Gribble - the future of power generation?

Alternative energy sources are always being sought, it was not that long ago that solar, wind and heat pump were slightly off the wall alternative energy sources – now they are regarded as perfectly normal and needed.

Recently I was reading and interesting blog that offered some other sources of energy you may not have thought about (positiveenergy) – maybe alternatives that will be become fully accepted in the not to distant future.

Nations and governments may rely of Gribbles to combat concerns over energy security, let alone climate change – Gribble, yes Gribbles, check out what the future energy sources could be:

Waste tea leaves. Scientists at a Pakistani university used a gasification process to create biodiesel from used tea leaves. Considering that the world today consumes several million tones of tea annually, the leaves could be a reliable fuel source.

Gribbles. A tiny, wood-chewing crustacean called Limnoria quadripunctata, or the gribble, has been shown to have a digestive trait that could convert wood and straw into liquid biofuel. Researchers at the universities of York and Portsmouth have proposed using the enzymes that fill the creatures’ long digestive tracts to break down cellulose and lignin into energy-rich sugars.

Grass clippings. Again at the University of York, scientists are experimenting with using microwaves to heat garden and wood waste in the absence of oxygen in a process called pyrolysis. The resulting biofuel could be blended with fossil fuel or used by itself.

Frog foam. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati are creating an artificial photosynthetic material that uses enzymes from plants, bacteria, fungi, and frogs, all trapped within a foam housing, to create solar energy in an entirely new way. Foam was chosen because it can effectively concentrate the reactants but allow very good light and air penetration. The design was based on the foam nests of a semi-tropical frog called the Tungara frog, which creates very long-lived foams for its developing tadpoles.

Poke berries. The fruit of the pokeweed — the ubiquitous purple-stalked plant that grows rampantly across the south and whose red berries Civil War soldiers used to write letters home – could be the key to spreading solar power across the globe, according to researchers at Wake Forest University’s Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials. Scientists have used the red dye made from pokeberries to coat their efficient and inexpensive fiber-based solar cells. The dye acts as an absorber, helping the cell’s tiny fibers trap more sunlight to convert into power.

Household garbage. A consortium of companies in Australia is investigating the viability of constructing an ethanol plant that would turn household rubbish and building waste into more than 200 million liters of fuel per year. The process, developed by a U.S. biofuel company, Coskata, Inc., uses sources like municipal, commercial, and industrial waste at the end of its life cycle—waste otherwise bound for the landfill, and turns them into renewable energy.

Cow power. Using the methane gas byproduct of cattle is old news, but William Taylor, a farmer in Northern Ireland, has rigged up an entirely new way of deriving renewable energy from cows. Instead of letting his cows free range while they graze, he puts them on a treadmill. The electricity generated from one cow on a treadmill is enough, says the farmer, to power four milking machines. And as a bonus, cows that exercise produce more milk.

Tomatoes. Designer Cygalle Shapiro created a tiny LED lamp powered off circuits running off several tomatoes sitting next to it. The lamp draws power off of the chemical reaction among the tomatoes’ acids, zinc, and copper. And the “batteries” run out when the tomatoes turn stale.

Tobacco. Maybe there’s hope for this cash crop. Researchers in Virginia have suggested that tobacco could be genetically modified to use as a biofuel, with the added benefit that it is not a food source, like corn and soybeans — and therefore the object of a battle over resources. Because it can generate high quantities of oil and sugar, its potential as a fuel crop is high, but commercial use as a biofuel may be more than five years away.

Picture by Auguste Le Roux

There are some simple steps we can take to keep warm or cool and save energy to prevent wasting the money we are spending to heat and cool our homes:

Keeping Warm

1. Draught proof your doors and windows
2. Install keyhole covers and letterbox brushes to keep out the cold
3. Put thermal lining on all curtains
4. Hang a thick curtain over draughty doors
5. Insulate walls and roof spaces (see our grants pages for financial help)
6. Put reflective panels behind radiators
7. Only heat rooms which are occupied
8. Wear more layers to keep warm
9. Only turn heating on when the property is occupied
10. Turn thermostats down 1 or 2 degrees to save energy depending on your health needs

Keeping Cool

1. Installing an air conditioner in a shady spot could increase its efficiency up to 10
2. Don’t lower the air conditioner’s temperature when you turn it on, it won’t cool the room any faster.
3. On humid days, set the fan speed on low to remove more moisture from the air.
4. Your dishwasher, washer, and dryer give off heat when they’re in use, so run them in the early morning or late evening.
5. Awnings, blinds, drapes and shades keep sunlight from entering your home, so install them on windows, skylights, and doors that get a lot of sun.
6. Use fans. When the outside air is cooler than that inside your home
7. Well-placed trees and bushes can reduce the energy a home uses for cooling by up to 25 percent
8. Consider adding a reflective coating to a dark roof, or when it’s time to replace it, choose a lighter color
9. Maintain your air conditioner(s). Dirty, clogged filters increase an air conditioner’s energy use.

Governments are investing lots of money in educating people about their use of energy in the home and many people are taking actions towards becoming more energy efficient.

The additional benefit for many people is a reduction in fuel bills.

With the cost of energy continually rising many home owners are now looking at how they can save money through being more energy efficient.

Some of the most effective actions are listed below:

• Turn lights off when not in a room
• Use energy efficient light bulbs
• Turn all electrical appliances off when not in use
• Remove chargers and PC peripherals from plug sockets
• Reduce hot water thermostat to 60 degrees
• Reduce space heating thermostat to below 21 degrees depending on your needs
• Only switch heating and lighting when at home
• Only boil the water you need in the kettle
• Keep fridge and freezer doors shut as much as possible
• Dry clothes outside

Undertaking just a few of the measures above could save up to £30/$45 annually. Simply turning down your heating thermostat 1 degree could save up to 10% off your fuel bills every year.

More Tips Soon…

Draught Excluders

Buy draught excluders and proofing devices for your doors and windows.

Make sure you cover your locks and have a draught excluder in your letter box. This could save you £20/$30 per year

Lighting

Use energy saving light bulbs and always switch off your lights when not at home or in a room. This could save you £18/$27 per year per bulb.

Heating

Only have your heating on when you are at home.

Install reflective panels behind your radiators to push heat back into the room rather than allow it to be absorbed by the walls.

Turn off radiators in rooms which are not used regularly. Turn down radiators rather than open windows if it’s too warm.

Fridges and Freezers

Keep the doors closed as much as possible. Letting heat into your fridge or freezer means that it has to work harder to remain cool. It takes three minutes to cool your fridge for every minute the door is open.

Defrost them regularly to ensure maximum efficiency.

Let hot food cool down before putting it in the freezer, again, the freezer has to work harder to keep the temperature down.

Washing

Wash at 30Cº/86Fº  not 40Cº/104Fº

Always wash full loads and hang clothes outside or on a drying rail, rather than using the tumble dryer

Shower

Always shower and try to keep your shower between 3-5 minutes long. This could save you up to £50/$75 per year

Water

Only boil as much water as you need in your kettle and pans. This could save you £30/$45 per year.

No more Stand-by

Leave none of your appliances (where possible) and entertainment systems on standby this could save you £20/$30 per year.

Insulate

In order to really make a difference to your bills insulate your loft and walls.

In many countries their grants and rebates available for insulation – with some areas even providing free installation.

More Tips Soon…

More tips soon…

One of the best ways to see where you can cut your energy use is by understanding exactly what you are using and when.

It is possible to find out how much electricity your appliances and entertainment systems are using when switched on, on standby or simply left plugged in.

There are many devices now on the market which will tell you your electricity consumption and what it is costing you. As a result you can then take steps to reduce your energy usage and reduce your energy bills.

Be In Control

• Check all of your timers and thermostats.
• Ensure your heating and hot water is not on when no one is in the house or needs to use hot water.
• Reduce you hot water temperature to 60 degrees, it will still be piping hot.
• Put thermostatic controllers on your radiators.
• Reduce your room thermostat to a comfortable temperature depending on your needs.

Next Tip Soon…

Discover how much carbon you are emitting on a yearly basis. You can do this by visiting the many different websites, if you do a search you will find the resources online that you need – try this link: Energy Saving Trust carbon calculator.

Once you have calculated the annual output then begin to start cutting back.

The average western European household emits over 6 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere every year.

There are simple steps to take to reduce your carbon footprint, and you will also save money.

With the price of oil, gas and electricity continually on the up, many people struggle to afford to heat their homes adequately.
More energy efficient steps will be posted soon.

Start Saving Money

Your energy supplier

Look at your bills to see how much energy per Kilowatt hour (kW/h) you are paying. With the energy supplier market still relatively competitive, it is worthwhile shopping around for a new tariff which may suit your needs better.

Most companies have a two tier system, with a price for an initial number of units used and a lower price for units over and above. Prices can vary for online applications and loyalty discounts are given to incentivise you to remain with the same supplier.

Investigate green tariffs so you will reduce your carbon footprint by using these suppliers.

Other tips coming soon….

It is important for everyone to start becoming more energy efficient and there are hundreds of simple actions we can all take to reduce or energy use to save money and the environment.

It is vital to understand why we have to take action. So here is an overview about energy saving and why it has become so important worldwide.

A few basics before we look at the practicalities.

What are these Carbon Emissions you read about?

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is a gas emitted into the atmosphere from many sources but the area that causes concern is the CO2 emitted as a result of burning fossil fuels.
Through photosynthesis plants and organic matter removes the CO2 from the atmosphere and the carbon helps to make sugars, which may either be consumed in respiration or used as the raw material to produce other organic compounds needed for plant growth and development, the Oxygen part of the CO2 is returned to the atmosphere. When the plants are burnt, either as plants or as fossil fuels, the CO2 is released back into the atmosphere.

Particularly since the onset of the industrial revolution there has been an ever growing imbalance between the CO2 the plants and organic matter of the earth can deal with and the amount still within the atmosphere. But, because industry and our lifestyle now depend on fossil fuels the balance has tipped causing an excessive amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

What is Climate Change?

With an increasing amount of CO2 in the atmosphere plus other greenhouse gases (water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone) the heat from the sun cannot is absorbed by the gases. That is why it is called the ‘Greenhouse Effect’, as the heat is trapped within the atmosphere.

This affect is natural and needed and natural making the planet around 20º Celsius warmer than it would otherwise be hence providing us a comfortable climate. This effect is now a problem becasue over the last 100 years or more the concentration of CO2 has risen by about 30%.

If the situation continues to warm up the planet at the current rate sea levels will rise, we will experience extremes in weather such as flooding, drought, snow storms and catastrophic natural disasters.

What can be done?

The world needs to pull together to reduce harmful emissions, the major contributor to the warming effect. Even though the Copenhagen summit in December 2010 finished short of its aims we are seeing many nations realising that energy efficiency is one of the most cost effective ways of reducing carbon emissions.

What can WE do?

We can all have a major have an impact on reducing carbon emissions by taking some basic steps.

Are their benefits now?

There are benefits now as you will save money from once you start to save energy onwards.

What next – Click Here

Apart from an interesting article there was a great quote in the piece that could be used powerfully to industry and commerce.

Rob Murray-Leach, the Chief Executive of the Energy Efficiency Council said:

”Economic purists have been telling us that if there were $100 notes lying around, industry would have already picked them up. This report shows that companies have blind spots – sometimes you have to help them find the $100 notes.”

What a great line, but how true as well.

The article further highlighted that investment is needed by business into energy efficiency but what do you expect if you want a great return – as Murray-Leach, a former adviser to the climate economist Ross Garnaut, said energy efficiency should be viewed in the same way as other business investments – you need to spend to generate a return.

”Some people say that tackling climate change is too expensive, we should wait to see what the world does first. This report shows that there is a huge amount we could do right now to cut our emissions and grow our economy.”

The Australian government report shows that industry their could “pick-up”, as it were, $736 million – not may not seem too much in industrial terms but we are talking about a country with just under 22 million population so in context it is a sizable amount, for the US it would be well over $10 billion from just one sector!

It just show what money is “lying around” and yet being ignored – it is about time industry opened it’s eyes, they may not be concerned about climate change but why walk by billions of dollars just sitting there when they could be picking it up, particularly in these tougher times?

She highlights how energy efficiency is the way ahead as far as change energy use for environmental, energy security and energy supply reasons.

As she reports – it is what people want to happening compared to new or old forms of power generation. New power stations are needed but the impact of funding into energy efficiency is paramount.

Here is the bulk of the article:

Lately, it seems as if when the conversation turns to developing a modern national energy policy, the smart grid and renewable energy get all the attention—and with good reason, since both topics promise a future full of intelligent energy management and freedom from fossil fuels.

The smart grid and renewables capture our imagination, but it’s energy efficiency that’s affecting real change, right now—and the public (and investors) have taken notice. As far as I’m concerned, this new emphasis on—and interest in—efficiency is a longtime coming.

There are a couple of concrete indications that energy efficiency is gaining credibility and becoming the popular go-to solution for energy resource management. First off, investors are pushing money into a slew of energy efficiency opportunities—from hybrid cars to energy management systems, and everything in-between.

According to Peachtree Green, a New York-based investment bank that provides expert advice on “valuing technology assets,” 2009 was the year energy efficiency came into its own, ranking second after wind, in terms of 2009 transaction value,

In fact, Peachtree Green reports that, even while the overall green tech sector saw a 4.1% drop in value, energy efficiency saw an increase in value from $164 million to $1.3 billion. The report states that, “The clear break-out category was Energy Efficiency, with a more-than-sevenfold increase in reported transaction value for 2009.”

Energy efficiency is also winning hearts and minds in the court of public option. According to a recent poll conducted by the Environmental Defense Fund and NRG energy, respondents indicate that they are most interested in energy efficiency: 47% in particular stating that the number one environmental issue that companies should focus on is energy efficiency. With the future of government funding on shaky ground, public support of energy efficiency projects and protocols could make all the difference.

Historically, the states have often promoted energy efficiency—with great success. In fact, as of 2009, 19 states have adopted a myriad of energy efficiency strategies. In California, for example, a program that began 30 years ago has morphed from simply requiring energy-efficient appliances into an extensive energy-conscious mandate that now includes renewable energy and other smart energy technologies. Meanwhile, on the East Coast, the National Grid—an energy delivery company for Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island—has, over the last 20 years, helped 5 million of its customers reduce energy use and save up to $3.8 billion.

As I’ve stated before, distributed energy is the ultimate form of energy efficiency and reliability.

But in the end, it’s a “boots on the ground” efficiency effort that will make the difference. As Peachtree explains,

“The reason many utilities and energy companies are undertaking certain projects, carbon capture being the best example, is because the government is financing these initiatives. Once the money dries up, many of these projects will be shelved.”

But if the public (i.e., voters) demands funding for energy efficiency, it can make all the difference. Public outreach is one of the best ways to engage and encourage communities to become energy efficiency stakeholders.

This should be great headline grabbing news but it is strange how often “spend, spend, spend” is regarded as sexy while being frugal and saving is regarded as nerdy or introverted.

Fortunately the U.S. is taking a lead in changing what is sexy as far as saving money through energy efficiency is concerned. They have just announced that President Obama’s administration has set up the SEE Action Network (State Energy Efficiency Action Network) to help states achieve maximum cost effective energy efficiency improvements.

This sounds like an interesting development and will hopefully keep the energy efficiency drive, at least in the U.S. of A, moving forward – it is also good to see the States setting a good example in this area compared to past times.

Credit to Mr Obama to keep pushing forward with the energy efficient message and schemes such as this one, particularly when he trying to increase his popularity because as we have established doesn’t produce the biggest headlines.

To help raise the importance and hopefully the desirability of energy efficiency there were some interesting quotes in the Initiative’s press-release from Lisa P. Jackson, the EPA Administrator, and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

Jackson said in a press-release regarding the new initiative:

“In the clean energy future, energy efficiency is action number one. We can cut greenhouse gases and protect our environment at the same time we save money for homeowners, schools and businesses.”

While Chu added:

“Expanding energy efficiency is one of the quickest, most cost-effective ways we can address climate change and grow America’s economy.”

These quotes are worth highlighting as the truths they state need to be kept to the fore as they crank up awareness of energy efficiency – focussing on it rather than leaving it lurking in the shadows.

A lot of talk and focus goes into renewable, clean energy sources and new energy generation – important in the long term but as Jackson states: “Energy efficiency is action number one,” because as she suggests it ticks all the boxes, particularly with regard to saving money.

Chu underlines the importance of putting energy efficiency at the top of the list by stating that it is the quickest way to address climate change and save money, thus affecting the economy.

Wind turbines, solar panels, wave power and clean power stations are all sexy as they often involve major capital investment, jobs creation and are clearly visible on the skyline or in the oceans. Meanwhile energy efficiency is so often hidden, turning off lights; either by hand or automatically doesn’t demand much attention.

For politicians, locally and nationally, energy saving actions do not grab the headlines when compared to announcing some new wind farm or similar – but the message does seem to be getting though, possibly thanks to the economic downturn over the last year or so.

As politicians, business leaders and others begin to see the figures for the savings made through energy efficiency then they begin to salivate – they can see the headlines and hear the sound-bites in their heads. Suddenly turning out that light becomes sexy and the figures can be seen in black and white (and hopefully in 172 point on the front page alongside a politicians/community leaders name and photo!).

I am not suggesting at all that President Obama, Lisa P. Jackson (mustn’t forget the P) and Steven Chu are taking action for the headlines – I think they want to make the right decisions and are a major driving force behind these energy efficiency initiatives, but what they say is helping to convince the movers and shakers in business, politics and communities to act. When the estimates and even the actual figures are produced then we see a further boost from decision makers.

What happens on a national or international level can be illustrated within your own home. You know, as Ken Cheyne has stated on this blog, that if you hang your washing on a washing line outdoors instead of using an electric dryer you will save money, let alone the environment. Yet so many people do not do it, they carry on using the drier because of habit or convenience.

If someone added a running money meter above the drier running up the costs while in use (like a running taxi meter) would people think again. Imagine that on every appliance, light or electrical system in your home – would you make changes? Only you can answer that but I think we can make a good guess.

If your local City Hall or other public buildings had giant energy cost meters displayed prominently on the sides of the structures showing what was being used and the costs do you think people would change habits and become energy efficient?

So the more encouragement followed up by estimates and actual figures, for energy efficiency the better as saving money instead of throwing it away is always sexy!

(Please note that Enigin PLC do supply a system where your energy saving can be seen publicly – Check It Out)