Here is a interesting company that believes the future will be driving cars with algae!


The Holy Grail in the renewable energy sector has been to create a clean, green process which uses only light, water and air to create fuel. Valcent's VAT algae-to-biofuel technology (50% owned with equal partner Global Green Solutions Inc.) mass produces algae, vegetable oil which is suitable for refining into a cost-effective, non-polluting biodiesel. The algae derived fuel will be an energy efficient replacement for fossil fuels and can be used in any diesel powered vehicle or machinery. In addition, 90% by weight of the algae is captured carbon dioxide, which is "sequestered" by this process and so contributes significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gases. Valcent has commissioned the world's first commercial-scale bioreactor pilot project at its test facility in El Paso, Texas.
Algae, like all plants, require carbon dioxide, water with nutrients and sunlight for growth. The VAT bioreactor technology is ideal for location adjacent to heavy producers of carbon dioxide such as coal fired power plants, refineries or manufacturing facilities, as the absorption of CO2 by the algae significantly reduces greenhouse gases. These reductions represent value in the form of Certified Emission Reduction credits, so-called carbon credits, in jurisdictions that are signatories to the Kyoto Protocol. Although the carbon credit market is still small, it is growing fast, valued in 2005 at $6.6 Billion in the European Union and projected to increase to $77 Billion if the United States accepts a similar national cap-and-trade program.

It has come past that point to plant,that sould have started 20 years ago.

Plant life takes longer to grow

longhairbiker - your're actions are commendable, somehow my attempts to be a good recycler and my push that has gotten many of my customers using cloth bags insteat of plastic make me feel a little below your standards.

From the research I've done, like you I believe that the powerful have succeeded in squashing various forms of energy conservation as you pointed out about cars.

On several occations I have heard President Obama comment that we will find efficient and renewable sources of clean energy AND MAKE IT PAY.

To me this says two things, First that he is well aware that this technology already exists and have been used by other countries. Secondly, that the reason we have not used it and, in fact, what we were WAITING for was the technology to be developed by currently powerful forces (elite and capitalist corporations)by which to effectively CHARGE CUSTOMERS. In other words something akin to charging for the use of radio waves.

Anyway - I need to insulate my home BIG TIME, but have no real disposable funds. Have you any suggestions for what material I can use that is free and(doing the work myself). Oh, I actually thought of mud, but I can't figure out how to get enough dirt, water it and plater it where I need it and have it stay there.

Don't laught - I am trying. I even thought about buying old blankets and such at garage sales and using that, but I would need too much and so couldn't afford that either.

Anyone else having issues with getting to the green?

There are some people trying new ways.

Have you heard of the city of Abu Dhabi. It has embarked upon an ambitious plan to build a zero-emission clean-tech centre in the desert. The question is will it work?

http://www.economist.com/sciencetechnology/tq/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12673433

If all vehicles on the planet ran an assisted hydrogen oxygen fuel cell today- the world would be 41% cleaner overnight. After all that I've learned in the last year in having a fuel cell vehicle I'm disgusted with auto companies, petroleum companies, and the government. Its the largest coverup in world history. Just pityful.

If it is such a good idea why hasn't someone started their own company? Why don't you?

.....insulating on a budget is quite tough. Paper and cardboard can be used as insulation. Door and window seals and barrier material is inexpensive. Can expansion foam is inexpensive and can be squirted almost anywhere. Buying up large rugs and multistacking them on floors insulates them well. Keeping your fireplace flue plugged tight when not in use helps. Those power conditioners for your home are around 100 dollars apiece. You can look up radiance paint on the net. I've seen it for as low as 40 dollars a gallon. It has microscopic insulation in the paint and after it cures has an R19 insulation rating. You can use it on any room in your home except your bathroom because the paint will trap in humidity. Making sure eaves vents are clean and operating properly will save money. Making sure ventilation is clean and working properly saves and conserves. Conduit insulation covers are inexpensive. Mud, and plaster are fair insulating materials. So is used styrofoam.

Maybe lack of capital?

I would actually like to create a public information service that I feel would be a very good for everyone as well as the environment.

However there are several things holding me back.

1. There's no way I can do it by myself. I just don't have the energy or resources do it on my own.

2. I don't have access to the captital that would be required to get it underway.

3. I'm not even out to make money anyway. I don't even want to run it as a 'business'. I would do it entirely as a public service (if I could afford to do that). Obviously though, I'd have to get something out of it, a person has to eat! So I'd basically be forced to make a business out of it with all that would entail.

4. A lot of the information that I have to offer would be shunned by mainstream society anyway. Although, if I had the resources and energy to do it I wouldn't let that stop me.

In the meantime I suppose I could just write books on it. For some reason I just feel like that's a big waste of time because all that seems to do is just put more opinions out there in the cesspool of opinions that are already so dilute that no single idea is taking hold anyway.

In short, I give up. As far as I'm concerned humans are just a hopeless cause.

I ride my bike rather than take my car unless I am going out of town or needing to haul things.

Oh yeh... I try not to fart in public.

Oh, so you're hoarding all the gas.

No wonder it's getting expensive.

I have been using beewax candles that I buy from the farmer's market lately at night.

soon I will be using old newspaper, or better yet palm tree leaves to wipe my *** to

I could collect my human hair and create a blanket one day

Now if that isn't green then I don't know what!

Save the paper...don't bother wiping your @ss....other animals don't.

I got a lil car cause it is just retarded to use a 5,000 lb suv to get one person from point A to point B at 70 mph.

Popular Science has GREAT ideas and insights on the latest technologies (as well as insights on the prohibitive legal stances of the petroleum industry) in reguards to Greening things up.

My personal delima is work related....trying to figure out a profitable way to recycle PET and older plastics...instead of having to pay additional costs simply to recycle them and lose not only the physical plastics but having to pay to lose them. I also gotta factor in the loss rates for unclean plastics....the ones that people put petroleum products in that bind on a molecular level and release far more additional pollutants when heated to a point of molecular breakdown. IF I can figure this one out...I could literally save and make a huge chunk for the company I serve.

Go Nuclear and spend research funds on waste reprocessing!

France and Germany is doing this. I think it is a good choice actually