Using Algae to make Biodiesel!

I just love the idea of using the stuff I try and keep out of the pool all year long for something good. Here is an article over at “Biodiesel Fuel Online.” This is not a new technology but I wonder why it’s not more popular. I guess technologies move much slower in the world of energy. Good Stuff!

Is Biodiesel Algae the Future?

Never has it been more important than now to find an alternative fuel source. Unless a different fuel source is located people will continue to be dependent on the oil companies. With new evidence being uncovered daily about the links between the leaders of those countries producing petroleum and terrorists - the demand for an alternative fuel has never been much higher than it is now.

Biodiesel fuel seems to be the answer for many reasons and being able to produce biodiesel from an algae seems to point the way forward.

This method has been proven to be possibly the most economical of methods thanks to the amount of land needed to produce the biodiesel being relatively small.

The algae itself contains a vast amount of natural oil thus making it a perfect candidate for creating the fuel. Biodiesel algae can also be grown and harvested very quickly meaning the production process is sped up dramatically.

Studies have shown that algae can produce up to 30 times more biodiesel than the crops that are currently used. Biodiesel made from algae is also biodegradable and is non-toxic.

Some were concerned that growing algae may cause problems with land currently used for growing crops, those fears have been allayed due to the fact that algae can grow in virtually any climate. This means that even land which isn’t suitable for farming can now be used to grow algae. Going further this may be beneficial to countries unable to grow crops due to their economy - the relative cheapness of growing biodiesel algae could be a Saviour for them.

There’s still a long way to go for biodiesel fuels. However, the more algae that’s grown, the more awareness will increase. People will purchase biodiesel vehicles and the alternate fuel source could take off more than it already has. At least, that’s the plan…

Earlier this year a New Zealand company was the first to mine biodiesel from algae found in sewage. In May of this year the first production of biodiesel from algae outside the laboratory was carried out. Of course the benefit of obtaining biodiesel from this type of algae is that it already exists - in fact there’s too much of it - in the sewage. Algae can take out chemicals in the sewage but if there’s too much of it, the algae can taint the water. Read more on this story here

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James 3

James 3 is a chapter I have read and studied many times. James was one of the very first books I opened up too when I first started going to church a little over a year ago. I just love how James gets right to point. He’s short and sweet. This chapter resounds through me in so many different ways in my life. I struggle with my tongue all of the time. Sometimes I have to stop and say to myself what are you saying! It’s kind of ironic that this is my first blog post for the Blogger Small Group. Anyway lets get to it.

James 3:1-2 Ok being a new Christian this is telling me hey watch it. Don’t go blabbing about what you don’t understand yet. Hold your tongue and minimize the amount of damage you can do to yourself and others. Being a teacher has a lot of additional responsibility that goes with it.

James 3:3-5 Alright, Alright I get it your mouth can do a lot of damage and good. It’s small and at the same time very important and drives the body into different directions.

James 3:6 The mouth is one of Satan’s favorite tools of the trade. I can believe this. I have said somethings and then look back at what I said and think man where did that come from. What a butt head I was.

James 3:7-8 This doesn’t look good at all. The mouth is evil. Only with the help of God can we tame it and speak kindness and peace. I need help Lord!

James 3:9-12 We have to do our best to speak words of kindness, praise, and peace. It’s impossible to speak good things and harmful words out of the same mouth at the same time. Your mouth is going to be doing either harm or good. Choose to do good with it. Does anyone have the church speak? You speak one way at church and go home or to work and speak another. I know some people like this. I have done it also!

Jame 3:13-16 Do good deeds and be humble about it. This kind of wisdom comes from God. Don’t go around pontificating about all of the great stuff you have done. Yes without a doubt this is the way it should be done. I don’t even like to have my picture put on a blog for being on a mission trip. I did a “My Story” testimony recently at church. It took me a long time to convince myself to do it. I did not want to be on the big screen. The only reason I decided to do it was God told me that my story might help someone else out to find him.

I’ll leave the last two alone they are beautiful!

James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

James 3:18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

This was great. I hope to be able to keep up with the small group every week.

After Church?

What do you do when you get home from a great service at church?

Now I like to twitter about it.

Do you continue on with everyday life or do you take the message and internalize it?

You know I have to be honest here. Sometimes the message for the week rolls off my back like water off of a duck. Other times it cuts deep and touches me in ways that change my life.

Do you get excited?

Most of the time I’m very excited. I have a big smile on my face and a song in my heart.

Do you get sad?

Sure do. Most of the time this happens when I realize I have been really making a mess of things.

Are you able to keep living the message week after week?

I try really hard to.

Do you remember what was said?

Not really, I remember the theme and maybe the passage. It takes further study of the passage before I get what was said and stick with me.

What if you have heard it before?

I sit back and smile and try to find additional tidbits of information to digest and learn from.

Do you tell others about it?

Sometimes I get the opportunity to do this and I try my best to explain what I heard. I really should just invite them to church or link them to the passages.

Do you want to go back and hear more?

Absolutely I can’t wait to get back. I even like to go to church on Wednesday nights just to listen to the worship team practice. To bad there isn’t a short prayer service or something like that.

Post your own answers in the comments.

Worms?

Last year I started a couple of worm composting bins. At first I was just having a good time trying to raise them. Now it has changed into a mission to try and reduce my kitchen garbage by about half. It is going to take a lot of worms to do this. Does anyone else use worms to compost? So far I’m only composting small amounts of food scraps and it takes around a week or so for the worms to eat what I put in there. I’m hoping by the end of this summer I will have enough worms to get a little more serious and start composting the paper garbage.

Twitter

Well I have found a new tool that I really enjoy. I even went out and purchased a BlackBerry to support this new tool. It’s called twitter. Keeping up with friends is really important to me and this is just another way of doing just that.