Sustainable Energy Policies Debated By State Governments

Energy usage has become THE hot issue. As the price for gas and home heating oil climb into the statosphere, lots of folks are praying for relief. Will the government provide that relief? In his recent State of the Union address, President Bush declared that the United States is"addicted to oil." Lots of people thought that signaled a new push by the Bush administration to address the issues of how we're going to keep the lights on and the cars rolling in the 21st century. Unfortuantely, those hopes largely fizzled after the speech when no new initiative or programs were actually put into motion. Many state lawmakers, impatient with the federal government's slow to non-existent response to our "addiction" to oil, have begun to take things into their own hands. State lawmakers, many from so-called Democratic "blue" states, have started passing regulations for power plant and car emissions. They're also requiring some energy to be created by renewable techniques such as wind and solar. Energy efficiency requirements for household appliances are also being discussed. So far, the federal government has been happy to let the state legislatures pick up the slack on environmental concerns. "I don't see anything wrong with the states being involved," commented Senator Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), who is currently chairman of the federal Energy and Natural Resources Committee. While some argue that state regulations will not have an impact nationally on greenhouse gas emissions, others say that if the requirements are enacted in enough states there will be a significant impact. And is looks like states ARE having an impact, even if global warming hasn't come to a screeching halt. Several manufacturers have adopted new nationwide regulations to avoid having to customize products for each state. "If we can't get the federal government to act, then we have to take action in any way we can," said Gina McCarthy, the commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection in Connecticut. Let's just hope all this boils down to better prices for consumers.

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Scams Plague Fuel Customers

The rising price of gasoline has produced a surge of products that promise to provide relief at the gas pump. Unfortunately, most of them are rip-offs! Some are even dangerous, to your health or to your car. In May of 2006, Texas based BioPerformance, Inc., was shut down by the Attorney General for being an illegal pyramid scheme. The company's product, a pill for the gas tank that was supposed to increase gas mileage, was found to be chemically equivalent to mothballs, which are toxic. Even though both company and product were complete frauds, each still drew a large crowd. To promote BioPerformance and suck people into the illegal pyramid scheme (which was disguised as multi-level marketing), the company sponsored big, pep-rally like seminars around the country. At the seminars, people who paid lots of money to have the privilege to sell the little gas pill were encouraged to believe in the product and its ability to make money, despite the fact the BioPerformance bottle had a disclaimer in tiny print: "BioPerformance, Inc., doesn't guarantee anyone any results" To further encouraged people, the president of BioPerformance, a pastor named Llowel Mims, adopted the benevolent position of announcing his goal to make at least 1,000 participants in the BioPerformance company millionaires. Playing on patriotism, the company promoted the pill as "All American" because it is a way to lessen dependence on the Middle Eastern oil countries and help the environment. When it comes down to laboratory tests though, BioPerformance's pill doesn't measure up to the claims. In fact, it has actually been proven to hurt car engines. That's a far cry from the "All American" product celebrated at the seminars. The bottom line in this is that if it's too good to be true and hasn't been backed up by numerous independent studies, than it's probably a scam.

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Hybrids Don't Make Sense Financially

Hybrid vehicles are becoming more and more popular as the cost of gas continues to rise. The problem is, they really are not the best decision financially. Hybrids do provide a benefit to the environment in that they do not use as much gas as a conventional vehicle, but they do not save you money in most cases. Most people that buy hybrids do so for the gas savings. They assume that because they are using less gas that they are saving money. On the surface they are correct. The may be able to stretch a tank of gas out twice as long so they are only going to the gas station half as much but they are still not saving. Let me give you a couple of examples. I am going to use Toyotas to prove my point because they have probably the best made hybrids on the road right now and they also have excellent conventional vehicles as well. Toyota’s best known hybrid is the Prius. A base model Prius sells for $21,725. I chose to use base model prices because I have no way of knowing what each person out there would add for options and how much it would change the prices. Someone buying a Prius is looking to save money on gas so for the comparison I will use the Toyota Corolla. A base model Corolla ranges in price from roughly $14,000-$18,000 depending on the model you chose. So, that is a savings of roughly $3,000 to $7,000. I based the on comparison on 20,000 miles a year put on the vehicle at $3.00 for an average gallon of gas. The reason for these numbers is because anyone that buys a Hybrid vehicle probably has a decent commute and does a lot of driving each year. The Prius averages 60 miles per gallon on the highway and the Corolla averages 38 miles per gallon. Prius: 20,000 miles/ 60 mpg = 333 gallons of gas a year X $3/gallon = $999 in fuel expenses for the year. Corolla: 20,000/38 mpg = 526 gallons of gas X $3 = $1578 in fuel expenses for the year. This makes a difference of $579 in fuel savings per year for the Prius over the Corolla. So, in order to make up the added expense of buying the Prius over the Corolla you need to own the Prius for at least 5.2 years just for the $3000 end of the scale. If you buy the $14,000 Corolla and save $7,000 on the initial purchase you need to keep the Prius for 12 years. This does not include other factors such as what are probably more expensive maintenance and repair costs for the Prius because of the newer technology. Taking a deeper look you can compare the Camry. If you compare the 6 cylinder model to the hybrid it makes sense to buy the hybrid because some of the V6 models are more expensive to purchase than the hybrid in addition to the gas savings. But, anyone looking to buy a Hybrid is probably going to buy a 4 cylinder Camry for the additional gas savings so I will compare those two models. A hybrid Camry costs roughly $25,000 and gets 40 mpg on the highway. The 4 cylinder model costs roughly $18,000 and gets 34 mpg on the highway. So, the savings is roughly $7,000 to buy the 4 cylinder model rather than the hybrid. Hybrid: 20,000 miles/40 mpg = 500 gallons of gas X $3/gallon = $1,500 in fuel expenses for the year. 4 cyl.: 20,000/ 34 mpg = 588 gallons X $3/gallon = $1,764 in fuel expenses for the year. In order to make up the $7,000 extra you spent on your hybrid model you will need to keep your car for 27 years. If you currently own a huge pick up truck then a hybrid probably makes sense. If you are are comparing similar cars, like the ones I discussed in this article, I think the numbers show if you are looking at it from a financial standpoint you need to go with the conventional vehicle. If you are looking at it from an environmental standpoint then obviously the hybrid vehicle is the only decision. If you look at things on a bigger scale then the hybrids are the best choice. If hybrids were garaged in the majority of the households across America then the gas prices would eventually get lower because the oil producing countries would suffer financially. It is the old theory of supply and demand at its best. Right now there is a huge demand for oil and the oil producing countries can basically name their price. If the demand was cut in half then they do not have as much power over their price. Technically they could reduce their production and still command a nice price for the oil they do produce but either way they are making less money.

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Hybrid Cars – Cheap Transportation?

Copyright 2006 Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp. Maybe you want to do your part for the environment. Perhaps, you want a more economical way to travel since gasoline prices are on the rise. Or, you may want to purchase a vehicle that rewards you with federal tax incentives. Regardless of your reason for purchasing a hybrid vehicle, you need to do research and make sure you get the most out of this financial investment. There are many websites which help consumers with the process of purchasing a hybrid vehicle. However, the research itself can still be overwhelming. Therefore, below are some important aspects you should consider. Review Review Review The cost to replace hybrid parts can be extremely expensive. Reviewing your options when considering these costs, can help you quickly eliminate some hybrids off your list. Check the Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) and recalls. Go to edmunds.com and search for the vehicle you have in mind for more information. Warranties If you are purchasing a used hybrid or plan on owning the vehicle longer than the standard warranty, really think about spending the extra bucks on an extended warranty. Because hybrid vehicles are loaded with new technology, the cost to repair them is going to be extremely high. Not to mention the cost of the knowledgeable mechanic working on these vehicles. So, between repair and labor, it may be a wise decision to purchase the extended warranty and have a little peace of mind. Be sure to look into what the manufacturer offers. If you cannot afford to buy the extended warranty at the time of purchase, consider buying it before the standard warranty expires. Compare a Hybrid to a Conventional Car Model: 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid | 2006 Honda Civic Sedan Base Price MSRP: $22,150 | $14,760 Fuel Economy (Average between city and highway) Hybrid: 50 miles per gallon | Sedan:34 miles per gallon If you drive 15k miles annually, how many gallons of gas will you use? Hybrid: 300 gallons | Sedan: 441 gallons If the cost of gas is $2.75 a gallon, how much will you spend annually on gas? Hybrid: $825 | Sedan: $1,212 If you save $387 yearly on gas by driving the hybrid, how long will it take you to make up the difference of the MSRP between the Hybrid (including the $2,000 Federal rebate) and the Sedan? 14 years Is there a tax break for Hybrid owners? How much will I save? Yes, if you are a Honda Civic Hybrid owner, you will receive a $2,100 tax credit from the IRS. Buy That New Car and Control Your Budget Do you still think you need that new car? The chart above is a perfect example where you can buy that new car, get great gas mileage and maintain a budget. The extra money you could save every month for purchasing a conventional car would look great in your savings account. How about?…. Buy That New Car and Control Your Budget Do you still think you need that new car? The chart above is a good illustration of how much one would spend on either a conventional car versus a hybrid, plus the difference in gas mileage. It also shows how a budget will be affected by the purchase of a hybrid. The extra money you could save every month for purchasing a conventional car would look great in your savings account.

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High Gas Prices Inspire Con Artists

The high price of gasoline brings out the worst in some people. It also brings out the gullibility in others. A spate of rip-offs have been uncovered recently, all designed to take advantage of people's desperation to lower their fuel bills. Texas based company BioPerformance, Inc., was shut down in May for being an illegal pyramid scheme and marketing a "magic gas pill" that wasn't magic at all--unless moth balls are magic. Drawing on the desire for cheap gas at a time when gas prices are at record heights, BioPerformance claimed to have a "magic gas pill" that would increase fuel efficiency by 30% and reduce harmful emissions by half. In independent laboratory tests at the University of Texas and a university in Florida, the gas pills were discovered to be nothing but moth balls! Moth balls not only won't improve gas mileage, they can actually hurt your car's engine instead of helping it. Moth balls are also deadly to people, although the Bioperformance bottle claimed the pills were non-toxic. "These claims are bogus," said Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. "The pill does absolutely nothing to improve gas mileage. The company is merely a smokescreen to trigger the recruitment of more and more paying members into what appears to be an illegal pyramid scheme.” Along with promoting a product that is dangerous, BioPerformance was found to be an illegal pyramid scheme masquerading under the disguise of a multi-level marketing company. In legitimate multi-level marketing, profit comes from how much product a person sells; in illegal pyramid schemes, profit comes from recruiting more people into the program. According to the BioPerformance website, at the time the company was shut down, it had 4,500 members in Texas and $25 million in sales. All that was built in just five months, which goes to show how desperate people are to save money at the gas pump. You must be careful, there are very few product on the market today that will help you get better gas mileage. Bioperformance is one of the worst cases and fortunately, they've been put out of business and their owners are in serious legal trouble.

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High Gas Prices Bring Flood Of Bad Products

Title: High Gas Prices Bring Flood Of Bad Products Word Count: 338 Summary: In a world where gas prices are at record heights, there are lying scumbags who will take advantage of your desire to get more miles to the gallon. Lately there have been a flood of products on the market claiming to boost gas mileage, but very few of them actually work. First, there are fuel additives like the Platinum Gas Save and the BioPerformance pill. Neither works, and the BioPerformance pill has been proven to be nothing but moth balls, which are toxic. Then the... Keywords: fuel costs, gas prices, cheap gas, save money on gas Article Body: In a world where gas prices are at record heights, there are lying scumbags who will take advantage of your desire to get more miles to the gallon. Lately there have been a flood of products on the market claiming to boost gas mileage, but very few of them actually work. First, there are fuel additives like the Platinum Gas Save and the BioPerformance pill. Neither works, and the BioPerformance pill has been proven to be nothing but moth balls, which are toxic. Then there are the Fuel Genie and Tornado, which are mounted in the air flow meter of your car. They are supposed to affect the way air is sucked into the car, but have yet to be proven effective in improving mileage. However, altering the air flow of your car can make it overheat, possibly causing permanent damage. There is also the Predator and many similar knock-off products. The predator costs a hefty $400 and reprograms your car to ignite the fuel earlier, which makes the fuel burn longer. Though the initial aim is to increase horsepower, customers have reported getting better gas mileage as a happy side effect. And these products DO work like they say. But, they're risky. When the engine burns less fuel by this method, there is the risk of overheating it. Since the car is using less gas, it doesn't have the ability to cool itself properly. Again, this can cause your engine to overheat and perhaps even ruin it completely. No one want to save a few bucks on gas just to blow their engine! Many mechanics are wary of all these additives and gizmos. "Yeah, you might get a little better gas mileage out of it, but you might have just taken 50,000 miles of life off the motor by trying to do it," said Larry Perry, the Magic Mechanic radio host. The Environmental Protection Agency has been looking for and testing gas-saving products for over thirty years and has found very few that meet its standards. So be careful. In a world where gas prices are at record heights, there are lying scumbags who will take advantage of your desire to get more miles to the gallon. Lately there have been a flood of products on the market claiming to boost gas mileage, but very few of them actually work. First, there are fuel additives like the Platinum Gas Save and the BioPerformance pill. Neither works, and the BioPerformance pill has been proven to be nothing but moth balls, which are toxic. Then there are the Fuel Genie and Tornado, which are mounted in the air flow meter of your car. They are supposed to affect the way air is sucked into the car, but have yet to be proven effective in improving mileage. However, altering the air flow of your car can make it overheat, possibly causing permanent damage. There is also the Predator and many similar knock-off products. The predator costs a hefty $400 and reprograms your car to ignite the fuel earlier, which makes the fuel burn longer. Though the initial aim is to increase horsepower, customers have reported getting better gas mileage as a happy side effect. And these products DO work like they say. But, they're risky. When the engine burns less fuel by this method, there is the risk of overheating it. Since the car is using less gas, it doesn't have the ability to cool itself properly. Again, this can cause your engine to overheat and perhaps even ruin it completely. No one want to save a few bucks on gas just to blow their engine! Many mechanics are wary of all these additives and gizmos. "Yeah, you might get a little better gas mileage out of it, but you might have just taken 50,000 miles of life off the motor by trying to do it," said Larry Perry, the Magic Mechanic radio host. The Environmental Protection Agency has been looking for and testing gas-saving products for over thirty years and has found very few that meet its standards. So be careful.

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High Fuel Cost And What It Means To Our Everyday Lives

According to our recent poll, the rising cost of fuel has caused many families and individuals to restrain from driving habits that we've been so accustomed to. Before the fuel cost skyrocketed we wouldn't think twice about hopping in our car for a 50 or 60-mile trip, perhaps to a zoo or other recreational area for a leisurely Sunday outing with our families. But by the statements of those who responded to our poll, it appears that these leisurely drives are being limited or in some cases, families are simply staying home more. In order to combat his high fuel expense, M. Cooper from Saint Louis Mo, a consultant that drives 20,000 mile plus per year recently traded in his Ford Taurus for a new Honda Civic that gets 41mpg. Another consumer stated the fuel prices have drastically changed their life style, they've quit going out to dinner, going to the movies and even cancelled their vacation plans. What once cost him 42.00 to fill up his truck, now cost $110.00. We have a lot less money than we did before this all started. We've drastically reduced the amount of driving, only when necessary and have attempted to combine trips, we do not do any extra driving unless it is for school or work, so we stay home much more and do not have extra money NOW! Matt Downer from Downers Grove, Illinois seems to have at lease somewhat of a positive spin on the situation. I've become a lot more in shape because I walk everywhere or bike, I think it's a blessing in disguise, America is the most obese country in the world and maybe this will slim it down a bit, also a lot fewer fuel emissions if people don't drive the earth won't die. What ever your thoughts and opinions are for the recent climb in prices, I think it's clear that until the prices come down, the majority of the everyday working class people will be forced to continue to deprive themselves of even the most basic luxuries. While we can't control the price per gallon, we can at least follow a few basic guidelines and reduce our cost, albeit a minimum amount, but at $3.00 per gallon, even a minimum amount will help our pocketbooks. Listed below are UsedCarWise.Com's Top 10 tips for increasing your fuel mileage. 1. Set the tire pressure to the recommend psi as per the tire placard or label of your vehicle. (Always adjust tire pressure with cold tires) 2. Avoid excessive idling times, such as warming your car up in the mornings (It serves no purpose anyway) 3. Instead of going thru the drive thru at fast food chains, go inside to order. This will of course avoid excess idling while in line. 4. Remove any excessive weight from the trunk or bed of your truck (This doesn't include over weight spouses either) 5. Remove luggage racks for aerodynamic reasons. 6. Make sure the steering and suspension system end is aligned properly, a mis-aligned steering system will cause excessive drag and reduce fuel mileage. 7. Use Cruise Control while driving at highway speeds. 8. Reduce your speed by 5mph, this may be the biggest saver of all, and if you think about it, 5mph will not get you to your destination much quicker. (Just be prepared for 1 finger hello's and horn honkers) 9. Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained, especially the air filter. If your check engine light is on, have it corrected as soon as possible, it could be a defective sensor or other mechanical fault that will severely impact fuel mileage. Always use the proper grade of engine oil as well, the wrong grade can impact fuel mileage by 1% or more. 10. Avoid jackrabbit starts and aggressive driving habits. While the above tips may not be new, they certainly bear not just repeating, but adhering to as well. And with the cost of fuel at record highs, we need all the help we can muster.

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Gas Mileage Savers

Gas mileage savers can be defined as anything that helps you save money on gas. As many of you know, the price of gas is going up and there is no end in site. In this article, you will learn about some gas mileage savers that will certainly help you save money.

There are many simple ways to save money on gas. The first is to plan your driving ahead of time. By planning ahead, you can combine multiple trips and tasks into one. For example, plan to go to the grocery store or pharmacy before picking the kids up from school or on the way home from work. Try to carpool with co-workers as often as possible. The more people in your carpool, the more money you will save. These gas mileage savers are sure to save you time and money.

Another way to save money at the pump is to watch the way you drive. Do you start and stop quickly between intersections? Accelerating quickly and braking hard both use more gas than accelerating smoothly and coasting between lights at intersections. Though we can't control the traffic lights, we can control how we drive between them. This is a great tip for city driving that will improve your fuel consumption.

On the highway, you can improve your gas mileage as well. Using the cruise control and staying within the speed-limit will cut down on your fuel consumption. Cruise control helps you maintain a more constant speed than you can do yourself, which translates to better mileage. On long drives, cruise control is the key to better fuel efficiency. But what about the speed limit? While the speed limit is for your safety, it is also one of the lesser known gas mileage savers. The faster you drive, the harder your car has to work. After about 65 MPH, the efficiency of your car begins to drop drastically. So, keeping your speed in check will keep your gas bill under control too.

Maintaining your car and keeping your car free of excess clutter are two more gas mileage savers to be aware of. By keeping up with the regular maintenance of your car, you'll keep it running efficiently, which means burning less gas. Things to keep an eye on, either by you or a professional, include properly inflated tires, a clean air filter, and regular oil changes and tune-ups. Improperly inflated tires can reduce your fuel efficiency, as can clogged air filters. A clean running, properly maintained engine will be more efficient. Removing excess clutter from your car can also help your mileage. Extra weight in the trunk or bed of your truck or SUV means more gas being burned during everyday driving.

Another gas mileage savers option is to drive a more fuel efficient car. Hybrid cars, cars that run on battery and regular petroleum, can help you save money at the pump too. By using various energy saving techniques, such as cutting the gas engine when the car is idle and using an energy return system when the car is braking, reduce the amount of gasoline used. If a hybrid car is not your thing, you can also try a diesel car, or simply a smaller car. Smaller cars weight less and typically have smaller engines than trucks and SUV's. If hauling a big load around is not a typical daily task for you, then, a smaller sedan or coupe will save you big bucks in gas. Diesel engines, too, get very good gas mileage. It is not atypical for a diesel engine to get more than 40 miles per gallon. So, the next time you're deciding which car to drive or buy, remember these gas mileage savers!

Americans have always loved driving their cars, but with gas prices the way they are, driving is not as cheap as it used to be. Remembering the gas mileage savers in this article will help you drive around without breaking the bank. Find other similar articles
at http://www.gasmileageworld.com.

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Gas

In the U.S., gas is the short form of gasoline, while in many Commonwealth countries, it is known as petrol. Gas is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture that consists of hydrocarbons and is used as a fuel in internal combustion engines.

There are different types of gasoline in the fuel industry. Small aircrafts use specially formulated, high-octane aviation gasoline, which cannot be used for ground vehicles. Vehicles involved in racing use specially formulated racing gasoline that has very low levels of benzene and an anti-knock index of at least 100. Gasoline used for scientific research has unusual properties, which depend on the nature of the research. Cars with gasoline engines use E85 gasoline that is a blend of 85% fuel ethanol and 15% gasoline. The reason gasoline is added here is to provide a good start and warm up performance to the car, which is possible because of ethanol’s low volatility.

The diesel engine cars or cars with compression ignition engines use E95 gasoline that is a blend of 95% fuel ethanol and 5% gasoline. No more than 5% gasoline should be added because this may lower the flash point to unacceptable levels. E85 cannot be used in diesel applications, and neither can E95 be used in gasoline engines because of the different types of engines.

It is always better to buy gas during the coolest times of the day, like early morning or late evening as this is when gas is found at its densest. Gas pumps measure according to volume of gasoline and not density of fuel concentration, so you have an advantage here. It is better not to fill your gas tank to the top as overfilling results in the sloshing over of the gasoline out of the tank. Gas has to be chosen wisely for use in vehicles because some brands have greater economy due to its better quality. It is always better to use brands that seem to be beneficial. To save gas, it is better to avoid too much warming up of the engine, even on cold mornings. About thirty or forty-five seconds of warming up is more than enough. Avoid unnecessary starting and stopping of the engine. You use the same amount of gas here as you would in idling the engine for one minute. Use gas wisely, as it is an unrenewable fuel source that will always be needed by mankind.

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