BAE Systems Develops Hybrid Electric Drive Tank for the U.S. Army

The United States Military has long been a supporter for alternative energy in order to make the assorted Armed Forces as efficient as possible. The efforts have seen the development of everything from fighter jets running on biofuel to solar powered backpacks for troops in Afghanistan . One of the biggest challenges facing the US Army, however, has been how to make their Ground Combat Vehicles (GCVs) more fuel efficient. Currently,  the average Army soldier uses 22 gallons of gasoline a day , but that is set to change with BAE Systems unveiling the specifications for a  hybrid-electric U.S. Army tank – a vehicle that has been in the works for four years. Read the rest of BAE Systems Develops Hybrid Electric Drive Tank for the U.S. Army Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: army , bae systems , California , Ground Combat Vehicle hybrid , Ground Combat Vehicle hybrid bae systems , hybrid tank , hybrid tank bae systems , Michigan , Northrop Grumman Ground Combat Vehicle , Northrop Grumman Ground Combat Vehicle hybrid , tank , U.S. Army , us army hybrid tanks , us military alternative energy , us military hybrid tanks

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BAE Systems Develops Hybrid Electric Drive Tank for the U.S. Army

Oil Shale Development in the West Threatens Hundreds of Thousands of Acres of Wildlife

It seems that fracking’s ugly cousin, oil shale extraction , is roaring its ugly head in the Rockies this week as the Republican-led Congress passed a bill on the 16th to require the Bureau of Land Management to create at least five commercial lease sales on the government-held land in the Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming regions where oil shale exists. Oil shale extraction is a time-intensive and costly method of removing kerogen, from which shale oil can be extracted using special processes and can be used as a substitute for crude oil. Environmentalists argue that it is a destructive process that has not been tested fully to ensure safety to water sources and nearby wildlife. Proponents say it is a great way to create some good old American-made energy, by spending a ton of cash to destroy an ecosystem where we could instead just stick some windmills on the same land for less cost and call it a day. Read the rest of Oil Shale Development in the West Threatens Hundreds of Thousands of Acres of Wildlife Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: energy independence , environmental destruction , fossil fuels , mountain top mining , oil extraction , shale oil , shale oil environmental issues , shale oil environmental worries , shale oil extraction , surface mining , what is shale oil

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Oil Shale Development in the West Threatens Hundreds of Thousands of Acres of Wildlife

Elocal Infographic Shows How Much Water Your Home is Wasting

From spending five extra minutes in the shower to leaving the faucet running while you do the dishes, you most likely waste more water in your home than you think you do. While fresh water is a renewable resource, we consume clean, usable water at rates faster than it can be replenished. Elocal compiled information from a variety of experts to put together a very informative infographic about residential water consumption in the United States, highlighting the fact that the average U.S. family uses 127,000 gallons of water every year! Read the rest of Elocal Infographic Shows How Much Water Your Home is Wasting Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: elocal , low flow fixtures , us residential water use , water conservation , water issues , water usage infographic , water use infographic , world water supply

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Elocal Infographic Shows How Much Water Your Home is Wasting