We have posted things about electricity, but we haven’t touched much on saving water.  We believe that we are headed towards a future where conserving water is just as important or more important than conserving energy.  Think about this for a second.  Think of the price of diamonds and the price of water.  Diamonds are high priced and low on the necessity list, where as water is high on the necessity list and low on the price chart.  There will come a day where that switches.  We as a society will start paying higher prices for necessities and less for commodities.  We are going to take a look at the average toilet and a water saving toilet.  We don’t expect that people will run out and change out their toilets, but if you as a consumer are in need of changing out a toilet why not consider a water efficient toilet.

Toilets can range from $100 up to as much as a self cleaning toilet from Japan for $3,000,   There are multiple different kinds of toilets; pressure assisted, gravity, vacuum, and dual flush.  With so many choices we are just going to give you (the consumer) an average priced toilet versus the water efficient toilet.

The normal toilet:

Highline® Comfort Height™ The Complete Solution™ elongated toilet with left-hand trip lever

Complete Solution toilets are built for convenience and efficiency, providing everything you need in one box as they include the toilet bowl, toilet tank, toilet seat, wax ring, and floor hardware.

• 29″L x 19-5/8″W x 30″H
• This model features Ingenium® technology which provides 3.5-gallon performance in a 1.6-gallon package
• NOTE: Complete Solution toilets do not include a supply line as the length needed varies per installation
• Part of The Complete Solution™ Toilets
• RETAIL AVAILABILITY ONLY

This is our first post from a contributor. CNStars17 sent this to us and asked if we would be interested in sharing this information with the public. We looked through it and were very impressed with not only his research but his content. Thank you CNStars, and we look forward to hearing more from you.

Have you heard the news out of Hawaii? Former NASA executive and physicist John Mankins captured solar energy from a mountain top in Maui and sent it wirelessly 92 miles to the main island of Hawaii. The team of researchers was only able to send around 20 watts, which is not even enough to power a fluorescent light bulb. Most of the power was lost in the transmission process.

Makins says that the project was limited by budget, and that with the proper equipment he could increase efficiency up to 64%.

Not impressed?

Did you know that 170 million gigawatts of solar energy hit the earth every second? That is more energy than the earth has used since the beginning of the industrial era. Now imagine being able to tap into that source on a large scale. With Mankins wireless energy transfer idea many satellites would be launched with high tech solar panels on them. Then the satellites would relay the energy to earth via harmless wireless energy transfer to receiving stations. Also, with the solar panels in space there is no loss in efficiency due to clouds or night. The energy would be available 24/7.

Mankins says he can get a demonstration system in orbit in around 6 years and have the full system up in around 15 years.

There are scientists in Japan that claim they could get the space-based solar power project started in less than 5 months with less than 1 million dollars. Their concept uses mirrors to focus as much solar power possible into the solar cells, and thus create 5 times more energy than conventional solar cells.

Take a stand

Make a difference

Consider Tomorrow

We started the blog writing in “we”, and have not distinguished between the two of us.  Well, now we are ready for a little more personalization.  We want the people that are coming to our site to feel like they have a connection with us.  We reached our first goal with the blog a few days ago, and for that, we thank you, the readers.  We thought that our first goal would take a few weeks, and it happened in less that two weeks. While we are being honest, that goal was 100 visits in a single day.  That happened September 8th, and we hit 129.  We have no one else to thank but you, so again…Thank You for your interest, and if you like what you see, please let us know, or give us ideas for improvements.  Let’s get into the nuts and bolts:

L.J.

I am a California native, who currently resides in North Dakota, with a background in linguistics from the United States Air Force. I started off my college career to be an architect, but quickly learned that was not the path for me. I went back to school after the 6 years in the military and got my Business Management Degree. I plan on getting an M.B.A with a concentration in marketing. I love to think idealistic when it comes to Alternative Energy. I see a future filled with cars that are not constrained by the dirty word…”oil”. Not that I am against oil, but I am against the idea that a company has designed an infrustrucutre that makes us dependent on a commodity which continues to raise in price. I do understand that people need to make a living, but at what cost? Do they get to continue to receive a profit in the billions while you and I(the average American) pays the price. They say that supply and demand drives the cost up, but they continue to pad their wallets. This is the fundamental reason I am against oil and petroleum. To top it all off, we continue to ruin the place we live because…we are unsure of which alternative energy is going to take off? This is not the VCR and BETA race ladies and gentlemen, this is a race to find a solution to help the planet we live on.

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So, we have heard the buzz surrounding this car. 440 horsepower, twin turbo…sounds like your average sports car right? Well, sort of. It is a great looking sports car, here look for yourself.

But something is different about this car. It is completely run on Ethanol. Yes, that is right, E-100. Not anymore of this E-10 blend that you pay ten cents less and get less fuel efficiency. We know, you are looking at previous posts of ours and thinking, you said earlier you get less efficiency with Ethanol, but here is a quote that The Boston Globe got from SAAB; “One problem with cars fueled by ethanol is that they have a 25 to 35 percent shorter travel range than gas-powered ones, Bergstrom said. Saab and other automakers hope to close that gap by using ethanol in applications with cleaner diesel, hybrid gasoline/electric engines, and turbocharged smaller engines, which develop more power than even some of the V-8s and even V-6s so popular in the United States.” Sweden has the right idea. Why are we not propelling the same initiatives?

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We personally want to share this video with you again because this plan is phenomenal.

This gentleman has the same thoughts that we do.  The main being collaboration.  We as a society can do anything, if we were all on the same page.  We want to personally thank Mitch Miller for the insight and reference for this video for a second post.  Take the next 5 minutes and do yourself and our country a favor and watch the video.

T. Boone Pickens

Together…we can take a stand to make a difference!!

Check it out….   Now you can subscribe to our feed, and you can get an email notification everytime we post a new blog.  Look up on the top toolbar, and click on Subscribe.

Don’t miss out how to Take a Stand…

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First and foremost, we are not out to shift voters.  This post is not about who the better candidate is, but rather how important Energy is to our nation.  This post in no way reflects our own political views.

That being said, let’s dig into the Energy.  As we have posted previously, energy is an enormous problem that needs to be solved.  Relating back to a previous post, what happened to the days where Americans raced with Russia to get to the moon?  What happend to the United States being a head of the game?  Most of this has to do with we are losing Math and Science specialists.

So, the coin flip goes up on which candidate goes first, and it is tails, which was Obama.

On cars and driving:

Obama: Would provide $4 billion in loans and tax credits to American auto plants and manufacturers so that they can retool factories and build fuel-efficient cars; would put 1 million 150-mpg, plug-in hybrids on U.S. roads within six years and would give consumers a $7,000 tax credit to buy fuel-efficient cars.

McCain: Proposed a $300 million award for “the development of a battery package that has the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars.” Called for the suspension of the 18.4-cent-a-gallon federal gas tax and 24.4-cent-a-gallon diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  Says the lost revenue would be paid for by money from the general fund.

Both of their ideas and plans are solid.  The break at the pump would sure be nice, but as we have stated before, it isn’t just about cutting the cost, we need to find alternatives.  Obama’s idea would be phenomenal, but is it obtainable?  McCain has a good idea, because in order for the electric car to flourish, the battery needs to be improved….In your opinion…who wins on this topic?

Renewable energy

McCain: Would commit $2 billion annually to advance clean coal technologies.  Calls for a permanent tax credit, which he says will “simplify the tax code, reward activity in the U.S., and make us more competitive with other countries,” according to his campaign Web site.  Encourages development of low-carbon fuels — wind, hydro and solar power.

Obama: Would require 10 percent of U.S. energy come from renewable sources by the end of his first presidential term. The plan would extend the Production Tax Credit for five years to encourage the production of renewable energy.  Create five first-of-a-kind, coal-fired demonstration plants that would capture and store carbon dioxide emissions and invest in technology that will allow for more coal use.

Very good debate material.  As before they both have very good ideas, with the same common goal.  In this topic Obama basically wants to improve the usage of coal for power.  He wants to make it cleaner and more effective.  Mccain advocates the usage of alternative energy, giving better incentives to the people who do use it.  Who wins this topic?

Climate change

McCain: Proposes a bipartisan plan to address the problem of climate change and stimulate the development and use of advanced technologies.  It is a market-based approach that would set caps on carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions and provide industries with tradable credits.

Obama: Calls for a reduction of carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050 by using a market-based cap-and-trade system. Would create what his campaign calls a “Global Energy Forum” and re-engage with the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.

This is proof once again of similar outcomes, different approaches.  Which one has the better approach?

Nuclear energy

McCain: Calls for building new nuclear reactors, saying barriers to nuclear energy are political, not technological. Would put a plan in place to build 45 new nuclear power plants by 2030 — with the ultimate goal of 100 new plants. Would provide for safe storage of spent nuclear fuel and give host states or localities a proprietary interest so when advanced recycling technologies turn used fuel into a valuable commodity, the public would share in the economic benefits.

Obama: Says he’ll find safer ways to use nuclear power and store nuclear waste.  In Democratic debate earlier this year, he said, “We should explore nuclear power as part of the energy mix.”

Could nuclear Energy be the future?  What do you think?

Offshore drilling

McCain: Proposed lifting the ban on offshore drilling as part of his plan to reduce dependence on foreign oil and help combat rising gas prices.  Would let individual states decide whether to explore drilling possibilities.   Opposes drilling in some wilderness areas — including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge — and said those places must be left undisturbed.

Obama: Opposed new offshore drilling, but later shifted to say that he would consider it if it were part of a larger strategy to lower energy costs.  Supports bipartisan energy plan from the Senate that combines alternative energy innovation, financial, nuclear energy and drilling proposals. Effort by five Democrats and five Republicans to break Congress’ energy impasse would allow expanded offshore oil exploration and embrace ambitious energy efficiency and efforts to develop alternative fuels.   Believes oil companies should drill on the 68 million acres they have access to but haven’t used and would require oil companies that will not drill to give up their leases.

Is offshore drilling going to lower the cost of fuel in the next 5-10 years?  It is said that the drilling off-shore could take up to 10 years to enter production.  What do you think?

We think this is proof that no matter who you vote for, there is a problem, and we as a society need to

Take a Stand…

Help Make a Difference

Cold weather is right around the corner, and it has been said that Natural Gas prices could rise an average of 50% this winter. Most people have not seen this information, because unlike filling up your vehicle every week at the pump, most people won’t see the high cost until they start heating their home.

Here are some tips to help your wallet this winter:

• Turn your water heater to the warm setting (120 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Make sure your water heater has an insulating blanket.
• Consider replacing incandescent lights with compact fluorescents (CFLs), which can save three-quarters of the electricity used by incandescents.
• Check the age and condition of your major appliances, especially the refrigerator. You may want to replace it with a more energy-efficient model before it dies.
• Clean or replace furnace, air-conditioner, and heat-pump filters.
• Rope caulk very leaky windows.
• Collect your utility bills. Separate electricity and fuel bills. Target the biggest bill for energy conservation remedies.
• Insulate hot water pipes and ducts wherever they run through unheated areas.
• Seal up the largest air leaks in your house — the ones that whistle on windy days, or feel drafty. The worst culprits are usually not windows and doors. They’re utility cut-throughs for pipes, gaps around chimneys, gaps around recessed lights in insulated ceilings or unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.
• Install a clock thermostat thermostat to lower the heat automatically at night.
• Schedule an energy audit (ask your utility company or state energy office) for more expert advice on your home as a whole.

If the prices of Natural Gas and Gasoline does not make you want to learn to be indepedent, we don’t know what will. Why should we as American’s continue to pay in order to live? These large companies have made millions of dollars while the Average American sweats everytime they fill up at the gas station and when their energy bill comes for their homes.

If you are ready to Make a Stand, look for future articles, titled “Projects you can do to Make a Stand” which we will provide How Tos in order for YOU to be able to start Making a Difference.

There are so many ways to recycle anymore, we think that at times people take it for granted. “I put the paper in the recycle bins” or “I put the cans in the right container”.

So, you do your part, right? Possibly, but paper and plastics are still the most thrown away item in the dumps. According to Wikianswers; “The packaging that you buy makes up 80 percent of most household trash.” Think about it for a second, when you buy a package of turkey at the store, do you take the plastic and the paper product and recycle it? Or, how about when you buy grabage bags, so you take the box that they come in and recycle it? We think that the majority of people don’t think about that stuff. That is why we are here, right? “Take a stand, make a difference” ring a bell?

So, let’s take a look at what you are all reading this post for….the $$$$

Instead of putting your cans and bottles at the curb(if your county has that option, save them. It takes a little extra time to take a gargabe bag or two full of cans and bottles down to the recycling company. They DO still pay. Boxes, boxes, boxes. Boxes are typically good strong cardboard. Why not take all the cardboard you get from packages, moving supplies, etc down and make a couple dollars. When you go shopping at your grocery store, ask them if they purchase bags back. If they do, you are going to the store anyways, why not make a little change while going. Toner cartridges…Staples if offering a “reward” for any information regarding the where-a-bouts of toner cartridges. What about your old jeans that don’t fit. You could sell them, or just donate them to a thrift shop. These are all forms of recyling. Now, you may not be the Bill Gates of the dumpsters but, you could make money AND feel good about what you are doing.

HERE is a post about making money off recycling newspaper.

HERE is another way to make money recycling.

Scrap Metal Recycling, click HERE

For those extra ambious money makers, you can certainly do THIS

Even Entreprenuer.com has some tips on making money with Recycling.

What about you? Have you taken a stand? Have you made a difference?

Tell us about it…we would like to hear how you made a difference, or maybe you profited off it…

Let us know

SB:   Thanks for the comment.  For anyone who is considering leaving comments, we encourage them, we like to think about different perspectives, and we also like doing homework.

We tend to agree with you.  We also have someone in the Ethanol business, and he suggests that different blends tend to be more efficient.  Somtimes it takes a little tinkering with the blend to find the optimal feul effiency.  This same person that we know has a early 2000 model Acura and he says he got 30 MPG with blending E-30.  Again, your point is well taken, E-30 is not readily available for everyone.  Right at the pump, we can get E-10 and it is ten cents cheaper than regular gasoline.  If you are saying you got 3 mpg more out of your vehical, let’s do the math.   You have a 20 gallon tank.  Let’s take a set rate of $4.oo/gallon for regular and $3.90/gallon for ethanol.  To fill your tank would be $80.00 and $78.00 respectively.  Let us just say you get 18 miles per gallon with regular gasoline and 15 miles per gallon with Ethanol.  So, simple math would tell us you can go 360 miles on regular gas, and 300 miles on Ethanol.  So, basically, for an extra two dollars, you can get an extra 60 miles on your tank.  I would tend to agree with you, that Ethanol or at least E-10 is a bit misleading.    When it comes down to it, that extra ten cents per gallon numerically seems to be worth it.

Thanks again SB, and keep your comments coming.

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