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We can estimate electrical usage in the United States by totaling how much is billed to all the consumers of electricity, but between generation and consumption some of the electrical energy is lost, dissipated in the transmission wires and transformers, radiated into space, or just wasted through unintentional conduction (leakage) paths. Does anyone know what the ratio really is between electrical energy produced and electrical energy actually billed and delivered to the consumer in the United States? In other words, what percentage of our generating capacity is being wasted in losses that could possibly be reduced by improving the infrastructure of power transmission?

I bought this ride new in 1999, but after the break-in period I failed to change the oil when due, maybe 4000 miles overdue at 8000 on the odometer. I rode the bike with my wife as a passanger from Dayton, OH to Memphis, TN and from Dayton to Virginia Beach, VA traveling mostly on the Interstate at 70 to 80 mph. When I finally remembered to change the oil, it came out very black. After the oil and filter change it began slowly leaking. I replaced the washer on the drain plug, drained and re-filled the oil again, making sure the filter gasket had a film of oil on it before tightening it, but it still leaked. Near as I can tell, it may be leaking at the oil pump gasket. I rode for awhile with four quarts of replacement oil in the saddle bags, but now I don't know if it would make it ten miles to the dealer for repairs. Service manual says removal of the sub-frame and a bunch of other parts is necessary to gain access to remove the oil pump. Any suggestions before I do this?

My natural gas-fired gravity furnace was installed in the 1950s. It is a Janitrol model GDS100-15, Type S, serial number 1252B0111, manufactured by Surface Combustion Corporation, Toledo, Ohio. It uses a bi-metallic switch mounted on the pilot burner to sense the presense of the pilot flame. The switch is wired in series with the solenoid valve for the main burner and prevents the valve from opening if the pilot flame is extinguished, an obviously necessary safety feature. I would like to find either an exact replacement for the switch, or an electronic infrared flame sensor that doesn't require direct contact with the pilot flame. Suggestions please, but don't suggest that I replace my inefficient gravity furnace (100,000 btu in, 75,000 btu out) with a new forced-air furnace/air conditioner. I can't afford to do that right now.