We all understand that turning off lights saves energy and our environment (See Kill the unused lights), but what about the myths around fluorescent lights that keep a great many from turning fluorescent lights off to save energy? Well there is only a very small amount of truth in these and in most cases they do not apply at all.

We'll most think that the "don't idle it will kill your engine" argument is a treehugger approach to stopping this insanity. The true is:

• Engine idling destroys your engine (Gasoline and Diesel too!)
• Engine idling accounts for over 30% of the fuel used daily in the US - this waste is driving the cost of fuel higher.
• Engine idling produces worse air quality hazards because and idling engine runs colder and colder engines run dirtier.

If you don't believe me here's a very telling piece from the Bus Conversions forum on Diesel engine idling, from an authority: Detroit Diesel, motivated by a casual reader asking, “How long should a diesel engine be warmed up before driving off?”

Read the full at www.busbuilding.com

and read The real cost of idling your car!

Updated 4/1/09:

There is one word of caution regarding The Pickens plan. Mr. Picken's Plan seems to promote the building of giant wind farms to produce electricity. And this is GREAT! But he is not all that altruistic as he says little or nothing about his strong underling agenda for public support to convert our national transportation fleet to run on CNG (Compressed Natural Gas.) Mr. Pickens is a savvy business person and is already heavily invested in Natural Gas. If he is successful with this push this will:

1. Continue to suck economic resources from your community but now place them into the pockets of Mr. Pickens and Natural Gas partners.
2. Sharply drive up the cost of Natural Gas, making home heating even more expensive (if that's possible)
3. Distract Detroit from retooling to build 100% Electric Vehicles.
4. Offer only a small fraction of new jobs in comparison to what the EV market will create.
5. Lastly, and very important, NG has some serious environmental hazards.  

For the better solution or more explanation on why CNG is a wolf in sheep's clothing, click here.

Old post starts here:

Finally, someone from the oil industry understands the need to move our energy source to something clean, sustainable and none combative. If you've not heard of the "The Pickens Plan" you should check it out. Mr Pickens will soon be responsible for the US becoming the largest producer of wind produced electricity in the world.

But remember, we mustn't stop at wind farms - so, marry this wind path with Electric Vehicles and high tech batteries, or possibly hydrogen energy storage, as a widely adopted transportation fuel sources, and America is on the right track.

If we accomplish making these two energy platforms the standard in American society we've done our job right and the world will quickly, and eagerly, follow.

Will Mr. Pickens make money on this venture? Sure he will! But that's what business is all about. I think we'd all much rather give our money to someone doing the right thing, wouldn't we?

Who says one person can't make a difference.

If you'd like to support his plan. Visit - http://push.pickensplan.com/

A small word of caution. Mr. Picken's Plan is not all that altruistic. Be careful not to fall victim to his underling message about converting Detroit to CNG. He is heavily invested in Natural Gas. This move would only distract us from Electric Vehicles and sharply increase the cost of Natural Gas. For the better solution or more explanation on why CNG is a wolf in sheep's clothing, click here.

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