Another Blow to "Free Veggie Oil" for Conversions

[Christyhicks]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9961038-54.html


Christy Hicks

[HighTechRedneck]

I'm not sure it as much a threat as it sounds.  Any restaurant owner that does their own math will realize that they would effectively be paying 50¢ or more per KWH for the generated power.  Power company is cheaper in most places I know of.

80 gallons of waste oil (article referenced 40-80 gallons waste oil/mos)
Generator using 1/2 gallon/hour  (not sure here, but it seems at full load it might use more)
160 hours @ 5KW = 800KWH  (article specifies it is a 5KW generator)
Lease is $400/mos. (as per article)
50¢ per KWH

[HB of CJ]

Hey Red Neck...it may be even worse than that.  Scary that ANY resturant owner would even CONSIDER such a scam as leasing an expensive ($400 bucks a month?) gadget that provides much less than it costs.

Is it possible that there are enough dumb rich people who own businesses that such ideas are even doable?  Who, in their right mind, would even consider such a system as a money saver?  Perhaps they don't care.

However, who knows what dumbness resides insides the brains of man.  We have a small diner up here where I live that recently (last winter) installed an $expensive$ oil heater to help heat the resturant. Kinda worked.

Now we live in SW OR where even the prime commercial rate per KWH is higher than for a home, but it is still one of the cheapest areas in the nation.  Without checking, probably under 5-8 cents per KWH.

Anyway, when I mentioned the fact that it would be at least 50% cheaper to just use electricity to heat the place, the manager got mad, glared at me, and walked away from the diner booth.  Oh well.

For what it is worth, could it be that a lot of this recent scam stuff regarding bio-diesel, waste oil diesel, $free$ automotive hydrogen, etc., may just be ways to remove money from fools?  Dunno.

[Ncbob]

Wishing to post to this thread and having to admit that I'm older'n dirt while posting my thoughts makes me well aware of the generation gap between many of us.

There are many who wish to avail themselves of WVO and I take no issue of that here. I DO agree that progress, although it wears many faces when we confront it, has a way of wheedling its' way into our daily lives.

We, here in the mountains of NC, fought for generations the reform of those who felt our home made Moonshine was contaminated, illegal and immoral. As yet they haven't found a practical way to introduce it into the automobiles we drive on a daily basis. And even if they did there'd be some Bureaucrat in Washington, DC who would object because some corn farmer in the Midwest wasn't getting his fair share of the subsidies we avoid by growing our own or worse yet...want to Tax it!

What is this world coming to? Soon it's going to be to tough even to be able to cut your own personal grass without some Politic type sticking his nose in your business!

WTIC (with tongue in cheek)

Bob

[Sojourner]

About supply of fry oil for public Biofuel user....I have said this for the pass few years, that it won't be enough to go around because there will be more demand than being produce. So I am not surprise what else they can save by using their own source of energy.

About the producer of fry oil......they have the advantage to incorporate a self contain power generator to supply electric and heat at cost of investment & maintaining it. Leasing is an option.

To their advantage is having no hauler fee (that may be free now), keep business running while power outage, avoid or lower outside electric power charge (the middle man).

Better yet...they may change fry oil sooner to keep it running while customer enjoy taster fried product.

BTW...all big chain restaurants will perhaps have their own bio diesel generator to protect their image due to leaser problem keeping it running properly and lower cost.

I think it smart business practice to avoid unnecessary waste.

Next thing they need a burnable waste chopper & grinder & processor to convert into Biofuel to run their air conditioner & so on. 

FWIW

Sojourn for Christ, Jerry

[belfert]

I can't imagine a lot of mom and pop type restaurants going for this since it will probably cost more than just buying electricity.

Most of them try to avoid additional expenses at all costs and won't even do the basics like service/repair the heat and air conditioning.

[lyndon]

Maybe someone will invent a self powered fryer... Heats itself AND cooks the fries. Perpetually!

Don

[Dreamscape]

Christy,

That's the shortest post I have ever seen from you!

Are you feeling OK?

Paul

[Christyhicks]

Christy, That's the shortest post I have ever seen from you!  Are you feeling OK? Paul

HAHAHAHAHA

Well, I just stumbled across that blip and posted it quickly because I thought it was interesting and was something to think about for those who are "on the fence" about purchasing/building a veggie oil setup for their bus. 

Personally, I feel discussions should be open and all viewpoints should be considered fairly, but one has to be very careful about saying anything against veggie oil systems on a bus forum,  because, invariably, somebody will blast against you and belittle you if you take the position that, for most people, veggie oil collection, filtering, storing, and and use in a leisure bus,  is not a viable, cost-efficient, permanent method for dealing with the increased fuel prices.  I believe that, in order to make an informed decision, someone must be exposed to the downsides of whatever they are contemplating, but no one wants to talk about those. 

Of course, it's not just veggie oil where I see that. . . in our industry, no one wants to talk about Geothermal downsides, such as ground-warming, leaking loops, pump failures, unit failures, undersizing of both loops and unit, and the extended payback period that often makes Geothermal a poor choice for existing homes.

No one wants to talk about hybrids and the high initial cost, the battery expenses, and the cost of repairs on these vehicles for things like power steering failures, that would just make you jump back in shock.  No one talks about the fact that the payback period on a hybrid, not including excessive repair costs, often stretches 7-14 years, far, far longer than the vast majority of people even KEEP their car.

Anyway, that's why I didn't want to comment, ha ha. . and now look what you did, you got me on my soapbox,  .  If anyone complains, I'm going to point them in your direction . 

On the upside. . . two weeks, we've got two weeks before we head out for a 2-3 week trip home to MN for my high school reunion!   People ask which one, and I ALWAYS say my "10 year" .  I just don't add that I mean "x3" .  Christy Hicks

[JackConrad]

Christy, That's the shortest post I have ever seen from you!  Are you feeling OK? Paul

HAHAHAHAHA
Well, I just stumbled across that blip and posted it quickly because I thought it was interesting and was something to think about for those who are "on the fence" about purchasing/building a veggie oil setup for their bus. 
Personally, I feel discussions should be open and all viewpoints should be considered fairly, but one has to be very careful about saying anything against veggie oil systems on a bus forum,  because, invariably, somebody will blast against you and belittle you if you take the position that, for most people, veggie oil collection, filtering, storing, and and use in a leisure bus,  is not a viable, cost-efficient, permanent method for dealing with the increased fuel prices.  I believe that, in order to make an informed decision, someone must be exposed to the downsides of whatever they are contemplating, but no one wants to talk about those. 
Of course, it's not just veggie oil where I see that. . . in our industry, no one wants to talk about Geothermal downsides, such as ground-warming, leaking loops, pump failures, unit failures, undersizing of both loops and unit, and the extended payback period that often makes Geothermal a poor choice for existing homes.
No one wants to talk about hybrids and the high initial cost, the battery expenses, and the cost of repairs on these vehicles for things like power steering failures, that would just make you jump back in shock.  No one talks about the fact that the payback period on a hybrid, not including excessive repair costs, often stretches 7-14 years, far, far longer than the vast majority of people even KEEP their car.
On the upside. . . two weeks, we've got two weeks before we head out for a 2-3 week trip home to MN for my high school reunion!   People ask which one, and I ALWAYS say my "10 year" .  I just don't add that I mean "x3" .  Christy Hicks

Christy,
    With all the politicians "Talking Green" they don't want anyone mentioning any negatives to there "save the world" policies.  Enjoy your trip. I think you will find that many of your classmates have really aged (unlike you, of course).  Jack

[HB of CJ]

Moonshine, moonshine, more moonshine please.  Sould be required drinking for all liberals, because after you have had enough, you forget what you were...saying.....in...........the..................firstplace.  He he he.  HB of CJ born and raised in the hills of Virginia!