Comments on: The Picken’s Plan: Where Are We One Year Later?

By: skipper

skipper — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 04:45:51 +0000

It’s a great time to invest in geothermal heating and cooling technology. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 recently lifted the caps on tax credits to qualified geothermal heat pumps, which was previously set at $2000. Homeowners who install a geothermal ground loop or ground water geothermal heat pump qualify for this one time of up to 30% of the total investment, as long as the pump meets or exceeds EnergyStar requirements and installed after December 31, 2009. Business owners will receive a credit of 10% of the total investment. Units installed in 2008 are subject to a $2,000 cap, but those installed between 2009-2016 have no cap.

This substantial tax credit is just one of the many benefits of using geothermal technology to heat and cool your home. Geothermal systems use 25-50% less electricity than conventional systems. According to the EPA, geothermal pumps reduce energy consumption up to 44% compared to air-source heat pumps, and up to 72% compared to standard air-conditioning. In humid areas, like Florida, geothermal heat pumps improve humidity control by maintaining 50% relative indoor humidity.

But it’s not just the tax credit or energy savings that should peek your interest, geothermal heat pumps are also extremely durable and reliable. The underground piping carries warranties of 25-50 years, and the heat pumps are known to last twenty years of longer.

So, if you’re looking for a reliable system that will also give you tremendous savings on your energy bill over the long-run, a geothermal heat pump may just be what you’re looking for!

By: Ralph Apton

Ralph Apton — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 03:50:34 +0000

Natural gas usage for commercial vehicles has commenced and is growing. Next we need gradual expansion of natural gas pumps and more ways of using in P/U trucks, larger cars, and eventually, all cars. Pickens is on the right track and the nation owes him its gratitude for his non-partisan leadership. Whereas he moved to rapidly on wind power, and overlooked transmission costs, this too was in the right direction but the timing probably a bit early.

By: hugh o'connell

hugh o'connell — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:27:22 +0000

What no one says about LNG when the tank is hit by another car. BIG BANG!!!!!!

By: Economic indicators | Must Reads Friday, July 10, 2009 - Contrarian Stock Market Investing News - Featuring Bargain Stocks

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:32:23 +0000

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By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:01:43 +0000

Great article, keep-em comming

By: Patricio Castro

Patricio Castro — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:43:51 +0000

For those of us who want a cleaner environment to live in, there is hope with the gradual reduction of the use of fossil fuels. Let me emphasize the term “use” because it is where the solution lies. The less we use the less we spend and the less we pollute. This solution is so simple it looks simplistic. Therefore, a world campaign and particularly, a campaign in the worst polluters in the world such as China and the US to reduce waist and wanton consumption (we have more money, therefore we use more) can go a long ways to reduce the dependence on the oil belonging to the enemies of the US. One more thing, cheaper fossils fuels are a thing of the past no matter how many wars are waged (desert storm comes to mind)so, does it make sense to turn enemies into friends? duh. But this entitles dwelling into politics and that is the sacred cow many don’t dare to touch…

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:41:26 +0000

G’day We here in Australia have been using natural gas in our cars and trucks for years.I can remember buying a Cherokee Jeep in 1984 with natural gas and I had no problems with car…You blokes over their should have really embraced this technological years ago…..Danny from Melbourne Australia

By: David Paulson

David Paulson — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:32:16 +0000

Please read the book, “Gusher of Lies” by Robert Bryce. Then let us know what you think about “energy independence.”

David Paulson

By: Joe Schmidt

Joe Schmidt — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:33:29 +0000

The problems of transmission line capacity and availability cannot be abated. Boone has had to trim back his plans for wind power electricity production because the wind power is “HERE” in the desert, but the market is “THERE” East Coast, and there’s no pipe to get the power from HERE to THERE. Same problem with natural gas. So unless we get pipelines and power transmission lines built PDQ, in 10 years, yes, we will be looking at $300 oil. And then, no more USA. The smart money is already leaving.

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Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:23:41 +0000

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