energy savers

Green Hard Drive Saves Power While Backing Up Your Computer

jplatt — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:00:00 -0400

I learned long ago that hooking a good external hard drive up to my computer is the best way to avoid losing my files, digital photos, videos and other important records.

External hard drives don't use a heck of a lot of power, but one new model uses even less than usual. According to manufacturer Newer Technologies, their Guardian MAXimus eMAX uses up to 50% less power than other 1TB drives. As an added bonus, the drive is compliant with the European RoHS standard, meaning it was made with a limited amount of hazardous materials.

The Guardian MAXimus is actually a hard-drive enclosure, meaning you can buy it with hard drives included (available in several different sizes) or add your own. This provides an extra level of flexibility to users that you don't find with many other external hard drives.

This is the first "green" storage device from Newer Technologies, a company which has been an industry leader since the 1980s. The company already has a free battery recycling program for its laptop and iPod batteries.

The Secret Energy Saver Even Bachelors Own!

ckane — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Ever since reading this article Microwave Ovens: the Curse of Convenience from Natural News.com, I swore off using the microwave. I'd only been using the microwave for reheating leftovers (and never nuking food when it's in plastic), but no more: I moved the toaster oven down from the top of the fridge and onto the counter, and I've been surprised to find myself using it every day since. It wasn't only for leftovers, though: I started firing up the toaster oven many other times when I would normally use the full-size oven. I realized this is a super-easy energy saver.

The U.S. Department of Energy confirms this hypothesis, saying: "A toaster oven uses a third to half as much energy as a fullsized oven." (Many other energy-saving tips from the DOE are available here.)

Cooking in the toaster oven also goes much faster. Obviously you won't be cooking any full-family lasagnes in there, but any time you need to, say, bake a marinade into your tofu or meat, or roast potato chunks for brunch, throw it in the Pyrex and pop it into the toaster oven.

Image: Home Depot

Learn to Improve Your Car's Gasoline Efficiency

jplatt — Thu, 22 May 2008 11:56:56 -0400

With gas prices climbing higher and higher, it's ever-more important for everyone (individuals and companies) to get the most bang for their buck -- in other words, to get the best gas mileage from their vehicles.

Want a simple way to do that? Try installing the ScanGuage II from Linear Logic. This tiny device plugs into the onboard diagnostic connector in almost any car or truck and instantly starts calculating all kinds of critical data -- including your exact gas mileage. Knowing your MPG at any point in your trip allows you to adapt your driving methods to improve your overall efficiency. Bingo, you'll be using less gas, saving money, and putting fewer greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

ScanGuage II also tracks a lot of other cool information, such as how much fuel you have used and how much time you have been driving. It's only five inches across, making it easy to install just about anywhere in your vehicle.

I first saw tools like this in the dashboards of hybrid cars, but this is the first time I have seen an equivalent device that can be used in any car or truck at any time. ScanGuage costs just $169.95 (including shipping) -- a bargain at half the price if it teaches you to improve your fuel economy and reduce the number of trips you need to take to the pump.

Texas Declares Memorial Day Sales Tax Holiday for Energy Star Appliances

jplatt — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:00:00 -0400

Texas likes to do things big, and this Memorial Day weekend is no exception. For three days, Texas is suspending its sales tax on all ENERGY STAR appliances, offering its citizens a chance to save a lot of money when they buy energy-efficient devices. Included are all kinds of must-haves for the hot Texas summers, such as air conditioners, ceiling fans, programmable thermostats and refrigerators. (Oh, and CFL light-bulbs are also included.)

Taxas has a pretty high sales tax -- 8.25% in much of the state -- so this tax holiday will give consumers a chance to save $82.50 for every $1,000 they spend. And then they'll save more money by having an energy-efficient appliance in their home.

Okay, I usually poo-poo any type of activity that goads people into spending money to buy things they may not really need, but this at least is an idea that will help inspire Texans to buy appliances that use less energy, thereby reducing greenhouse gases. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Next step: getting 49 more state legislatures to copy this idea...

Device Can Cut Energy Use by 10% -- Just Plug It In!

jplatt — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:00:00 -0400

A new plug-and-play device from Canada's Nevvus Group promises to very simply cut home energy use by 10% or more -- just by plugging it into a wall outlet.

According to Nevvus, their POWERGARD "works to reduce power spikes and energy surges and regulates the electrical system of any home or office, making it more efficient. The unit stores energy otherwise lost in the operation of inductive motors -- found in many household appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners and vacuum cleaners -- in its capacitors and recycles it for maximum energy efficiency."

So not only does the POWERGUARD even out your power use, it tries to grab excess power, store it, then feed it back into your own electrical system.

The POWERGUARD costs $199.99 plus shipping, and Novvus says users can save enough to make the device pay for itself in a year or less.

Nevvus claims that 300,000 people around the world are already using their device. It it works, I could see that number climbing in the coming months as electricity prices continue to climb.

Cold Soda Equals High Energy Costs

jplatt — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:00:00 -0400

When the city of Juneau, Alaska, experienced a severe energy shortage last month, local businesses quickly unplugged some of their most energy-dependant appliances: vending machines.

According to the U.S. government's ENERGY STAR program, the average vending machine costs a business $311 a year in electricity costs alone. But an ENERGY STAR-qualified vending machine costs half that -- $158 -- or less if includes software to further reduce energy use during non-peak times.

When you consider that the average business has several vending machines, you can see how costs can quickly spiral out of control.

There are several ways to green your vending machines, which will help you to save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One way is to replace older vending machines with ENERGY STAR-rated models. Another is to invest in the VendingMiser from USA Technologies. These plug-and-play devices use passive infrared sensors to monitor their surroundings, turning vending machines off when no one is around. The also monitor vending machine temperatures, keeping drinks cool while using less energy. USA Technologies says their VendingMiser makes any vending machine as efficient as an ENERGY STAR device and can save a business up to $150 a year in energy costs, while also reducing annual maintenance costs by another $40-$80.

So the next time you see one of your employees carrying an ice-cold soda back to their desk, think about how much that can or bottle is costing you, and take a small step to protect the environment. Your bottom line will thank you.

Energy Star: It's About More Than Refrigerators

jplatt — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:00:36 -0400

My wife travels a lot, so I thought I would try to make those long trips more fun by buying her a portable DVD player. But being a good greenie, I wanted to make sure I chose the most energy-efficient model. My quest led me to a Sony device that happened to have the government's ENERGY STAR logo stamped on the package.

But wait, I thought, isn't ENERGY STAR just about refrigerators and air conditioners?

No, it turns out that the program is much broader, ranking all kinds of home and business appliances, electronics and other commercial products. In addition to home heating and cooling devices and major appliances, the program evaluates TVs, battery chargers, stereos, cordless phones, computers, copiers, lighting systems --- and even new homes!

According to ENERGY STAR's website, "Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy in 2007 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 27 million cars — all while saving $16 billion on their utility bills."

Sounds like a program doing good work, while helping us all in the process. So keep an eye out for that logo -- it definitely makes a difference.

Drive It? No, WALK IT!

Julia — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

So I spent last semester in London, which was lovely but got really overwhelming at times. My biggest complaint about the city was the failing transportation system. Your best bet when trying to get around was to walk everywhere you could- otherwise, you could quite possibly find yourself waiting forever until the tube showed up. Which is precisely why Walkit.com, a new London-based website, is a must-see not only for eco-conscious commuters, but for everyone who has ever been frustrated by the inconsistency of public transportation.

To use Walkit.com, you simply enter your starting and ending locations, and the site does the rest. Based on the data you’ve entered, Walkit.com creates a personalized walking map to quickly and efficiently get you where you need to go. This, in my humble opinion, is genius. Why waste your money on a taxi and contribute to air pollution when you can walk?

You can also find out approximately how long the walk will take AND how many calories you will burn doing it! By utilizing Walkit.com, you’re not just reducing your carbon footprint- you’re getting some exercise, and maybe even enjoying yourself in the process.

Walkit.com was just shortlisted for The 2007 National Energy Efficiency Award, and is starting to make headlines across the globe.

“We want to get people walking more,” reads Walkit.com’s mission statement. “We think walking in and around town can be a smart choice. No timetables to keep to, no journey delays, no overcrowding, healthy, green, free, direct, access to services (and sunlight!) en route. We're a tiny outfit but we've got big ambitions and plan to launch the service in other UK cities as soon as we can.” Sounds good to me.

I love this idea because it tackles multiple issues at once. It’s an environmentally conscious act that positively impacts your health. We are so lazy sometimes, and this is an ideal way to get motivated to exercise and feel good and accomplished at the same time. Heck, I’m not saying you need to walk miles to get to where you belong, but think about all the places you drive out of convenience when you could easily go for a quick jaunt on foot. Once the snow kicks in here in Ithaca, it’s sometimes a much better idea to just start walking in the first place, because it could be ages before you can even get your car out of the driveway!

Support Walkit.com so that it can eventually make its way to your city. And get walking, friends!

No Cars Go

Marcus — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

If you haven’t gotten the memo yet, bikes are taking the world by storm. And not just ‘cause they’re an environmentally-friendly, efficient way to get around town. They’re also cool. Really cool. Bicycles have not only moved to the forefront as a primary form of alternative transportation, they’ve also become a symbol of urban youth culture, representing a hip, bohemian way of life.

I’m talking primarily about cities here. Bicycles have always had their place outside of urban centers, whether they’re used for an invigorating mountain bike adventure through Yellowstone, or a lazy meander on a beach cruiser along a boardwalk on the Atlantic Seaboard. Bikes in cities have been prevalent for some time now, but it’s only recently that we’ve really started to see initiatives that promote the bicycle as a primary form of transportation. Just recently, I blogged about a potential San Francisco bike sharing program, as well as a Parisian initiative that has been quite successful thus far. Additionally, major cities like Chicago and New York have pledged to allot more space on major roads to bike paths in the years ahead. As the reality of climate change and the effects of pollution generated by urban transportation become major focal points for the sustainable future of cities, bicycles are becoming more glamorous by virtue of the fact that they represent a commitment to reducing carbon emissions and inducing change.

This commitment to the climate crisis should be all the reason you need to hop on a bike straight away. But, allow me to reiterate the following: bicycles are real hip right now. So, if you’re thinking that you can just take the bus and still be reducing your carbon footprint, you’re right. But again, bikes are cool. If you’re skeptical about this, check out any Critical Mass event across the country (if you haven’t heard about Critical Mass, click on this link immediately). It’s probably the coolest thing I’ve ever done. Bike culture has somehow merged with “hipster” culture nationwide, which has in turn made its way into mainstream culture. Why do you think brands like Timbuk2 and Chrome are so trendy right now? There isn’t a massive influx of people switching careers to become bike messengers, I’ll tell you that. No, dude. Riding a bike means something. So, if you’re interested in offsetting this little problem we’ve got called global warming, and you want to look like a bona fide bad-ass in the process, get yourself a two-wheeler, son. Do it.