Gas prices in the Bahamas have risen drasticaly in the last two years. They are only recently starting to go down. The price of gas on October 12, 2006 was $3.74. Now, it is now $4.48. That may not seem like a big rise but remember that it has dropped recently. The lowest price of gas in this time period was $3.58 from February 9th, 2007 to February 28th of the same year. The highest price of gas was $5.83 from August 6th , 2008 to August 11th 2008. The difference is $2.25.
Here is a table of the prices (special thanks to one of my best friend's father, Philip Kemp, who owns a gas station and sent me about 75 emails with gas price changes over the past two years.)
Date Price of gas
2006
12-Oct -$3.74
17-Oct -$3.74
22-Oct -$3.74
27-Oct -$3.74
1-Nov -$3.70
6-Nov -$3.70
11-Nov -$3.70
16-Nov -$3.70
21-Nov -$3.73
26-Nov -$3.73
1-Dec -$3.73
6-Dec -$3.80
11-Dec -$3.80
16-Dec -$3.85
21-Dec -$3.85
26-Dec -$3.95
31-Dec -$3.95
2007
5-Jan -$3.95
10-Jan -$3.95
15-Jan -$3.81
20-Jan -$3.81
25-Jan -$3.81
30-Jan -$3.67
4-Feb -$3.67
9-Feb -$3.58
14-Feb -$3.58
19-Feb -$3.58
24-Feb -$3.58
29-Feb -$3.58
5-Mar -$3.74
10-Mar -$3.74
15-Mar -$3.74
20-Mar -$4.06
25-Mar -$4.06
30-Mar -$4.06
4-Apr -$4.06
9-Apr -$4.06
14-Apr -$4.06
19-Apr -$4.30
24-Apr -$4.30
29-Apr -$4.30
4-May -$4.30
9-May -$4.30
14-May -$4.30
19-May -$4.30
24-May -$4.30
29-May -$4.51
3-Jun -$4.51
8-Jun -$4.51
13-Jun -$4.51
18-Jun -$4.51
23-Jun -$4.63
28-Jun -$4.39
3-Jul -$4.39
8-Jul -$4.39
13-Jul - $4.39
18-Jul -$4.49
23-Jul -$4.49
28-Jul -$4.59
2-Aug -$4.59
7-Aug -$4.59
12-Aug - $4.59
17-Aug -$4.32
22-Aug -$4.32
27-Aug -$4.32
1-Sep -$4.32
6-Sep -$4.32
11-Sep -$4.34
16-Sep -$4.34
21-Sep -$4.34
26-Sep -$4.34
1-Oct -$4.36
6-Oct -$4.36
11-Oct -$4.36
16-Oct -$4.42
21-Oct -$4.42
26-Oct -$4.42
31-Oct -$4.42
5-Nov -$4.42
10-Nov -$4.51
15-Nov -$4.51
20-Nov -$4.51
25-Nov -$4.51
30-Nov -$4.51
5-Dec -$4.65
10-Dec -$4.65
15-Dec -$4.65
20-Dec -$4.65
25-Dec -$4.65
30-Dec -$4.65
2008
4-Jan -$4.65
9-Jan -$4.56
14-Jan -$4.56
19-Jan -$4.56
24-Jan -$4.56
29-Jan -$4.56
3-Feb -$4.56
8-Feb -$4.56
13-Feb -$4.56
18-Feb -$4.56
23-Feb -$4.51
28-Feb -$4.58
4-Mar -$4.58
9-Mar -$4.58
14-Mar -$4.58
19-Mar -$4.58
24-Mar -$4.58
29-Mar -$5.00
3-Apr -$5.00
8-Apr -$5.03
13-Apr - $5.03
18-Apr -$5.03
23-Apr -$5.03
28-Apr -$5.03
3-May -$5.05
8-May -$5.05
13-May - $5.05
18-May -$5.05
23-May -$5.05
28-May -$5.05
2-Jun -$5.05
7-Jun -$5.50
12-Jun - $5.50
17-Jun -$5.69
22-Jun -$5.69
27-Jun -$5.69
2-Jul -$5.77
7-Jul -$5.77
12-Jul -$5.77
17-Jul -$5.69
22-Jul -$5.80
27-Jul -$5.80
1-Aug -$5.80
6-Aug -$5.83
11-Aug -$5.83
16-Aug -$5.37
21-Aug -$5.37
26-Aug -$5.31
31-Aug -$5.31
5-Sep -$5.31
10-Sep -$5.31
15-Sep -$5.31
20-Sep -$5.36
25-Sep -$5.36
30-Sep -$5.36
5-Oct -$5.38
10-Oct -$5.38
15-Oct -$5.32
20-Oct -$5.32
25-Oct -$4.48
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Alternative Energy Sources
Petroleum may be the most common energy source but it is not the best one. Gas pollutes the air because when it is used in cars, it comes out as carbon dioxide which is harmful in large quantities.
There are other energy sources that we can use instead of petroleum. Such as solar power, wind power, hydro power, bio mass, and nuclear energy.
Solar Power
The sun is a renewable resource. This means that we won't deplete it by using it's power. The sun is so powerful that if we captured and used a small fraction of the sun's power, we could meet the world's energy needs.
Solar Energy is captured using solar panels that can easily be bought and installed at home.
Wind Power
Wind power is also a renewable resource. We will never run out of it. At least while we are still on this planet. It also comes from the sun as well because wind is made when the temperature or pressure of the air changes and the air rushes from one place to another. Of course, the temperature of the earth is caused almost completely by the sun.
Wind power comes from windmills like in this picture and diagram.
Some of the advantages of wind power are that
1.) Wind power doesn't pollute at all except for a bit of noise pollution because windmills can be quite loud.
2.) Wind power is almost free! You only have to set up the mill and generator and you are done! It isn't expensive to install either.
Some disadvantages of wind power are
1.) Sometimes, the initial price of the mill itself is more than the gas price but it is only a one time cost.
2.) Windmills can cause bird deaths.
Biomass
Biomass is any plant material whether dead or alive, wild or cultivated. Biomass is pretty much stored solar energy. During photosynthesis, solar energy is stored in the chemical bonds of the plant. Using a special processes such as cogeneration, gasification, and fermentation we humans can use this energy. The most common way to extract the energy from biomass is to simply burn it like fossil fuel although that sends harmful smoke into the air as well.
Biomass has infinite advantages because it does not pollute and it is everywhere.
Some of the economic benefits are that the United States spend $50 billion to import oil every year. Biomass can replace half of this and direct $25 billion back to the U.S. economy. The effects here in the Bahamas wouldn't be as large but we would be able to direct a lot of money back to the Bahamian economy which it could use right about now. In the U.S., it is very costly to defend their foreign oil supplies. If they didn't need to protect these oil supplies, a LOT of money directed towards military supplies could be directed elsewhere. Since we get a lot of our gas from the U.S., we could benefit from this.
Some environmental benefits are that agricultural land that would otherwise be cleared out for residential reasons would be kept because of its usefulness in the way of biomass energy. Also, methane gas, which comes from biomass, is 20 times more potent than Carbon Dioxide which means we can drastically reduce our use of CO2 by using methane from biomass.
Nuclear Power
The principles of nuclear power were discovered in the early 1900's. Nuclear energy is released using reactors. The reactors shoot a controlled amount of neutrons into uranium or plutonium which breaks the bonds and releases an controlled amount of energy. This energy can then be used to fuel electricity and other appliances.
Some advantages of nuclear power are that it does not create air pollution or greenhouse gases. Also, one pound of nuclear power creates more energy than 840 barrels of oil, 240 tons of coal, and five million cubic feet of natural gas.
Some disadvantages of nuclear power are that a lot of people believe that the costs of nuclear power outweigh the benefits. Since nuclear plants require a steady stream of uranium which is hard to get, plant owners have to pay a lot of money for it. This can get very costly. Probably worst of all, nuclear plants produce nuclear waste. This waste will stay radioactive for the next 713 million years. This means that nuclear waste created today on November 2, 2008 will still be radioactive on November 1, 713002008. That is almost unimaginable to me. Nuclear waste is contained in temporary containment centers so they do not harm anyone.
Hydro Power
Man has been using hydro power for thousands of years. It is the oldest power source.
Water power can be converted directly into electricity. People use water mills to capture this energy. The water mills usually consist of a wheel that is pushed by the moving water which turns the turbines in the mill and generate electricity.
Some advantages of hydropower are that it's cheap and it doesn't pollute. Furthermore, the water that is used is not exhausted, it merely passes through the wheel so it can be used again if it somehow comes back down the same river.
Thank you for reading my research on alternative energies. Check out the website I used:
http://cr.middlebury.edu/es/altenergylife/alternative_power_sources.htm
and some other websites to help you save the environment (and lower gas prices)
http://www.seql.org/100ways.cfm
http://www.50waystohelp.com/
http://www.cagle.com/working/080226/greenberg21.jpg
this is very interesting -> http://dontfearthetruth.com/2008/03/02/conserve-all-you-want/
wow-> http://www.earthshelteredtech.com/25reasons.htm
There are other energy sources that we can use instead of petroleum. Such as solar power, wind power, hydro power, bio mass, and nuclear energy.
Solar Power
The sun is a renewable resource. This means that we won't deplete it by using it's power. The sun is so powerful that if we captured and used a small fraction of the sun's power, we could meet the world's energy needs.
Solar Energy is captured using solar panels that can easily be bought and installed at home.
Wind Power
Wind power is also a renewable resource. We will never run out of it. At least while we are still on this planet. It also comes from the sun as well because wind is made when the temperature or pressure of the air changes and the air rushes from one place to another. Of course, the temperature of the earth is caused almost completely by the sun.
Wind power comes from windmills like in this picture and diagram.
Some of the advantages of wind power are that
1.) Wind power doesn't pollute at all except for a bit of noise pollution because windmills can be quite loud.
2.) Wind power is almost free! You only have to set up the mill and generator and you are done! It isn't expensive to install either.
Some disadvantages of wind power are
1.) Sometimes, the initial price of the mill itself is more than the gas price but it is only a one time cost.
2.) Windmills can cause bird deaths.
Biomass
Biomass is any plant material whether dead or alive, wild or cultivated. Biomass is pretty much stored solar energy. During photosynthesis, solar energy is stored in the chemical bonds of the plant. Using a special processes such as cogeneration, gasification, and fermentation we humans can use this energy. The most common way to extract the energy from biomass is to simply burn it like fossil fuel although that sends harmful smoke into the air as well.
Biomass has infinite advantages because it does not pollute and it is everywhere.
Some of the economic benefits are that the United States spend $50 billion to import oil every year. Biomass can replace half of this and direct $25 billion back to the U.S. economy. The effects here in the Bahamas wouldn't be as large but we would be able to direct a lot of money back to the Bahamian economy which it could use right about now. In the U.S., it is very costly to defend their foreign oil supplies. If they didn't need to protect these oil supplies, a LOT of money directed towards military supplies could be directed elsewhere. Since we get a lot of our gas from the U.S., we could benefit from this.
Some environmental benefits are that agricultural land that would otherwise be cleared out for residential reasons would be kept because of its usefulness in the way of biomass energy. Also, methane gas, which comes from biomass, is 20 times more potent than Carbon Dioxide which means we can drastically reduce our use of CO2 by using methane from biomass.
Nuclear Power
The principles of nuclear power were discovered in the early 1900's. Nuclear energy is released using reactors. The reactors shoot a controlled amount of neutrons into uranium or plutonium which breaks the bonds and releases an controlled amount of energy. This energy can then be used to fuel electricity and other appliances.
Some advantages of nuclear power are that it does not create air pollution or greenhouse gases. Also, one pound of nuclear power creates more energy than 840 barrels of oil, 240 tons of coal, and five million cubic feet of natural gas.
Some disadvantages of nuclear power are that a lot of people believe that the costs of nuclear power outweigh the benefits. Since nuclear plants require a steady stream of uranium which is hard to get, plant owners have to pay a lot of money for it. This can get very costly. Probably worst of all, nuclear plants produce nuclear waste. This waste will stay radioactive for the next 713 million years. This means that nuclear waste created today on November 2, 2008 will still be radioactive on November 1, 713002008. That is almost unimaginable to me. Nuclear waste is contained in temporary containment centers so they do not harm anyone.
Hydro Power
Man has been using hydro power for thousands of years. It is the oldest power source.
Water power can be converted directly into electricity. People use water mills to capture this energy. The water mills usually consist of a wheel that is pushed by the moving water which turns the turbines in the mill and generate electricity.
Some advantages of hydropower are that it's cheap and it doesn't pollute. Furthermore, the water that is used is not exhausted, it merely passes through the wheel so it can be used again if it somehow comes back down the same river.
Thank you for reading my research on alternative energies. Check out the website I used:
http://cr.middlebury.edu/es/altenergylife/alternative_power_sources.htm
and some other websites to help you save the environment (and lower gas prices)
http://www.seql.org/100ways.cfm
http://www.50waystohelp.com/
http://www.cagle.com/working/080226/greenberg21.jpg
this is very interesting -> http://dontfearthetruth.com/2008/03/02/conserve-all-you-want/
wow-> http://www.earthshelteredtech.com/25reasons.htm
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