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Energy for a Future America: Ethanol and Gasohol

Ethanol is one of many alcohols. Specifically it is ethyl alcohol — the same alcohol that is in alcoholic drinks like wine, beer, and whiskey. Commonly made from the fermentation of various grains, it is sometimes called grain alcohol. Ethanol has many chemical and physical properties that make it desirable for industrial uses as a solvent in medicines or fragrances since it is generally not harmful when it contacts the skin or ingested in small quantities.

Ethanol is Easily Produced from Grains or Pure Sugar

The production of ethanol dates back to antiquity. Humans realized that the fermentation of fruits and grains produced substances similar to modern beers and wines which produced a relaxing intoxicating effect.

The modern production of ethanol from corn differs from the ancient method in the ability to concentrate the ethanol to nearly 100%. Modern plants are high-tech moonshine stills that produce a cleaner product in large quantities.

Moonshiners use sugar to produce a reasonably high percentage of alcohol. As a beverage, it is of questionable purity and taste and sometimes deadly due to impurities, but they achieve over 90% ethanol.…

Renewable Energy in Homes and Businesses

Sources of renewable energy, including solar energy, wind energy, and hydropower, are competing in the race to reduce dependence on diminishing fossil fuels and traditional fee-based energy utility services. These increasingly popular energy alternatives can be used independently or in conjunction with existing utility-based energy grids, granting homes and businesses the ability to significantly reduce electricity costs over time and to contribute spare energy to the community via smart-grid technology.

Solar Energy

Solar power is a highly renewable energy source, and is gaining popularity around the world. The ‘photovoltaic effect’ acts to convert sunlight captured in solar panels into direct current (DC) electricity, which can then be converted to alternating current (AC) for use in homes. Solar energy systems are often tied into battery banks to store and use energy during cloudy weather or at night.

The benefits of using solar power in homes and businesses increase in areas with a long daily exposure to the sun, and diminish in areas that experience frequently cloudy weather and long winter seasons. Advances in solar panel technology, however, are making solar energy more affordable than ever, increasing the competitiveness of this alternative energy source.…

Benefits of Solar Energy and the Cost of Solar Panels

Solar energy is one of the cleanest types of renewable resources. Technology that utilizes potential energy from the sun’s rays to produce electricity and heated water has been around for several decades. Despite the numerous benefits involved with harvesting solar power, there are a number of slight limitations with this type of energy. However, consumers are still encouraged to employ residential solar panels, commercial solar panels and other solar devices to help the environment and gain energy independence.

Types of Solar Panels

Solar panels consist of PV (photovoltaic) cells that feature a wafer of silicone that has been dipped in boron solutions and phosphorous solutions on opposite sides. There are three types of solar panels on the market including amorphous cell panels, mono-crystalline cell panels and poly-crystalline cell panels. Solar panel systems are available in many sizes. A system of solar roof panels can be constructed to fit onto almost any rooftop. Solar powered lights do not necessarily need much energy to operate; they often employ smaller, portable solar panels.…

The Real Costs of Energy Generation

As the United States grapples with an unstable economy, energy generation takes on new importance. Over 40 percent of the average American’s carbon footprint is tied to energy, whether it is electricity to cool one’s home or to fuel one’s car.

Because of its significance, it is worthwhile to scrutinize the different forms of energy sources to discover which types deliver an adequate return-on-investment. The answer may surprise you.

Factors Determining the Costs

There are several things to consider when determining the actual cost of energy generation. These factors include start-up costs, lifespan of a particular type and capacity. There are also intangible aspects, such as other environmental or human health impacts. All of these can determine the value of a particular form of energy.…