Using biodiesel to decrease your dependence on foreign oil
f you’re like the rest of us, you’re Watching the price of oil and gasoline set new highs on a daily basis and wondering just what you can do to insulate yourself from the uncertainty of fossil fuels. Unfortunately for us, there is no silver bullet for our impending energy problems. But that doesn’t mean we can’t adopt multiple solutions to achieve energy self sufficiency. As we’ve seen from the breakdown of the current oil based economy, it’s not a good idea to put all our eggs in one basket. Luckily for us, there are multiple sources that are available when we talk about alternative energy replacements. The 3 main types are–solar, wind, and biofuels. Since most everyone is already familiar with the first two, let’s look a little closer at biofuels. One of the most popular biofuels is biodiesel. It’s very similar to diesel fuel, can be easily made at home with a relatively simple processor, and can be made from a variety of raw materials like vegetable oil, animal fat, soybeans, or any of a number of oil bearing plants. Even though it hasn’t attained widespread usage yet, that may soon change. There are some interesting emerging technologies that could put biodiesel into the spotlight. The most intriguing of these is algae based biodiesel. If that lives up to the hype, it would be a big step towards solving our current energy problems.
Biodiesel sounds great, but what could you use it for around your home? The obvious answer is as a replacement fuel for your diesel powered automobile. Another important usage around your home could come as a replacement for home heating oil. Since diesel fuel and home heating oil are very similar, if not essentially the same, biodiesel could be used as a replacement in heating oil powered furnaces, boilers, or hot water heaters. At most, the change to biodiesel in these appliances should be a relatively straightforward and inexpensive task.
Another use would be as a fuel for a diesel powered electrical generator. If you’ve ever seen a Lister engine, you know that many of these are attached to generators. These engines, and diesel engines in general, are very reliable, efficient, and can provide large amounts power when needed.
While it may not be a complete solution, and you shouldn’t rush out to buy a biodiesel processor, you should think about integrating biodiesel into your overall energy plan. Diversification isn’t just for the stock market. The more options you have, the easier it is to adapt in the event that any one of them fail.
About Author
D.R. Smith is a proponent of off grid living, alternative energy, and green power solutions. He’s been building and designing solar and wind components for over 20 years. Click here for DIY Solar Cell and Wind Generator Plans
