Electric cars are getting lots of press, but can energy created by electric generators truly provide a solution for America’s energy deficit? Let’s look at the losses incurred en route to your electric meter:

According to General Electric, the newest Liquified Natural Gas generators are about 60% efficient. From ground to boiler, natural gas is 95% efficient, while the average electrical grid carrying power from plant to your home is 92% efficient.

Multiplied out, total efficiency for the most modern electrical power plant comes to about 52%. There is disagreement as to the average electrical plant efficiency, but it should lie somewhere between 35 and 50%. At best, half of the energy contained in the natural gas is available at your electric meter.

Chevy Volt - Image courtesy of Chevrolet

Is this an indictment against coal-fired generation of electricity? Not necessarily. The United States has more coal reserves than any other country by far. Coal-fired plants can be built quickly, and smokestack catalysts reduce emissions to manageable levels. Like it or not, in the short-term, coal is the only fuel available in quantities that are sufficient to significantly reduce America’s reliance on imported energy, and using the increased electrical capacity provided by coal to drive electric vehicles adds symmetry by eliminating emissions at the street level.

While coal-fueled electricity may not a desirable long-term solution to America’s energy problem, it may prove to be a very effective in getting the United States through the transition from oil to other fuel sources.

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Data sources:

http://www.babcockpower.com/pdf/rst-163.pdf

http://www.gepower.com/prod_serv/serv_for/gas_steam_turbines/en/index.htm

Most window films contain metal which reflects light and reduces visibility.  The Prestige line of window films from 3M contain no metal, yet are very effective in blocking UV rays and solar energy.  An absence of metal also means no corrosion or loss of cell phone signal.

Image courtesy of 3M

There are several things to consider before applying window films.  First, understand your climate and the orientation of your house or apartment.  If you live in a cold climate, apply film on the inside of northern and eastern-facing windows to keep heat in.  In warmer climates, apply film to southern and western-facing glass as a barrier against heat.

Besides saving on utility bills, 3M films reduce fading to interior furnishings, wall, and floor coverings by virtually eliminating UV rays.  And while heavy tint can actually lower your home’s value, 3M Prestige line of films are available either modestly tinted or clear.

3M window films lower energy consumption and saves money.  What’s not to like?

When it comes to utility bills, you don’t have to spend a lot to save a lot. The Hunter Fan Company has been in the business of keeping folks comfortable since 1886, and their line of fans and programmable thermostats can help reduce energy costs regardless of the season. In the summer, properly sized ceiling fans can allow you to raise the thermostat 4 to 5 degrees with no loss of comfort. In fall and spring, the combination of fans and cross-ventilation may allow you to turn off air conditioning completely. When it gets cold, reverse the blade rotation to push the hot air down from the ceiling. Because the room temperature is more equal, you can lower the thermostat 2 to 4 degrees. This is especially effective in rooms with tall ceilings.

Image courtesy of Hunter Fan

Replacing a manual thermostat with a programmable model allows you to heat and cool intelligently. Program each day of the week based on your schedule to avoid climatizing an empty home, and enjoy the immediate benefits provided by lower utility bills.

America’s move from trucks and SUV’s to cars has begun, but there are several reasons why the transition to quality smaller cars will be slow. The decline of the Dollar vs. the Euro and other foreign currencies has made exporting to the US less profitable and less attractive for foreign manufacturers. Rather than benefiting from new technologies, the American consumer is stuck with chassis and powertrains that have been available for years or even decades. To make matters worse, the US consumer has resisted the move to downsize by preferring cars with better visibility, automatic transmissions, more power, and copious cup holders.

Toyota IQ - Image courtesy of Toyota UK

Let’s take a look at Toyota’s successful RAV4. The US version comes equipped with a 3.5 liter V6 or 2.5 liter 4 cylinder gas engine with automatic transmission. In the UK, engine options are 2 liter gas with standard or automatic transmission and 2.2 liter diesel with standard transmission. After converting to US gallons, The UK RAVs combined fuel economies are 25.5mpg for the 2 liter gas engine and 32.5mpg for the diesel option, exceeding anything available in the States. Unfortunately, until the dollar recovers, Toyota has little incentive to make the more costly European and Asian engines available in the US.

Some models such as Toyota’s Aygo and soon to be released IQ are not for sale in the US. Sporting a 1 liter 3 cylinder engine good for 48mpg combined fuel economy, the Aygo would make a perfect commuter car here in the States. But sadly, there are no official plans to make the Aygo or IQ available to the US market.