Truth About Corn-Based Ethanol

One of the arguments supporting the use of corn-based ethanol as fuel is that when it is used as an automotive fuel, either by itself or in an ethanol-gasoline blend, the result is less carbon monoxide and lower emissions of hydrocarbons into the air.

However, the major flaw with corn-based ethanol is that the production process requires buring of 1L of petroleum to make 1L of ethanol! Thus, any benefit derived by using ethanol is fully nullified.

At least in Brazil, they are using sugarcane-based ethanol, which uses significantly less energy to make 1L of ethanol than corn-based ethanol.

The US/European politicians are doing a good job misleading the public about corn-based ethanol as a "green" alternative energy source.

As more and more corn is diverted for ethanol production, what will happen to the world's food supply?

Daylight Saving Time

Does the environment really benefit from Daylight Saving Time? In theory, an extra hour of daylight will replace an hour of electrical light. However, for all practical purposes, more energy is conserved by moving the clock forward by one hour. Energy-hungry air-conditioners are used an hour longer by adding an extra hour of sunlight to evenings. Most of the energy comes by burning climate-warming coal.

In 2007, U.S. President George W. Bush touted enacting earlier starting dates and later ending dates for daylight time in the name of "energy conservation".

But who really benefits by starting daylight saving early? It's certainly not the environment! The retailers lobbied strongly to start daylight saving earlier. An extra hour of daylight in the evening means more time for shopping after work.

After all, nobody likes shopping when it's dark outside...