Filed under: Etc., Green, Tech
Caffeinated Performance: Fill 'er up... with Starbucks?!
If researchers at the University of Nevada prove successful, America's growing caffeine addiction may have at least one major plus side. Apparently, used coffee grounds are between 10- and 15 percent oil, and that's a potential source of energy. Even better, the oil is apparently easy to extract, so experts suggest that the resulting biodiesel could be priced as low as $1 dollar a gallon, which is quite a bit better than what petroleum-based diesel fuel is selling for, even after recent price drops. Sure, there may not be enough spent coffee beans around the world to completely displace our dependence on petroleum, but every little bit helps. Perhaps the best bit of news is that the fuel retains its coffee smell, and that's reason enough for us to get behind the idea. Thanks for the tip, Luke!
[Source: Consumer Energy Report]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jake B 5:34PM (1/08/2009)
If starbucks makes fuel like they make their coffee my cylinders will be missin 50% of the time using their watered down junk.
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Chris 6:03PM (1/08/2009)
I was thinking if they made fuel like they made their coffee we'd be paying 3x the going rate ($2/gal here) so yay $6/gallon biodiesel?
Conundrum 8:25PM (1/08/2009)
@Chris...
It would still be cheaper per gallon than thier coffee!!
firstplace 5:36PM (1/08/2009)
Cool if they even put out a few thousand gallons a year its still one step toward energy independence and recycling as long as they exceed there start up cost. I hope it works, Im rooting for them (even if I drink wawa).
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jv2k 5:40PM (1/08/2009)
Starbucks is the devil.
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firstplace 5:44PM (1/08/2009)
Ok then whats microsoft?
BenS 5:45PM (1/08/2009)
El Diablo
Richard 5:50PM (1/08/2009)
McDonalds?
Richard 5:51PM (1/08/2009)
George W Bush?
Richard 5:51PM (1/08/2009)
Finally...
Bawney Fwank?
Jake B 5:52PM (1/08/2009)
Like Subaru is any better. They advertise their "green" auto plant in the United States. In reality this "green" facility is powered by the lives of orphaned UAW children.
Richard 5:54PM (1/08/2009)
Why have UAW workers orphaned their children?
firstplace 10:43PM (1/08/2009)
To make girl scout cookies?
John P. 5:48PM (1/08/2009)
Finally a reason to drink Starbucks. Not a good reason, but a reason nonetheless.
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BenS 6:07PM (1/08/2009)
Or at least start watching their stock again...
Richard 5:53PM (1/08/2009)
Of course, if this does come to pass and 'merica CAN make diesel from 'bucks waste and sell it for $1 a gallon, Congressman Fwank and hiws bestus buddies wiw tax the wiving heck owt of it so the consumow wiw pay five bucks a gawwon.
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ddors 6:08PM (1/08/2009)
I don't like the guy either but you should get off his nuts.
He's not even mentioned.
Michael 6:17PM (1/08/2009)
Sounds like my ex giwfwind.
Farris 6:05PM (1/08/2009)
Theoretically it'll be fuel coming from Starbucks. It will be 5 dollars a gallon BEFORE taxes, if it's anything like their coffee. :D
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1970Dodge 6:17PM (1/08/2009)
Algae, Corn, Soy, now Coffee.
Engineers can apparently burn anything and get energy out of it. So...why has no one tackled landfill as a fuel yet?
[I want my garbage powered deLorean!]
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