aieageoff’s Recent Comments

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  Eco-friendly driveways

  The Romans built their roads with a gravel base and well fitted paver stones.  2,000 years later, many of these roads are still here.On Umbra on driveways posted 1 year, 1 month ago 9 Responses

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  Bailout

  Our financial system is about to CRASH!!!  The Engineer driving the system was Paulson.  Now he wants to be put in charge of fixing the problems he should have avoided years ago?On Friends of the Earth says anti-regulation approach causes environmental destruction posted 1 year, 1 month ago 25 Responses

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  Balance

  Hi Joe,

  Good article.  Well researched.  One-sided.

  How about a similar (and non-partisan) review of Obama-Biden's energy policies?On McCain's 10 energy lies top Palin's four posted 1 year, 2 months ago 12 Responses

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  Conservation

  Most people want to save energy (and their money).  They just don't know how.  Sure, there are  green websites, pamphlets, TV blurbs and Time Magazine that tell them how, but it just doesn't stick.  What we need is person-to-person instruction.  FREE.  Paid for by the Federal, State and Local governments.  Trained Conservation Agents to meet one-on-one and explain how to conserve.   Here's four proposals:

  Tire Agent    The Tire Agent visits approved parking lots: at shopping malls, offices, condos, gas stations, etc.  He has a portable tire inflator.  If the car has the Tire Agent Sticker on it (e.g.  "TAS 38 PSI"), he checks/inflates the tires.  Let's see how that might work:  250 M cars in the US.  Do half every year = 125 M.   Each Agent does 20 cars an hour, 6 hrs a day = 30,000 cars/year.  Therefore, we need 4,500 Tire Agents.  Mileage improvement = 3% max, 1% average @ 10,000 miles/year @ 15 mpg @ $ 4/gal = $ 26 savings per car.  Net savings = $ 750,000/year/agent!  Speaking as an engineer, that's a pretty good cost/benefit ratio.  Gas stations won't like it, but how many times have you dropped $ 0.50 into their air machine and only managed to inflate two of your four tires?

  Car Agent    These agents would work at the approved gas stations.  When a car pulls in for gas, the agent offers a FREE performance test.  He hooks up portable exhaust analyzer, and in only 60 seconds, hands the driver a printout:  "You need a tune-up;  you need a new air filter; you need new spark plugs.....If you do this, you can save $ 500 a year in gasoline!".  Let's see:  250 M cars in the US.  Do half every year = 125 M.   Each agent does 10 cars an hour, 6 hrs a day = 15,000 cars/year.  We need 9,000 Car Agents.  Mileage improvement = 40% max, 10% average @ 10,000 miles/year @ 15 mpg @ $ 4/gal = $ 250/car.  Net savings = $ 3.8 M/year/agent!  While the customer pumps his gas, the Car Agent discusses good driving techniques.  Here's one I like:  "Always drive as if you have a raw egg under your foot.  Press lightly on the gas and brake!"  The Agent gives the driver a white plastic egg to hang on his rear-view mirror.

  Business Agent        Visits businesses, especially the large energy users.  Looks over their energy use and recommends improvements.  Once ain't enough.  Visit again to review progress.  Wait six months, go back again for follow up.  The Energy Consultants won't like this one, so the Govmint pays them for their initial visit, and maybe they get a contract to implement the recommendations?  Could cost millions, but would save billions.  

  House Agent    Visits residences.  Examines ways to save.  Has a box of CFL's (only $ 1/each!).  Wan't to cut shower costs in half?  Install a quick on/off valve at the shower head (Agent has several with him ... only $10).  Check out 101 ways to save Energy.  Could cost millions, but would save billions.  
  On More oil can be found in your car than offshore posted 1 year, 3 months ago 8 Responses

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  Govmint

  "We have the best government money can buy."    Will RogersOn Republicans block subpoena of EPA climate document, while Boxer releases choice excerpts posted 1 year, 3 months ago 2 Responses