Toilets can range from $100 up to as much as a self cleaning toilet from Japan for $3,000,   There are multiple different kinds of toilets; pressure assisted, gravity, vacuum, and dual flush.  With so many choices we are just going to give you (the consumer) an average priced toilet versus the water efficient toilet.

The normal toilet:

Highline® Comfort Height™ The Complete Solution™ elongated toilet with left-hand trip lever

Complete Solution toilets are built for convenience and efficiency, providing everything you need in one box as they include the toilet bowl, toilet tank, toilet seat, wax ring, and floor hardware.

• 29″L x 19-5/8″W x 30″H
• This model features Ingenium® technology which provides 3.5-gallon performance in a 1.6-gallon package
• NOTE: Complete Solution toilets do not include a supply line as the length needed varies per installation
• Part of The Complete Solution™ Toilets
• RETAIL AVAILABILITY ONLY

I was having an interesting conversation with a friend last night about home energy consumption. He pointed out–insightfully–that people would likely control their power use at home more strictly if they had a better tool for management.

Step one is knowledge of what, when, and how much power is being used.

Step two is setting goals and finding the perfect power position.

Step three is utilizing a robust control system to meet those goals.

Maybe he should be writing this post because he turned me on to a neat concept technology that does just that: Current State. This concept comes from thegreenergrass.org and it seems quite useful…and powerful.

Here’s the description from their page:

“How it Works

1. Order the system online, specifying the number of Plug-Ends needed.
2. Install Current State software on your mobile device.
3. Attach Plug-Ends to powered devices around your house.
4. Sync Plug-Ends to software, giving each powered device a descriptive name and confirming its location within your house.
5. Use Current State to remotely monitor your energy usage, control your devices, and set up automatic timers.”

Imagine monitoring your Baltimore home’s power output while on a business trip to Austin, TX, with the ability to shut off energy-sucking outlets at the click of a button. Now that is control that’ll save you money.

C.O.

(1) A Greener Data Center: Reducing energy costs at the heart of their infrastructure.

(2) IBM Software for a Greener World: Transforming their processes, their infrastructure and the way people work.

(3) Energy Efficiency Benchmark Tool: Assess their data center’s performance and benchmark against other companies worldwide.

(4) Solutions for small and medium business: Options for every size of enterprise.

This is just a short description of energy-efficient Internet Technology IBM is incorporating to be more energy conscience. If you would like to look more into it, go HERE.  There are more solutions IBM is incorporating, which will be covered later in other posts.

As for CNStars’ question: “What do we think about it”, the answer is plain and simple.  We think that it is a little later than it should have happened, but at this time, any company willing to change in order to better our world is great.  Companies with the credit and leverage such as IBM is especially exciting, because the average person has a harder time making a world-wide difference.  Companies like IBM have the opportunity to pave the way for greener solutions to be more wide-spread.

Thanks for the comment CNStars17, keep em coming.

L.J.

Take a Stand

Make a Difference.

Watch THIS video, it is worth your time. If you still have more questions, go HERE for the full article from Popular Science

L.J.

One of those types would be pedal powered energy.  A lot of people like to work out right?  You are creating so much energy when you work out, why waste it?  THIS guy has created a pedal powered generator.  We think it is an awesome idea.  People who work out, whether it be treadmills or stationary bikes or even stair steppers.  We know, some of you have a Nordic Track stored under your bed that you got and forgot about.  How awesome would it be to generate your own energy.  Think about it.

HERE is a CNN article intended to make you think.  Think about the things you do that use energy.  Watching T.V., computer, xbox.  It all uses electricity.  Like CNN’s first line, what if you had to cycle for a specified time in order to do some of things that are mainly for entertainment.  Are those things important enough for you now?

Lastly, we want to show you a video of what a simple pedal powered generator looks like.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgRFPpZGx8Y&hl=en&fs=1]

CFLs have come a long way.  They used to be almost $15 dollars a piece with many problems.  That is the past, and now you can buy a CFL for as little as $3 a piece and is the easiest way to save money on energy.  These bulbs are still hard to understand at times when you are purchasing, so here are a few buying guides.

First, how to chooce a bulb:

When purchasing bulbs, typically we as consumers refer to the wattage of the bulb.  You typically look at 60-watt or 100-watt bulbs.  This can be confusing when purchasing CFL bulbs.  You should look more at the lumens when purchasing CFL bubls.  Typically, you should buy a CFL with 20% more lumens than that of your standard bulb.   As an example, to replace a 60-watt bulb that has 870 lumens, you you should but a bulb with 1050 lumens.  That should give you the same output you are looking for.

Best (and worst) place to use:

CFLs can last up to 10 times as long as a typical incandescent bulb, so you may want to consider putting CFLs in places that are hard to reach.  You may only have to get in the rafters once every five years instead of every year.  Also, they do well in a place that is constantly on more than 3 hours a day.

CFLs don’t do as well in on-off switching, excessive vibration near doors or stairways,  or high-humidity.  The things may shorten the life span of the CFL.

These are just some simple things that you can do to cut-back on energy useage.  Next time you go buy light bulbs, which we all do, and sometimes often, think twice before you pick up those incandescent bulbs.

Take a small stand…

• ENERGY STAR qualified geothermal heat pumps use about 30% less energy than a standard heat pump.
• They are quieter than conventional systems.

Geothermal heat pumps (sometimes referred to as GeoExchange, earth-coupled, ground-source, or water-source heat pumps) have been in use since the late 1940s. Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) use the constant temperature of the earth as the exchange medium instead of the outside air temperature. This allows the system to reach fairly high efficiencies (300%-600%) on the coldest of winter nights, compared to 175%-250% for air-source heat pumps on cool days.

As with any heat pump, geothermal and water-source heat pumps are able to heat, cool, and, if so equipped, supply the house with hot water. Some models of geothermal systems are available with two-speed compressors and variable fans for more comfort and energy savings. Relative to air-source heat pumps, they are quieter, last longer, need little maintenance, and do not depend on the temperature of the outside air.

A dual-source heat pump combines an air-source heat pump with a geothermal heat pump. These appliances combine the best of both systems. Dual-source heat pumps have higher efficiency ratings than air-source units, but are not as efficient as geothermal units. The main advantage of dual-source systems is that they cost much less to install than a single geothermal unit, and work almost as well.

Even though the installation price of a geothermal system can be several times that of an air-source system of the same heating and cooling capacity, the additional costs are returned to you in energy savings in 5–10 years. System life is estimated at 25 years for the inside components and 50+ years for the ground loop. There are approximately 50,000 geothermal heat pumps installed in the United States each year.

Take a Stand, Make a Differnce

“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.”

A common theme to posts on this blog are the two major points outlined in the excerpt above: saving money and cutting back on environmental impact.

What exactly is Energy Star?  It is basically a set of energy standards created by the Environmental Protection Agency for certain appliances.  Their target numbers for efficiency are multipule percentage points better than that of the same non-Energy Star equipment, and although efficient models have a higher purchase price than their non-efficient siblings, many have the potential to pay for themselves over their lifetime.

Let’s look at water-using appliances as examples.  A qualified washing machine can save more than $500 over its lifetime, also saving energy and water.  Standards compliant diswashers use at a minimum 40% less energy and they too save water.  These are some pretty hefty advantages for things that we use all of the time.

Here’s a fast fact from the Energy Star website: Since 2000, Energy Star benefits have more than doubled.

With Energy Star’s benefits come some pressing questions.  One of which is why don’t we just make Energy Star the standard accross all appliances and stop selling antiquated and inefficient technology?  Of course there would be a greater cost involved, but the government–or big business–could create some sort of incentive system to offset that cost.  If the crisis is just around the corner, this seems like the prudent thing to do.

Aside from the home initiative, standards are also available for buildings and businesses.  Still, with all of this exposure, Energy Star is still only at a recognition rate of 40% in the American public.  Even if the program needs some small tweaks, it could save more with wider audience.

Determine how many therms that appliance or piece of equipment uses each month.
Determine your cost per therm rate. Your cost per therm rate can be found on your paper bill.
Calculate the natural gas usage and expense. (Remember, your calculations will be approximate.)

A average water heater uses about 18 therms a month. Multiply that by $1.67 (estimated average across the USA) per therm = 30.06 estimated monthly cost of natural gas to operate your water heater.  This is an old estimate, but it gives you an idea of how to figure it out.

We want to first discuss Tankless Water Heaters.  This is something that companies are pushing because they are supposed to “save energy”.  This is done by only taking water when you “need” it.  They are also called an “on-demand” water heater.  These seem to be what everyone is talking about right now.  Let us first tell you, we commend you on trying to conserve energy, if you have looked into these, or already have one.  Now that that is out of the way, let’s talk about the biggest downfall there is.  Natural Gas is going through the roof, and if you are looking at a nat gas tankless water heater, you are looking at a hefty gas bill every month.  For more in depth information, “Ask the Builder” has done a lot of research, check it out.

Solar Power Water Heater:  Having half of all households use solar water heaters might not be such a tall order. According to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), there are 1.5 million solar water heaters already in use in U.S. homes and businesses. Solar water heater systems can work in any climate and EESI estimates that 40 percent of all U.S. homes have sufficient access to sunlight such that 29 million additional solar water heaters could be installed right now.  According to the EESI, residential solar water heater systems cost between $1,500 and $3,500, compared to $150 to $450 for electric and gas heaters. With savings in electricity or natural gas, solar water heaters pay for themselves within four to eight years. And solar water heaters last between 15 and 40 years–the same as conventional systems–so after that initial payback period is up, zero energy cost essentially means having free hot water for years to come.  What’s more, in 2005 the U.S. began offering homeowners tax credits of up to 30 percent (capped at $2,000) of the cost of installing a solar water heater. The credit is not available for swimming pool or hot tub heaters, and the system must be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation.

HERE is a good starting article about Solar Water Heaters, and information to get you started

THIS is a great link of more information.

Hopefully this post empowers you to Take a Stand against the high energy costs.

If you have done a water heater, shopped for a water heater, or in general have some insight on water heaters and saving energy, let us know.

Take a Stand, Make a difference