| Author | Message | ||
     Johnnylunchbox |
I recently heard that the US supplies about %50 of the oil we need domestically. So if we double the fuel efficiency of our vehicles and homes and everything else, would that mean we would be energy independent? | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
rolling my eyes | ||
| Glitch |
You recently heard wrong, SURPRISE! Where did you "hear" this, or are you just trolling? http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/ene rgy/america-gas-source.htm In June of 2009, 36 percent of America's oil came from domestic sources. A whopping 64 percent of the oil America used in June of 2009 was imported. | ||
| Chauly |
Theoretically, though, if we cut our usage by the 64% of foreign dependency, it is correct. Now, ask if the price oil will go down or up? | ||
| Etennuly |
Think about the Global game of oil ownership. When it comes to World Powers, the last one holding oil wins! If we use up our domestic supplies and become totally dependent on foreign oil, we will have to buy it or trade for it. That will only work until we run out of money or credit. Then we will have to annex some countries who still have oil, or the US becomes a big beautiful place to ride a horse or walk. Then we will need some serious solar or wind power to run the military machines that protect our place in the World. | ||
| Too_tall_ss |
That was in 2009, there has been a little development called The Bakken, here is one estimate from Continental Resources. From their site: http://www.contres.com/operations/bakken-and-three -forks From CNN in 2011:http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/04/news/economy/oil_s hale_bakken/index.htm This from NPR, at the bottom is an estimate of over 2 trillion barrels left in USA. A lot has changed since 2009. | ||
| Froggy |
Probably not as there are so many factors involved, but it sure as hell would help. | ||
| Spacecapsule1 |
why use our own oil when we can buy other people's oil? I thought the intent was to preserve our own stock pile of oil for national emergencies? Well... makes sense to me at least. I'm sure others disagree. | ||
| Sifo |
So if we double the fuel efficiency of our vehicles and homes and everything else, would that mean we would be energy independent? Do you really believe that the physics realistically allows for a doubling of efficiency of our vehicles? Power plants? Heating systems? Manufacturing methods? If frogs had wings they wouldn't bump their asses when they jump, but frogs don't have wings. | ||
| Johnnymceldoo |
Iraq oil sharing revenue law | ||
| Sifo |
To put it another way, show me it can technically be done. At that point the discussion of is it worth doing can begin. Until then, it's just a complete waste of time to discuss "what if we do this". | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Sifo, doubling efficiency doesn't always mean building a better engine. It can mean 4 people in the car instead of the thousands of single occupancy vehicles in the morning commute. This used to be a friendly board sheesh. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Maybe I heard wrong about the 50%, or the radio commentator was wrong. | ||
| Froggy |
Easy for wheeled transportation. Hybrid vehicles, reduce weight, focus on fuel efficiency without emission restrictions, better aerodynamics, improve battery tech to improve electric cruising range, direct injection and cylinder deactivation and other technologies on top of everything else. The technically part is easy, the practicality part is not due to various costs, legal requirements, most importantly, will anyone buy it. I can't really comment on boats, planes, trains, houses, and anything else due to my lack of knowledge on those fronts. I'm sure improvements can be made there too. | ||
| Sifo |
Sifo, doubling efficiency doesn't always mean building a better engine. It can mean 4 people in the car instead of the thousands of single occupancy vehicles in the morning commute. Fair enough. Even doubling occupancy won't double efficiency though. You will have waste driving around picking up extra passengers and dropping them off at different locations. Also the extra weight per vehicle goes up giving additional losses. The simple reality is that car pooling just won't work for most people. It's hard to get 2 into a car for a ride to work, let alone 3 or 4. It's not like there isn't already a pretty sizable financial reward to do so if you can. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Yep, all good points Sifo. Just wanted to stimulate some healthy discussions, not troll anyone. | ||
| Sifo |
Didn't mean to piss anyone off, but the first thing to look at isn't so much what if we did X, but is X doable. In this case X just isn't doable. What if we doubled our oil production? I'm betting that is doable. | ||
| Dfishman |
Froggy.I CAN comment on boats.In 2005 I took out my old 2 stroke,oil leaking,fuel guzzling Detroit Diesel engine & replaced it with a Cummins QSM11 electronic fuel injected engine.I save about 7-12 gallons a day on fuel & my bilge is clean.No soot on my transom.It still is tough to make a living on $4.19 a gallon fuel.It only cost $67,000 to do the refit.It will take years to reap the benefits in fuel savings.Life sure was good when I was paying $1.00 a gallon.I still can't figure why it is So expensive while a country in South America has fuel for around $.17 a gallon.If every "working boat" repowered it still would not help much. | ||
| Just_ziptab |
IF you trade a 17 mpg vehicle for 34 mpg vehicle,will you drive twice as much,because it's so much more efficient? | ||
| Griffmeister |
All of this would only work if 100% of domestic oil were used domestically. We actually export some of our oil. | ||
| Sifo |
Missed one!  Seriously. Why all of a sudden are certain threads labled (Political)? May I also suggest these labels... (Medical) (Automotive) (Jokes) (Racing) (NASCAR) (Firearms) (Food) (Ball Sports) (Motorcycle: Buell) (Motorcycle: Other) That would really help to organize things.  | ||
| Griffmeister |
Don't forget (WTF) For those posts that are just ?????????? | ||
| Sifo |
I think that would be the current "Fun With Google" post. A few in that post deserve a good punch to the throat!  | ||
| Froggy |
Nobody said the big "O" word so I didn't flag it as political. This thread is fairly neutral though  | ||
| Gregtonn |
Froggster, Are you sure you didn't mean the big 0. As as in a president without a clue. Now it's political. G |
