Energy Flashes

[struggle4progress]

ISSUE NO. 34 - JULY/AUGUST 1975

OUR HATS ARE OFF TO MAINE'S GOVERNOR LONGLEY and Office of Energy Resources, who've ignored the advances of would be oil refinery builders in lieu of a better plan: A crash program to supplement the Pine Tree state's fuel needs by converting surplus and waste wood into clean burning methanol for heating homes and powering automobiles. If the idea is successful and there's no reason why it shouldn't be Maine may well become the first (and only) place in the nation to wean itself and its citizens from total dependence on oil. What has your state been doing lately? <snip>

JIM BEENE'S WIND POWERED HOME HEATING SYSTEM works whether backyard breezes are blowing or not. The Pennsylvania physicist's "better idea" feeds generated electricity to immersion heaters placed in a large basement water tank the resulting hot liquid holds its temperature for days, and can be circulated from room to room for good ole toasty warmth whenever he wants it by way of a conventional, thermostatically controlled radiator system! <snip>

"OK," SAID THE LITTLE RED HEN, "I'LL DO IT MYSELF" and so will the citizens of Springfield, Vermont and six other area towns who've recently voted for public takeover of their regional power company. Meanwhile, the residents of two additional villages in that state have cast their ballots to quash any further local development of nuclear generating plants. <snip>

A UNIQUE NEW SOLAR HEAT PUMP now being developed by engineers at Battelle Columbus Labs in Ohio may prove to be so efficient that skeptical homeowners and builders will finally begin converting their energy intensive "whole house air, conditioning" to at least partial use of "free", abundant sun power. The low friction, long lasting device incorporated into a system including roof mounted collectors, a heat exchanger and storage tank, and conventional "home comfort" equipments said to be capable of operating on nothing but solar power 60 to 80%0 of the time (depending on climate). It should be on the market in about five years.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/top_articles/1975_July_August/Energy_Flashes