energy saving ideas

LED Plus Solar Equals a Great Outdoor Lamp

jplatt — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:21:36 -0400

As we've written here before, LED light bulbs are poised to become the next big thing in lighting. They're even more energy efficient than CFL bulbs, and they last an incredibly long time.

LEDs are making their way into all kinds of new devices, and here's one of my favorites: a solar-powered outdoor lamp, now available from ThinkGeek.com. ($59.99)

This mountable, adjustable outdoor lighting system comes with two LED light arrays (each with five LEDs) and a nice-sized solar panel. A day's sun can charge the device for around 4-8 hours, depending on how many of the bulbs you want to use at a time. The lights can automatically turn on at dusk, or you can control them with an included infrared remote control.

We have solar-powered accent lamps all around the outside of our house, but they're fairly dim bulbs. LEDs offer a brighter, whiter light while using less power, so they're an ideal application for solar-powered devices.

New Gadget Can Save You Money on Electricity

jplatt — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

Whether you're at home or in the office, your electric bills these days probably hurt. Not only are they higher than ever, but the impact of all of that electricity generation is spewing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere every day.

What can you do to help cut your electric usage? A good first step is to monitor how much energy you are actually using.

One way to do that is with a Watts Up? meter from Electronic Educational Devices. Plug any device into one of these meters and it will tell you energy it is using. The higher-end Watts Up? meters come with USB connections and software so you can upload the data into your computer and keep track of usage over time.

EED says their monitors are particularly effective in identifying the "vampires" in your home or office -- the devices that continue to suck in electricity even when they are "off." According to the company, "A typical system consisting of a set top box, VCR, TV, stereo, and ampliier can consume 50-75 watts or more, even when not in use. This can add up to $25-50 years per year."

The basic Watts Up? monitor costs less than $100 -- a pretty low-cost nvestment for helping to lower your total electric bill.

LEDs: The Next Big Thing in Lights

jplatt — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 01:00:00 -0400

If you're a good greenie, you've probably already replaced all of your household lighting with energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs.

But take a minute to think about it -- did you really replace every bulb in your house?

What about your refrigerator light? Flashlights? Christmas lights? Candelabras and chandeliers? The overhead light in your car?

CFLs are awesome, and they save both money and electricity, but they aren't the only substitute for traditional bulbs, and they're too big for many devices. But there's something else out there that also fits the bill:

LEDs.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are the next big thing in lighting. Like CFLs, they use less power, last longer, and are a great alternative to incandescent lighting.

But John, you say, LEDs have been around for years. You're right, but still, this is an exciting time for LED technology. Constant innovations have created better, brighter lights with a wide range of "color temperatures." Meanwhile, more and more stores are stocking LEDs, and more devices are coming with them built in. (I don't go anywhere at night without an LED Maglite flashlight in my jacket pocket.)

Looking a few years ahead, it's quite likely that LEDs will supplant even CFLs as the greenest lighting option. I'd even go as far as to call CFLs a transitional technology, something to get us out of the incandescent habit until an even better alternative comes around.

So start thinking about all of the extra bulbs in your house, and then start looking at LEDs. You'll be glad you did.