"Bob"
trix.net> wrote in message
news:UN2dnRrby_ugisLVnZ2dnUVZ_g2dnZ2d@earthlink.com...>> "Boston Blackie (happily ignored by KD the Merciless!)"
>>
mail.com> wrote in message
>> news:2008062216093350073-bblackie@mailcom...>>> On 2008-06-22 15:25:37 -0500, Megal
yahoo.com> said:
>>>>>>> Yo, if you really want to know some great ways to go green it takes a
>>>> bit of research. (well it did for me)
>>>>
>>>> Then, I found this article on squidoo:
>>>>
http://www.squidoo.com/agreenlife
>>>> . Wish I had found it before...
>
> Besides the spammer's obvious intent to advertise "Squidoo",
> that page is what is what's coming to be known as "slacktivism".
> An example of a slacktivist is someone who sheepishly puts that yellow
> ribbon "sport the troops" on their car.
>
>>>
>>> Early this afternoon I was in the yard and trying to fill the dog's
>>> water dish. It took about a minute and a half to empty the hose of the
>>> very hot water standing in it. Again I said to myself, why don't I have
>>> solar water heating assist?
>
> Hm.. why don't I? Quick search sez hot water is as much as 60-70%% of the
> bill. Couldn't be that hard. I'm gonna look into it.
>
Two basic ways of doing it.
1) Use collectors that you run water through to heat it directly.
Simple system, but presents the problem of the system freezing
on cold winter nights. Could be drained and not used in cold
weather, but works better in warmer climates.
2) Use collectors with a heat transfer fluid (something that won't
freeze or boil in the temperatures expected). More complicated,
not just because you have to run your water through a heat
exchanger, but because the system needs two heat exchangers
to protect against contamination of your water (heat transfer
fluid transfers heat to a closed water system, then that closed
water system transfers the heat to your home's hot water).
If building a new house or doing an addition, it's possible to build
something like a sunroom that has water tanks worked into the
design. This would bypass the problems of the two systems listed
above (no freezing, since the system is in the heated interior of
the house, and no complicated plumbing - just plumb the tanks
in between your normal water heater and the water supply), but
only serves as a pre-heater for your water heater. Combined
with a tankless water heater that only heats on demand, it should
drop the utility bill considerably.
>>
>>
http://www.rqriley.com/xr3.htm
>> 125mpg by just using a small diesel in a lightweight vehicle. Over
>> 200mpg
>> possible by switching it to plug-in hybid mode. Zero fuel use possible
>> if you
>> drive less than 40 miles per day (with the diesel engine still available
>> if your
>> trip exceeds the range of your batteries).
>
> That vehicle weighs all of 1300 lbs. And it's a 3-wheeler. Wouldn't wanna
> be competing with semis on the interstate, or even get into much of a
> collision with any other car.
>
Believe me. I'm more than familiar with the concept of being in
a light car that is hit by a heavier vehicle.
From what little information I've seen (descriptions and the few
pictures on the website), the XR3 could easily be safer (in terms
of crash structure) than the VW I currently drive. My truck is
safer, but it gets 20mpg on a good day.
>
>
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/CAFE/HistoricalCarFleet.htm
> HISTORICAL PASSENGER CAR FLEET AVERAGE CHARACTERISTICS
>
> The table shows imports getting somewhat better MPG, but considerably less
> roominess, horsepower, and vehicle weight.
>
> 30 years ago i bought plans from an ad in Mother Earth News for a hybrid
> electric with regenerative braking. The electric motor specified was an
> aircraft motor-generator. I still don't have a shop to build such a thing,
> but it's fun to dream..
>
Aircraft starter generators were used in some of the earlier
homebuilt electrics. There must have been a source of cheap
surplus starter generators, because the ones I'm familiar with
now have a core charge that's more than I've ever paid for a
car.
You can find brushless motors that are lighter and more
efficient (and cheaper) than the aircraft starter generators.
Seems that batteries are the major expense, if you want to
use the newer battery tech.
