When you head to the gas station to fill up, high gas prices can be disheartening. It turns out that high prices are not the only problem at the pump. Troubling information about E15 gasoline has come to light—it could actually be damaging your car in the long run. Causing Car Trouble E15 seems like
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Solar and wind energy are the alternative energy options most often chosen by those seeking an off-ramp from the grid superhighway. But while solar and wind may indeed be the most reasonable choices for many, it is always best to keep an open mind, and post-grid adventurers should strive be as flexible and creative as
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The short-term cost of petroleum-based fuel is erratic and unpredictable, but over the long-term, it has been on a steady upward trend that has been slowly eating away at the pocket books and bank accounts of every American. As the reality of peak oil hits and perpetual war in the Middle East turns from worst-case
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Like many other alternative energy industries, solar energy companies suffer from one major problem: the cost of production is simply too high for solar energy to take place on a large scale. Federal subsidies exist to alleviate some of the cost associated with solar, but these are largely misguided subsidies that favor a few companies
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It is hardly surprising that off-the-gridders and preppers would be intensely interested in the possibilities offered by alternative energy. Self-sufficiency and independence on a small and manageable scale are the goals of those who are making the effort to live outside the mainstream, and methods of generating energy that harness the bountiful gifts of nature
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A decision to move off the grid means profound changes are coming. But many people do not realize what an incredible opportunity for change the off-the-grid lifestyle really represents. This is because most people do not truly understand how deeply co-opted and colonized they have become after living for so long under the camouflaged thumb of a system that comprehensively oppresses our instincts for independence and self-reliance.

The government has quite a bit of egg on its face after the Solyndra debacle. Yet it’s not just one venture that’s the problem. For more than a decade, the U.S. government has been pouring money and easy loans into the alternative energy space. The government has no reason to be in the alternative energy space, and no business meddling in a market that works very well on its own. The fact of the matter is that the government likes to back losing propositions. Private businesses and industries don’t have that luxury. They have to
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Sustainability is a central theme in off-the-grid living, and as technology advances, it becomes easier to access the sustainability one desires at a cost that’s relatively inexpensive to prior years. However, this proliferation of access to energy and value in acquisition also brings looseness in the mindset of those who participate in it. Suddenly, those
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President Obama stormed into office on the promise of change. His idea of change extended into the energy field, where he promoted energy independence along with pushing an alternative energy agenda. What have these campaign promises translated into with regard to our nation’s energy needs? As recently as March 2011, Obama proposed to cut America’s
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Continuing research is focusing on improving and enhancing solar technology, and on finding ways to create the optimal alternative power source. The following selection represents recent solar power innovation and improvements for existing photovoltaic modules. FUSION™ Solar Film Developed by Genie Lens Technologies, this transparent film enhances the performance of photovoltaic panels. The polymer film
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