Camden Central High School
Camden, Tennessee
Teacher: Wanda Allen
Time for Change: Start Saving?
By Sascha Hayes
12th Grade
Alternative fuels. Gasoline is so expensive these days. Gas is currently $2.55 per gallon. The vehicle I drive is a gas-guzzler. It is hard to afford $40 a week for gas. Prices are steadily increasing. Sometimes in order to buy gas at a decent price, one would have to drive a pretty good distance. One would consider almost any…option as opposed to paying for high priced gasoline. I feel sorry for those people who drive trucks that take over $70 to fill up and [with the gas] only lasting a week. Gas prices are ridiculous. Before we know it gas will be four or five dollars a gallon. Many Americans might have decent and /or well-paying jobs but no one will absolutely like the idea of paying such prices. So what do we, as Americans, decide to do? We look for alternatives.
There are many different types of alternatives [to] gasoline. One replacement is ethanol. It runs in many cars today and could replace gas in a generation. More than five million vehicles are equipped with engines that run an alternative energy source. The emissions [are not responsible for] global warming. Burning ethanol reduces carbon emissions by more than 80 percent. It also entirely eliminates the release of acid-rain-causing sulfur dioxide. This sounds like a new revolutionary alternative but ethanol has been used before. Henry Ford used it for his Model T.
Hydrogen might be another alternative. Switching to hydrogen is expensive. It would cost a trillion dollars. Such a transformation would involve new production and distribution systems, new fuel stations, and new cars. On the other hand, today’s existing gas stations can handle a mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent…E85.
… Natural gas, which can be used directly or converted to methanol, is likely to outlast petroleum. Coal can be altered into a liquid automotive fuel. Potentially important non-fossil replacements include both biofuels, and nuclear and solar electricity. Electricity can either power battery-electric vehicles or be used to produce electrolytic hydrogen for combustion engines or fuel cells. … battery-electric vehicles are not necessarily pollution-free on regional and global scales, fuel cells for automotive use are still awaiting further development, and the timing for these many options to impact the automotive field depends on evolving technology and economics, and may be further influenced by government policy
Ethanol has proven itself to be efficient in one economy. Nearly three-fourths of new cars in Brazil can burn either ethanol or gasoline. [That] nation has moved away from imported oil. [But] only 587 of the 170,000 service stations in the United States sell E85. Some GM vehicles are bearing yellow gas caps in order to draw attention to…E85-ready vehicles.
The biggest [attraction] of cars like the Prius and Civic Hybrid is apparently their fuel economy. Also, the driving experience can be much quieter as the engine is not burning gas continuously. The [drawbacks] are basically twofold. First, hybrids generally have lower horsepower than comparable cars. The Civic hybrid has 93 hp, while the regular Civic coupe has 117 hp. Second, hybrids usually have a small (~$500) price premium over comparable models. Some people also find the driving experience to be disconcerting, as they are not used to the engine seemingly "turning off" while stopped.
There are many positive aspects to alternative fuels. Hybrid cars produce no co-2 or air pollutants. The only by products are heat and water. Honda claims that its compressed natural gas car is cheaper to run and is much cleaner. In the late 90’s Honda had a successful Dream car. The car was solar powered. It was truly the ticket to the environmental lobby. A solar powered car would be clean and green. Biodiesel is made from vegetable oils and animal fats. Biodiesel vehicles release less greenhouse gas. Volvo produced cars, which use both conventional fuel and liquefied petroleum gas. It gives a similar performance to petrol engines. Many cars could be easily converted. The electrical car is regarded as practical for getting around a busy city where you barely…get to drive faster than 40 miles per hour.
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 offers federal tax credits beginning January 2006 for [the] purchase of fuel-efficient hybrid–electric vehicles and energy-efficient appliances and products. Buying and driving a fuel-efficient vehicle provides many benefits [including] better gas mileage. Purchasing and installing energy-efficient appliances and products provide lower energy bills and increased indoor comfort. Some individuals will be eligible for utility or state rebates as well as state tax incentives for energy-efficient homes, vehicles, and equipment.
The general idea is to save and cut back. You can save money, mileage, time, and the environment. You will be able to cut back on energy used and consumed. When I think of alternative fuels and energy-efficient products, I think of the outstanding advantages and how we could benefit from them. How about you? Are you willing to save?
Answers To Questions
Q1- Gassohol is a byproduct exclusively from _________ and _________ whereas cellulosic ethanol can be produced from agricultural waste such as ___________, ___________ and ____________.
A1- corn and sugar cane; prairie switchgrass, wood chips and corn husks.
Q2- Why did auto makers produce cars that could operate using ethanol as well as gasoline before there was an adequate number of service stations that could provide ethanol?
A2- to get a break from fuel economy standards.
Q3- When were the first cars produced that were capable of using ethanol?
A3- when Henry Ford created the Model T.
Q4- In a paragraph, describe Brazil’s experience with ethanol. What did the Fortune article claim was Brazil’s key to success?
A4- Brazil’s geography is perfect for growing sugar cane which is the most energy-rich ethanol feedstock known to science. For Brazil’s 16.5 million drivers there is ready access at nearly all 34,000 gas stations. Consumers loved flex-fuel because they didn’t have to choose between ethanol or gas models. With Brazilian ethanol selling for 45% less per liter than gasoline in 2003 and 2004, flex-fuel cars caught on like iPods. Consumers choose ethanol rather than being forced to buy it is Brazil’s key to success.
Q5- What is the significance of a yellow gas cap?
A5- to draw attention to E85 and its E85-ready cars and trucks
Q6- Describe bio-diesel.
A6- cleaner-burning diesel fuel made from natural, renewable sources such as vegetable oils.
Q7- Explain the term “flex-fuel engine”. What American auto manufacturer introduced the first prototype of a flex-fuel engine?
A7- Engines that let the drivers switch between ethanol and gasoline. Henry Ford introduced the first prototype.
Q8- Trace the progress of H.R. 6 for viewers to our web site. (dates introduced, amended, pass or rejected) http://www.eei.org/industry_issues/electricity_policy/federal_legislation/index.htm
A8- On august 8, 2005, President Bush signed into law H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2005. EEI’s August 8 and July 29 news releases enact upon H.R. 6. Also, on October 25 and 26 EEI sponsored a conference for implementing the new Energy Policy Act.
Q9- What is the purpose of the fuel hybrid vehicle commercialization initiative?
A9- to improve technologies for the commercialization of hybrid/flexible fuel vehicles. The program is intended to reduce petroleum consumption by bringing new clean technologies to the market faster.
Q10- What is the nation's largest renewable energy resource?
A10- coal
Q11- What is the purpose of the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative?
A11- to develop the technology to produce, store, and distribute hydrogen for use in full-cell vehicles.
Q12- List seven items mentioned in the 2005 energy tax bill that taxpayers can claim as credits against their tax bills.
A12- 1.)Efficiency and conservation tax credits encourage the construction of energy-efficient offices and homes, the purchase of energy efficient heating and cooling systems and appliances. 2.) Expands an existing business solar investment tax credit from the current 10 percent to 30 percent for the purchase of solar equipment. 3.) A tax deduction equaling the cost of energy efficient equipment installed if the equipment reduces the energy and power consumption of a commercial building by 50 percent. 4.) Tax credits for the contractors of new energy efficient homes if the homes achieve an energy savings of 50 percent or more over the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code. 5.) Tax credits for the purchase of water heaters, heat pumps, air conditioners, furnaces and other equipment that achieve certain efficiency levels when purchased for residential properties. 6.) A new tax credit for manufacturers who produce highly energy-efficient dishwashers, clothes washers and refrigerators. 7.) 30 percent tax credit for the purchase of solar, photovoltaic and fuel cell properties for use in residences
www.answerbag.com/c_view.php/1074 -very informative
www.csa.com/partners/viewrecord.php -somewhat informative