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BioFuel - Energy from Living matter
Biofuel
is an alternative to nuclear
or fossil fuels that is classified as renewable
and is very abundant on earth. This option is derived
from plant matter and burned to release the chemical
energy that is stored in a plant during the process of
photosynthesis.
Many things can be classified as biofuel. Like coal and other
fossil fuels, biofuel is a form of stored
solar energy; however, unlike other fuels that
capture the suns power, biofuel is biodegradable,
so its production and use is not harmful to the
environment.
There are many examples of biofuels being used or researched for use
today.
One of the most popular and highly used forms of biofuel is
biologically produced alcohol. The most common
example of this is ethanol, which is being
produced in countries such as Brazil, the United States,
and Canada.
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TOPICS
◙
Renewable Energy -
Saving our Earth
◙
Building a Green Home
◙
Wind Power
-
Advantages
◙
Solar Cells - How
they Work
◙
Biofuel as an
Alternative
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Ethenol - Gas of the
Future
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Hybrid Vehicles
◙
Generators - How
they Work
◙
The Greenhouse Effect
◙
The Future of
Hydrogen Energy
◙ Geothermal Energy
◙
Tax Incentives
◙
Goodbye Fossil
Fuels? |
Ethanol can
be produced in a variety of ways, but currently is
created with sugar cane, corn and straw
and is becoming more and more popular in Europe and
locations around the world.
Other biologically produced alcohol examples are methanol and butanol.
Typically, biofuels are used for home cooking and heating. By
burning wood and other biodegradable materials in a
special stove, homeowners can save money and help keep
the environment clean.
Corn is a new form of biofuel that is beginning to become popular on the
energy market. Because it costs less than half as much
money as using electrical heat and over 75% less than
using propane, burning corn is an option that
some homeowners use to save money.
As using biofuels becomes more and more popular in homes across the nation
and around the world, people must learn the hazards
of cooking with such methods.
Burning some biofuels can produce toxins, which are harmful in a
contained area. Always use these methods with proper
ventilation. The use of biofuels is especially abundant
on farms, where there is an unlimited free source many
times, and many have died from improperly ventilated
areas.
More research is being done on other types of biofuels that may be
efficient in running automobiles and other forms of
transportation at less cost to consumers. These options
are also generally more environmentally friendly.
By supporting such research, individuals may be able to learn how
biofuels are already at work in the world and how
they can efficiently become a bigger part of our lives.
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