Dark Days For Energy Efficiency

[DemSigns]

Dark Days For Energy Efficiency

After years of research, Charles Bates is close to perfecting a more energy-efficient method for casting engine blocks, a technique that industry would love to put into wider use. The University of Alabama engineer, who uses X-rays to monitor the shaping of molten metal, says only one big technical hurdle remains in refining a process that uses 30% less energy than traditional casting methods. "We've been making progress by leaps and bounds," he adds.

But Bates may be stopped short. The U.S. Energy Dept. wants to slash funding for the efficiency program that supports his work. This perplexes the foundry industry. "It's a great program, and we'd be sorry to see it go," says Bryan Baker, vice-president of Vulcan Engineering, which supplies casting equipment to General Motors, BMW, and others.

Across the board, federal funding for energy efficiency is taking a major hit. In the White House's proposed 2007 budget, efficiency spending is down 17% overall from 2006 appropriations, and 25% from levels in 2002. The cuts are deeper for individual programs. Research to help industry reduce energy use is slated for a 30% decrease, and some programs are being shut down.

As a result, "we would be leaving a lot of energy on the table," says Peter Molinaro, vice-president of Dow Chemical.

.....

[jpak]

1. Conservation is a personal virtue

Guess these guys didn't get the memo from Dead-Eye Dick...

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. If you want REAL energy efficiency...

Check out the nearest black hole (and no, the interior of *'s head doesn't count.)

For the first time scientists measured both the mass of hot gas that is being sucked into nine older black holes and the unseen super-speedy jets of high energy particles spit out, which essentially form a cosmic engine. Then they determined a rate of how efficient these older black hole engines are and were awe-struck.

These black holes are 25 times more efficient than anything man has built, with nuclear power being the most efficient of man-made efforts, said study lead author Steve Allen of Stanford University and the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center.

"If you could make a car engine that was as efficient as one of these black hole engines you could get about a billion miles per gallon of gas," Allen said. "In anyone's book that would be pretty green."

The article continues at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060424/ap_on_sc/black_holes

[BrklynLiberal]

3. His research would not put any money into the pockets of BFEE and cronies.

[phantom power]

4. In cases like this one...

I sometimes wonder why the businesses don't fund the research themselves. If this method is so promising, and close to commercialization, and they want it that bad, then maybe they should fund the remainder on their own dime.

[acmejack]

5. Isn't it curious?

Whatever happened to these R&D efforts?

[Extend a Hand]

6. sounds like corporate welfare to me

...

[midnight armadillo]

7. Why do you hate America?

What, companies do their own R&D? Are you one of those pinko commies or something? ;-)

But seriously, some research fields are very high risk or take a very long time to reach fruition and are better suited to gov funding. this sounds like such a case.