Archive for September, 2008
What is America really going to do about these gas prices?
Nicole asked:
Seriously, isn’t it eventually going to get to the point where our entire economy will just fall apart if gas prices keep rising the way they are? What is the future plan? I worry every time I have to hit the pump and it takes out a huge chunk of my paycheck. Some people probably can’t even afford to drive to work any more! And now these insane fees for luggage on airlines. I know I’m not the only one hurting. When will the madness end and how?
Seriously, isn’t it eventually going to get to the point where our entire economy will just fall apart if gas prices keep rising the way they are? What is the future plan? I worry every time I have to hit the pump and it takes out a huge chunk of my paycheck. Some people probably can’t even afford to drive to work any more! And now these insane fees for luggage on airlines. I know I’m not the only one hurting. When will the madness end and how?
Rising Gas Prices-why
Paul Aitchison asked:
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Have you heard of the latest craze to get the best gas mileage from your car or truck, its called “Hypermiling”? To be a hypermiler involves the use of any tip or trick, (and sometimes even a complete change in driving style) to squeeze every last MPG out of your vehicle. And not surprisingly with the ever-increasing gas prices, it’s catching on in a big way. Hpermilers have certainly been the subject of discussion in car and driver forums across the Internet, and they have had a fair amount of publicity in the media. So is this Hypermiling a new idea to get gas mileage improvements, or is it just a re-hash of all the old tricks for saving on gas we have all heard before.
There could be a relatively simple answer to the problem of rising gas prices. Apparently there is a way to supplement gas-powered cars using a fuel known as browns gas. As I understand it browns gas is basically hydrogen and is created by using water and electricity. The reaction for anyone interested is 2H2O + electricity = 2H + 2O. The browns gas is then mixed with the gasoline in your engine to greatly improve efficiency. The electricity apparently can come from the battery of your car. I don’t understand all the technical details but it has gotten me very interested and should many others. Apparently any car can be converted to burn both fuels. If everyone had their vehicle converted to be able to burn browns gas along with gasoline the resulting increase in fuel efficiency would mean less demand on oil and the price of oil and gasoline would drop. And since converted vehicles would also burn less gasoline the savings everyone’s fuel costs would plummet. An additional benefit would be cleaner burning cars since browns gas only produces water as a product of combustion. I’m not sure about the costs of actually having cars converted. To me the environmental benefits along with the long-term savings would be worth it even if it were expensive to convert my own car.
First, gas mileage improves. Adding hydrogen to the mix means that less gas is required, and so the gasoline lasts longer. The gains that have been reported generally range from 50% to 100%, with some individuals reporting as much as a 250% increase. The supplemental system is quite inexpensive; therefore it will not cut into your savings. Second, burning regular gasoline produces many pollutants. Burning Brown’s gas produces just water and oxygen.
That means that the vehicle’s emissions are diluted by the Brown’s gas, and overall the car produces fewer pollutants too. The system will keep your engine cleaner by reducing the amount of dirty petroleum products moving through it. Because cars that run on water are environmentally friendly, there may be tax breaks for you at the local, state, or federal level. You can save yourself money while feeling good about what you are doing for the environment by using a water-to-gas conversion system. For a relatively small investment, you will see years of financial returns and a real boost to your environment!
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Have you heard of the latest craze to get the best gas mileage from your car or truck, its called “Hypermiling”? To be a hypermiler involves the use of any tip or trick, (and sometimes even a complete change in driving style) to squeeze every last MPG out of your vehicle. And not surprisingly with the ever-increasing gas prices, it’s catching on in a big way. Hpermilers have certainly been the subject of discussion in car and driver forums across the Internet, and they have had a fair amount of publicity in the media. So is this Hypermiling a new idea to get gas mileage improvements, or is it just a re-hash of all the old tricks for saving on gas we have all heard before.
There could be a relatively simple answer to the problem of rising gas prices. Apparently there is a way to supplement gas-powered cars using a fuel known as browns gas. As I understand it browns gas is basically hydrogen and is created by using water and electricity. The reaction for anyone interested is 2H2O + electricity = 2H + 2O. The browns gas is then mixed with the gasoline in your engine to greatly improve efficiency. The electricity apparently can come from the battery of your car. I don’t understand all the technical details but it has gotten me very interested and should many others. Apparently any car can be converted to burn both fuels. If everyone had their vehicle converted to be able to burn browns gas along with gasoline the resulting increase in fuel efficiency would mean less demand on oil and the price of oil and gasoline would drop. And since converted vehicles would also burn less gasoline the savings everyone’s fuel costs would plummet. An additional benefit would be cleaner burning cars since browns gas only produces water as a product of combustion. I’m not sure about the costs of actually having cars converted. To me the environmental benefits along with the long-term savings would be worth it even if it were expensive to convert my own car.
First, gas mileage improves. Adding hydrogen to the mix means that less gas is required, and so the gasoline lasts longer. The gains that have been reported generally range from 50% to 100%, with some individuals reporting as much as a 250% increase. The supplemental system is quite inexpensive; therefore it will not cut into your savings. Second, burning regular gasoline produces many pollutants. Burning Brown’s gas produces just water and oxygen.
That means that the vehicle’s emissions are diluted by the Brown’s gas, and overall the car produces fewer pollutants too. The system will keep your engine cleaner by reducing the amount of dirty petroleum products moving through it. Because cars that run on water are environmentally friendly, there may be tax breaks for you at the local, state, or federal level. You can save yourself money while feeling good about what you are doing for the environment by using a water-to-gas conversion system. For a relatively small investment, you will see years of financial returns and a real boost to your environment!
The People Want to Know Why are Gas Prices so High
Steven Magill asked:
(c) 2008 Steven Magill
Every day it seems as though the price for a barrel of crude oil climbs ever higher. The people of the United States have every right to ask, “Why are gas prices so high?” There are many factors involved in the answer to that question.
It is said that in the United States that over 140 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel are consumed each year. That is a lot of oil and reserves cannot keep up with this type of demand. That is only what the U.S. uses and if you figure in what other nations consume, the picture becomes even bleaker.
The Demand for Oil is Increasing
Supply and demand affects all areas of commerce and in the fuel industry this is true as well. More countries are becoming developed and the need for oil is rising everyday. China is fast catching up with the United States and is thought to be well on her way to surpassing it. It is thought by some economic experts that the United States along with other industrialized nations will need as much as 140 billion gallons of oil on a daily basis.
Supply Problems and Geopolitics
The main region where most nations get their supply of oil is the Middle East. This is a region that is known for its instability and often the flow of oil is interrupted because of warring factions. As we try to negotiate with Iran over their desire for nuclear weapons, they are holding their oil supply as hostage. The war in Iraq has further depleted the export of oil from the economy as has the rebel activity in Nigeria.
The refinement process of crude oil in the United States is also one of the reasons why gas prices are so high. The reasoning behind this shift in expense is because the congressional elements seek to create cleaner blends of fuels that target the safety of the environment. The last few years have seen some damaging hurricanes hit the Gulf Coast and this too adds to the reasons of why gas prices are so high.
The areas of drilling for crude oil in the United States have also seen a decrease in production and in some cases a complete drying up of the oil resource. Oil companies are having to find crude oil supplies in locations that are much harder to reach which in turn makes looking for oil supplies a more expensive venture.
There is not just a single reason of why gas prices are so high, there are many. That is why more money should be funneled into the research and development of alternative fuel sources. The people of the U.S. should hang up their big SUV keys and look to smaller, more fuel efficient cars that will save them money by having to put less fuel in their tanks.
There are many ways that an average family can save on gas and many of them are quite easily implemented. Doing your part to save the precious resource of crude oil should be on the top of everyone’s list no matter where in the world you live.
(c) 2008 Steven Magill
Every day it seems as though the price for a barrel of crude oil climbs ever higher. The people of the United States have every right to ask, “Why are gas prices so high?” There are many factors involved in the answer to that question.
It is said that in the United States that over 140 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel are consumed each year. That is a lot of oil and reserves cannot keep up with this type of demand. That is only what the U.S. uses and if you figure in what other nations consume, the picture becomes even bleaker.
The Demand for Oil is Increasing
Supply and demand affects all areas of commerce and in the fuel industry this is true as well. More countries are becoming developed and the need for oil is rising everyday. China is fast catching up with the United States and is thought to be well on her way to surpassing it. It is thought by some economic experts that the United States along with other industrialized nations will need as much as 140 billion gallons of oil on a daily basis.
Supply Problems and Geopolitics
The main region where most nations get their supply of oil is the Middle East. This is a region that is known for its instability and often the flow of oil is interrupted because of warring factions. As we try to negotiate with Iran over their desire for nuclear weapons, they are holding their oil supply as hostage. The war in Iraq has further depleted the export of oil from the economy as has the rebel activity in Nigeria.
The refinement process of crude oil in the United States is also one of the reasons why gas prices are so high. The reasoning behind this shift in expense is because the congressional elements seek to create cleaner blends of fuels that target the safety of the environment. The last few years have seen some damaging hurricanes hit the Gulf Coast and this too adds to the reasons of why gas prices are so high.
The areas of drilling for crude oil in the United States have also seen a decrease in production and in some cases a complete drying up of the oil resource. Oil companies are having to find crude oil supplies in locations that are much harder to reach which in turn makes looking for oil supplies a more expensive venture.
There is not just a single reason of why gas prices are so high, there are many. That is why more money should be funneled into the research and development of alternative fuel sources. The people of the U.S. should hang up their big SUV keys and look to smaller, more fuel efficient cars that will save them money by having to put less fuel in their tanks.
There are many ways that an average family can save on gas and many of them are quite easily implemented. Doing your part to save the precious resource of crude oil should be on the top of everyone’s list no matter where in the world you live.
How much natural gas/crude oil is required to generate 1 KW of electricity?
Vincent asked:
I am comparing the costs of generating electricity from crude oil and natural gas.
I am comparing the costs of generating electricity from crude oil and natural gas.
I would like to know:
1. How much natural gas is required to generate 1 KW of electricity?
2. How much crude oil is required to generate 1 KW of electricity?
My government just increased the electricity bills by 21% citing increasing oil futures prices as the justification to do that. However, Singapore generated about 80% of its electricity from natural gas and not crude oil! I think this is a rip off.
How much is average gas prices in other countries?
Martin P asked:
Gas prices here in America have just reached an average of $4 a gallon. How much is gas (liter or gallon) in other countries? Are Americans paying a greater price for gas than the rest of the world?
Gas prices here in America have just reached an average of $4 a gallon. How much is gas (liter or gallon) in other countries? Are Americans paying a greater price for gas than the rest of the world?
High Gas Prices – Ways To Try And Get Cheaper Gas
Allen Reed asked:
If you live any where in the world right now, the price of oil has risen dramatically over the last few months, which in turn has created a massive spike in the price of gas prices. Everywhere you turn, people are talking about how the price of gas is affecting lives and they want cheap gas or at least cheaper gas.
For a person who was just making it by financially just months ago, the price increase in gas may impact their ability just to meet their basic needs, possibly even the needs of their families. It costs more to commute to work, take kids to practices, even going away on a weekend trip is now something one has to carefully justify.
There are few things that one can do to control the price of gas. One of the important ways we as consumers can ensure all is being done to keep gas prices in check, is to contact our government officials. If the people of a nation, state or province, contact their government officials and make getting cheaper gas a political issue, a few things may happen.
One thing that government can look at is possibly reducing the tax on gas, thereby making it more affordable. For the average person even having gas that is cheaper by two percent, can be a big savings in a year, depending on the amount of driving.
As well, it is important that our government ensure that oil and gas companies are being held accountable for the price increases we are seeing on the market. Our government has a responsibility to ensure that their people are not being taken advantage of, and that the spike in gas prices is justified.
Many would argue that driving ones vehicle is not a basic need, and therefore the government cannot obtain getting cheaper gas prices for consumers. I would agree that it would be difficult to say that getting cheap gas is a basic need, but the impact of high gas prices could be astronomical. If prices soar to a point that the average person cannot afford, think about how this might affect the average person. Some may need to turn to public transportation, which means that public systems could be burdened to a point of not being able to meet the demand, thus needing to spend many more dollars on increasing the capacity. Many people may quit jobs because the commuting costs are to high, meaning that unemployment rates could increase, increasing the demand for social welfare programs. The impact of these simple changes would have large effects on economies of all scales (locally, nationally).
It’s important that we as consumers make an effort to contact those sitting in government offices, they represent us. We need our government officials to take a close look at trying to get consumers a cheaper price on gas. There is little we can do individually to get cheap gas, but together when may individuals contact our officials, we can ensure that our governments make gasoline prices a high priority
If you live any where in the world right now, the price of oil has risen dramatically over the last few months, which in turn has created a massive spike in the price of gas prices. Everywhere you turn, people are talking about how the price of gas is affecting lives and they want cheap gas or at least cheaper gas.
For a person who was just making it by financially just months ago, the price increase in gas may impact their ability just to meet their basic needs, possibly even the needs of their families. It costs more to commute to work, take kids to practices, even going away on a weekend trip is now something one has to carefully justify.
There are few things that one can do to control the price of gas. One of the important ways we as consumers can ensure all is being done to keep gas prices in check, is to contact our government officials. If the people of a nation, state or province, contact their government officials and make getting cheaper gas a political issue, a few things may happen.
One thing that government can look at is possibly reducing the tax on gas, thereby making it more affordable. For the average person even having gas that is cheaper by two percent, can be a big savings in a year, depending on the amount of driving.
As well, it is important that our government ensure that oil and gas companies are being held accountable for the price increases we are seeing on the market. Our government has a responsibility to ensure that their people are not being taken advantage of, and that the spike in gas prices is justified.
Many would argue that driving ones vehicle is not a basic need, and therefore the government cannot obtain getting cheaper gas prices for consumers. I would agree that it would be difficult to say that getting cheap gas is a basic need, but the impact of high gas prices could be astronomical. If prices soar to a point that the average person cannot afford, think about how this might affect the average person. Some may need to turn to public transportation, which means that public systems could be burdened to a point of not being able to meet the demand, thus needing to spend many more dollars on increasing the capacity. Many people may quit jobs because the commuting costs are to high, meaning that unemployment rates could increase, increasing the demand for social welfare programs. The impact of these simple changes would have large effects on economies of all scales (locally, nationally).
It’s important that we as consumers make an effort to contact those sitting in government offices, they represent us. We need our government officials to take a close look at trying to get consumers a cheaper price on gas. There is little we can do individually to get cheap gas, but together when may individuals contact our officials, we can ensure that our governments make gasoline prices a high priority
What are the projected gas prices for the future?
bladerman726 asked:
And where can I find a website with graphs, statistics and information, about projected gas prices for the future?
And where can I find a website with graphs, statistics and information, about projected gas prices for the future?
Will you buy a new gas or diesel powered vehicle in the future?
zorrotheliberator asked:
Oil is headed to $200 a barrel and gas will be $10 a gallon and diesel will be $15 a gallon, The electric cars are coming and it will cost the equivalent of 6 cents a gallon to charge them up, Nissan, Chevy, Toyota and many more car builders have plans to start selling them in 2010, thats a year and a half from now. Subaru has developed a car that charges in a few hours and will go 150 miles per charge. Why buy a gas burner?
Oil is headed to $200 a barrel and gas will be $10 a gallon and diesel will be $15 a gallon, The electric cars are coming and it will cost the equivalent of 6 cents a gallon to charge them up, Nissan, Chevy, Toyota and many more car builders have plans to start selling them in 2010, thats a year and a half from now. Subaru has developed a car that charges in a few hours and will go 150 miles per charge. Why buy a gas burner?
Gas Price “Crisis” – Stop Being Told How to Think!
Tim Whiston asked:
Gas prices just keep going up. It’s no fun and for many people this is making the monthly budget even tighter. But don’t make a tough spot a disaster by listening to the proponents of doom.
It’s not the end of civilization. U.S. fuel prices are raising to the point of being comparable to what people in Canada, Germany, and the UK have been paying for years.
It’s a downer in a lot of ways but it’s not doomsday incarnate and it’s probably not a sign that god is about to wipe humanity off the face of the planet. So your first real step might simply be to get a grip and stop telling yourself and everyone else who will listen that the whole show is on its way down the drain.
Start looking for ways to thrive in the current adversity and stop putting so much stock in what you are told by the news media. The U.S. press is not what it once was and frankly the majority of reporting is hype, drama, sensationalism, and the generation of fear-based social obedience.
The fact is, most ultra-successful people in any society don’t even bother watching the news! You won’t find much legitimate info on the evening news or through the daily paper anyway and you can save yourself a great deal of stress and anxiety by simply cutting these sources of “information” out of your life.
If you want to stay connected to local and national events you can achieve this by browsing the headlines of any news site. Relevant updates such as election results, weather reports, and stock market activity can all be acquired in less than 15 minutes of daily skimming.
In addition to adjusting your intake of pre-packaged “news” it is highly recommended that you avoid being part of the social herd mentality. Fear is the main focus of the public consensus at this time, whether it’s fear of terrorism, fear of higher gas prices, fear of identity theft, or whatever.
Ask yourself these questions:
How did people feel during the Cuban missile crisis?
How did the public react to the oil shocks of the 70’s?
What was the public response to the Y2K scare?
How did the masses respond to the events of Sep. 11 2001?
In the above scenarios there was panic, fear, and extreme anxiety. Yet here we are today, survivors of these and other periods of turmoil.
Problems are part of life. But the nature of life is perseverance and even prosperity. You aren’t going to die if gas prices keep going up, nor will many other dramas reported urgently by the media spell the end of your days.
So decide right now to take charge of your attitude and stop letting the gloom and doom reporting of today’s press beat you into a state of fear and melancholy!
Life is great. Live every moment in as much gratitude as possible and look joyously forward to the next one. This is pretty far from the marching orders you’re currently receiving from your evening news anchor but if you try it on for just a couple of weeks you may never go back to letting the “official” line dictate your attitude toward life.
Gas prices just keep going up. It’s no fun and for many people this is making the monthly budget even tighter. But don’t make a tough spot a disaster by listening to the proponents of doom.
It’s not the end of civilization. U.S. fuel prices are raising to the point of being comparable to what people in Canada, Germany, and the UK have been paying for years.
It’s a downer in a lot of ways but it’s not doomsday incarnate and it’s probably not a sign that god is about to wipe humanity off the face of the planet. So your first real step might simply be to get a grip and stop telling yourself and everyone else who will listen that the whole show is on its way down the drain.
Start looking for ways to thrive in the current adversity and stop putting so much stock in what you are told by the news media. The U.S. press is not what it once was and frankly the majority of reporting is hype, drama, sensationalism, and the generation of fear-based social obedience.
The fact is, most ultra-successful people in any society don’t even bother watching the news! You won’t find much legitimate info on the evening news or through the daily paper anyway and you can save yourself a great deal of stress and anxiety by simply cutting these sources of “information” out of your life.
If you want to stay connected to local and national events you can achieve this by browsing the headlines of any news site. Relevant updates such as election results, weather reports, and stock market activity can all be acquired in less than 15 minutes of daily skimming.
In addition to adjusting your intake of pre-packaged “news” it is highly recommended that you avoid being part of the social herd mentality. Fear is the main focus of the public consensus at this time, whether it’s fear of terrorism, fear of higher gas prices, fear of identity theft, or whatever.
Ask yourself these questions:
How did people feel during the Cuban missile crisis?
How did the public react to the oil shocks of the 70’s?
What was the public response to the Y2K scare?
How did the masses respond to the events of Sep. 11 2001?
In the above scenarios there was panic, fear, and extreme anxiety. Yet here we are today, survivors of these and other periods of turmoil.
Problems are part of life. But the nature of life is perseverance and even prosperity. You aren’t going to die if gas prices keep going up, nor will many other dramas reported urgently by the media spell the end of your days.
So decide right now to take charge of your attitude and stop letting the gloom and doom reporting of today’s press beat you into a state of fear and melancholy!
Life is great. Live every moment in as much gratitude as possible and look joyously forward to the next one. This is pretty far from the marching orders you’re currently receiving from your evening news anchor but if you try it on for just a couple of weeks you may never go back to letting the “official” line dictate your attitude toward life.
Why are Gas Prices so High and What You Can Do?
Mark Myers asked:
Gasoline prices are getting completely out of hand recently. We do have options. Agreed, some will be roughly equal to the horse pulling the train backwards, however some are useful. None are simple, but the more we can do together, the more we will accomplish.
Why are gas prices so high? The obvious answer is supply and demand. Supply is not increasing because of international pressure for gasoline as fast as demand is increasing. Unfortunately the time of cheap fossil fuels and gas are leaving us forever.
America has declined to produce and refine more oil. The reasons are up to speculation. Everyone knows that oil drilling and new refineries will have an environmental impact; however the impact on the “3 day frozen tulip” has to be equaled with the impact to our economy. Most Americans feel the anguish every time they go to the gas pumps. This is senseless. The USA has the resources to reduce its dependence on foreign oil, but will not use them.
What can you do about high gas prices? Call every politician you can find a phone number for. Demand they explain exactly why gas prices are so high. Ask them why the US hasn’t constructed a new refinery in 30 years. Ask them why they don’t support drilling in ANWR. Short of drilling for oil in your yard, this is the only thing you can do to affect supply.
So, why are oil prices so high? You can personally effect demand. Only 20-30 years ago operating a car required more than just turning a key and driving. You had to check your oil every week. You had to change your own flat tire. You didn’t have cruise for instance. You had to adjust the choke. The point is, nothing of value is free, the medium of exchange here is doing something you don’t currently do now.
What does that have to do with high gas prices? Just trying to get you prepared for how you can double your gas mileage. You can wait for car manufacturers to develop alternative energy vehicles, and keep paying insane fuel prices, or you can do something NOW.
Alternative energy is not new. Humanity has been exploiting nature for energy since recorded time. Think whale blubber, oxen, horses, wood, sailboats, wind mills, hot springs, fire, and water mills. But history need not repeat itself, for personal locomotion these all are best left in the past, especially when you already own a at least one vehicle.
It is now possible to burn hydrogen gas extracted from water, on on demand, mix it with gasoline, ignite it in your engine, and save money on fuel. You can build a contraption from commonplace items for under $60 that will accomplish this. It will take you a late evening with simple tools to build, and under an hour to install it. The rub is, you will have to maintain it, which will probably take up to 30 minutes per month. Are you willing to give up your time to save between $1 – $1.50 on every gallon of gas you buy?
Why are gas prices so high? They don’t have to be.
Gasoline prices are getting completely out of hand recently. We do have options. Agreed, some will be roughly equal to the horse pulling the train backwards, however some are useful. None are simple, but the more we can do together, the more we will accomplish.
Why are gas prices so high? The obvious answer is supply and demand. Supply is not increasing because of international pressure for gasoline as fast as demand is increasing. Unfortunately the time of cheap fossil fuels and gas are leaving us forever.
America has declined to produce and refine more oil. The reasons are up to speculation. Everyone knows that oil drilling and new refineries will have an environmental impact; however the impact on the “3 day frozen tulip” has to be equaled with the impact to our economy. Most Americans feel the anguish every time they go to the gas pumps. This is senseless. The USA has the resources to reduce its dependence on foreign oil, but will not use them.
What can you do about high gas prices? Call every politician you can find a phone number for. Demand they explain exactly why gas prices are so high. Ask them why the US hasn’t constructed a new refinery in 30 years. Ask them why they don’t support drilling in ANWR. Short of drilling for oil in your yard, this is the only thing you can do to affect supply.
So, why are oil prices so high? You can personally effect demand. Only 20-30 years ago operating a car required more than just turning a key and driving. You had to check your oil every week. You had to change your own flat tire. You didn’t have cruise for instance. You had to adjust the choke. The point is, nothing of value is free, the medium of exchange here is doing something you don’t currently do now.
What does that have to do with high gas prices? Just trying to get you prepared for how you can double your gas mileage. You can wait for car manufacturers to develop alternative energy vehicles, and keep paying insane fuel prices, or you can do something NOW.
Alternative energy is not new. Humanity has been exploiting nature for energy since recorded time. Think whale blubber, oxen, horses, wood, sailboats, wind mills, hot springs, fire, and water mills. But history need not repeat itself, for personal locomotion these all are best left in the past, especially when you already own a at least one vehicle.
It is now possible to burn hydrogen gas extracted from water, on on demand, mix it with gasoline, ignite it in your engine, and save money on fuel. You can build a contraption from commonplace items for under $60 that will accomplish this. It will take you a late evening with simple tools to build, and under an hour to install it. The rub is, you will have to maintain it, which will probably take up to 30 minutes per month. Are you willing to give up your time to save between $1 – $1.50 on every gallon of gas you buy?
Why are gas prices so high? They don’t have to be.