US oil consumption

Mitch_4

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/invest/extra/P113797.asp?GT1=6359

He actually has a plan to eliminate oil use by 2050.

Intersting ideas. Woiuld be a good thing I'm thinking. Still have oil heat, but environmentally friendly.

Constantin

... is it oil or the energy footprint that is the issue?

... how we will reduce our energy footprint in general or how we can tap into new forms of energy that allow us to continue our gluttenous consumption w/o issues (i.e. commercial fusion reactors).

The US has huge improvement potential at low cost... higher energy prices are likely to drive businesses and residential construction jobs alike to better energy efficiency... hopefully.

PJO_6

I couldn't agree more...

Just imagine if we had "stayed the course" from the early 80's...

This guy was so far ahead of his time, and I STILL haven't heard the word "conserve" spoken much with respect to energy...both locally and nation-wide.

Take Care, PJO

Mitch_4

My understanding is

that his primary focus is to reduce the USA's dependance on foreign oil, from an ecology point of vue, fossil fuels will not be here forever. But he advocates conservationalism as well.

I do not see why high powered, large vehicles using alternative energy or propulsion cannot be acheived. Poly carbon body.aluminum framing, fuel cells that use H2O.

I drove a proto-type electric scooter once..it flew. Biggest diff was there was no engine noise. Electrics can provide mountains of torque. There just has to the desire to devellope it.

Time for a new industrial revolution. Reduce enrgy consumption and reliance on foreign imports, and export the technology for job creation.

Its a beautiful thing all around..

Mike T., Swampeast MO

You won't hear "conserve" when the person who truly directs national energy policy says that change is "non-negotiable".

Hummers forever!

Steamhead

Sounds like it would work

and who better than us Wallsters to be involved? We are at the forefront of energy conservation. The author mentions transportation as the biggest use of oil, but heating can't be far behind.

In another thread I talk about one customer whose oil consumption we were able to cut by 35%. That's a bit more than a third. And it didn't take that much effort- all we had to do was get the basics right. We didn't even replace the boiler on that job.

Imagine how much less fuel we'd use if all the basics were right......

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bob_44

Oil

I read the other day that only 8% of US homes are heated with oil.

Darin Cook_3

Energy consumption can be greatly reduced by all of us


Even if transportation is the biggest consumer of energy that does not cut the second biggest ( heating/cooling/hot water ) out of the picture and what we can do about it. Just by going in and sizing equipment properly we can cut huge chunks out of someone's bill. Then if we use high efficiency equipment it is even more. If we want to involve ourselves in the shell of the home and guide a customer to proper insulating practices and air sealing. That makes a huge difference in energy consumption. Why wait to play clean-up? If you can get the BTU losses of a home lower before you walk in the house that means you get to carry a lighter boiler in. Take some building sciences classes, it was a mind blower to me. I have worked in the trade all of my adult life but did not really know what was going on in those homes which affected my installs. There are so many ways to reduce home energy consumption. Get yourself involved, get yourself educated, and start saving some energy. Carpe Diem!!!








Darin

Larry Weingarten

About education..

Affordable Comfort has a conference coming up. http://www.affordablecomfort.org/index.php It's a good way to get up to speed fast about energy in buildings. Might even learn something about water heaters! ;~)

Yours, Larry