Energy Star

By admin at 3 January, 2009, 4:17 am

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Energy Star – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy developed the Energy Star label to help purchasers identify the most energy efficient products in the marketplace. The label means that these products reduce energy use, thereby lessening the amount of fossil fuel being burned by power plants and the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. At the same time, these products help save taxpayer or stakeholder dollars and free up resources for vital programs and services.

Ethanol (E85). Ethanol is an alcohol-based alternative fuel produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops that have been converted into simple sugars. Feedstocks for this fuel include corn, barley and wheat. Ethanol can also be produced from “cellulosic biomass” such as trees and grasses and is called bioethanol. Ethanol is most commonly used to increase octane and improve the emissions quality of gasoline. In some areas of the United States, ethanol is blended with gasoline to form an E10 blend (10% ethanol and 90% gasoline), but it can be used in higher concentrations such as E85 or E95. Original equipment manufacturers produce flexible-fuel vehicles that can run on E85 or any other combination of ethanol and gasoline.

Evaporative Cooling – A cooling system that uses evaporation instead of refrigerant to cool the air using very little electricity. A mechanical device uses heat from the outside air to evaporate water that is held by pads inside the cooler. The heat is drawn out of the air through this process and the cooled air is blown into the home by the cooler’s fan. Evaporative cooling systems are common in West Texas where the humidity is low.

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