Archive for October, 2006
Tuesday, October 24th, 2006
General Motors Goes Solar, with Some Help from Some Friends.
The idea of solar power holds spectacular promise. The Sun is, after all, the Sun. However, for most people, or corporations, the startup costs of installing a solar power system outweigh the financial return. It will take years to recoup the cost of putting up solar panels. However, if incentives are available to help consumers [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Solar by Pete Lauf
Friday, October 20th, 2006
On Wilderness and Children
If you look out the first small window in the front bedroom of our house, you can catch glimpses of Mount Si and the foothills of the Cascade Range between the houses across the street. It is an odd view, similar to looking out at the Grand Canyon through missing boards on a fence. But [...]
No Comments » - Posted in General by Pete Lauf
Thursday, October 19th, 2006
EPA/DOE Fuel Efficiency Ratings Posted: For Best AND Worst
The Toyota Prius was postd as the overall most fuel-efficient car by the EPA/DOE, but the most fun is to look at the lists of the vehicles with the worst mileage. Admitedly, if you are buying a Lamborghini you probably don’t care about efficiency, the environment, or spending money on something so trivial as gas, [...]
No Comments » - Posted in General by Mark
Wednesday, October 18th, 2006
The Missing Link in the Smart Growth Chain
Snoqualmie (C’mon, say it with me: Snow kwal me) is a typical small town in Western Washington. Typical means it has two distinct faces. Old Snoqualmie has an intact downtown and a railway museum with real live trains. Thomas the Tank Engine visits in the summer. In the new portion of [...]
No Comments » - Posted in General by Pete Lauf
Wednesday, October 11th, 2006
Biobutanol is the Next Big Thing in Renewable Energy
As excited as I am about Biodiesel and SVO (Straight Vegetable Oil) as fuel for vehicles, I don’t have a diesel car and don’t see one in my near future. If you are like me there is new hope: Biobutanol.
Biobutanol is a form of alcohol that can replace gasoline. It is similar to [...]
