Environmetrics

Parallel and Series Hybrid Cars – Environmentally Friendly & Efficient

Within the last few years, advances in the automotive industry and pressures to find a more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to the classic car, hybrid cars have become a viable option to the everyday consumer. Most people who choose to drive a hybrid, base their choice on it being the least impact on the environment in long-term, however it is also a very efficient vehicle. So where does this efficiency come from?

The hybrid car has a small engine that runs on fuel, how you would imagine a ‘normal’ car to work, however it also brags an addition electric motor. When you are accelerating in a hybrid, this works with the gasoline engine to reduce the work it has to do. The electric engine is recharging its batteries automatically when you drive.

There are two types of ways that these engines can work together in a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle. The first is called a parallel hybrid car, in this type the electric motor and the gasoline engine work in conjunction with each other to get the car moving. The other type is a series hybrid, which can be easily explained as the gasoline engine enabling the electric motor to power the car. The gas engine will either directly power the electric motor, or it will charge the batteries that enable the car to move.

Although there are multiple types of hybrid cars that are currently available in North America and Europe, this is still a relatively new technology. And although in the long run it may save you money, it is still quite a substantial step up to purchase a hybrid as opposed to its gas-fueled cousin. And though the electric motors in these cars are thoroughly road-tested, they are a relatively new technology and can cost upwards of $3000 to get fixed.

In the end, the choice of car that you drive is a very personal decision, but it is nice to know that there are more options open to the environmental and economical driver than were previously.

Is Barbequing Environmentally Friendly or Not?

This is probably a no-brainer for a lot of people. I imagine the question is more of which method of barbequing is more environmentally sound. Seeing as how Brits hosted a grand total of 120 million barbeques last year it is unlikely that anyone is giving up their favorite outdoor dining decisions. The three methods used are charcoal, gas and electric. These all have pros and cons that should be weighed before making your ‘green’ decision.

Gas is the most efficient fuel, however, it is also a fossil fuel. Whether you use butane, the classic kerosene oil, or propane you are still contributing to the harmful carbon levels all over the globe. Charcoal actually releases one hundred times the amount of carbon monoxide than gas does. The difference being that charcoal is made of a natural substance and only releases the carbon that already existed and would have been released anyway. Electric grills come with two problems. One is that you are not going to get the grilled taste and might as well cook inside. As for the green effect, unless your electricity comes from some place other than a coal-powered power you are still contributing to harmful gasses.

When using charcoal there are certain types that are better than others. The majority of charcoal is created from hardwood trees in tropical forests. These are not the ideal trees to cut down if you wish to help out the environment. Another item that’s bad for your food is that average charcoal is covered with firelighter in order to aid in the lighting process. The best environmentally sound charcoal is that created by coppiced trees. These are grown and managed so as to not eliminate or overuse them. The wood is much more “open” which makes lighting it easier. The cost of the charcoal referred to as British lump wood is slightly more expensive, however, you will use smaller amounts because it burns faster and longer than the average hardwood type. This evens out the overall cost.

Is The BP oil Spill In The Gulf OF Mexico Going To Change How Oil Companies Drill for Oil?

Also known as the Deep water Horizon Oil spill, the BP Oil Spill of the Gulf of Mexico which started on April 20, 2010 was as a result of an oil blowout. A catastrophic explosion claimed the lives of 11 platform workers and injured 17 others. The oil spill which is estimated at 12,000 to 100,000 barrels spill per day is certainly going to affect the way in which oil companies drill oil.

The demand for a ban on future offshore drilling has now risen in the United States to a loud shout. This came after the BP executive admittance to the members of the Congress that the gusher on the floor of Mexico could reach 40,000 barrels per day if the flow is not capped soon. The demand has been gathering worldwide support since the control of underwater gushing of oil is proving to be extremely difficult.

In the future, the companies planning to drill oil offshore will be required to have well checked drilling equipment and at least a well set plan and equipment to curb an oil spill in case the worst happens. At the very least, these companies will be charged highly to discourage offshore oil drilling and those drilling onshore will be charged less. Moreover, the safety training programs to the rig workers should be intensified.

However, whether the ban on offshore oil drilling stands or not, people are not going to stop arguing about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill any time soon. It is also not likely that oil companies will change much in terms of how the drill for oil. They will argue that the costs are too prohibitive, I just hope that the American public realise the affect that this will have on their local diesel prices.

Also the millions of oil to be found in offshore drill and its benefits far outweight any potential problems of oil spills. At least that’s what they will argue. Their solution will only be to improve prevention.