Hey, check out this story from the NPR Science Friday website: Biofuels (broadcast Friday, February 8th, 2008). I think a podcast is available, too. Like I said, I LOVE algae…

–Refined gOil

After seeing how interested in alternative energy I had become, my mother graciously accepted my suggestion that she have a solar estimate done for her home in Los Angeles (which I am currently housesitting). I was thrilled! I contacted several different companies to arrange for an estimate.

This is where I ran into trouble. As the interest in solar electricity grows, an increasing burden falls upon the same few companies do consultations, evaluations and installations. Solar power captures the imagination of many because of its promise of low (or no) cost energy and a maximum return on the investment. Apparently what most prospective users don’t realize is just how great the outset cost is. Two companies were hesitant to even send a consultant — I received an almost ominous email from one of the companies warning me of the large cost to set up the system, and then going into great detail about numbers and percentages.

Ultimately, of the three companies that I contacted, SunPower was the only one that openly offered to send a consultant, and took the time to be in touch with me by phone on several occasions. SunPower works directly in concert with an installation company — so that there’s supposedly no confusion about warrantees or maintenance responsibility (this is what I was told; the proof will of course be in the pudding) — and they offer their own maximum efficiency all-black PV cell design.

I’m not plugging SunPower for any reason other than they’re the only company of the three I contacted that I felt was responsive and customer-friendly. The technician who came to do the free on-site evaluation was definitely hyping it. But SunPower seems to have the experience and history to back it up. Besides high profile commercial installations, they have many many private installations under their belt as well. In addition to solar technology, they also offer thermal heating options for swimming pools.

The one thing that bugs me: Advanced Solar Electric (responsible for much of the solar electricity used by the City of Santa Monica, including the solar ferris wheel on the SM pier), the installation company working for SunPower, is not mentioned anywhere that I can find on SunPower’s website or the literature that I was given. However, Advanced Solar Electric does reference SunPower as their “Premier Dealer” on their own website.

I would recommend SunPower for Southern California residents interested in taking the next step — at least as a starting point.

–Refined gOil

I feel sort of silly that I haven’t posted this link yet, but I believe it’s one of the first things that comes up when you Google search “Biodiesel” anyway: The National Biodiesel Board.

It’s the go-to site for everything Biodiesel.

–Refined gOil

Do you own a VW like I do? Check out the “Carbon Neutral” section of the VW site. You can see how many hundreds of thousands of tons are being offset by VW owners on the Carbon Counter, learn about the VW forest (yes, it sounds weird, but they swear they’re going to help off-set carbon emissions by re-foresting the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley), and learn about how you can become more ‘carbon neutral’ too (Carbonfund.org is helping out with the footprinting). Since we’re not going to get Carbon-Negative anytime soon…it’s nice that VW is making an effort to help offset!

–Refined gOil

Brad’s comment on the last blog inspired me to write again. I’ve been a little down lately, mainly because it seems like the task ahead is just so huge. As I blogged a bit earlier, so many people still know nothing or very little about alternative fuel — and it’s absolutely not their fault. Of course I’m hoping that EnergyRush will be a kind and clever forum for newly interested people to learn and share, and that’s only a positive thing. The thing that’s depressing is simply the fact that there isn’t more clear public information dispersed widely through reputable news sources (we are certainly reputable, we’re just slightly unknown).

Then I was watching television a couple of weeks ago, and I saw this Chevrolet Ad . At first, I was simply thrilled to see an attractive commercial like this — still am. But when I realized what the gimmick behind the ad was, I was a bit deflated. Subliminally, it’s designed to make the uninitiated viewer feel less intelligent that the children featured in the spot who know about hydrogen and its byproduct. Yes, feeling less intelligent than a child about a given subject would likely make any adult run out and grab an encyclopedia, which is a very effective way to inspire learning. But it’s also a testament to the 21st century fact(??) that it takes an insult to get consumers on their feet and ready to make a change. But like I said, I enjoyed the ad, and actually I think it’s a great bit of social commentary.

Also, I saw There Will Be Blood, which is not the most soothing salve to the oil-crushed soul.

So, if you’re reading this Brad, I really appreciate your interest in the site, and you made my day — I just felt I had to explain my long hiatus and my blahs… =)

–Refined gOil

P.S. Josh Tickell’s film Fields of Fuel is a Sundance smash: “Tallied throughout the 10 days of the Festival, Audience Awards are given to a film in the Dramatic and Documentary Competitions and are presented by Volkswagen of America, Inc…The Audience Award: Documentary was presented to Josh Tickell’s Fields of Fuel, a look at America’s addiction to oil. Tickell is a man with a plan and a Veggie Van, who is taking on big oil, big government, and big soy to find solutions in places few people have looked.” Check out the Sundance site if you care to!

Guess what??

Virgin Atlantic is testing a 20% biofuel blend in a commerical jet in February. Here’s the story:

Virgin Gets With It (my title)

And know what biofuel crop they’re considering most seriously? Algae!

We love algae!

–Refined gOil

I’m still amazed at how many people think that it’s necessary to do a mechanical conversion to get a car to run on Biodiesel — some new friends of mine couldn’t quite wrap their heads around the fact that Biodiesel can be put directly into a Diesel engine with no modification. I think that the first misconception was that I am running my car on “Vegetable Oil”. I started to explain the difference between that and Biodiesel, but I think I lost them early on, around “SVO”. Perhaps my skills of explanation are somewhat lacking. I have possessed at least a general, broad base knowledge of these things for a couple of years now (although I am in no way an expert at any of it). But it got me thinking back to the time when I knew nothing about alternative fuels. Frankly, I don’t think I knew that there was even an application for diesel engines other than in big trucks or semis. I remember being surprised to learn that many of those cute old Mercedes Benzes that I saw driving around were not run on gasoline. Maybe I’m hankering for the days when ‘Shop’ and ‘Auto Mechanics’ were courses offered in high school. What happened to that? I’m sure vocational studies still exist in high schools…but why weren’t they offered in mine? I wish wish wish that I had had the opportunity to study about the workings of my own car at an early age. No one told me it was important. So silly how much I took for granted then; and what I take for granted now, assuming that alternative fuel and energy are known about by everyone.

I feel empowered learning about these things now, teaching myself, selecting what I’m going to study. Guess it’s all part of growing up. And when I’m the first to inform a new friend that change is just around the corner, that alternative fuel options aren’t really that complex or futuristic — and I see the light bulb go on — it’s really a satisfying feeling. Word of mouth is the only way we’re gonna make this happen more quickly. Grassroots!

–Refined gOil

Very important documentary:  A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash, produced and directed by Basil Gelpke and Ray McCormack. I believe it was released in 2006, so I’m a little behind the times, but it doesn’t surprise me that the film was not advertised or given very wide release in light of the political climate we’re all weathering. Actually, the best thing about the film is its lack of bleeding hearts and artists; it features scientists and experts from around the globe, all putting forth the simple fact that the world has reached or is about to reach peak oil production — and that there are just no more reserves of note to be discovered on the planet. The science behind it is clear and understandable, and although no one is, as I said, portrayed as a sentimental environmentalist, it’s obvious that there is passion and deep feeling behind the subject; within the interviews, the subjects are trying to hold back that emotion. It’s visible, and it’s true. In acting, they always say that it’s more interesting to watch someone try not to cry…witness the veracity of that maxim in A Crude Awakening, and see if don’t find yourself choking back a tear or two in the face of what’s actually going on with oil.–Refined gOil

Just got an excited call from my Grandfather. He was anxious to tell me that McDonald’s is now using their fryer oil to make biodiesel to fuel their own delivery trucks. I haven’t researched this yet, but I think it’s pretty damn cool that my Grandpa was so stoked about it!
I’m on vacation, so that’s why I haven’t been writing. Will start up again soon…

–Refined gOil

I MET JOSH TICKELL YESTERDAY! Okay, I’m a huge nerdbag, but this is the man whose book “From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank” singlehandedly inspired me to convert to biodiesel (it took me a year to do it after I read it, but it really was From the Fryer… that convinced me)– and I know that I’m not the only one whose life has been changed by his work. The whole world is going to know Josh Tickell as soon as his feature film Fields of Fuel debuts at Sundance. I was privileged enough to attend a screening of this work at AFI in Los Angeles yesterday, and there is not much to be said — just RUN to see it, as soon as it makes wide release. The best part was that I actually walked up to him at the end and got the satisfaction of thanking him for helping me accomplish the best thing I’ve ever done for myself and the world (sentimental, but true). He was very gracious. If you know Josh’s work and support his message, please consider checking out the Fields of Fuel website, and making a donation to help get the film to the masses. This is the type of media that can really change the way so many different people think. We know that biodiesel is not the only option — and it’s not even be the best — in terms of renewable fuels, but awareness and use of it certainly represents, as Josh says in the film, a a new way of relating to fuel in general. I’d also like to include a link to Josh’s blog here. Keep in mind that, a la the format of Michael Moore, the information is filtered through Josh himself — so while it is documentarian in style, it is also a film in which the maker is heard and seen and therefore…it makes biodiesel personal. Okay, enough filmic psychobabble. I’ll let y’all check it out for yourselves. And I highly recommend that you do.

–Refined gOil