Effects of Oil Spills on Wildlife and Habitat

Oil spills affect wildlife and their habitats in many ways. The severity of the injury depends on the type and quantity of oil spilled, the season and weather, the type of shoreline, and the type of waves and tidal energy in the area of the spill. Oil can be categorized into five groups, ranging from […]


Ethanol: Separating Fact from Fiction

When energy prices soared during the 1970s, most Americans recognized the inherent danger in the U.S.’s dependence on imported petroleum. Despite current complacency, the potential economic and national security threats have not diminished. In 1995 the United States exceeded the level of imported petroleum it reached during the 1970s. Today, in fact, more than half […]


Today’s Alternative Fuel Choices: P-Series

Part 10 of Advanced Technology and Alternative Fuel Vehicles. P-Series is a relatively new alternative fuel. It is a blend of ethanol, methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF), and pentanes, with butane added for blends used in severe cold weather. Because both the ethanol and the MTHF can be produced from renewable biomass resources, emissions from producing and using […]


Energy Savings Glossary

Part 5 of Learn About Saving Energy. Coal:A solid fossil fuel found in the earth. Coal is burned to make electricity. Compact fluorescent lights (CFL) or Compact fluorecent bulbs (CFB): Lights that use a lot less energy than regular light bulbs. We can use compact fluorescent lights for reading lights and ceiling lights. Energy: Energy […]


How do we use energy?

Part 2 of Learn About Saving Energy. We use a lot of energy to heat and cool our homes. We burn fuel in our furnaces or boilers for heat. We also burn fuel to heat water for our baths and showers. Large utility companies use energy to make electricity. These companies usually burn fossil fuels, […]