Abstract
THE United States National Committee of the World Power Conference (Central Office, 36 Kings-way London, W.C.2) has issued a report on that country'S reactions to war conditions. Economy of fuel was necessary, but in ways which differ from those experienced in Britain. Since hostilities ceased, except for temporary effects, such as labour troubles, difficulties have disappeared and efforts to save fuel are based on economics rather than availability of supplies. During the War, production suffered from labour troubles and especially transportation problems. This led to an increase in the use of hydro-generated electricity from 44 to 80 biHion kWh. Attempts were made to increase production—by technical devices in the case of liquid and gaseous fuels. In coal production, major developments were “salvaging coal formerly rejected”, which recalls British use of ‘outcrop coal’ and ‘washery slurries’. Alternative fuels such as ‘coal oil’ mixtures were tried but not used extensively. Contrary to present British practice, the principal change was from oil-firing to coal-fired equipment, and in household use from oil to gas. There were control organisations- a petroleum administrator and a ‘solid fuel administrator’, and as civilian fuel became short, rationing was developed. Judged by British standards, the measures adopted do not sound onerous. For example, the general consumer would experience a restriction of solid fuels to seven-eighths of normal use. Various steps to conserve fuel were enforced, such as the adoption of ‘brownout’ and ‘dimout’ rules, reduction of space heating and organisation of a fuel economy campaign.
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Fuel Economy in the United States since 1939. Nature 158, 510–511 (1946). https://doi.org/10.1038/158510c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/158510c0