RTFA: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/

Energy Savers provides homeowners with tips for saving energy and money at home and on the road. By following just a few of the simple tips found on this Energy Savers Web site, you can make your home more comfortable and easier to heat and cool-while you save money. We bring you the latest information on energy-saving, efficient technologies. We even give tips for using clean, renewable energy to power your home.

We help you beat the high cost of fuel, with driving and car maintenance tips to save you money on the road.

Some of the tips are simple to do. Others require more effort and investment, but promise big savings over the years.

We encourage you to check out the Web site and make improvements today and this year that will contribute to your energy bottom line and make our planet healthier and cleaner!

Visit energysavers.gov to learn more about home energy efficiency initiatives.

The information on this Web site is also available in PDF format (PDF 2.7 MB).

Did you know that 100% of these United States have cold, craptastic weather much of the year? It’s true, according to the DOE “climate-zone” picture above. That’s why it’s so great to own: an energy company, stock in an energy company, or property containing natural energy resources (that you can rent to an energy company).

However, if you’re not among the lucky 0.1% of US expats who own a stake in the energy game, you don’t need to get reamed month after month by the energy company. Instead, transform your house (or, for the serfs - and only if your lord permits it - your apartment) from a gas-guzzling monster truck of an abode into something more like a mid-sized sedan… of an abode.

Here’s a neat illustration: if you convert 12 60-watt incandescent lightbulbs into 13-watt compact fluorescents, then you can reduce your light-related consumption by about 600 watts. (That’s 720 watts down to 156 watts) …then, if you use a 400-watt infra-red bulb to spot-heat your body, you’re still using less electricity than before, but you can comfortably lower your thermostat from 72 degrees to something more like 64 degrees.

The net effect is reduced electricity consumption combined with seriously reduced gas/oil consumption (depending on how your home works). Here’s why it matters: when winter rolls around, electricity can be generated by coal, gas, and eventually lots of renewable alternatives (or even nuclear - yes). Gas, on the other hand, is basically guaranteed to spike as supply is systematically manipulated to barely, but not quite, meet demand. Score a big win for energy deregulation! If you get a handle on your home gas consumption, then you won’t be subject to that form of fraudulent consumer exploitation.

To figure this one out, I got historical heating oil price-per-gallon data from http://www.theenergyco-op.com/OIL%20PRICE%20UPDATING/hhoil_pastprices.htm. Then, I plotted the 30-day moving average for the past 6 years, and sure enough, there is a small bump every fall. Why? I don’t know. This year might be weird since there was a major oil scandal over the summer, but guess what? It’s still going to be way more expensive than last year! …just look at the graph.

There’s a lot that can be done, and you should seriously do as much as will effectively lower your costs. Important note: if you spend more on “energy saving” than you will actually save in energy costs, then you lose… unless, of course, you can amortize the cost over multiple years, in which case you win!

Start by reading the Energy Savers guide, which I’ve helpfully linked to above. Then, use my links to buy light bulbs and a heater from Amazon. You will support RTFA with 4% of the purchase price.

RTFA: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,9…

Europe’s dream of promoting the euro as a competitor to the U.S. dollar may get a boost from SADDAM HUSSEIN. Iraq says that from now on, it wants payments for its oil in euros, despite the fact that the battered European currency unit, which used to be worth quite a bit more than $1, has dropped to about 82[cents]. Iraq says it will no longer accept dollars for oil because it does not want to deal “in the currency of the enemy.” The switch to euros would cost the U.N. a small fortune in accounting-paperwork changes. It would also reduce the interest earnings and reparations payments that Iraq is making for damage it caused during the Gulf War, a shortfall the Iraqis would have to make up. The move hurts Iraq, the U.N. and the countries receiving reparations. So why is Saddam doing it? Diplomatic sources say switching to the euro will favor European suppliers over U.S. ones in competing for Iraqi contracts, and the p.r. boost that Baghdad would probably get in Europe would be another plus.

FYI

RTFA: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=41594&section…

The Iranian Company of Commodities Bourse has been tasked by the government to establish the long-awaited Oil Bourse on Kish Island.The Cabinet of Ministers on Sunday issued an order to the Oil Ministry, Finance Ministry, Foreign Ministry and Central Bank to implement a plan to set up the Oil Bourse. The Oil Bourse will serve as a place to trade oil products and crude oil.The Ministry of Economy will be setting up the petrochemicals section by February 19. The Oil Bourse is supposed to trade oil products in non-dollar currencies and many analysts hold the opinion that it could deal a blow to the already declining greenback.

RTFA: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7062669.stm

The US Department of Justice has fined oil giant BP a total of 373m, for breaking environmental rules and committing fraud.

The fines include 50m relating to a Texas refinery explosion in 2005 that killed 15 people and injured 180 more.

That sum is the highest fine of its kind levied under the Clean Air Act.

The largest fine relates to a price manipulation scandal between April 2003 and February 2004, over which four ex-BP workers have also been indicted.

RTFA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Aramco

Saudi Aramco’s history dates back to May 29, 1933, when the Government of Saudi Arabia signed a concessionary agreement with Standard Oil of California (Socal) allowing them to explore Saudi Arabia for oil. Standard Oil of California passed this concession to a wholly-owned subsidiary called California-Arabian Standard Oil Co. (Casoc). In 1936 with the company having no success at locating oil, the Texas Oil Company purchased a 50% stake of the concession.
After a long search for oil that lasted around four years without success, the first success came with the seventh drill site in Dammam, an area located a few miles north of Dhahran in 1938, a well referred to as Dammam number 7. The discovery of this well, which immediately produced over 1,500 barrels per day, gave the company the hope to continue and flourish. The company name was changed in 1944 from California-Arabian Standard Oil Company to Arabian American Oil Company (or Aramco). In 1948 Standard Oil of California and the Texas Oil Company were joined as investors by Standard Oil of New Jersey who purchased 30% of the company, and Socony Vacuum who purchased 10% of the company, leaving Standard Oil of California and the Texas Oil Company with equal 30% shares.
In 1950, King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud threatened to nationalize his country’s oil facilities, thus pressuring Aramco to agree to share its profits on oil sales 50/50. A similar process had taken place with American oil companies in Venezuela a few years earlier. The American government granted US Aramco member companies a tax break known as the Golden gimmick equivalent to the profits lost in sharing oil profits with Ibn Saud.
In 1973 the Saudi Arabian government acquired a 25% share of Aramco, increased this to 60% by 1974 and finally acquired full control of Aramco by 1980. In November 1988 the company changed its name from Arabian American Oil Company to Saudi Arabian Oil Company (or Saudi Aramco).

Interesting company.