energy

Energy saving Neff Integrated Dishwashers

KitchenAppliances — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:16:53 -0500

Most of the dishwashers in Neff’s current range are fully integrated versions, but they do a few semi- integrated dishwashers as well. The Neff integrated dishwashers are designed to accept a full furniture door, which is able to conceal the whole appliance, including the control panel. The integrated dishwashers are easy to fit and will blend in with the rest of your kitchen.

As well as the general and basic features that you usually get with an average dishwasher, i.e. on and off buttons, some of the Neff integrated dishwashers have extra added features such as the VarioFlex baskets with RackMatic. These allow a flexible way to wash your pots and pans as they can be adjusted to enable different sized and shaped items to be stacked and placed easily. This also allows you to wash large items such as casserole dishes and large pans.

If you are looking at getting a fully fitted Neff integrated dishwasher it may be because you are attempting to save space in your kitchen. As well as the standard sized dishwashers there are also slim line dishwashers available that only measure in at 45cm so that it can be slotted into a much smaller space. If height is the issue then the height adjustable dishwashers might be of more interest to you. T his installation option is available on two of the Neff integrated dishwashers- the S55T59 model and the S5555 model. They are height adjustable from 860mm to 920mm, which allows an extra five centimetres of interior space for you to use however you wish.

Neff always produce energy efficient kitchen appliances and their dishwashers are no exception. Dishwashers are proven to use less electricity and water than washing up by hand so the Neff dishwashers already had a head start there. But as well as that there are certain added built in features that make the appliances more energy efficient. One of the features that are available on some of the machines is HydroSensor, which allows water from the first rinse cycle to be re-used in subsequent rinse cycles if it is clean enough. This feature can save you up to 4.5 litres of water per wash and the alternating spray arms can also reduce the amount of water that is consumed by up to 25%.

There are also specific programmes that are aimed at saving energy and water. All of the Neff integrated dishwashers have an economy programme, which use less water and less energy than on a standard wash. Not all of the models, however, have the heat exchanger system. This feature reuses the heat that is generated during the wash cycle to heat the water that is used for the rinse cycle that comes afterwards. This means that no additional energy is needed for the drying cycle. Also not available on all of the Neff integrated dishwashers is the reduced time programme, which is different from the economy programme in that it does not use less water, but cleans your dishes in a fraction of the time, which saves time and energy.

Neff Integrated Dishwashers

Track Your Energy Use by the Second with The Energy Detective

jplatt — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:48:00 -0400

How much electricity do you use when you turn on a light? When you're watching TV? When you wash your dishes? How about if you're doing all three at once?

The Energy Detective ("TED" for short) from Energy, Inc., can answer these questions, helping you not only to see how much electricity you are using in your house at any given moment, but also to predict the size of your monthly electric bill.

Once hooked up, TED monitors your electricity usage, with just a two-second real-time delay. It also tracks your monthly usage, and calculates the exact amount you are spending on your electricity.

The basic TED unit costs $139.95 (more advanced models run up to $209.95) and can be installed in 10-15 minutes ("by an experienced homeowner or qualified electrician"). You can also order additional software called Footprints ($44.95) which allows you to track your usage on your PC.

So why install a TED? An energy monitor like this allows you to see exactly how much juice your house is using. Hook it up, and then you can walk around your house to see how much difference your TV makes, or find the "phantom loads" of so-called "vampire devices," the ones that keep using energy even though you think they are "off." The company says a well-aware homeowner can use the information from TED to make the device pay for itself in a matter of months.

Residential Wind Turbines

Marcus — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Energy costs getting you down? Looking to cut down on bills, and get a little greener in the process? With energy bills rising by as much as fifty percent in recent years, chances are you’re eager for some alternatives. Which is where wind power comes in. Wind is a clean, efficient, sustainable and cost-effective source of energy, and it’s rapidly growing in popularity. A growing number of homes in the U.S. are opting to have residential wind turbines installed, and as a result are seeing dramatic reductions in their energy costs. Think wind power might be right for you? Keep reading to find out more.

Why wind?

First off, wind power will save you money—as much as 50-90 percent on your electric bill! Although wind turbines can cost from $6,000- $22,000, it’s an investment that usually pays for itself in around six to fifteen years. Once the cost of the turbine has been recouped, it’s not uncommon to see electric bills of $8- $15 dollars for up to nine months of the year! In addition, wind power is good for the environment—it produces zero pollution, and every kilowatt hour that is powered by wind will offset pollution that would have been generated by your utility company.

What kinds of residences are eligible for wind power?

Since a wind turbine is a relatively large structure, this type of power isn’t really suitable for small-lot suburban homes or anything in an urban setting. Usually, a house on an acre or more of land is desirable. It’s also important to consider wind speed in your area—in order for a turbine to be efficient, wind speed should be at an average of at least 10 miles per hour.

Where can I buy a residential wind turbine?

Take a look at this list of small wind turbine equipment providers.

Is there any way to benefit from wind power if I live in a small and/or urban location?

Why, yes, there is. In most areas, you can contact your energy company and switch to green power—that is, your energy company will purchase your power from sustainable energy sources in lieu of coal or oil. There is a minor charge, but it usually only amounts to a few extra dollars per month. This is a great alternative for city dwellers who wish they could install a massive wind tower on the top of their high rise.

Want to learn more about wind power?

Wind Turbine Power: Farmers Turning the Wind Into Gold

Inexpensive Residential Wind Turbine—Wind Power—Alternative Energy For Your Home

Can You Harness Wind Power or Not?

Home Wind-Power Turbines Going Mainstream

What YOU Should Know About Wind Power!

Can You Use Wind Turbines to Power Your Home?

5 Quick Tips to Green Your Home

kbutler — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:53:21 -0400

Yep, it’s trying times out there. Gas prices, food prices, housing prices – you have to wonder if we’re going to be able to entertain our kids with rousing stories of hard 00’s like our grandparents did with the Depression. (Though in our version, we’ve got Paris Hilton instead of Little Orphan Annie and reality TV stars in place of Hobos.) In an attempt to save money, people may be inclined to go with the cheaper option, whether it is green or not. But we’ve got your back! Check out our quick, useful reminders on how to keep your wallet green.

1. Ditch the bottle water. Install a water filter or invest in some Britas. You can skip the extra landfill that comes with all the plastic packaging and save a few dollars in the meantime.

2. Make your home energy efficient. The typical American family spends around $1,600 a year on energy bills and much of that is phantom energy. The U.S. government actually provides a detailed list on different ways you can green up your home, such as choosing an Energy Star air conditioning unit or turning off your power strips to save up to 20% on your energy bills.

3. If you’re feeling a little hippie-dippy, considering tie-dying your stained sheets and even towels for a second life. At the least, there’s a three year old out there who will dig it, even if your yuppie friends wonder what kind of organic weeds you might have gotten into.

4. There are little things you can do in the kitchen to save energy and therefore cash. Remember that is you cover a pot of water; it will boil faster and save energy. Use a toaster oven for smaller meals – it uses much less energy than the stove.

5. Think about giving up things like paper towels. That can seem like a hard one, but paper towels add up – and your old gym socks and ripped towels can do the job just as well. And they’re better off cleaning your home than living in a landfill.

So remember our tips next time you’re feeling a little blue about the lack of green in your life.

Is Kiwi Fruit the Fuel of the Future?

scleaver — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

What’s small, fuzzy on the outside, green on the inside, and may be filling our gas tanks as well as decorating our fruit salads?

You guessed it, the kiwi fruit.

New research out of New Zealand adds kiwi fruit to the list of potential biofuels. Two companies, Scion and Zespri Innovation, are working on ways to turn the 14.5 to 15.6 million trays of kiwifruit waste produced each year into biofuels and other products, including adhesives and bioplastics, according to the New Zealand Herald. If the project pans out, kiwi refineries would be near existing kiwi processing plants and would be similar to wineries.

New Zealanders, like David Roberts, chairman of the Green Growers Association, are excited about the prospects. “The Green Growers Association has been asking for a long time for research into [a] way of using reject fruit and turning it into bio-gas makes sense,” he told the New Zealand Herald.

Here are more fun kiwi facts: the fruit is already known for its laxative, blood thining, and meat tenderizing properties.

Photo from the New Zealand Herald.

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.

Airlines Can Save $$Millions in Fuel—By Adding Minutes

susan — Mon, 12 May 2008 01:00:00 -0400

Sometimes all it takes is a tiny action to make a big difference. If you’ve been worrying about how much your carbon footprint grows whenever you take an airplane trip, now there’s a solution. Fly an airline that is flying a little slower. You know you get better mileage when you take your foot off the gas pedal in your car. Now the airline industry has figured out it works in planes, too.

Jet Blue is now flying a little slower, adding an average of about two minutes to each flight—and saving about $13.6 million a year in jet fuel, according to a recent report in The New York Times by the Associated Press.
Southwest Airlines projects that it will save $42 million in fuel this year by extending each flight a mere one to three minutes.
Northwest Airlines is adding four minutes to its flights to and from Hawaii – for a savings of $600,000 a year.
Northwest is also slowing down from 542 m.p.h. to 532 m.p.h. (not exactly a snail’s pace) on its flights from Paris to Minneapolis – which adds only 8 minutes (you’ll hardly notice on a flight that is close to nine hours anyway) and saves 162 gallons of fuel, over $500.

So if you don’t mind spending a few more minutes in the air, to reduce your carbon footprint, let the airlines know you think it’s a good idea. And you might ask them if this means they could cut that extra fuel surcharge they’ve started tacking on to the cost of every flight.

To find out more about reducing your carbon footprint:

Reducing Your Carbon Footprint From Travel

What Exactly is a Carbon Footprint?

The Quest for the Perfect Carbon Calculator

Carbon Footprints

In praise of tankless hot water heaters

ellen — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:26:40 -0400

Given that I'm spending most of my days nursing and attending to my 13-day-old daughter, I'm sure our readers will forgive my indulgence of passing along good info found on other blogs.

This post by Jason Pelletier of Low Impact Living captures the pros, cons and requirements of tankless hot water heaters. It's one of those things that would be a great idea in some situations and wouldn't work at all in others.

At the request of a colleague, I contacted a local plumber who did a great job on our radiant floors to see if they had done any of these tankless hot water heater installations. He said that they did but that they were so backed up with oil to gas conversions that they wouldn't be available to even start work for 2-3 months!

You heard it here first! If you want to upgrade your heating or domestic hot water systems in time for next winter, line up a plumber NOW.

Ellen

www.ehapc.com

[brooklyn green] www.ehapc.wordpress.com

Dallas (Green) Zoo Harnesses Poo Power -- Elephants' Contribution Critical!

Marcus — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

What makes a zoo a green zoo? Dallas Zoo officials recently announced that they will be moving forward with an ambitious plan to power several of the zoo’s buildings and irrigation systems with fuel composed of animal droppings, cardboard, and tree limbs.

Jenny and Keke, the zoo’s two prized African elephants, will be crucial contributors to the project, creating a combined 300 pounds of waste every day!

The waste will be fed into a biogas generator, which will add oxygen to the compost and heat it to very high temperatures, creating a gas that will in turn contribute to heat, water, and electric power throughout the zoo.

BDS Technologies, a Dallas-based firm specializing in environmental and public works engineering, will design and build the zoo’s poo-powered infrastructure. Talks of the project began over a year ago, and the generator is estimated to be finished at some point before the end of the year.

While this new power system is projected to cost somewhere in the vicinity of $1 million dollars, Zoo officials are confident that the project will pay for itself within ten years, due to conventional energy savings and less frequent trips to the landfill.

Now that’s an idea you simply can’t poo-poo.

New Solar-Powered Household Generator Is Pricey But Powerful

jplatt — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

When it comes to new ideas in solar power, Reluminati's new PowerCube 600 wins hands down. This "plug and play" solar-powered generator offers a great alternative to traditional gas-powered generators. It can be used as a backup power source, during emergency situations, or for off-grid housing in places with no reliable access to other sources of electricity.

The PowerCube folds up into a tidy, watertight 72 x 124 x 50 inches, and when fully charged it can hold 2,400 hours of power. Not bad for what's billed as a portable device.

Since the PowerCube was announced a few weeks ago, the blogosphere has been a bit harsh -- offhandedly pointing out that a 2,000-pound device isn't exactly "portable." Well folks, it's not an iPod, but it's not meant to be. This isn't a new way to power your cell phone, it's a way to power a house or a business or a hospital. No other solution packs as much power, offers easy hook-up, and can be run without a team of installers permanently attaching it to a building.

The PowerCube packs a lot of power, and it comes with a hefty price tag as well: $25,000. But the more we see smart ideas like this, the more we'll see more affordable prices. And for businesses looking for a reliable, green backup power source, this could be the way to go.