How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient Without Breaking the Bank
There are many easy, low cost and very effective ways that we can make our current homes more environmentally friendly without breaking the bank. In this article I will talk about the most basic of steps as well as some that are a bit more aggressive, many of which you can start right now. You will be amazed at how much energy you can save by taking the even simplest of steps!
Turn down the heat.
The easiest thing we can all do is monitor our thermostats. In the colder, winter months it is imperative to heat the home only when you are there. For example, if you are out of the home during the workday, then keep it to a minimal setting. Today’s homes heat fairly quickly and a few minutes of discomfort as your house warms up can greatly affect your heating bill and energy consumption. When you and your family are asleep, be sure to turn the thermostat back down. If your thermostat is not currently on a timer, you should look into having one installed.
This will help keep the house cooler when no one is around and warmer for when you are around without you having to remember to change the settings on a continual basis. Every degree of heat below 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) during the winter months will save you approximately 3 – 5% in your energy bill. Nearly half of your home’s energy comes from heating and cooling. Clean your furnace’s filter once a month. If your furnace is an older model, and you plan on being in your current home for a while, you may want to invest in a newer furnace. The newer models are about 25% more efficient.
Other ways to keep your home warm during the winter months involve just a few simple and basic steps. Check your windows and doors for drafts and caulk as necessary. Make sure your attic and walls are well insulated. Schedule regular maintenance checks for your furnace to ensure optimal performance.
Keep it cool.
During the summer months it is best to keep the thermostat set to 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25.5 Celsius). Air conditioners use a ton of energy and electricity and their use should be kept to a minimum whenever possible. Standing fans, window fans and ceiling fans are all much better choices. During the day you can keep the house dramatically cooler by pulling down all shades and curtains.
Whether you are building a new home, or you’ve been in yours for a while, consider adding deciduous trees and shrubs to the outside of your house to provide more shelter from the sun’s blistering rays. If you must use air conditioning, especially if you live in areas that are tropical or where humidity is an issue, consider replacing your older models for those that are more energy efficient. If you have central air, turn it off when you are not at home and set your thermostat to a timer.
Save water.
It may seem so simple and likely you have heard it over and over again, but really you should turn the water off when you are brushing your teeth. For each time you brush and the water is off, you save 4.5 gallons of water. Likewise your morning shower can sabotage your water bill. By simply changing a shower head with a low-flow model you can save 15-25 gallons of water a day.
It would be wise to also install low-flow toilets and add aerators to all your faucets. In the kitchen add a water filtration system (such as Britta) to your faucet and refill your own plastic recyclable water bottles which will reduce your plastic water bottle consumption, hence fewer bottles floating around.
Light up your life.
Replace current incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent ones. Try to replace as many as possible. Just one light bulb swap will save over 400 pounds of greenhouse gasses. In some countries, incandescent light bulbs are no longer permitted. Turn off any unused lights. This may seem obvious but so many people still walk out of a room and leave the light on behind them.
If you are like me and don’t like coming home to a dark house, instead of leaving a light on all day or all night long, place a lamp or two on a timer set to the times you would like the house lit. Not only do I dislike coming home to a cold, dark house at the end of a winter’s day, but I like to keep my house lit when I am not home – I like to give the impression someone is home even if they are not. I feel safer that way. (For more on home safety read my piece here.)
In this case newer is better.
If your appliances are older you may want to consider replacing them with newer, more energy efficient models. This makes sense, not only if you plan on being in your home for a long time, but also if you plan on selling it in the near future. New appliances are very attractive to home buyers. Either way you will get your money’s worth as well as save on your electric bill.
Do look for appliances with the Energy Star logo on them. If just one in every ten homes, according to the Energy Star website, used an energy efficient appliance, the energy saved would be the equivalent of planting 1.7 million acres of trees. Do unplug any unused appliance. If you have an extra refrigerator in your basement or garage that are not being used, do unplug them. If they are being used check to see what’s inside them. Can these items be brought inside and placed in your kitchen refrigerator?
Renovations.
If you plan on doing any significant work to your home, home improvements or renovations be sure to look into all the possible environmentally friendly options out there. If you are planning on painting use a low VOC (volatile organic compound) paint. In the bathrooms opt for fixtures that save water and energy. In the kitchen choose materials for counters and floors that have been recycled or are organic and earth friendly such as cork and bamboo. Your builder or contractor will be up to date on all the latest, “green” technical advances.
How energy efficient is your home?
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Activating Schools without Clichés
Launched at the end of February, Let’s Move! Active Schools is a new initiative that will provide “simple steps and tools to help schools create active environments where students get 60 minutes of physical activity before, during and after the school day.” Active Schools is part of Michelle Obama’s larger Let’s Move program and is being powered by Nike, which will invest over the course of five years “$50 million in the U.S. to increase the physical activity of kids in schools and communities as well as target advocacy efforts to inspire kids and draw additional resources to this important effort” as stated in this press release that lists the rest of the program’s partners. Nike worked with Wolff Olins to create a new brand for Let’s Move! Active Schools.
Update: The Nike team that worked with WO was Joe Stitzlein and Michael Malowanczyk. A few more images have been posted at the end, courtesy of Michael.
We were asked to help prepare the ‘Let’s Move’ brand for its next step. The key to success was tapping into kids’ psyche — they’re the ones that need to embrace and get motivated by the brand. The target audience is 8-12 year olds, so we worked hard to avoid being ‘child-like’ and focused on being ‘kid-powered’. Not teaching them, but getting them excited to take part.
— Wolff Olins blog post
This is a brand that’s about doing it together. So kids don’t feel being healthy is a chore, or something they have to toil away at on their own, we needed to show a healthy life can be simple and fun. It’s dodging past your buddies on the court, chasing each other to the school gate, mixing it up on the kitchen surface, running, dribbling, stirring, chewing, swerving, bouncing, chopping, high-fiving. We captured that energy in the brand, creating something that can be broken into parts, played with, and joined up to represent a school, a community, a country.
— Wolff Olins blog post
Animated pattern.
Animated ticker type.
First Lady Michelle Obama at the launch of the campaign at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill., Feb. 28, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson).
To ease the transition back into non-flexible identities for the rest of the week, we have this semi-flexible identity to keep us entertained. It’s hard not to like this. Mostly because of the good cause. But also because it’s energetic, American — okay, I can see how some would not like this — and fun. More importantly, it’s not your typical apple-means-helthy-kids logo — see main Let’s Move logo — but a prompt-driven identity sparked by verbs (as seen in the type video) and by icons (as seen in the pattern). The combination is a perfect respite from all the branded character crap kids are exposed to every day and it’s nice to see the Let’s Move organization adopt an unexpected set of visuals and words. Execution-wise, this identity is simple and effective: the logo/pattern references the stars on the American flag and uses fairly random shapes that simply look good together and the typography is contemporary and kid-friendlier with the little flare of the “l”. Having Nike behind it probably also means cool apparel and, although Wolff Olins’ concept t-shirts are a little too artsy and abstract, you can see the real potential in the actual t-shirts produced in the pictures directly above. I’d wear that.
Additional images from Michael I. Malowanczyk.
Poster series.
Abstract Illustrations built from elements of brand mark.
Hadn’t noticed there his and hers t-shirt designs for the kids.
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Van Gogh without “the static”. Check out this…
Van Gogh without “the static”. Check out this amazing video showing the process. via Gizmodo
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The moon marks 40 years without a human visitor, prepares for impending probe crashes
It’s likely not an anniversary anyone thought we would meet after the first moon landing, but today marks 40 years since Gene Cernan left the last footprint on the moon as Apollo 17 ended its mission. That was the last of six manned missions to the lunar surface (nine including those that didn’t land), which saw twelve men actually walk on the moon in all. The years since have of course seen continued exploration of the moon through other means, though, and next week will see another major event when NASA’s twin GRAIL spacecraft conduct a planned crash into a mountain near the lunar north pole. Those have been in orbit since January 1st, creating a high-resolution map of the moon’s gravitational field and collecting data that promises to provide more detail than ever about the moon’s internal structure and composition. You’ll be able to follow along on NASA’s website as that happens beginning at 5PM Eastern on Monday, December 17th.
[Image credit: NASA / Eugene Cernan]
Source: NASA
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Ask Engadget: how do you secure a laptop without a Kensington slot?
We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget inquiry is from Scott, who needs some peace of mind with his new laptop, since it doesn’t have a security slot. If you’re looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
“I have a Lenovo U410, which doesn’t have a Kensington lock slot. Do you have any suggestions as to how to keep it physically secured? Thanks!”
Well, Scott, while it’s not the greatest situation, there are a few alternatives you might want to try. For example:
- Griffin’s TechSafe connects through the device’s hinge, and should do a job to deter casual thieves.
- There’s also Kensington’s laptop docking station, which also clips around your device’s display — but does require you to drill some holes through your desk.
Of course, that’s just our two cents, now it’s time for you lot out there to chip in with your own suggestions. If you’ve learned the secret to securing Kensington-free laptops, share your knowledge in the comments below.
Filed under: Laptops
Ask Engadget: how do you secure a laptop without a Kensington slot? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Nov 2012 23:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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BAE Systems’ NAVSOP does positioning without GPS, makes sure the only jammin’ going on is yours
Just in case GPS and GLONASS didn’t make for enough of an acronym soup, BAE Systems wants to add one more to the navigation broth. NAVSOP (Navigation via Signals of Opportunity) uses some of the basic concepts we know from cell tower triangulation and WiFi location-finding to lock down a position, but goes much further to geolocate from nearly anything that pushes out a signal, such as nearby radios and TVs. It doesn’t even need to know what kind of signal it’s looking at, and it can get its position in places there’s no GPS to work from, whether it’s in an urban canyon or the natural kind. BAE is most excited about the prospects of ending GPS jamming against soldiers and UAVs, once and for all: not only is the new technology mostly impervious to attempts to block its signal, it can use the jamming attempt itself to get the position fix. Thankfully, the company’s roots in defense aren’t precluding use for civilians, so there’s a chance that future smartphones might never have to use guesswork to get their bearings — provided that governments around the world sign off on the idea, that is.
BAE Systems’ NAVSOP does positioning without GPS, makes sure the only jammin’ going on is yours originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 Jun 2012 10:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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European Union retailers to be required to accept e-waste without charge, says Parliament
Not sure what to do with your old, outdated electronics? If you live within the European Union, getting rid of your e-waste may soon be as easy as dropping by the local electronics shop. In an effort to increase electronic waste collection from four kilograms per capita to 20, the European Parliament has approved plans that would require electronic retailers with a retail space of 400 square meters or larger to accept e-waste for disposal, free of charge. The new rules will be implemented over the next seven years, and are part of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive — a measure that also aims to limit illegal e-waste exports to developing countries. Between keeping your house uncluttered with old gadgets and keeping developing nations clean, what’s not to like?
European Union retailers to be required to accept e-waste without charge, says Parliament originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Will Intel’s Core i7 Sandy Bridge-E CPUs ship without fans or heatsinks?
Over the past few months, we’ve peeked Intel’s roadmap more than once, but all told we’ve been treated to scant few details about its high-end desktop line, Sandy Bridge E (that’s “E” for enthusiasts). Today, though, VR-Zone is reporting that the next generation of these CPUs will ship without fans or heatsinks — a tacit acknowledgment, perhaps, that Intel’s home-brewed cooling system will be inadequate in the eyes of hobbyists anyway. We reached out to Intel for comment, and while the company stayed mum on the topic of cooling, it did go out of its way to clarify another point the folks at VR-Zone made in their report. The outlet had said that the forthcoming 3820, 3930K and 3960X CPUs will be rated at 130 watts, but will consume closer to 180W and draw up to 23 amps from the 12V2 supply rail — all without overclocking, mind you. An Intel rep writes: “TDP expectations for the 2nd Generation Intel Core i7 processor family for socket LGA-2011 are in line with previous generations of high end desktop products.” In other words, built-in cooling system or no, the TDP should be in line with what we’ve seen from other Extreme-branded processors. As for the cooling, it’s unclear when, exactly, we’ll get the full spill — the CPUs are rumored to launch before the end of the year, with the quad-core 3820 arriving after the six-core 3930K and 3960X.
Will Intel’s Core i7 Sandy Bridge-E CPUs ship without fans or heatsinks? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Zynga’s Pioneer Trail is like The Oregon Trail without the typhoid
Zynga’s Pioneer Trail is like The Oregon Trail without the typhoid originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Aug 2011 03:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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AutoBot app tracks your car if it tries to roll without you
We smell a Hasbro lawsuit coming with this one, but for now AutoBot is a funky name for a potentially great iPhone and Android app. Working in concert with a Bluetooth OBD-II dongle (not unlike the Superchips Vivid), it lets you diagnose engine troubles, keep track of maintenance, and locate your car via GPS coordinates — useful for when some Decepticon tries to make off with your ride or when you’re simply running low on energon and can’t remember where you parked. It can even be configured to automatically send a text to loved ones should you get into an accident, specifying your GPS coordinates and ruining any hope of hitting the body shop before dad finds out. The Mavizon-developed app recently won a startup competition at i-Stage 2010 and sadly isn’t slated to be available until 2012, but we should be getting an early look at CES. When it does ship it’ll cost $300 for the hardware and the software, though an extra fee will be required if you want to banish pop-up ads back to Cybertron.
AutoBot app tracks your car if it tries to roll without you originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Nov 2010 03:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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