U.S. DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Home Page

U.S. DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Home Page

The United States Department of Energy makes some interesting comments on its web site that may inform the rest of us as to the direction of US government policy regarding renewables.

EnergyFacts

EnergyFacts

I ran by this blog last night and found that it has one of the most comprehensive listings of energy news and information compacted into one clog on the web.

Chillin on the Other Long Island

Hanging out on the North Fork.


The North fork of Long Island and the Orient Point area remind me most of what Long Island was when I was a kid. It is the last part sill left -- since they have mallified and builr up everything else on the island including the Hamptons.



True we still love the Hamptons and our ability to go out and stay but it no longer is what it was in days gone by. Today we went the other long Island and have pictures to show you.

From the vineyards to the farms, from the coast to the charming villages the North Fork will remind you of what attracted all of us to wonders of Long Island. Long live the Fork, Long Live Summer, Long live family and Long live Long Island.

American Energy Independence

American Energy Independence

I have been thinking lately about how important it is that the United States change its dependence on foreign energy. Getting our energy from foreign sources poses many known problems. First the United States loses national security when it can not secure energy supplies. We all know how dangerous, unpredictable, and unstable the region of the world that produces oil can be. It is not in the security interest of the United States to be getting energy supplies from this region.

Second, vast sums of money--$700 Billion dollars -- is sent out of the country and out of our economy each year to pay for oil to run our cars. Our economy could use the $700 billion dollars and we should make every effort to keep that money in our economy. No matter what you do with that money spend it on programs, reduce the debt, reduce taxes it is better to keep it here in the United States.

Third, the United States is producing vast amounts of environmental damage that could be avoided. N matter what domestic source of energy you choose, nuclear, coal, natural gas, wind, hydroelectric, and of course conservation you immediately eliminate the danger of transporting all that oil and energy around the globe.

There have been economic and poltical problems associated with the country's past dependence on foreign supply. America's past consumption of petroleum has resulted in environmental problems as well.

U.S. oil consumption is approximately 21 million barrels/day, yet production is only 6 million barrels per day (9.5×105 m³/d). Cost to import oil is approximately $200 billion dollars a year. While it costs the Arabian Peninsula just one U.S. dollar to extract a barrel of oil, the cost on the world market has varied up to $100/barrel in 2007 dollars. While U.S. oil usage increases by 2% per year, the economy has been growing at 3.3% per year. Over the past several decades, the petroleum cartel has self-imposed intentional cuts in oil production - either because they seek higher profits, or because of their protesting of American foreign policy. These production cuts have caused drops in the U.S. stock markets, but have sometimes been ameliorated by the United States releasing more of its reserves. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve currently holds about 640 million barrels (1.02×108 m³) of oil and is being filled to a level of 700 million barrels (1.1×108 m³). Should, for example, oil production be stopped entirely, or becomes depleted, the U.S. would have only 32 to 35 days of resources to fall back upon. From a national security standpoint, such a situation is untenable,[who?] and calls for the immediate incubation of long term energy solutions prior to a 'peak oil' scenario which would force the economy to grinding halt. Although additional drilling in areas such as continental shelf, the Gulf of Mexico, off the U.S. West Coast, Alaska, and the Great Lakes may stave off the inevitability of the problem, it would be only a temporary solution, and carries the risk of further polluting our environment.

Cars are our major problem in energy need. I will address this aspect first in my rants over the next few weeks.

More summer photos from Somers

Back from Cold Stone

We took Andrew up for some Cold Stone and snapped this little picture to share.

Cold Stone Creamery ice cream is categorized by industry experts as “Super Premium.” Our ice cream is better because we make it fresh every day in every store, which puts Cold Stone completely in a class of our own.



At Cold Stone Creamery, we are proud of our heritage as Ice Cream Innovators. This heritage is based on a tradition of continuously redefining plain old regular ice cream into something truly extraordinary. Around here, we call every ice cream we serve a “Creation” – because each one is a work of art. Freshly made, smooth, creamy ice cream blended on a frozen granite stone with endless combinations – fruits, nuts, candy, cookies, brownies…you name it – you can mix in to your heart’s content.

Summer time and the . . .

Well you know the rest. . .





My garden is coming along with corn, oregano, basil, butternut squash, habenero peppers, and giant pumpkins. Keeping the weeds at bay has been a chore. The rain has been good and it has been helping the plants stay strong this summer





Gus -- yes I have a dog -- has a bath today because, well, he needed it. He smells much better now. I washed him with some watermelon shampoo and as soon as he stops smelling like wet dog he can come back in the house.

I went over and helped my brother at his place to do some woodwork and finishing of the garage.

The baby went to Reis park with his mom while we were working and we are getting ready to head over for some Cold Stone up the road. Summer is hard!