ALA “AIRS TRUTH ABOUT INDOOR AIR POLLUTION”
The American Lung Association (ALA) in partnership with 3M Industries is offering a booklet filled with tips to help reduce exposure to pollutants and allergens in the home. The booklet entitled “Breathe Easier: Home”, can be obtained free of charge by calling 1-800-388-3458 or by sending an e-mail with your name and address to 3mfiltrete@3mservice.montagenet.com . This booklet will increase in importance when you consider these facts:
- EPA ranks poor indoor air quality among the top five environmental risks to public health.
- Levels of air pollution inside the home can be two to five times higher than outdoor levels.
- Americans spend as much as 90 percent of their time indoors.
- Health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced years after exposure.
- Asthma, which can be triggered by indoor air pollution, costs our nation $14 billion in health care costs annually.
- Here are several tips that can be found in the booklet, “Breathe Easier: Home”:
- Run the furnace fan continuously, regardless of the outdoor temperature. This is the only way that the furnace filter can catch indoor particles.
- Check flues and chimneys for blockages and cracks that allow fumes to enter the home. Make sure the chimney has a good draft up the flue.
- Test your home for Radon.
- Make sure that all combustion appliances are vented properly to the outside.
- Maintain low indoor humidity, ideally between 35-55 percent relative humidity to prevent mold growth.
- Use a high efficiency furnace filter and change it every two to three months.
- Make sure to clean and maintain humidifiers and de-humidifiers since they can be breeding grounds for mold and bacteria.
BACHARACH INTRODUCES NEW COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATOR
Bacharach, Inc., a world leader in gas detection since 1927 has recently introduced to the market the GAS HUNTER – a compact, easy to use instrument that performs the functions of seven individual instruments. The GAS HUNTER can sniff out combustible gases from part per million levels to 100 percent by volume, it also monitors ambient Oxygen and Carbon Monoxide presence, as well as measuring draft in flues and setting appliance manifold pressures. For more detailed information on the GAS HUNTER or other Bacharach products, call 1-800-736-4666 or visit their website at www.bacharach-inc.com.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES – ARE THEY PRACTICAL?
The first electric car was built in 1891. By the turn of the century, there were twice as many electric vehicles (EV) as gas powered cars. There are almost 11,000 EVs in the U.S. today. But the same problem remains – an efficient battery. EVs must have batteries that can be recharged continuously. Most batteries can’t store large amounts of electricity so EVs must carry as many batteries as possible – sometimes accounting for half the weight of the vehicle. EVs are not for long-distance driving and typically can only travel 50-130 miles between charges. Research is being done to develop advanced batteries that could double the range of EVs. Electric vehicles are low-maintenance and produce no tailpipe emissions. But making the electricity to charge them is still a problem because over 90% of the electricity generated in America is the result of the burning of fossil fuels.
REASONS NOT TO DRILL FOR OIL IN THE ARTIC
- The U.S. Geological Survey states that there is only a six-month supply of recoverable oil.
- Any oil discovered in the Artic would not be available for at least 10 years.
- Drilling for oil will destroy the unique plants on which caribou, musk oxen, wolves, polar bears, and other animals depend for survival.
- You cannot drill for oil without spilling oil. Prudhoe Bay oil fields suffer over 400 spills a year.
- Higher fuel efficiency standards for vehicles would save more oil within ten years than could ever be produced by Artic drilling.
AECP BILL DEFEATED IN COMMITTEE
The Commerce and Trade Committee of the Virginia General Assembly failed to report out the AECP legislative proposal – House Bill 2317 – by a vote of 12 – 10. This means that the bill is dead for this year. This occurred on January 30 in Richmond. The close vote represents a solid opportunity to re-introduce the bill next year. The political environment of this years General Assembly – in which all bills that even resemble a tax are being killed by the Republican majority – made it very difficult for success. We made a good effort and even had some Republicans on the committee vote in favor of the bill.
This battle is far from being over and every year we make a little more progress and take another step in the right direction. Many thanks to all of those who contacted your legislators in support of House Bill 2317. And much appreciation to Delegate Ken Plum who was the Chief Patron of the bill. He fought very hard on behalf of the proposal.
PRESIDENT BUSH ANNOUCES FREEDOM FUEL INITIATIVE
President Bush announced in his State of the Union address on January 28 a $1.2 billion dollar Freedom Fuel Initiative which will hopefully begin to reverse America’s growing dependence on foreign oil. The Initiative will develop technology needed for commercially viable hydrogen powered fuel cells – a way to power cars, trucks, homes, and businesses. Freedom Fuel will invest $720 million in new funding over the next five years to develop the technologies and infrastructure needed to produce, store, and distribute hydrogen for use in fuel cell vehicles and electricity generation. Fuel cells produce no pollution and no greenhouse gases. The $720 million will combine with funding available under the FreedomCAR (Cooperative Auto Research) initiative to develop hydrogen powered fuel cells, hydrogen infrastructure and advanced automotive technologies.
The Freedom Fuel Initiative will attempt to overcome the following key technical and cost barriers:
- Lowering the cost of hydrogen: Currently, hydrogen is four times more expensive to produce than gasoline.
- Creating effective storage: Current hydrogen storage systems are inadequate for use in the wide range of vehicles that consumers demand.
- Creating affordable hydrogen fuel cells: Currently, fuel cells are ten times more expensive than internal combustion engines.
Vehicles are a significant source of air pollution in America. Over 30% of oil consumption in the U.S. is a result of vehicle usage. Hydrogen fuel cells create electricity to power cars without producing any pollution. Hydrogen has the highest energy content per unit of weight of any know fuel and when burned in an engine, hydrogen produces effectively zero emissions. Its only waste product is water vapor. Hydrogen can be produced from abundant domestic resources including natural gas, coal, biomass, and even water. Combined with other technologies such as carbon capture and storage, renewable energy and fusion energy, fuel cells could make an emissions-free energy future possible.
MAGNEHELIC GAUGES ARE DISCONTINUED
Effective December 31, 2002, magnehelic gauges will no longer be offered as an instrumentation option for the Minneapolis Blower Door System. These gauges have been a part of the Minneapolis Blower Door product line for over 20 years. They provided a low cost gauge for basic test applications. As Blower Door technicians have become more sophisticated, they have demanded more accurate and versatile gauges for their Blower Doors. The Energy Conservatory (TEC) has responded by developing digital pressure gauges and the Automated Performance Testing system. Both of these options provide increased Blower Door test precision and ability to accurately measure the small pressure changes needed to conduct building performance tests. A limited number of magnehelic gauges will be available from TEC to replace defective units.
BILL INTRODUCED TO CLOSE LIGHT TRUCK LOOPHOLE
On January 30, Senators Feinstein and Snowe introduced a bill that raises the average fuel economy of light trucks to match car fuel economy by the year 2011, and also requires that vehicles between 8,500 and 10,000 pounds meet fuel economy standards for the first time. According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), this bill would reduce the fuel consumption of SUVs, vans, and pickups by one million barrels of oil a day by 2016.
ENERGY TIP
Take advantage of “off-peak” hours. Electricity costs may be less at times of day when demand is slow. Ask your utility when these “off-peak” hours are and plan to use appliances at these times.