[Rhodes22-list] Good News - Gas Prices Falling

[Bill Effros]

Saroj,

As you can see, I just found a bunch of them.  I have electric radiant 
heating and recommend it highly.  I have been using electric heat for 15 
years, and, notwithstanding what I know you hear from people who sell 
other things, I love it, and it costs far less than any other heating 
system--this is because you only have to turn it on in the rooms you are 
in, and can shut it down everywhere else--if your home is well insulated 
the heat generated in the room you are in migrates all over the 
house--you don't have hot spots and cold spots--it's just that the room 
you are in is kept at the exact temperature you want it, and other rooms 
are warmer and cooler.  You never have to worry about running out of 
electricity--as long as there is matter, we can convert it into 
electrical energy.

I install radiant heat under tile.  I like tile, and walking barefoot 
over warm tile is nothing short of delicious.

In the roof department, I like roofs that don't leak, and that I don't 
have to think about.  I considered a green roof, but I was sure that it 
would increase both my anxiety level, and my maintenance costs.  Not 
worth it to me.

My wife is happier when she can see the sun.  She ruled out underground 
houses a long time ago.  Modern insulating materials are so good, and so 
inexpensive--it is nice to have a naturally bright interior, and to be 
able to stay warm while seeing the sun on a cold winter day.

Bill Effros


Saroj Gilbert wrote:
> Brad,
>
> Why do you prefer concrete over SIP's?  Who is the manufacturer you 
> mentioned?
>
> We obviously think along the same lines.. I plan to use bamboo as 
> well.. Do you know if it can be used as siding inside or out for 
> accent?  Do you happen to know if a water radiant heating system can 
> be installed beneath them?
>
> I hadn't thought at all about a "green" roof... hmmmm harkens back to 
> the days when I was considering an underground house... do they drain 
> ok?  VA would be an ideal environment for one since we get fairly 
> predictable rain...
>
> The lot I bought would work very well for an underground house except 
> that the water table is barely 5' below the surface....
>
> I'm just beginning this research so any thoughts or referrals you have 
> are very welcomed.... so far I'm looking at Healthy Home Plans and 
> sunplans.
>
> Thanks a bunch,
> Saroj
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brad Haslett" <flybrad at gmail.com>
> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 8:41 PM
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Good News - Gas Prices Falling
>
>
> Saroj,
>
> GM has an Opel Astra diesel-electric hybrid that is supposed to appear in
> Europe in 07. The expected price increase is about $8000 so the breakeven
> point is a bit high. Volkswagon and Toyoto have both built prototypes 
> but no
> info on when or if they will come to market.
>
> I still favor concrete over SIP's but you're on the right path with SIP's
> and geothermal.  My favorite SIP is from a manufacturer in Florida 
> that uses
> concrete board on both sides instead of OSB board.  SIP building lends 
> a lot
> of flexibility to style but the biggest drawback is finding 
> subcontractors
> who know how to work with them.
>
> We've had our bamboo floors down for about a year now with no problems.
> Take a look at bamboo if you haven't already. I wanted to do a stained
> concrete floor in our addition but my builder gave me one of those 
> 'RCA dog'
> looks so we didn't do it.  If I build another house I'm going to take a
> serious look at concrete floors and a green roof.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Brad
>
>
> On 9/15/06, Saroj Gilbert <saroj at pathfind.net> wrote:
>>
>> I've heard the deisel - electric cars are available in Europe now.. so
>> maybe
>> not so far away.
>>
>> I am planning on geothermal which should certainly help with the
>> cooling...
>> as it turns out I have to dig a well on this property even though it is
>> fairly Urban... a very old and small neighborhood where most have wells
>> already so no impetus to provide city water.  which is just fine with 
>> me.
>> The well drilling company I plan to use already has experience drilling
>> the
>> geothermal holes as well... so one-stop shopping.
>>
>> Also already planning on the SIP approach... trying to blend the
>> energy-efficiency with some interesting architecture aside from the
>> typical
>> Colonial or brick ranch that is common in this area.  Thought seriously
>> about doing a dome, but decided against it for this area for
>> asset-protection reasons.
>>
>> Thanks for the good info!
>>
>> Saroj
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Brad Haslett" <flybrad at gmail.com>
>> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 1:01 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Good News - Gas Prices Falling
>>
>>
>> Bill & Saroj,
>>
>> Bill, the Jetta will work for me.  I've owned a couple of early 80's
>> diesel
>> Rabbits and a diesel Audi 4000 (same drive train) The Rabbit 
>> hatchback is
>> coming back but I prefer a sedan.  I flew GDL, Mexico all last month 
>> where
>> the Jetta is built.  They just settled their strike and hopefully the
>> quality will be good.
>>
>> Saroj, diesel-hybrids are off the shelf technology and my company did a
>> joint-venture with Eaton to produce diesel-hybrid delivery trucks.  Duh!
>> Think trains and WW2 submarines.  You should expect 80mpg+ when they 
>> come
>> but when will that be?  I'll move earlier and go with a straight diesel
>> and
>> hope for rapeseed biodiesel.  The only way to go with the home is
>> insulated
>> concrete forms and geo-thermal radiant heating.  Cooling is another 
>> issue.
>> A nuke powerplant running A/C is the ticket.  You have no control where
>> your
>> electrons come from but they probably come from coal.
>>
>> Didn't we have this same discussion in the 70's?
>>
>> Brad
>>
>>
>> On 9/15/06, Saroj Gilbert <saroj at pathfind.net> wrote:
>> >
>> > I hear you on that... as for me... I'm looking to diesel hybrid for my
>> > next
>> > car... and currently doing intensive research on how to make my new
>> house
>> > (yet to be built) use as little non-renewable energy as possible...
>> quite
>> > an
>> > interesting exploration for me... refreshing information that I hadn't
>> > read
>> > too much about since I subscribed to Mother Earth News in the
>> > 70's.  Heating
>> > shouldn't be a problem but dealing with the hot, humid summers will be
>> > challenging.
>> >
>> > Its hard to balance the economics on electricity usage in this area 
>> (S.E
>> .
>> > VA) since it is so very low... 6 cents a KW if I remember correctly;
>> > however
>> > I feel strongly about it and will do whatever I can... luckily I work
>> out
>> > of
>> > my home and the new house will be so close to a lot of services that I
>> > should be able to ride the bike a lot of places.
>> >
>> > Saroj
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Brad Haslett" <flybrad at gmail.com>
>> > To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> > Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 11:54 AM
>> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Good News - Gas Prices Falling
>> >
>> >
>> > Saroj,
>> >
>> > Maybe, I don't agree with all the premises of the article but 
>> everything
>> > does line up for a fall, just not as far as the author suggested.  The
>> > unfortunate repercussion is that it will encourage us to go back to 
>> our
>> > foolish ways.  Peak Oil is coming!  The folks who have the most oil 
>> are
>> > still the same folks who hate us the most.  The two fastest growing 
>> oil
>> > consuming nations, China and India, aren't slowing down. China doesn't
>> > give
>> > a shit about anything but China, and they're cutting deals everywhere
>> for
>> > every commodity.  I can't make my jet or our equipment burn less fuel,
>> but
>> > my next car *will *get 50mpg+.  Hopefully it won't smell like shrimp.
>> >
>> > Brad
>> >
>> >
>> > On 9/15/06, Saroj Gilbert <saroj at pathfind.net> wrote:
>> > >
>> > > That would be good news...
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > ----- Original Message -----
>> > > From: "Brad Haslett" <flybrad at gmail.com>
>> > > To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> > > Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 9:23 AM
>> > > Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Good News - Gas Prices Falling
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/home/>
>> > >
>> > > Thursday, September 14, 2006 - 12:00 AM
>> > >
>> > > *.*
>> > >
>> > > **
>> > > *
>> > > **Analyst predicts plunge in gas prices*
>> > >
>> > > *By Kevin G. Hall*
>> > > *McClatchy Newspapers*
>> > >
>> > > WASHINGTON — The recent sharp drop in the global price of crude oil
>> > could
>> > > mark the start of a massive sell-off that returns gasoline prices to
>> > lows
>> > > not seen since the late 1990s — perhaps as low as $1.15 a gallon.
>> > >
>> > > "All the hurricane flags are flying" in oil markets, said Philip
>> > Verleger,
>> > > a
>> > > noted energy consultant who was a lone voice several years ago in
>> > warning
>> > > that oil prices would soar. Now, he says, they appear to be 
>> poised for
>> a
>> > > dramatic plunge.
>> > >
>> > > Crude-oil prices have fallen about $14, or roughly 17 percent, from
>> > their
>> > > July 14 peak of $78.40. After falling seven straight days, they rose
>> > > slightly Wednesday in trading on the New York Mercantile 
>> Exchange, to
>> > > $63.97, partly in reaction to a government report showing fuel
>> > inventories
>> > > a
>> > > bit lower than expected. But the overall price drop is expected to
>> > > continue,
>> > > and prices could fall much more in the weeks and months ahead.
>> > >
>> > > Here's why:
>> > >
>> > > For most of the past two years, oil prices have risen because the
>> > world's
>> > > oil producers have struggled to keep pace with growing demand,
>> > > particularly
>> > > from China and India. Spare oil-production capacity grew so tight 
>> that
>> > > market players feared that any disruption to oil production could
>> create
>> > > shortages.
>> > >
>> > > Fear of disruption focused on fighting in Nigeria, escalating 
>> tensions
>> > > over
>> > > Iran's nuclear program, violence between Israel and Lebanon that 
>> might
>> > > spread to oil-producing neighbors, and the prospect that hurricanes
>> > might
>> > > topple oil facilities in the Gulf of Mexico.
>> > >
>> > > Oil traders bet that such worrisome developments would drive up the
>> > future
>> > > price of oil. Oil is traded in contracts for future delivery, and
>> > > companies
>> > > that take physical delivery of oil are just a small part of total
>> > trading.
>> > > Large pension and commodities funds are the big traders and they're
>> > > seeking
>> > > profits. They've sunk $105 billion or more into oil futures in 
>> recent
>> > > years,
>> > > according to Verleger. Their bets that oil prices would rise in the
>> > future
>> > > bid up the price of oil.
>> > >
>> > > That, in turn, led users of oil to create stockpiles as cushions
>> against
>> > > supply disruptions and even higher future prices. Now inventories of
>> oil
>> > > are
>> > > approaching 1990 levels.
>> > >
>> > > But many of the conditions that drove investors to bid up oil prices
>> are
>> > > ebbing. Tensions over Israel, Lebanon and Nigeria are easing. The
>> > > hurricane
>> > > season has presented no threat so far to the Gulf of Mexico. The 
>> U.S.
>> > peak
>> > > summer driving season is over, so gasoline demand is falling.
>> > >
>> > > With fear of supply disruptions ebbing, oil prices began sliding. 
>> With
>> > oil
>> > > inventories high, refiners that turn oil into gasoline are 
>> expected to
>> > cut
>> > > production. As refiners cut production, oil companies increasingly
>> risk
>> > > getting stuck with excess oil supplies. There's already anecdotal
>> > evidence
>> > > of oil companies chartering tankers to store excess oil.
>> > >
>> > > All this is turning financial markets increasingly bearish on oil.
>> > >
>> > > "If we continue to build inventories, and if we have a warm winter
>> like
>> > we
>> > > had last winter, you could see a large fall in the price of oil," 
>> said
>> > > Gary
>> > > Pokoik, who manages Hedge Ventures Energy in Los Angeles, an energy
>> > hedge
>> > > fund. "I think there is still a lot of risk in the market."
>> > >
>> > > As it stands now, the recent oil-price slump has brought the 
>> national
>> > > average for a gallon of unleaded gasoline down to $2.59, 
>> according to
>> > the
>> > > AAA motor club. In the Seattle area, prices per gallon have 
>> fallen to
>> > > $2.856
>> > > currently from $3.071 a month ago, a decline of 7 percent, according
>> to
>> > > AAA.
>> > >
>> > > Should oil traders fear that this downward price spiral will get 
>> worse
>> > and
>> > > run for the exits by selling off their futures contracts, Verleger
>> said,
>> > > it's not unthinkable that oil prices could return to $15 or less a
>> > barrel,
>> > > at least temporarily. That could mean gasoline prices as low as 
>> $1.15
>> > per
>> > > gallon.
>> > >
>> > > Other experts won't guess at a floor price, but they agree that a 
>> race
>> > to
>> > > the bottom could break out.
>> > >
>> > > "The market may test levels here that are too low to be sustained,"
>> said
>> > > Clay Seigle, an analyst at Cambridge Energy Research Associates, a
>> > > consultancy in Boston.
>> > >
>> > > On Monday, the oil-producing cartel OPEC hinted that if prices fall
>> > > precipitously, OPEC members would cut production to lift them. But
>> that
>> > > would take time.
>> > >
>> > > "That takes six to nine months. If we don't have a really cold 
>> winter
>> > here
>> > > [creating a demand for oil], prices will fall. Literally, you don't
>> know
>> > > where the floor is," Verleger said. "In a market like this, if 
>> things
>> > > start
>> > > falling ... prices could take you back to the 1999 levels. It has
>> > nothing
>> > > to
>> > > do with production."
>> > >
>> > > <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/general/copyright.html>
>> > > __________________________________________________
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