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2008-05-28 Down Under

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Posted by tipper 2008-05-28 13:38|| || Front Page|| [3 views ] Top

#1 The way this technology seems to be developing points to an interesting conclusion: Multiple Marginal Use. That is, the technologies take care of *some* of people's high end needs, supplementary to existing technology.

For example, solar cells that in winter are used mostly to light your house, and maybe raise the temperature of the house by 20 degrees--thus reducing, but not eliminating the need for home heating oil considerably. In summer, just the opposite, cooling the crawlspace by 20 degrees turns hot to very warm, but really reduces the load on the house A/C.

Another example is nanotechnology low energy water purifiers, that will produce water so pure that a bit a sea salt is added to replace trace minerals. But it only does so for drinking water--the rest of the house water is city water. But it saves a fortune in buying bottled water.

Another example is a large algae tank that produces algae-vegetable oil, that is mixed with ethanol and sodium hydrochloride (lye), or some other process, to make biodiesel. Not enough for all your needs, but which can be mixed with gas station petroleum diesel to take a dollar a gallon off its pump price.

In each of these cases, by taking a little bit off the top, the marginal use, they can save lots of money.

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-05-28 14:10|| 2008-05-28 14:10|| Front Page Top

#2 And where is all this Ti going to come from?

We may well have to wait until they find a substitute for it.

Posted by gorb 2008-05-28 15:23|| 2008-05-28 15:23|| Front Page Top

#3 Titanium is currently $5 per pound.

Posted by phil_b 2008-05-28 21:59|| 2008-05-28 21:59|| Front Page Top

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