Archive for June, 2009
Oil’s Journey: From Crude in the Ground to Heating Oil in Your Tank
by Jennifer Schwartz
When Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf of Mexico in 2005, warnings about oil price spikes splashed across the news. The public generally understood this correlation: If the Gulf and its surrounding states is a national hub for the U.S. oil industry, it makes sense that a destructive storm creates a kink [...]
Read More »Using Solar Energy at Home: Is it Practical?
by Carol Sonenklar
From California to Maine, electricity rates are rising. In some parts of the country, increases are in the double digits. This development will undoubtedly cause many people to consider the benefits of solar energy for their homes. Although solar remains a small player in the U.S. energy industry, representing about one percent [...]
Read More »Living Green in the Kitchen
by Joanne Eglash
Eating your green veggies benefits your health – and eco-friendly, “go-green” cooking benefits the body, budget, and planet. Now that’s mighty tasty!
Finding a green vegetable that your entire family enjoys, however, probably wasn’t an easy task. George H.W. Bush infamously disliked broccoli, for example. The average child isn’t an instant fan of [...]
Buderus: Profile of a Heating Brand
by Greg Burt
If experience counts, Germany’s vernerable Buderus, with nearly 300 years in the heating business, is hard to beat. Though its one of Europe’s oldest companies, Buderus has been operating in the US only since 1990. BBT (Bosch Buderus Thermotechnik) North America imports and distributes hot water boilers, domestic hot water storage tanks, [...]
Read More »Profile of an Energy Mogul: Secretary of Energy Steven Chu
by Nick Malinowski
“He is a kind man; he is a nice man. But he is not a patient man. People are going to have to take a deep breath and realize they’re going to be moving at a much quicker pace than they were used to.”
- Matt Rogers, an energy expert with McKinsey [...]
The Many Varieties of Fuel Oil and What They’re Used For
by Nick Malinowski
Petroleum, as it is pumped out of the earth in its natural state, is a relatively useless substance. However, a single barrel of petroleum, or crude oil, can be refined into countless useful products, including gasoline, heating oil, asphalt and even crayons and bubble gum. One such product is fuel oil, which [...]
Read More »DIY Home Energy Conservation Projects that Will Save You Big Bucks
by Carol Sonenklar
No matter what the temperature, making sure your home is energy efficient will save you money all year round. If you live in a warm climate, you’ll be turning on your air conditioner soon. Improvements in your house’s infrastructure will help now with electricity bills and later, with heating oil bills. Taking [...]
Read More »Profile of an Oil Producer: Venezuela
by Greg Burt
The controversial Citgo program, through which the government of Venezuela supplies free or deeply-discounted oil to poor Americans, nearly ended last January amid reports that Venezuela is cash-strapped and some serious belt-tightening measures would soon ensue. As it turned out, the program was extended indefinitely, after intervention by Venezuela’s socialist president, Hugo [...]
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