Posts Tagged: bio diesel

If you sometimes sit back in your chair and watch, with an element of incredulity, the violence that inevitably breaks out whenever climate related political summits occur, then you can see an element of the tension that is slowly but surely building up around the world. Now we are coming to understand how unsustainable our lives are. Nobody can justify this kind of violence, and it makes us think how these individuals can be so angry and driven, but then when we look at all the material that scientists now give us and realise that our crazy lifestyles really are alien to the sustainable future of our planet. Everyone of us has to take steps to cut down, in aggressive fashion, the energy that we use, both at home and at work and be responsible for what is happening all around us. The traditional fossil fuels of oil, coal and gas are helping to build up greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, raising the temperature of the earth and threatening the very existence of generations to come.

Politicians are slow as usual and we cannot understand why they are not acting more quickly. Recent and crucial talks in Copenhagen resulted in only moderate agreement and few, tangible results. As individuals, we all know that we can make a difference if we take action and really focus on how we use transportation on a daily basis. Public transportation is very underused and we tend to scoff at the idea of carpooling, riding a bicycle, or even walking! Most of us are not sufficiently aware of environmental reasons to cut back on energy use, even though we recently saw just how volatile the supply chain can be during 2008, when gasoline prices went through the roof.

Our cars, trucks and buses are huge polluters of the environment and the automotive industry in the United States in particular is slow to shrug off the vestiges of an era when gas guzzlers were totally acceptable. It used to be okay to drive a car that was way too big, cumbersome and inefficient for our actual needs and as much as anything else, when gas was only 50 or 60 cents per gallon.

Now we know that biodiesel fuel represents a much more palatable option. It is derived from widely available agricultural sources. It is produced by mixing vegetable oil or leftover fats with methanol through separation. With a little bit of application and ingenuity, making biodiesel at home is a very viable solution. Generally, homemade biodiesel, as B100, can be used in your diesel engine vehicle with no modification, although a majority of vehicles these days operate on a blend of biodiesel and conventional petrol diesel (B20, B40 and so on).

Biodiesel may not yet have “arrived” in terms of popular culture, but as our desire to cut back on consumption, to explore alternative hybrid vehicles and to generally live greener lives increases, we’re sure to see more emphasis on this renewable form of energy. When this special fuel does eventually become widely available to people all around the world, we will have a much better chance at slowing the incredible rate of global ecological change.

Biodiesel is still somewhat unknown in society and this has led to many incorrect stories, myths and crazy tales. Some things must be cleared up and we should understand that biodiesel fuel is neither experimental, inconsistent or likely to lead to damage or failure, as it has been around for more than eight decades since it was first invented!

There have been many independent tests showing that biodiesel performs as well as petro diesel, yet can benefit both the environment and our health as well. A large number of tests have taken place and they all point to the same thing. Within the US, the Energy Department, Agriculture Department and the EPA have all looked into the situation and reported positively.

Recently, the EPA has called on powers given to it by the Clean Air Act of 1990 and said that greenhouse gases are hazardous to human health. This may have far-reaching consequences for energy sources and fuels that are known to be high emitters of carbons. Biodiesel is the only fuel alternative to have passed rigorous tests imposed by the Clean Air Act.

Performance related tests have been conducted over more than 50,000,000 miles and have shown that biodiesel is comparable to petro diesel in all types of diesel engined vehicles. It must be noted that biodiesel can be used in regular diesel engines with no modification whatsoever. It can either be used neat or blended with regular diesel. Biodiesel gives better lubricity and can result in longer life and less wear within the engine.

In terms of pure energy performance, this product scores highest among any alternative fuels currently available.

In northern climates, cold weather is a big consideration for transportation. Biodiesel will also react to those cold extremes that can cause issues with conventional diesel engines, but the same preparation methods should be used when cold weather threatens, with no additional considerations. In these cases, indoor storage or fuel heating should be considered.

Certain people mistakenly think that biodiesel can cause problems with filtration, but this is only likely when it is first presented to a regular diesel engine. As biodiesel is a solvent, it may help to dislodge deposits which exist in pipes or on tank walls. As such, the first time that biodiesel is used, the fuel filter should be replaced and problems are unlikely from then on.

Even though making biodiesel is a little bit more expensive than purchasing conventional fuel, there is definitely a worthwhile increase in fuel quality and overall performance. This enhanced lubricity can lead to longer engine life. In addition, carbon emission levels are considerably reduced, with increased reductions as a stronger blend is used. If proper precautions are taken when making homemade biodiesel, the fuel can represent a great way to reduce the all-important carbon footprint. Take the leap, and make a change for the better by helping the environment, for this generation, and for all the generations that follow!

If you are a convert to the world of making biodiesel, then you will have seen quite clearly how a little bit of dedication and patience can result in a considerable savings and a level of freedom that is very palatable. Petrol and petro diesel may not be as expensive as they were within the US economy in more recent years, but we are still open to the consequences of decisions made by producers in far off lands. Europeans in particular have seen their governments instigate punitive taxes to add to the cost of transportation, making gasoline a very expensive commodity indeed.

If you feel that you might want to move beyond the manufacture of biodiesel for just yourself or your family’s use, then you might wonder whether you could make a go of selling it commercially. This is definitely an underserved market, as there are few areas where biodiesel is readily available. You may be confused though as you may consider that the market is yet to formulate.

It’s comforting to note that biodiesel can be used in a variety of blends within any diesel engine and while there are still a relatively small number of diesel vehicles in the US, maybe only one in 20, this is still a fairly considerable market. Note that in Europe, where fuel efficiency and trends tend to start, up to 50% of all vehicles on the road are diesel.

To make biodiesel commercially, resources and space must be created. The space that you use when making homemade biodiesel will probably not be sufficient and remember that you need a high level of purity before you may be certified.

Look into the possibility of getting government grants from the national or local level to help you establish your enterprise. It should not be too difficult to build a significant case for your efforts, to present to would-be investors, well-off friends or even angel financiers. Start off in a small fashion, then plow the profits back into financing your operation and ride on the wave of sustainability that is sure to increase. As the weeks and months go by, people are going to become even more concerned about the size of their carbon footprint, to say nothing of any cost savings they might be able to achieve.

Network what you are trying to do. Get in touch with more established biodiesel producers on a regional basis and see if you can use some of their resources, incentives or enthusiasm to get your organisation going. As you become successful, your networking will undoubtedly have introduced you to others who will be interested in becoming subsidiary dealers of yours.

You can have the opportunity to move from making biodiesel fuel as a hobby to a profitable business as an active distribution point for the local population. Why not go for it, and look to create some real change in your local environment? If you can find a job you truly enjoy, you never really work a day in your life! After all, what’s that well known saying that people all over the world have been talking about lately? Think global, act local!

The events at Copenhagen were definitely a setback for the future, but a lot of attention is going to be given nevertheless to our needs to become sustainable. There had been much hope for lasting accord in Denmark, as nations met to discuss a successor to the original Kyoto Protocol. Once again though, politics and domestic interests came to the fore, even though individual countries did promise to take concerted action.

As we go forward, more and more evidence accumulates pointing to how greenhouse gas emissions are causing damage to our environment. We can now see how over 300 years we have disregarded the consequences of excess energy production and how we relied on old fossil fuels. There is no doubt that a lot of harm will ensue unless we change our ways soon.

In Europe, the United Kingdom has taken a lead in introducing a trading scheme to force the largest emitters of greenhouse gases to buy allowances from the government, thus enabling them to emit extra carbon. Should these companies improve efficiency and reduce their use, they will receive rebates and bonuses. Should they not, they will incur penalties. This is just an example of what governments may do as they force our attention toward sustainability.

Pollution can often be traced back to our over-reliance on transportation and our thirst for petro diesel and petroleum to fuel our vehicles. As such, biodiesel fuel is an excellent option and in many cases is much more palatable and can even reduce carbon dioxide related emissions as compared to those conventional gases.

The EPA has recently found that greenhouse gases are a hazard to health under the powers given to them by the Clean Air Act. This may well give rise to further legislation or the application of existing powers to cut back on emissions, including those from our vehicles.

If biodiesel can be shown to be a workable alternative and a solution that has benefits above and beyond carbon emissions, then we could see a concerted increase in the number of facilities making biodiesel, more distribution stations and more people converting to the use of biodiesel for their diesel engine vehicles. This alternative may be used within regular petro diesel engines without any modifications or alterations and can be used within a variety of different strengths or solutions.

Biodiesel is not a new invention, far from it, but has been in the shadows due to what used to be relatively inexpensive costs associated with petroleum or petro diesel and a lack of education and awareness surrounding related carbon emissions. Things have definitely changed though and our society is looking for many alternative options and as such biofuel advocates must bring the discussion levels to the fore. People now need to move from the process of making homemade biodiesel to demanding that commercially made options are widely available all around them.

We now know that if we all make a concerted effort individually toward real change, whether in small things or on a large scale, anything is possible when it comes to global environmental sustainability, for us, and for our future generations.

The automotive industry in the United States has taken a pounding during the great recession, accelerating a trend towards the introduction of the smaller and more efficient vehicles. Those days of $.50 gasoline and huge, inefficient cars are certainly on the way out, and we have now seen that sky-high gas prices can plague us, even when recessionary forces are not apparent.

They say that we will soon see an influx of European style cars on American roads. In Europe, efficient vehicles are the norm and you never see those big American clunkers on this continent. Following trends, we can imagine an influx of European vehicles including a much higher proportion of diesel engine vehicles as well. Diesel engine cars and trucks have a far better efficiency, even though the petro diesel required to fuel them can be a little bit more expensive.

There is now a considerable upward trend and we’re likely to see an increase from the one in 20 diesel engine cars on the roads in the US, with a good future for biodiesel. As it emits very little in the way of greenhouse gases and can be made from readily available products, biodiesel fuel is much more friendly to the environment. The process for making biodiesel is fairly straightforward using animal fat or vegetable oil, commonly known as transesterification.

Some of us have tried making homemade biodiesel in our garage and been pleasantly surprised. You might smell the makings of a cottage industry and be aware that in your particular locale there are no dedicated or existing biodiesel distributors.

If you have an entrepreneurial bent, a commercial biodiesel operation may well be worth considering. Consider where you could find the oils or fats you need, the methanol and caustic soda in the correct quantities. You will need a reasonably sized space to be able to set up the production process and while it will require a bit more than just a simple ramping up from wherever you are now, the basic parameters remain the same.

Before you will be able to sell products commercially, you must ensure a good level of quality and purity, get certified and find the right operational business licenses. If you are unable to fund the entire operation set up yourself, note that you may be able to find grants and incentives, especially from government authorities that clearly see climate related pressures. Public funding is being used for such actions as there is a huge trend toward sustainability, globally.

Look at those who are already established. In certain parts of the country, biodiesel fuel users are more in evidence, especially in new England and the Northwest. Do your research well and why not profit from a trend which is yet to fully emerge? With so much change coming on the horizon, ever so much faster than we may realise, it only makes sense to become more sustainable as quickly as we can by turning to environmentally sound energy sources. Try biodiesel today, and see for yourself what the experience brings!

As the automotive industry becomes more sustainable and moves toward better fuel mileage efficiencies, longer-lasting engines and a significant reduction in carbon emissions, manufacturers have also been paying attention to improvements in diesel engines. As such, conventional petrol diesel now has an alternative low sulfur option and this is definitely of interest to those who want to use biodiesel in their vehicles.

Equipment manufacturers are producing diesel engines and components which are more suitable for both low sulphur diesel and biodiesel. We know that some blends of biodiesel can react with certain types of rubber compounds over time, most especially in older engines, but as better rubber compounds are developed, this problem is becoming less apparent. Indeed, if biodiesel is used in lower blends and not “neat,” any issues appear to be negligible.

Some consumers believe that should they use biodiesel in their cars they will void the warranty provided by the manufacturer. This is far from the truth as all manufacturers of diesel engine vehicles support the use of biodiesel in their engines. The US Environmental Protection Agency certifies biodiesel as the only alternative fuel so far and manufacturers are sitting up and taking notice of its potential. Auto industry chiefs can see the trend toward regulation emerging on Capitol Hill and know that they are going to have to produce vehicles with better performance characteristics and long term sustainability.

More than 50% of all vehicles in Europe have diesel engines. This is more than a 10 times higher ratio than found in the USA, but we can see that more manufacturers are now planning to import and produce vehicles with diesel engines in this country as the trend toward smaller and more economical continues.

Over a decade, interest in biodiesel has increased considerably in the USA. It is said that more than 700,000,000 gallons are produced per year, comparing to just 1 million back in 1999. Considerable growth can be expected in the future. Across the country, 14 organisations have multimillion dollar manufacturing operations, but there are hundreds of fledgling and micro operations elsewhere.

These days, making biodiesel commercially is a viable proposition and some advocates are moving up from the production of homemade biodiesel by initially supplying other consumers within a locality and gradually expanding a business. To enable commercial production of biodiesel fuel, you need to get a certificate from the EPA and a number of grants and incentives may be applicable.

Those who are maybe sitting on the fence and who are unsure about the adoption of biodiesel as their chosen fuel should recognise the growing trend toward sustainability within our societies. The US Congress is looking at legislation to force major energy consumers and polluters to cut back considerably. As this trend continues, consumers will increasingly demand that organisations and individuals become more sustainable and show evidence that they are complying; biodiesel fuel is ideally placed to contribute. If you’re interested in helping the environment, and are looking for a way help others do the same, getting invovled with the production of biodiesel fuel is a great way to start!