Learn About Biofuels!

A biofuel is any fuel derived from biological matter.  Here are some examples:

GASOLINE & PETROLEUM
The most commonly used biofuel today - made from biomass that died millions of years ago (think dinosaurs and ancient jungle growth!)  Also, the leading cause of global warming.  Hmmm...  What are some other options?

CORN
Yup, fuel made from corn!  Emissions are lower, but not by much.  Growing all that corn may also require more energy than it actually produces.

SUGAR CANE
A totally sweet fuel!  Fuels made from sugar cane crops can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 56%!  A big success so far in Brazil.

SWITCHGRASS
This amazing plant turned biofuel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%!  Some kinds of switchgrass can also remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it in the ground.

USED COOKING GREASE
The cooking oil used to deep fry things like french fries and chicken wings can be recycled into fuel!  Fuel made from used cooking grease releases fewer gases and is a great way to REUSE something that would have been thrown away.

KELP
Scientists have recently found that seaweed can be used for fuel as well.  Breaking down the sugars in kelp can create five times as much ethanol as corn.

REMEMBERING YOUR THREE R's

Over the years, people have gotten into a lot of bad habits.  We use things once and then throw them away.  And why not?  There are so many things that are SUPPOSED to be used just once and thrown away.  Every day and in little ways, I try to think of new ways to reduce, reuse and recycle all sorts of objects.

* Every morning, my dad makes a cup of coffee for the ride to work and puts it in a disposable cup.  One cup a day times hundreds of days equals lots of cups.  What a waste!  For just a few dollars out of my piggy bank, I bought dad a brand new stainless steel coffee container.  He never spills coffee in the car anymore and I helped him to greatly reduce his cup waste!

* I cleaned my room this week and found a whole bunch of books that I didn't want anymore.  My friend Nick said, Throw them away!"  But what a waste!  I went to my local library and asked if they were accepting book donations.  They were!  I may be too old for some of those children's books, but plenty of kids at the library would just love to reuse them!

* My mom came home with some clothes from the dry cleaners.  Each shirt and dress was wrapped in a long piece of plastic to protect the clothing.  Off came the plastic bags and into the garbage they went.  But what a waste!  I pulled the bags out of the trash--I knew they could be used again.  My friend Ashley was having her room painted painted this week.  Instead of buying plastic at the store, Ashley used the dry cleaner bags to cover her rug, lamp and carousel horse collection while her parents painted the walls!  What great a great way to recycle one thing into something else!

What are some ways YOU have learned to reduce, reuse and recycle?