Cut Your Home's Heat Loss

Want to decrease heat loss in your home? A new German product called Climapor by Saarpor can do just that. And you'll never guess what it is... wallpaper.

The heat insulation from Climapor exceeds the effects of conventional materials like brick and concrete. In fact, the four millimeter (about one-eighth inch) thick paper can provide the same insulating value as 68 millimeters (about three inches) of solid brick or 210 millimeters (about eight inches) of concrete.

Climapor comes in rolls of wallpaper and in the form of tiles. It utilizes a form of carbon, the same heat reflective element that warms the planet. The expandable polystyrene (EPS) product is filled with graphite particles that act as mirrors, reflecting thermal radiation and reducing heat loss.

According to a Green Energy News article, if Climapor and similar products can demonstrate their heat reflecting capabilities and insulation effectiveness, then cutting energy consumption in buildings may be as simple as redecorating.

Who is using biodiesel?

Approximately 700 major fleets use biodiesel, according to the National Biodiesel Board. Here is a list of just a few biodiesel users:
-City buses in St. Louis, Missouri

-Organic farmers in California

-Marine fleets in Hawaii

-The Agriculture Research Center of the USDA uses biodiesel and heating oil mixture to heat its buildings and uses biodiesel mixed with petroleum diesel in its farm fleet and tour bus

-For a list of more biodiesel users click here

According to the National Biodiesel Board, biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.

Biodiesel is the first and only alternative fuel to have a complete evaluation of emission results and potential health effects submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Air Act.

It is better for the environment because it is made from renewable resources and has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel. It is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar. Since it is made in the U.S. from renewable resources such as soybeans, its use decreases dependence on foreign oil and contributes to our own economy.

Students at Washington State University are making biodiesel from dining center oil. Check it out here.

Check out Gas 2.0 for the Top 15 Unexpected Uses For Biodiesel.

Earth's Core Keeping WSU Students Warm This Winter

Geothermal energy, a renewable energy source, is an affordable and environmental-friendly alternative to fuel that Washington State University is using to heat and cool a residence hall.

Geothermal energy comes from the earth’s core. Most high temperature geothermal heat is harvested in areas close to tectonic plate boundaries where volcanic activity rises close to the earth’s surface, however, even cold ground contains heat that can be extracted with a geothermal heat pump.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, geothermal heat pumps are the most energy efficient, cost effective and environmentally clean systems for temperature control.

Due to recent advances in heat pump performance, geothermal energy is a rapidly growing market. Because it uses the earth’s natural heat, it is one of the most efficient and comfortable heating and cooling technologies available.

WSU’s Olympia Avenue residence hall uses geothermal heating and cooling. Water pipes run under the residence hall into the adjacent play field that acts as the well field for geothermal heating and cooling. It provides water at a stable 50 degree temperature all year.

The pipes are filled with a glycol-water solution that remains the temperature of the earth it runs through. Then the solution brings that temperature back to the building to either heat it or cool it. In the summer the 50 degree water runs through the building to keep it cool and during the winter it goes through a heat exchanger to remove enough heat to keep the building warm. Instead of having to heat the water from 30 to 70 degrees, it only has to heat the water from 50 to 70 degrees.

Although most homes still use traditional furnaces and air conditioners, geothermal heat pumps are becoming more popular and should be strongly considered when building homes and businesses.

For more information and picutres of WSU's Olympia Avenue click here.