Gov't says lower fuel costs will save households as much as $105 on natural gas this winterOctober 6th, 2009 Gov't projects lower winter heating costsWASHINGTON — People who heat their homes with natural gas should spend about $105 less this winter than last season. Those using fuel oil or electric heat also will save.
Obama directs government to lead by example on global warming, oil useOctober 6th, 2009 Obama: Government to set global warming exampleWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama wants the federal government to set the example when it comes to global warming. In an executive order signed Monday, Obama required all agencies to do what he wants companies operating power plants, running refineries and making automobiles to do: reduce heat-trapping gases.
Converting trash into biofuel may cut CO2 emissions by 80 percentSeptember 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists in Singapore and Switzerland have suggested that converting the trash that fills the world's landfills into biofuel could cut global carbon emissions by 80 percent. Biofuels produced from crops have proven controversial because they require an increase in crop production that has its own severe environmental costs.
President proposes phasing out billions in subsidies for fuel causing global warmingSeptember 23rd, 2009 Obama wants worldwide end of fossil fuel subsidiesWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is calling on the world to end massive government subsidies that encourage the use of fossil fuels blamed for global warming. The president, who is set to host the G-20 economic summit opening Thursday in Pittsburgh, will propose a gradual elimination, with the time frame to be determined, according to White House officials.
EPA announces new limits on toxic air pollution from medical incinerators, ending legal battleSeptember 16th, 2009 EPA limits pollution from medical incineratorsWASHINGTON — About 50 medical waste incinerators nationwide will have to reduce their air pollution under new regulations announced Wednesday by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA said that the new rules, which require better monitoring and tighten emissions limits, will reduce toxic pollution from the burning of medical waste by 390,000 pounds annually and likely result in no new incinerators being built.
Tires made from trees could cost less, perform better and save on fuelJuly 22nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - If a new research is anything to go by, automobile owners around the world may some day soon be driving on tires that are partly made out of trees, which could cost less, perform better and save on fuel and energy. In the research, wood science researchers at Oregon State University (OSU), US, made some surprising findings about the potential of microcrystalline cellulose - a product that can be made easily from almost any type of plant fibers - to partially replace silica as a reinforcing filler in the manufacture of rubber tires.
Biomass-eating military robo is a veggie, not a carnivoreJuly 17th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The makers of a biomass-eating military robot have clarified that the machine is a vegetarian, and not a non-vegetarian as was earlier reported. Robotic Technology Inc.'s (RTI's) Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot (EATR) "can find, ingest, and extract energy from biomass in the environment (and other organically-based energy sources), as well as use conventional and alternative fuels (such as gasoline, heavy fuel, kerosene, diesel, propane, coal, cooking oil, and solar) when suitable," according to the company's Web site.
30-mln yr old fossilized mega-dung reveals secret ecology of lost worldJuly 16th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study of 30 million year old fossil 'mega-dung' from extinct giant South American mammals reveals evidence of complex ecological interactions and theft of dung-beetles' food stores by other animals. It is a well-known 'fact' that were it not for the dung-beetle, the world would be knee-deep in animal droppings, especially those of large herbivores like cows, rhinos and elephants which, because they eat more food, produce more waste.
Modern woodstoves 95 percent more efficient than their predecessorsJuly 15th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a case study, a scientist has found that modern woodstoves, with the advanced secondary combustion systems, are now 95 percent more efficient than their predecessors. The case study on the benefits of woodstoves, was done by Dr.
New military robot to fuel itself by gobbling up dead bodiesJuly 15th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A Maryland company under contract to the Pentagon is working on a steam-powered robot that would fuel itself by gobbling up whatever organic material it can find - grass, wood, old furniture, or even dead bodies. Robotic Technology Inc.'s Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot (EATR) "can find, ingest, and extract energy from biomass in the environment (and other organically-based energy sources), as well as use conventional and alternative fuels (such as gasoline, heavy fuel, kerosene, diesel, propane, coal, cooking oil, and solar) when suitable," reads the company's Web site.
Waste water treatment plant mud to reduce CO2 emissions in cement factoriesJune 24th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new research, scientists have shown that waste water treatment plant mud can be used as a partial alternative fuel to enable cement factories to reduce their CO2 emissions. The research was carried out by scientists from the Rovira i Virgili University (URV) in Catalonia, an autonomous community in northeast Spain.
Humans are disrupting the nitrogen cycle, say scientistsJune 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new research, scientists have determined that humans are disrupting the nitrogen cycle by altering the amount of nitrogen that is stored in the biosphere. The chief culprit for disruption in the nitrogen cycle is fossil fuel combustion, which releases nitric oxides into the air that combine with other elements to form smog and acid rain.
Tapping industrial heat could cut fossil fuels useApril 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Tapping waste heat from industries could cut down fossil fuel use and improve efficiency of countless manufacturing processes, says a study. According to Lihua Zhang and Tomohiro Akiyama of Hokkaido University, Japan, heat waste from industrial processes, such as combustion and electricity generation, is sometimes of low energy and diffuse and capturing this low-quality heat for re-use elsewhere on an industrial plant is usually not practical.
Platinum nanowires may pave way for more efficient fuel cellsMarch 12th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Researchers at the University of Rochester have created long platinum nanowires that may lead to the development of commercially viable fuel cells. It is believed that the new wires could provide significant increases in both the longevity and efficiency of fuel cells, which have until now been used largely for such exotic purposes as powering spacecraft.
Atmospheric 'sunshade' could reduce solar power generationMarch 12th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has suggested that the concept of delaying global warming by adding particles into the upper atmosphere to cool the climate could unintentionally reduce peak electricity generated by large solar power plants by as much as one-fifth. The study was conducted by researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
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