Part 1 of Thanksgiving Day Fires in the United States. In the years 2006 to 2008, an estimated 4,300 Thanksgiving Day fires occurred annually in the United States, causing 10 deaths, 50 injuries, and $30 million in property loss. Of these Thanksgiving Day fires, an estimated 2,000 fires occurred in residential buildings resulting in an […]
Part 5 of Geothermal Energy Under Our Feet. Today’s U.S. geothermal industry is a $2-billion per-year enterprise involving over 2800 MW of electricity generation capacity, about 620 MW of thermal energy capacity in direct-use applications such as indoor heating, greenhouses, food drying, and aquaculture, and over 7,300 MW of thermal energy capacity from geothermal heat […]
Part 3 of Geothermal Energy Under Our Feet. The total resource base in the United States, both renewable and non-renewable, is very large, with an energy content of over 657,000 billion barrels of oil equivalent (BBOE), or nearly 50,000 times the annual current rate of national energy consumption. Figure 1 shows graphically what the total […]
Part 2 of Geothermal Energy Under Our Feet. The United States possesses vast underground stores of heat whose full potential has yet to be realized. The Earth’s interior reaches temperatures greater than 4,000°C (>7,200°F), and this geothermal energy flows continuously to the surface. The energy content of domestic geothermal resources to a depth of 3 […]
Part 7 of United States Climate Change Impact. There is extensive statistical evidence from so-called “fingerprint” studies. Each factor that affects climate produces a unique pattern of climate response, much as each person has a unique fingerprint. Fingerprint studies exploit these unique signatures, and allow detailed comparisons of modeled and observed climate change patterns. Scientists […]
Part 1 of Lyme Disease. Lyme disease was first recognized in the United States in 1975, after an unusual outbreak of arthritis near Lyme, Connecticut. Since then, reports of Lyme disease have increased dramatically, and the disease has become an important public health problem in some areas of the United States. In 2005, 23,305 cases […]
Part 3 of Floodplain Construction Regulations. To provide communities with the information they need to enact and enforce floodplain management ordinances or laws, FEMA conducts floodplain studies for communities throughout the United States and publishes the results in Flood Insurance Studies (FISs) and Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) (Figure 2-14). Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps […]
The debt limit is the total amount of money that the United States government is authorized to borrow to meet its existing legal obligations, including Social Security and Medicare benefits, military salaries, interest on the national debt, tax refunds, and other payments. The debt limit does not authorize new spending commitments. It simply allows the […]
Part 2 of Arizona Consumer’s Guide to Buying a Solar Electric System. Why should I buy a PV system? People decide to buy PV systems for a variety of reasons. Some want to reduce air pollution and help preserve the earth’s finite fossil-fuel resources. Others would rather spend their money on an energy-producing improvement to […]
Part 9 of Schizophrenia. This is an exciting time for schizophrenia research. The outlook for people with schizophrenia has improved during the last 30 years or so. Although there still is no cure, effective treatments have been developed, and many people with schizophrenia improve enough to lead independent, satisfying lives. This is an exciting time […]
Part 4 of Geothermal Energy: Power from the Depths of the Earth. If you’ve ever soaked in water from a natural hot spring, you’re one of the millions of people around the world who has enjoyed the direct use of geothermal energy. And while this naturally occurring hot water may be the perfect tonic for […]
Part 3 of Geothermal Energy: Power from the Depths of the Earth. Flip a switch and light up a room—what could be easier? Push a button on the TV remote control and be entertained. It all seems so simple that we are often unaware of the true environmental and social cost of these conveniences—and who […]
Part 2 of Geothermal Energy: Power from the Depths of the Earth. Geothermal energy delivers some powerful environmental and economic benefits. If you live in an area that uses geothermal resources for electricity production, you’re quite fortunate. Consider Lake County, California, which is home to many of the geothermal power plants at our nation’s best-developed […]
Part 2 of Swine Flu: Q&A. How swine flu spreads among pigs? Swine influenza virus is believed to be spread primarily by close contact between pigs and potentially contaminated objects moving between infected and uninfected pigs. Herds with continuous infection and herds that are vaccinated against swine flu in may have sporadic disease, or may […]
Part 8 of Advanced Technology and Alternative Fuel Vehicles. Electricity is considered a fuel when used in vehicles. Electric vehicles use various types of batteries and other energy storage mechanisms to store the electricity used to run a vehicle. While the electricity production process for vehicles may contribute somewhat to air pollution, an electric vehicle […]
Part 3 of Air-Source Heat Pumps. When selecting an air-source heat pump, consider the following three characteristics carefully: the energy efficiency rating, sizing, and the system’s components. Energy efficiency rating In the United States, we rate a heat pump’s energy efficiency by how many British thermal units (Btu) of heat it moves for each watt-hour […]
Part 3 of Get Your Power from the Sun. Yes, many states offer incentives. For specific information, call one of the contacts listed under “Getting Help”. Another excellent source is the National Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE). Prepared by the North Carolina Solar Center, this database contains information on financial and regulatory […]
Part 1 of Energy-Efficient Windows. Windows bring light, warmth, and beauty into buildings and give a feeling of openness and space to living areas. They can also be major sources of heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. In 1990 alone, the energy used to offset unwanted heat losses and gains […]
Part 6 of Earth Sheltered Houses. A form of earth-sheltered house that has been receiving much attention is referred to as an “Earthship.” These houses are built to be self-contained and independent; their design allows occupants to grow food inside and to maintain their own water and solar electrical systems. Some builders believe they have […]
Part 2 of Heat Your Water With The Sun. What is solar heating? Solar heaters, or solar thermal systems, provide environmentally friendly heat for household water, space heating, and swimming pools. The systems collect the sun’s energy to heat air or a fluid. The air or fluid then transfers solar heat directly or indirectly to […]