Monday, July 21, 2008

Al Gore's Renewable Energy Proposal

Investment banker Jerome a Paris has written an excellent analysis of Al Gore's proposal that the U.S. obtain all of its electricity from renewable or zero-carbon sources within 10 years. Check it out.

Regards,
Tom

Saturday, July 19, 2008

End of the Walrus?

The polar bear makes a wonderful poster child, but the homely walrus is a remarkable and attractive creature also, writes Natalie Angier in the New York Times, and also apparently doomed by global warming. What a sad article.
Driving a Toyota Prius? Get Better Mileage

My daughter is home from college now, and has been driving our cars more. From her, we've learned that a Prius will get 5-10% better mileage (which seems huge to me) through the application of some simple techniques.

First is very slow starts--really easing off the line at traffic lights, as gently as possible. Second is easy going up hills--trying to accelerate as little as possible and even accepting some slowing if necessary (and possible).

The last fillups on our two Priuses revealed the following mpg: 2003 Prius, 57.6 mpg; 2005 Prius, 58.7 mpg. In the past, I've been getting (during the summer) about 52 mpg on the 2003 and about 50 on the 2005, so the difference is substantial.

Regards,
Tom