Posts Tagged: environment

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!

There is a question whether we, as a society, will adopt biodiesel and we need to address a number of complex and sometimes related challenges first. While there is, as yet, only a limited amount of comprehensively researched data available, many factors are changing in favour of biodiesel fuel. Just 10 years ago, widespread adoption of biodiesel as an alternative fuel mode seemed unlikely, but that situation is certainly changing fast.

We are learning very quickly how our reliance on traditional fossil fuels is likely to cause us great concern in the future. When petroleum is made, greenhouse gases are guaranteed and we now know how this is affecting the planet’s average annual temperature. Climate change is already leading to weather pattern alterations that could potentially cause devastating problems to future generations. Changes must come and we must cut down our reliance on fossil fuels, even though this change is slow to materialise sometimes. Challenges to the very way that we exist are difficult to contemplate and if we must make changes, we prefer to do it without incurring additional economic costs. However, adopting alternative energy production processes and consumption patterns may put us at competitive disadvantage compared to countries that do not.

If we’re slow to act, scientists and environmentalists tell us that harm could become irreversible. Governments are listening and may well consider taxation of carbon, ensuring that organisations become more efficient and reduce their reliance on fossil fuel. This could help to balance the playing field for biodiesel fuel. If traditional petroleum fuels become even more expensive due to carbon related costs, biodiesel fuel will become more palatable.

Further to that, as society becomes increasingly more worried about climate change, it is likely to turn toward measures and solutions that are seen as being far “greener.” Biodiesel fuels may represent a premium over alternatives and may be more difficult to find, but nevertheless a trend toward them will begin. People will experiment with ways of making biodiesel and commercial solutions will emerge around the country.

Our agricultural producers have been worried about a decline in demand for their goods in recent years. As homemade biodiesel relies on vegetable oils or surplus oils and animal fats, crop producers could find a ready market for soybeans, for example providing the raw material essential for the production of the fuel. Wouldn’t it be nice to keep the revenues from production and sale of our fuels within our communities and keep them from flooding overseas? It is sobering to realise that by the 2020s, two thirds of fuel purchased revenues could be lost to foreign countries.

Sustainability is going to be a very hot topic during this new decade. The biodiesel industry will be very much to the fore. With so much at stake, not only with respect to the long term financial stability of our country, but also the priceless global sustainability which could be achieved, can any of us really afford to continue to wait until someone in power makes a decision?

Q. Will Biodiesel harm my engine?
A. Biodiesel will work in a conventional petro diesel engine with no problems at all. This has been tested over millions of miles by a number of different agencies and in every conceivable situation. Bus fleets and commercial haulage companies have been using biodiesel in their operations for many years and reporting great success.

Q. Is Biodiesel experimental?
A. No, it has been in widespread use since the 1980s and has become more accepted in the United States over the last 10 years. In fact, biodiesel goes back to the 1930s when vegetable oil was first converted into fuel, being perfected during the 1980s.

Q. Does the government accept this alternative fuel?
A. The Clean Air Act, subject to the 1990 modification, recognises biodiesel as the only certified alternative fuel. Further, the EPA authenticates and certifies bio diesel fuel.

Q. Where can I find biodiesel?
A. There are now 14 major production facilities in the US and a number of distribution channels. Across the nation, hundreds and hundreds of small operations cater to locals. As diesel engine cars become more widespread, additional facilities will emerge.

Q. What about using conventional vegetable oil?
A. Absolutely not, vegetable oil must be converted through transesterification into biodiesel fuel first. Alcohol is used with a catalyst to extract the liquid used as biodiesel.

Q. What about the cold weather?
A. Biodiesel does have a tendency to gel in very cold conditions, just as conventional petro diesel. Employ the same precautions when the weather turns particularly cold.

Q. Is biodiesel good for the environment?
A. Our planet is plagued by carbon emissions and it is good to know that biodiesel is essentially carbon neutral. Biodiesel is made from vegetable crops and these were previously known as “sinks” for carbon, so the fuel is considerably more advantageous from an environmental perspective than the highly toxic, carbon emitting petroleum we otherwise use.

Q. Will I have to worry about clogged filters?
A. As biodiesel is a solvent, it may act to dissolve some deposits which may have accumulated over time in your tank or within pipes. These deposits could then become trapped in filters and it is advisable to clean or change your filters when you first convert from conventional diesel to biodiesel, making way for a cleaner running, longer lasting engine.

Q. Is it okay to make biodiesel at home?
A. Many people have been successful at making homemade biodiesel. Generally, making biodiesel is not very difficult in and of itself, so long as you take certain safety precautions and make sure that you follow the necessary instructions. This can be a great way of making a difference, environmentally!

Q. Do we need to worry about over-harvesting if biodiesel becomes popular?
A. We need to ensure that biodiesel growth is itself sustainable and ensure that we do not over-harvest and cause an imbalance in agricultural crop availability, especially as we need these absorbers of carbon in place. This is a challenge for the industry going forward.

Let’s face it, we are all creatures of habit and we like to take the “easier” route, if at all possible. It’s not that we don’t care about issues that we’re not sure we can do anything about, or might affect our heirs and generations in future, but we just don’t focus unless the chips are really down. This can lead to apathy and inaction, yet through education we can come to terms with the fact that we really should be proactive and make changes for the greater good.

What incentive is there for me to change over to biodiesel fuel? There are a number of good reasons for doing so and the answers have added credibility now, even compared to only five or 10 years ago. There are now a number of ecological and economical benefits associated with biodiesel, which did not necessarily mean as much to us a number of years back.

Firstly, carbon emissions are now definitely the enemy of the peace. The “green” movement has become main-stream. Governments are talking about forcing a reduction in the use of regular fuels and adding taxes to the cost of gasoline, as an example. Looking ahead, government regulators have also said that cars must maintain a much higher fuel economy and it looks like greenhouse gas emissions are now going to be adjudged hazardous pollutants. Biodiesel helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions associated with traditional fuels, by a factor of almost 80%.

At present, homemade biodiesel fuels can be created from such waste products as cooking oils and thus help to cut down on recycling costs or other issues associated with disposal of wastes. We can help the agricultural communities by noting that biodiesel can be made from vegetable products such as soy. Turning to this fuel for our transportation means could provide a fantastic shot in the arm to these communities and farmers, as the crops could be used to full advantage.

If we could rely on alternative fuel methods such as biodiesel for more and more of our vehicle transportation, we would not lay ourselves open as much to the peaks and troughs associated with oil production, often in far off overseas lands. We now know what regular diesel here in the UK at £5.00 a gallon or $8.00 represents, but five or 10 years ago could not even imagine such a thing. Biodiesel can be made from domestically available sources and can help promote our energy security in no uncertain way.

The US automotive industry is changing significantly and we can expect to see an introduction of smaller and more economically viable cars there, similar to those seen in Europe for the last decade. On that continent, more than half of the vehicles actually run on diesel and can readily accept biodiesel fuels. There will undoubtedly be a trend in the United States toward the adoption of these types of vehicles, giving further credibility to the thought of making biodiesel widely available through expanding distribution networks. By 2020, biodiesel fuel will be a staple part of our economy.

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!

In this day and age, it seems that every one of us is turning into an environmentalist. It seems like it wasn’t that long ago when those who preached about sustainability were derided or at least were partially ignored. Some of them were called “tree huggers,” and as we had little to worry about back then and a somewhat devil may care attitude, we disregarded climate change issues almost entirely. Times have certainly changed and more especially in the last five years or so. These days climate change news is everywhere and the subject is the darling of the mainstream press, with climate protection issues likely to result in stringent legislation before long.

Everybody wants to be green these days and we know that we have to cut down on the use of fossil fuels, coal, oil and gas that result in pollutant greenhouse gases and temperature change. Energy is so much a part of our lives and our existence is so complicated, yet we are still mostly unaware of the size of our individual carbon footprints.

Our methods of transportation are primary emitters of carbon and we are fully reliant on individual and public forms of transportation on a daily basis. Gasoline and conventional diesel fuel are very expensive commodities and as we mostly rely on foreign sources for these fuels, external influences can directly affect availability, pricing and our very economic security.

Change will be slow to come, unfortunately. We have got to learn how to change our habits and to wean ourselves off our reliance on these fossil fuels, even though our very infrastructure relies so heavily on the sourcing, generation and distribution of these fuels. It’s fair to say that the oil industry in particular has a very strong political lobbying support and newer, alternative options face an uphill battle to get their message out to a largely uneducated public.

Biodiesel fuel as an alternative is, at face value, very attractive. It is produced by mixing vegetable oil or animal fats with methanol and a process of separation derives this alternative fuel. In many cases, biodiesel fuel is originally derived from soybean products, which grow and are plentiful in the United States.

Biodiesel is essentially carbon neutral and has very low sulphur rates, especially compared to its alternatives. It can be used in conventional diesel engines without any issues at all and can be mixed in various solutions with petro diesel if required. Such an alternative is not available on a widespread basis at this time, as the infrastructure is simply not in place and distribution solutions undeveloped. We’re becoming more and more aware and interested in hybrid vehicles, and we’re also generating a buzz around biodiesel as an excellent alternative option.

You may be able to consider homemade biodiesel within your household as it is within the reach of most. For some, making biodiesel is more than a labour of love and thousands of people consider it their contribution in the war against carbon emissions. Although making biodiesel can be very rewarding, personally and financially, keep in mind that if you do decide to try making it for yourself, always carefully review what the experts call, “essential safety advice,” before you begin!

The auto industry has really been under the gun for the last 10 years or so due to complex, external forces. Part of these problems have to do with the industry’s lethargy during the 80s and 90s, inefficient practices and bloated vehicle ranges. Due to foreign competition, an increasing fuel price, more stringent regulation, environmental considerations and finally an economic downturn, the industry has been left reeling.

In 1990, the revision to the Clean Air Act specified that fuels become more sustainable and that manufacturers begin replacing petro diesel engines with low sulphur alternatives. At that time, certain states had already restricted diesel engine sales, but this situation is likely to rectify as diesel pollution now slows. However, other factors were also at work and the terrorist attacks of 2001 only served to remind us how we relied on far-off foreign countries for our fuel needs. We must look for alternative fuel sources to satisfy our economic, environmental and energy security requirements.

In modern times, diesel engines and their internal components are much more able to cope with low sulphur diesel and biodiesel fuels. These days, biodiesel fuel is starting to gain popular acceptance and production has grown by 700% over the outgoing decade.

The great recession has considerably changed the face of the US auto industry. One of their big three manufacturers is now owned by a European company, Fiat, and it seems likely that we will see an influx of vehicles based on European platforms and wholly more efficient than what we have seen there previously. In Europe, diesel engine cars are very popular and we can expect to see an increase in this type of sale as well. While this happens, biodiesel, as a reliable alternative will undoubtedly push forward as well. Biodiesel may compare to conventional diesel, price wise, but the former represents a better option for the health of both our people and the planet.

Biodiesel is not an experimental fuel as some believe. It is the only fuel fully certified by the EPA and can be traced back to the 1930s. Auto manufacturers are quite happy to see biodiesel used in diesel engine vehicles as long as the biodiesel is manufactured to internationally accepted standards, and will not void a warranty if you do so. Conversely, biodiesel use is likely to result in a longer-lasting engine as it has a much higher lubricity when compared to petro diesel.

Proponents of biodiesel agree that it does not have widespread acceptance as yet and distribution stations remain relatively scarce. Production of the fuel should interest our army of entrepreneurs as the thought of making biodiesel fuel commercially is well within reach. Those who start off making homemade biodiesel could move up to the production of the fuel in their local regions. Once the task of producing it has been mastered, certification can be obtained from the EPA and the product can be made available to the public. Biodiesel is a superb alternative fuel, and it’s certainly an option which could radically change our impact on the Earth, perhaps more quickly than we might realise.

It’s entirely possible that making biodiesel may be a new concept to you. You might on occasion have come across one of those buses, fuelled by soy power and wondered what it was all about, or you might just have had enough of those constant ups and downs at the petrol station. Do you know what the size of your carbon footprint is? We’re all stopping to think about how we contribute to an overall problem of global warming and as we see the politicians treading water, we’re considering what we can do to push.

If you think that it is impossible to make biodiesel fuel safely, effectively and relatively cheaply, you are wrong. Thousands of people can testify to the fuel’s efficiency as they use it during their daily lives. It takes a little bit of application to understand the process until perfected and you do have to use some caution and common sense. You do not need a degree in chemistry and will be able to find the ingredients required rather easily.

It’s absolutely crucial to keep in mind that you need to beware of applying any overly simplistic advice or a simply written ‘how to,’ such as the example below, and before ever attempting to produce biodiesel, you must be in possession of highly detailed information on the steps involved along with thorough, in-depth safety advice and guidelines:

Making homemade biodiesel requires you to engage in a process called transesterification. You will be using a catalyst (lye) to remove glycerine from vegetable or animal oils or fats and you will effectively be extracting the oil that you can use in your diesel engine.

The catalyst you need is basically potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda and you also need methanol. The lye and the methanol must be kept protected from the environment as they absorb moisture and you must use pure products.

Measure out 200 mL of methanol into a sturdy plastic container and then add the lye, or caustic soda. Tightly close the plastic bottle container. Ensure that everything is dissolved by shaking the container vigorously.

The soy or vegetable oil needs to be heated to 130°F and poured into a blender. Add your mixture, close tightly and blend for about 30 minutes. The resulting mixture should be decanted into a large and strong bottle with a tight lid. After 24 hours of settling, the glycerine, which is the darker colour, is settled on the bottom. When this is the case, extract the biodiesel, essentially the top layer into a clean jar, being careful not to get any of the glycerine layer mixed in.

Your results will need to be washed to get rid of imperfections and you basically need to add clean water to the mixture, leave to settle for three hours or more and then allow the water to drain off, ideally through a hole you have previously prepared in the bottom of your mixture container.

If everything is not clear, repeat the process, but when you are happy with the clarity, the water will have evaporated and you will have your first version of biodiesel fuel. Before you get started on your new road to discovery, get your hands on some expert safety advice – which is essential, on how to make biodiesel to an internationally accepted standard, while being safe doing it!

There are so many reasons why you should consider biodiesel as part of your life and every reason why you should consider making an effort to learn how to make homemade biodiesel. Make a concerted effort to keep this New Year’s resolution for a change! We cannot forget how gasoline prices ran up to a terrible spike a year or so ago. Let’s try and control our lives so that we don’t remain slaves to external forces, be they individual organisations, governments or foreign countries.

Don’t take a lesson from others around you who seem consumed by their own ideals and take individual action to help protect the world that we live in. It’s possible for every one of us to make a difference and as we know that transportation accounts for a large chunk of carbon emissions, consider fuelling your vehicle with biodiesel or a blend of it.

Making biodiesel is a realistic option. In short, you need to engage a process called transesterification. You need to take vegetable or animal oils and fats, also known as triglycerides and extract the glycerine. A catalyst, which in this case is lye, helps to combine the remaining fatty acids to create the biodiesel.

You don’t have to spend a small fortune to set up a system allowing you to make biodiesel. Nor do you have to be a chemist or have the entire volunteer fire department on standby as you experiment! You can start out small, see how you get along and work up from there. At the least, you could make biodiesel fuel for the vehicles of your family and help to save money from your monthly budget.

Some of the basic chemicals that you will need when making biodiesel fuel include methanol. The methanol needs to be almost pure for it to work. You might think the methanol is linked to global warming and it is in a certain way, but it’s used in very much smaller quantities. In terms of emissions, you will definitely be making a difference versus petroleum or petro diesel. The catalyst, lye, should be protected as it can absorb moisture from the atmosphere. Look for potassium hydroxide or caustic soda and remember not to breathe the fumes or get lye on your skin, due to its caustic nature.

To start off with you can select over-the-counter canola oil or even sunflower oil. In addition to the methanol and the caustic soda you will need a blender, accurate measuring scales and receptacles, a suitably constructed container (look for the #2 designation on the underside of the container), two different funnels, a large bottle for the settling process, a separate bottle for washing and a thermometer.

Now you have everything you need to start and can begin your journey toward efficiency! With so much to gain, not only ecologically, but also financially and politically, what could be the reason – or reasons, why it’s taking such an incredibly long period of time to make this extraordinary change for the better, for all of us, not just now, but for all of the future generations which will follow as well?