquid upon room temperature. These fats are called “tricyglycerols” and they are most often transformed through a process called “transesterification”. This process purifies the tricyglycerols, and then reacts them with an alcohol such as ethanol or methanol and with a catalyst such as sodium hydroxide. Through this process the triacyglycerol is transformed into esters and glycerol. The remaining esters are what we call biodiesel and the remaining glycerols are used in items such as soap and cosmetics. Pure biodiesel can be blended with petroleum diesel to fuel a wide variety of diesel feed vehicles. The average ratio used today is about 20% biodiesel to 80% petroleum diesel, which when used is labeled B20.

Biodiesel can also be used to in combination with heating oil to heat not only residential homes, but industrial buildings as well. It provides virtually the same energy per gallon of petroleum diesel and it is neither costly nor time consuming to convert to its usage. The state of Massachusetts is now the first state in the U.S. to require that all home heating be done with the use of biodiesel. The federal government is also bumping up its requirements for the use of biodiesel. By 2010 all diesel oil heating and vehicles are to have 2% biodiesel blended it.

In our efforts as a country and as a world we are working to create a more “green” future. Biodiesel is one way to fuel us in that direction. With less polluting than petroleum diesel and a less cost of conversion, it shows great potential for a long-term choice for fuel. Today the U.S. alone is averaging production of over 700 million gallons per year. On our universal quest of renewable energy sources one would see that we are indeed on to something in the find of biodiesel fuels. It is simple to use, biodegradable, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and a seriously renewable energy source.

When it comes to renewable energy sources, the state of Texas leads the nation in “wind power”. Wind Power is the conversion of wind into a useful form of energy. Texas has truly embraced the idea of wind power and as you travel through the Lonestar State wind mills and wind turbines are becoming more commonplace. Texas is currently powering some half a million homes with this source of energy and the nation as a whole is using wind to deliver up to 2% of its electric supply. According to the Energy Department the United States surpassed its contender, Germany, for the number one position in usage of wind power in 2008, with the US wind capacity at 25,369 megawatts and Germany at 23,933 megawatts. To put those numbers into some perspective, it takes one megawatt of wind power to give power to up to one hundred homes. As wind turbines are becoming more readily available in a wide variety of sizes it is expected that their usage will increase.

Wind, much like solar energy, is completely free and with today’s technology it can be captured efficiently. Wind is captured by the rotating arms of a machine, (such as a wind turbine or wind mill), and converted into energy. This energy can then be used directly to power another machine or converted into electricty. As the turbine is working it does not in any way emit green house gasses or any other pollutants into the environment, making them a wonderful choice for those trying to reduce thier carbon footprint upon our planet. Wind turbines and wind mills also have an advantage as although they are very tall they essentially do not take up a large mass of land. This positive feature makes them an advantage to the agriculutural world as areas of farming can still continue without the turbine interfering. The turbine would do much the opposite. It can add not only an interesting feature in regards to landscaping, but this type of energy can be converted to pumping water or into electricity, especially in remote areas not connected to a grid. This feature also makes wind power an excellent source of resuable and renewable energy in places such as third world countries. Although we as a nation are number one, as we strive to hold our positon it would only seem natural that we would continue to make use of wind power and its many advantages.

If you took a peak in the window of an average American home about 150 years ago, you would find that its main source of energy was the wood burning fire. At that time in history wood provided approximately 90% of all energy needs. Wood was and still is today considered a “renewable energy” source. A renewable energy source is a source of energy that can be replenished in a short amount of time. Today if you took a peak in the window of an average American home you would find a much different energy source at work. This energy source is called “fossil fuels” and these provide more than 85% of our energy demands today. Much like its name implies, fossil fuels have a base of fossils. These fuels are found in deposits beneath the earth which are then burned to release the chemical energy within it. Examples of such fossil fuels are oil, coal, and natural gas. The switch from the renewable energy source to the fossil fuels occurred mostly due to the fact that fossil fuels themselves were much more cost effective to produce than the renewable sources. However, as we sit here in a new age most Americans have come to realize that although fossil fuels are cheaper, we as a nation are going to find ourselves running out of them. Fossil fuels take thousands of years to naturally create. As a nation, we don’t just hope to have thousands of years left. We hope for so much more.

So today we sit looking into a world in need of a rebirth and retraining on what our renewable sources of energy are. Many concerned with the environment are already taking many steps to spread the word about renewable energy sources and working hard to reduce the cost of using them. Today you will find that our world in general is taking a deep look at these renewable sources as well. The US is now using the renewable energy source of wind power to produce more than 2% of its electrical supply. Wind turbines and wind mills have sprung up in the western world and the US is leading in their usage. Solar power has also become much more economical not only for solar panels for the home, but also in areas such as water heaters. Right now in the US solar power provides less than 1% of our energy needs, but with the development of new and more efficient solar technologies predictions are that we could reach 10% by 2025. Another renewable source, and also our very oldest, is Hydropower. This is directing flowing water into water wheels that then power turbines and generators to produce electricity. Hydropower is providing19% of the world’s electricity today.

As a nation we are also looking into the root of what we came from. By this I mean that we are looking into the past and using those ideas for the future. We are once again using wood burning fires to heat some of our homes, but with new technological advances we have learned that there is much more to wood than just that. There is a whole entity of organic compounds that are formed in growing plantlife and many of these things can be used to create or generate heat and/or electricity. These organic compounds are called “Biomass” and they can produce many things such as methane (natural gas) and ethanol. Biomass also includes waste products left over after plant materials have been used for other purposes or consumed by animals. Today these are also used as renewable energy sources. But we have taken things a step further than just looking into the environment; we are looking into the earth as a whole. We are taking a look at the uses for the heat inside the earth. We are drawing up from deep under the ground heat that produces steam and hot water, which in turn can indeed be used to power generators and produce electricity. This process is called “Geothermal” and in 2007 it was the largest renewable energy source we as a nation were using at 4%.

If you take a peek into the average American home in the next 150 years one has to wonder what we will see. Will it be run by solar power? Will the wind provide electricity as well? Will we embrace biomass and all that it has to offer? How many homes will be relying on hydropower? Will the idea of Geothermal be the next big source of energy? Whatever the result may be, one thing is for certain. We cannot continue to rely solely on our fossil fuels. If we do, one day our world as we know it will indeed be nothing but a fossil itself.

The use of the sun as a source of energy dates back to ancient days. Through-out the course of history many have seen the potential of harnessing our sun’s radiant light and potent heat. They have seen the incredible value in transferring such light and heat into a reusable energy source. The ancient Greeks and Romans used architecture to make use of the sun’s capacity to light and heat indoor spaces.

Later, Albert Einstein himself won a Nobel Prize for his description of the nature of light and the photoelectric effect in which photovoltaic technology (the conversion of solar radiation into direct current electricity) which is still the basis today. This photovoltaic technology gave birth to solar cells (solar battery) through companies such as Bell Laboratories and the space programs in the 1950’s and 1960’s, however, the purchase of such cells was not affordable to the average person. Over time and through changes in the economy, the price, technology, and the interest in solar cells have changed. The interest is now higher as more countries and people in general seek to save energy and the environment, and the price has gone down from $300 per cell to about $5. Seeing as it takes at least 4 cells to make one solar panel for your home, and that you would need at least 41,000 square inches of panel for an average home, you can see how a price change would be most significant indeed.

Although using solar energy in your home can still be a bit costly, there have been some recent advances set to bring relief. In 2009 a company called Dow Chemical won an award from Time Magazine for being one of the best innovations for 2009 for its “Powerhouse Solar Shingle”. This roof shingle is said to be made of thin-film cells of copper indium gallium that produce high-efficiency conversion at low cost instead of the earlier generations of cells using silicon. There is also large growth in the PV (photovoltaic) market in countries such as Japan and Germany, as in 2002 Japan alone installed some 25,000 solar rooftops. Large PV orders such as these are creating a market growing now at 30 percent per year, with the promise of continually decreasing costs.

Solar energy is also used as a reusable energy source in many other ways today. Solar thermal water heating is an increasingly cost effective means of lowering gas and electricity demand. It is also being used in transportation signaling such as in lighthouses, aircraft warning lights on pylons or structures, road traffic warning signals, offshore buoys, and so on. Solar energy has also been used to power environmental and situation monitoring equipment and corrosion protection systems for structures such as bridges as well as pipelines. It is an ideal source for these areas as not only is solar energy highly reliable, it also requires little or no maintenance which is perfect for these hard to get places.

As we now sit in a new day of technology and thinking we realize that the uses for solar energy are only limited by human ingenuity. The more uses we find for it and the more ways we can apply it will indeed provide for a new age of enlightenment. We have come a long way from our ancient culture of Greeks and Romans building our homes to absorb and hold the sun’s warmth. We have grown upon the foundations set by Einstein’s descriptions. As we seek ways to not only be more economic, but more environmentally friendly, we will see indeed that our past has taught us a great truth. The sun is a true source of energy to be harnessed!