tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66714120201084222472024-02-07T09:09:55.226-08:00ElectrimetricHow much electricity do things use? What are practical solutions to reducing the amount of energy you use?
"Using the technology hammer to drive environmental nails"Electrimetrichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001612926196326716noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-41587765194869000552011-01-18T17:10:00.001-08:002011-01-18T17:11:39.441-08:00Cool reminder stickers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.hu2.com/store/media/catalog/product/cache/1/small_image/200x200/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/o/i/oil-platform-spil-light-switch-wall-sticker-420px.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.hu2.com/store/media/catalog/product/cache/1/small_image/200x200/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/o/i/oil-platform-spil-light-switch-wall-sticker-420px.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Check out these cool stickers <a href="http://www.hu2.com/store/eco-reminders.html">http://www.hu2.com/store/eco-reminders.html</a><div><br /></div><div>They have less preachy ones too. Very cool. Some of the stickers are designed for the square european format light switches, and some are more generic. </div>brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-90016278702861330972010-07-06T13:54:00.000-07:002010-07-06T13:54:48.922-07:00Zoom into your Roof: Checking the Thermal Performance of Home Roofs<a href="http://feeds.infosthetics.com/~r/infosthetics/~3/s12OTFFhALw/zoom_into_your_roof.html">Zoom into your Roof: Checking the Thermal Performance of Home Roofs</a>: "<p><img alt="zoom_into_roof.jpg" src="http://infosthetics.com/archives/zoom_into_roof.jpg" width="600" height="300" /><br />Information Aesthetics (a great blog by the way) has an interesting post on insulation. There's a high activation energy for people to determine whether or not they have appropriate insulation. Either you need to climb around in your attic and have a practiced eye and know about R values of insulation, construction and so on, or you have to pay an expensive consultant. But here's a way a group quickly and cheaply (spread across everybody's energy savings) found a way to get past that activation energy. </p><p>"Out of most existing buildings, a significant amount of heat escapes unnecessarily, out of which at least 30% is typically emitted through the roof construction. Many governments throughout the world attempt to tackle this problem by supporting the insulation of roofs through <a href="http://www.climatechange.gov.au/government/programs-and-rebates/hisp.aspx">rebates</a>, t<a href="http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index">ax credits</a> and other <a href="http://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/retrofit-homes/retrofit-qualify-grant.cfm">financial incentives</a>. But how can individual citizens determine whether such a costly renovation is worthwhile for their own house? The online project '<a href="http://zoominopuwdak.antwerpen.be/">Zoom into Your Roof</a>' [antwerpen.be] tries to help solve this question through a relatively simple visualization. During the winter of 2009, a small airplane with an infrared scanner made a wide sweeping thermal scan of a large part of Belgium, which resulted in the largest thermographic map currently available online. Inhabitants living within this area are able to select their home address and answer a few questions (such as the angle of the roof). in order to determine for themselves how their own roofs actually perform."</p><div><br /></div>brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-90247026389542322612010-07-06T09:18:00.000-07:002010-07-06T09:28:50.089-07:00Belkin gets in to energy saving accessories in a big wayI've been holding off posting about belkin's products that are in their eco line because it seemed that the money you spent on the expensive products would be more than you could possibly save. However, they have now launched a competitor to the kill-a-watt and added a number of items to the line that I think are more reasonably priced. They also seem to be getting in to the space in a big way so maybe prices will get driven down. <br /><br />Here's a link to their products at amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D0%26ref_%3Dnb%5Fsb%5Fnoss%26y%3D0%26field-keywords%3Dbelkin%2520conserve%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Delectronics&tag=electrimetric-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957">Belkin Conserve products</a><img src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=electrimetric-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br /><br />Probably most interesting is the outlet with built in timer for only $9.99<br />You can set it to 1/2 hour, 3 hours or 6 hours. This way your phone can get charged without continuing to charge all night. Or as they put it (paraphrasing) you don't burn down your house with your curling iron. <br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=electrimetric-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B003P2UMS0" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br />Here's their kill-a-watt competitor:<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=electrimetric-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B003P2UMP8" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />It's more stylish, comes preloaded with average us electricity cost and does the total cost over time as well.<br /><br />Their remote controlled power strip has been out for a while and seems a bit over priced to me. Which uses more resources this $30 strip or a $2 strip from ikea. Of course the belkin has a nice light switch looking control to help you to not have to walk over to the power strip to turn it off.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=electrimetric-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B001GQ2W6W" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br />Finally they have an auto switched strip, that senses load on one of the outlets and turns the others off. They suggest having the tv in the sensor spot and turning off game consoles stereos etc when the tv is off. There's nothing new here but belkin has more style and marketing reach so maybe more people will start using these when they see them in costco or bestbuy<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=electrimetric-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B003P2UMQ2" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br />Anyway, I have no association with belkin and haven't actually used them myself so fair warning, just thought I'd mention them here.<br /><br />Remember as we hit the summer in the northern hemisphere, the biggest energy saver your can easily do is use your air conditioning less. Get a wet towel and drape it on your forehead for your own personal swamp cooler :)brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-11932958061494612412009-04-10T15:16:00.000-07:002009-04-10T15:22:44.790-07:00led motion sensors that fade in and out<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51dbxVcB6WL._SL500_AA280_.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 280px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51dbxVcB6WL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />As I have previously expressed, I have wished for motion sensor lights that fade in and fade out (so they aren't as jarring). I think this way people would be more willing to embrace motion sensors, and thus not leave lights on in a room that the might come back to shortly. <br /><br />Make magazine has a question from "Shawin" on <a href="http://forums.makezine.com/comments.php?DiscussionID=3210">their website</a> on how to make one of these yourself. He asks:<br />"We are renovating an old house we just bought and I wanted to have the rooms fitted with motion-sensors so that lights automatically turn on when someone walks in, and off when the room is empty. The problem is that I want the lights to fade-in/out instead of suddenly turning on/off.<br />Can someone please tell me how to do that? Are there existing switches that I could use?"<br />There are some suggested approaches on how to do this but no existing products mentioned. <br /><br />For those of the less diy electronics set I found some ledon the web:<br /><br />Philips Stumblelight:<br />"Upon detecting motion at night, StumbleLight instantly provides light at full intensity for 12 seconds and, if no motion is detected after 12 seconds, will slowly fade from full intensity to off."<br /><a href="http://www.lighting.philips.com/us_en/press/2007/stumblelight.php?main=us_en&parent=0&id=us_en_press&lang=en">Philips press release</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.ecopa-ball.co.uk/buy_online.htm">Ecopaball</a>:<br />"Light fades out gently when no motion is detected<br />No wiring required (requires 4C sized batteries)<br />Minimal battery consumption provides up to 6 months use<br />Only works at night due to a built in a photo sensor"<br /><br /><br />Most of the motion sensor lights I found have a limited motion sensor range. Some add infrared detection to the motion to reduce false activations. Many turn off after thirty seconds (not really long enough in my book as there are too many things for people to stand behind in a house for 30 seconds)<br /><br />Some have a photo cell so they don't waste energy turning on when it's light out.<br /><br />This one glows dimly then turns on full bright when it senses motion<br><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=electrimetric-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00196WS6S&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=electrimetric-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B001GOUXKG&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe> So does the 2nd one and it also has a photo cell<br /><br />Stairs product from smart home depected at top<br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=electrimetric-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B001P6GIM2&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />Many of the ones I have bought suffer from being too dim and a lot of the reviews agree. <br /><br />One note for those making their own with motion sensor switches, using LEDs will give you a much nicer experience than fluorescents because they don't have the pause and flicker on turn on. LEDs are being used for brake lights because they turn on so fast (of course I'm asking for gradual turn on which doesn't require fast, but if there is a pause before it starts to do anything people think the motion sensor isn't working and get annoyed)<br /><br />On amazon I found a motion sensor LED light that advertised:<br />"the sudden activation startles unwanted visitors but also provides safe entrance and room lighting for your family and guests." <br />Am I barking up the wrong tree here?brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-49221225109171467962009-04-09T10:49:00.001-07:002009-04-09T10:49:36.262-07:00chinese researchers improve white LEDs<div > The article claims they are making them cheaper but doesn't really discuss it much other than mentioning using plastic like materials. They do state they have made them put out 50% more light (so I guess you can claim you'd need fewer LEDs per bulb and thus cheaper, though it seems a lot of the cost is in the power control circuitry)<br/><br/>Also of quantitative energy measurement interest, they state below that 20% of electricity is used for lighting, They also quote the DOE saying LEDs could save 30% of energy consumption. <br/><br/>Uhhh...<br/><br/>Maybe I'm not getting it, but it seems to me if you assume that LEDs use 0 energy, and replace all lights, if you believe the first number that would only reduce our energy consumption by 20%. </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 12px 0px; font-family: arial; color: #333333; background: #ffffff; border: solid 4px #e5e5e5; width: 100%; clear: left;"><tr><td valign="top"><!-- BEGIN_CLIP_CONTENT ID:EB9E87FF-BB7A-46EA-9925-695979D6F20D:0 CLIPMARKS.COM --><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;background-color: #ffffff;"><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="clipmarks' clip-to-blog"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_icon/c87c8be8-0c03-4745-aae8-f8b8b6ea546a/EB9E87FF-BB7A-46EA-9925-695979D6F20D/" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=14790" href="http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=14790" style="font-size: 11px;">www.dailytech.com</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=14790"><SPAN class="ArticleSummary" id="ctl00_MainContent_lblSummary">Chinese researchers have LED manufacturing breakthrough that could lead to new white LEDs for indoor use</SPAN></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=14790"><DIV><br />It's believed about 20 percent of all electricity used across the world is currently used to light homes, businesses and other buildings. For households and buildings still using incandescent bulbs, it's possible 95 percent of the energy flowing through them is being wasted. </DIV></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=14790">Furthermore, the US Department of Energy previously said LEDs could help reduce the country's national energy consumption by 30 percent by 2025. If true, that will help households in the U.S. save $125 billion total in power bills per year.</blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=14790"><DIV>Chinese researchers are working on a new LED that consists of cheap, inexpensive plastic-like organic materials that could help boost efficiency. The new "tandem" structure allows it to produce up to 50 percent more light as LEDs used today, including white light that is necessary in homes and businesses.</DIV></blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0px 6px 6px 4px;"><table style="font-size: 11px;border-spacing: 0px;padding: 0px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;"> </td><td align="right" style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;width:107px" width="107"><a href="http://clipmarks.com/share/EB9E87FF-BB7A-46EA-9925-695979D6F20D/blog/" title="blog or email this clip"><img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/images/c2b-foot.png" border="0" alt="blog it" width="107" height="17" style="border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;" /></a></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table> brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-58946138631799775412009-04-08T18:16:00.001-07:002009-04-08T18:16:31.850-07:00CFL power factor hidden energy cost<div > Slashdot has a post commenting that due to the power factor of the CFL bulbs utilties are having to use a lot more resources than you think to power the bulb. LEDs have a near perfect power factor according to this article <a href="http://www.theengineer.co.uk/Articles/299821/LED+is+the+answer+.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.theengineer.co.uk/Articles/299821/LED+is+the+answer+.htm</a> which jives with my very limited memory of EE. Still though you are still using less resources with CFL (and consumers are paying a lot less in the short term until utiltiies figure this out and/or the costs to replace those used resources and clean up after them come to bear) </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 12px 0px; font-family: arial; color: #333333; background: #ffffff; border: solid 4px #e5e5e5; width: 100%; clear: left;"><tr><td valign="top"><!-- BEGIN_CLIP_CONTENT ID:E9C8853D-7842-4AFD-9079-2176A1ED7C42:0 CLIPMARKS.COM --><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;background-color: #ffffff;"><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="clipmarks' clip-to-blog"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_icon/520c861a-0b88-4e16-9323-20d9f4577aa4/E9C8853D-7842-4AFD-9079-2176A1ED7C42/" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/04/08/2125250&from=rss" href="http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/04/08/2125250&from=rss" style="font-size: 11px;">hardware.slashdot.org</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/04/08/2125250&from=rss"><I>"We've seen <A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_fluorescent_lamp">compact fluorescent lamps</A> start to take over shelf space at the local hardware store. Replacing a 60 watt incandescent with a 13 watt CFL seems like a great savings, though <A href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/28/business/energy-environment/28bulbs.html?_r=1">many consumers are disappointed</A> with the slow warm-up times, lower-than-advertised lifetimes, and hassles of disposing the mercury-containing bulbs. Now EDN reports <A href="http://www.edn.com/blog/1470000147/post/450043045.html">they may use more energy</A> than claimed due to their poor <A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_factor">power factor</A>. Mike Grather, of Lumenaire Testing Laboratory, 'checked the power factor for the CFLs and found they ranged from .45 to .50. Their "real" load was about twice that implied by their wattage.' The good news: you're only billed for the 13 watts of real power used. The bad news: the utilities have to generate the equivalent of 28 watts (that is, 28 <A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volt-ampere">VA</A> of apparent power for you EEs out there) to light that bulb. Until they fix these issues, I'll hold on to my incandescents and <A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_lamp">carbon arc lamps</A>, thanks."</I></blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0px 6px 6px 4px;"><table style="font-size: 11px;border-spacing: 0px;padding: 0px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;"> </td><td align="right" style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;width:107px" width="107"><a href="http://clipmarks.com/share/E9C8853D-7842-4AFD-9079-2176A1ED7C42/blog/" title="blog or email this clip"><img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/images/c2b-foot.png" border="0" alt="blog it" width="107" height="17" style="border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;" /></a></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table> brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-70374639219117663752009-04-03T19:44:00.001-07:002009-04-03T19:44:47.018-07:00LED bulb screw in replacement for incandescent<div > Techbargains has cheap LED screw in bulbs that use 2 watts of power, a significant power savings over incadescent and CFL, though I'm not sure how bright they are. But if you have light socket that you need just a little bit of light from, these would be a good bet. Keep in mind the color temp will be less yellow (aka more blue) </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 12px 0px; font-family: arial; color: #333333; background: #ffffff; border: solid 4px #e5e5e5; width: 100%; clear: left;"><tr><td valign="top"><!-- BEGIN_CLIP_CONTENT ID:362E8E77-5D11-469B-8B30-1E6366869139:0 CLIPMARKS.COM --><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;background-color: #ffffff;"><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="clipmarks' clip-to-blog"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_icon/c96f8934-b46f-4396-8758-367b010fcdf8/362E8E77-5D11-469B-8B30-1E6366869139/" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/158669" href="http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/158669" style="font-size: 11px;">www.techbargains.com</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/158669"><DIV class="Content"><br /> <P class="Headline"><SPAN id="j_id346">2 Pack 18 LED 2-Watt Spotlight Light Bulb $9.99 Free Ship</SPAN>, <br /> <SPAN class="TS">Apr. 1 7 AM<br /> </SPAN><br /> </P><SPAN id="j_id352"><br /> <DIV class="Img"><IMG align="right" src="http://cdn1.techbargains.com/icache/2009/04/01/00002216.jpeg" /></DIV></SPAN><br /><P><A target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.techbargains.com/jump.cfm?afsrc=1&u=158669-n-10&id=500&arg=18-led-2w-spotlight-321---p-23958.aspx">Meritline</A> has the 2 Pack 18 LED 2-Watt Spotlight Light Bulb for a low $9.99. Free Shipping. Tax in CA, MA.<br /> </p> </DIV></blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0px 6px 6px 4px;"><table style="font-size: 11px;border-spacing: 0px;padding: 0px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;"> </td><td align="right" style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;width:107px" width="107"><a href="http://clipmarks.com/share/362E8E77-5D11-469B-8B30-1E6366869139/blog/" title="blog or email this clip"><img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/images/c2b-foot.png" border="0" alt="blog it" width="107" height="17" style="border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;" /></a></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table> brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-19761201516588093222009-04-03T18:08:00.000-07:002009-04-03T18:12:59.670-07:00eco heater on sale at amazon todayI haven't personally used one nor have I read detailed reviews. The Amazon reviews say it uses 400 watts, compared to 750-1500 standard space heaters. Of course, the electricity consumed is basically all turned to heat in all space heaters, but the question is how efficiently they raise the temperature you feel in the room. That's why you see ones with dishes behind them to focus the heat. Supposedly this heater does a better job at this. Apparently it's also unobtrusive and can be painted over, which is good for "aestheticmetric"<br /><br />It's on Amazon's friday sale (today only -- I'm not sure how much of a discount relative to normal days)<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=electrimetric-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00185XISW&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-8109554412353684562009-03-06T17:00:00.001-08:002009-03-06T17:00:54.244-08:00use your existing IR remote to turn power on/off via power strip<div > this seems to cut power, so you'd need a furhter button press to turn on the electronic switch and most items. </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 12px 0px; font-family: arial; color: #333333; background: #ffffff; border: solid 4px #e5e5e5; width: 100%; clear: left;"><tr><td valign="top"><!-- BEGIN_CLIP_CONTENT ID:71BDD2EC-314A-403F-A8EA-B3ECA338F4BE:0 CLIPMARKS.COM --><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;background-color: #ffffff;"><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="clipmarks' clip-to-blog"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_icon/583e3607-09e9-409e-a5aa-b6bb9e7d2760/71BDD2EC-314A-403F-A8EA-B3ECA338F4BE/" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://i.gizmodo.com/5165620/ir-remote-power-strip-lets-you-turn-anything-on-with-a-universal-remote" href="http://i.gizmodo.com/5165620/ir-remote-power-strip-lets-you-turn-anything-on-with-a-universal-remote" style="font-size: 11px;">i.gizmodo.com</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://i.gizmodo.com/5165620/ir-remote-power-strip-lets-you-turn-anything-on-with-a-universal-remote"><P><IMG height="137" width="240" src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2009/03/irremotecontrolpowerstrip.jpg" />Home automation is expensive and complicated, but universal remotes are easy. The IR-Remote Control <A href="http://gizmodo.com/tag/power-strip/" title="Click here to read more posts tagged POWER STRIP" class="autolink">Power Strip</A> lets you use universal remotes on any electronics, blinking lamps and speakers on and off with lazy precision.</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://i.gizmodo.com/5165620/ir-remote-power-strip-lets-you-turn-anything-on-with-a-universal-remote"><P>No price on this since it's straight from an OEM in China, but it's supposedly controlled by any <A href="http://gizmodo.com/tag/ir-remote/" title="Click here to read more posts tagged IR REMOTE" class="autolink">IR remote</A>, provided you can program the <A href="http://gizmodo.com/tag/universal-remote/" title="Click here to read more posts tagged UNIVERSAL REMOTE" class="autolink">universal remote</A> at all. Plus it can "avoid energy waste of standby status." Which is good, because "if equipments keep standby status, it may be attacked by thunder, the inside high temperature may cause self-ignite or fire."</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://i.gizmodo.com/5165620/ir-remote-power-strip-lets-you-turn-anything-on-with-a-universal-remote"><div align="center"><img src="http://content8.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/i.gizmodo.com/img/0B784580-7C6E-420E-A15A-7FF0F4DCA10B" alt="" /></div></blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0px 6px 6px 4px;"><table style="font-size: 11px;border-spacing: 0px;padding: 0px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;"> </td><td align="right" style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;width:107px" width="107"><a href="http://clipmarks.com/share/71BDD2EC-314A-403F-A8EA-B3ECA338F4BE/blog/" title="blog or email this clip"><img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/images/c2b-foot.png" border="0" alt="blog it" width="107" height="17" style="border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;" /></a></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table> brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-72238960439325830162009-02-26T15:10:00.001-08:002009-02-26T15:10:11.669-08:00CFL buying guide from MSLiving<div > Unclutterer highlights the CFL buying guide from martha stewart living (insert obligatory passe prison lighting joke here) </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 12px 0px; font-family: arial; color: #333333; background: #ffffff; border: solid 4px #e5e5e5; width: 100%; clear: left;"><tr><td valign="top"><!-- BEGIN_CLIP_CONTENT ID:5645F402-2B28-4ED3-92DA-C1EDB9A3DDB2:0 CLIPMARKS.COM --><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;background-color: #ffffff;"><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="clipmarks' clip-to-blog"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_icon/e003af85-27a1-4258-a32d-b705225f629e/5645F402-2B28-4ED3-92DA-C1EDB9A3DDB2/" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://unclutterer.com/2009/02/26/purchasing-the-right-cfl-bulbs/" href="http://unclutterer.com/2009/02/26/purchasing-the-right-cfl-bulbs/" style="font-size: 11px;">unclutterer.com</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://unclutterer.com/2009/02/26/purchasing-the-right-cfl-bulbs/"><BLOCKQUOTE><P><STRONG>Table and floor lamps:</STRONG> <A href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001ABMYBQ/unclutterer-20/">Compact fluorescent in warm white</A>.</p> <P><STRONG>Reading and Task Lamps:</STRONG> 23-watt CFL in <A href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00171L7OY/unclutterer-20/">warm light</A> or <A href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000LWMSHA/unclutterer-20/">daylight</A>.</p> <P><STRONG>Recessed Fixtures:</STRONG> CFL in <A href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00171N0OE/unclutterer-20/">warm white</A> or a <A href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000P0DJO4/unclutterer-20/">halogen</A>.</p> <P>Some general tips on color size and shape:</p> <P><SPAN class="subhead-level2"><STRONG>Appearance</STRONG></SPAN><br />Energy-saving bulbs have adopted the shapes, sizes, and appearance of traditional bulbs, making it easier to phase them in.</p> <P><SPAN class="subhead-level2"><STRONG>Warm White</STRONG></SPAN><br />When in doubt, opt for a warm-white CFL, 3,000 degrees Kelvin or lower. It has the color quality most associated with traditional bulbs.</p> <P><SPAN class="subhead-level2"><STRONG>Cool White</STRONG></SPAN><br />This color temperature is best avoided. It washes out skin tones and makes reds, oranges, and browns look muddy.</p> <P><SPAN class="subhead-level2"><STRONG>Daylight Bulb</STRONG></SPAN><br />In general, you should use a daylight bulb only in a reading or task light. The cool, bright tone makes text jump off the page.</P></BLOCKQUOTE></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://unclutterer.com/2009/02/26/purchasing-the-right-cfl-bulbs/"><P>To learn even more, read the <A href="http://www.marthastewart.com/article/the-right-light?autonomy_kw=light%20bulbs&rsc=header_1">full guide</A> from <EM>Martha Stewart Living</EM>.</P></blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0px 6px 6px 4px;"><table style="font-size: 11px;border-spacing: 0px;padding: 0px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;"> </td><td align="right" style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;width:107px" width="107"><a href="http://clipmarks.com/share/5645F402-2B28-4ED3-92DA-C1EDB9A3DDB2/blog/" title="blog or email this clip"><img src="http://content8.clipmarks.com/images/c2b-foot.png" border="0" alt="blog it" width="107" height="17" style="border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;" /></a></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table> brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-77285621089305757742009-02-13T11:04:00.001-08:002009-02-13T11:06:34.921-08:00new contributor!Soren from energyconsumption.org has joined the energy measuring resource quantifying savings suggesting future pontificating environmental investigating blogging team here at electrimetric. If you haven't already check out energyconsumption.org and check back here for posts from him.Electrimetrichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001612926196326716noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-69240455909020540552009-02-07T17:22:00.001-08:002009-02-07T17:22:55.462-08:00fancy looking $30 LED bulb<div > </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 12px 0px; font-family: arial; color: #333333; background: #ffffff; border: solid 4px #e5e5e5; width: 100%; clear: left;"><tr><td valign="top"><!-- BEGIN_CLIP_CONTENT ID:A96E6098-2C20-4234-857A-423F9940ED3B:0 CLIPMARKS.COM --><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;background-color: #ffffff;"><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="clipmarks' clip-to-blog"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_icon/28044137-eec2-4f28-81d7-f822e0454fc5/A96E6098-2C20-4234-857A-423F9940ED3B/" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://i.gizmodo.com/5145174/led-bulb-features-gnarly-golden-heatsink" href="http://i.gizmodo.com/5145174/led-bulb-features-gnarly-golden-heatsink" style="font-size: 11px;">i.gizmodo.com</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://i.gizmodo.com/5145174/led-bulb-features-gnarly-golden-heatsink"><div align="center"><img src="http://content8.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/i.gizmodo.com/img/17E4117E-64C8-4D75-80A7-0D26F2C28B69" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://i.gizmodo.com/5145174/led-bulb-features-gnarly-golden-heatsink"><P>Featuring an aluminum, curvilinear design, a series of diecast cooling fins dissipate heat from the internal circuitry. Meanwhile, LEDs put out 400 lumens for 50,000 hours while sipping on just 7W.</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://i.gizmodo.com/5145174/led-bulb-features-gnarly-golden-heatsink"><P>If you're interested, the bulb is available for $30. Otherwise, you should just try to convince your modder friend to incorporate it into his next case design. Maybe some gross ode to Thomas Edison. [<A href="http://www.chinavasion.com/product_info.php/pName/led-light-bulb-warm-white-7w/">Chinavision</A> via <A href="http://www.7gadgets.com/2009/02/03/led-light-bulb-warm-white/9306">7gadgets</A>]</P></blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0px 6px 6px 4px;"><table style="font-size: 11px;border-spacing: 0px;padding: 0px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;"> </td><td align="right" style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;width:107px" width="107"><a href="http://clipmarks.com/share/A96E6098-2C20-4234-857A-423F9940ED3B/blog/" title="blog or email this clip"><img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/images/c2b-foot.png" border="0" alt="blog it" width="107" height="17" style="border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;" /></a></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table> brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-14798843539381335472009-02-04T18:12:00.001-08:002009-02-04T18:12:21.364-08:002 flushing options coming to a toilet near you<div > The option for half or full flush is all over europe and canada but nowhere in the states. Here's an option to add it to your existing toiled. </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 12px 0px; font-family: arial; color: #333333; background: #ffffff; border: solid 4px #e5e5e5; width: 100%; clear: left;"><tr><td valign="top"><!-- BEGIN_CLIP_CONTENT ID:50011310-FF89-4B48-B377-60138A3535B8:0 CLIPMARKS.COM --><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;background-color: #ffffff;"><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="clipmarks' clip-to-blog"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_icon/dd505b07-7a04-4e65-8384-77a08588e1d9/50011310-FF89-4B48-B377-60138A3535B8/" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://i.gizmodo.com/5146622/brondell-perfect-flush-helps-you-save-water-by-giving-you-two-flushing-options" href="http://i.gizmodo.com/5146622/brondell-perfect-flush-helps-you-save-water-by-giving-you-two-flushing-options" style="font-size: 11px;">i.gizmodo.com</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://i.gizmodo.com/5146622/brondell-perfect-flush-helps-you-save-water-by-giving-you-two-flushing-options"><P><IMG width="500" height="198" src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2009/02/toiletflush.jpg" />Although having two built-in <A href="http://gizmodo.com/tag/flushing-options/" title="Click here to read more posts tagged FLUSHING OPTIONS" class="autolink">flushing options</A> on toilets is nothing new, the <A href="http://gizmodo.com/tag/brondell-perfect-flush/" title="Click here to read more posts tagged BRONDELL PERFECT FLUSH" class="autolink">Brondell Perfect Flush</A> kit lets you mount the two-button flushing options onto your own <A href="http://gizmodo.com/tag/toilet/" title="Click here to read more posts tagged TOILET" class="tagautolink autolink">toilet</A>, without help from a professional plumber.</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://i.gizmodo.com/5146622/brondell-perfect-flush-helps-you-save-water-by-giving-you-two-flushing-options"><div align="center"><img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/i.gizmodo.com/img/43CE9363-DE83-4981-B72C-C3981E6D2E75" alt="" /></div></blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0px 6px 6px 4px;"><table style="font-size: 11px;border-spacing: 0px;padding: 0px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;"> </td><td align="right" style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;width:107px" width="107"><a href="http://clipmarks.com/share/50011310-FF89-4B48-B377-60138A3535B8/blog/" title="blog or email this clip"><img src="http://content6.clipmarks.com/images/c2b-foot.png" border="0" alt="blog it" width="107" height="17" style="border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;" /></a></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table> brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-37852388705499563492009-02-04T12:24:00.001-08:002009-02-04T12:24:12.093-08:00twitter your energy consumption<div > I want one for every outlet in the house! </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 12px 0px; font-family: arial; color: #333333; background: #ffffff; border: solid 4px #e5e5e5; width: 100%; clear: left;"><tr><td valign="top"><!-- BEGIN_CLIP_CONTENT ID:AA74206C-0B07-4FBD-88AD-373401EE7AF9:0 CLIPMARKS.COM --><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;background-color: #ffffff;"><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="clipmarks' clip-to-blog"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_icon/1071a0bc-b2e9-451b-a0c5-3848a68a1f7a/AA74206C-0B07-4FBD-88AD-373401EE7AF9/" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/02/04/tweet-a-watt-by-ladyada/" href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/02/04/tweet-a-watt-by-ladyada/" style="font-size: 11px;">www.inhabitat.com</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/02/04/tweet-a-watt-by-ladyada/"><div align="center"><img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.inhabitat.com/img/AF4C6672-7C7A-49B5-B9B5-69568EDCAF1C" alt="tweet-a-watt, greener gadgets design competition, ladyada tweet-a-watt, sustainable design, green gadget, twittering power monitor, wireless power monitor, energy efficiency" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/02/04/tweet-a-watt-by-ladyada/"><P>What can you do with<A title="Tweet-a-watt" href="http://www.ladyada.net/make/wattcher/index.html"> Tweet-a-watt</A>? Many things, not the least of which include monitoring your domestic power usage without having to hack your main power grid (handy, especially if you’re a renter). The Tweet-a-watt automatically uploads the data to your <A title="Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/tweetawatt">Twitter</A> account for sharing, competing or bragging. There’s nothing like a little public accountability to keep us all honest!</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/02/04/tweet-a-watt-by-ladyada/"><P>Designed by <A title="MIT" href="http://web.mit.edu/">MIT</A> graduate and open-source maven Lima of <A title="ladyada.net," href="http://www.ladyada.net/about.html">ladyada</A>, <A title="Tweet-a-watt" href="http://www.ladyada.net/make/wattcher/index.html">Tweet-a-watt</A> is an open-source hack with a green heart. You can make your own <A title="Tweet-a-watt" href="http://www.ladyada.net/make/wattcher/index.html">Tweet-a-watt</A> by opening up an off-the-shelf <A title="Kill-a-Watt" href="http://www.amazon.com/P3-International-P4400-Electricity-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU">Kill-a-Watt</A> power monitor and making a couple simple modifications - wire an <A title="Xbee" href="http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=29">Xbee</A> wirelss module, super capacitor and transmission indicators to the power sensor output, then syc it to an <A title="Xbee" href="http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=29">Xbee</A> reciever connected to your PC via USB. Clear as mud? Never fear, <A title="Ladyada.net" href="http://www.ladyada.net/make/wattcher/index.html">Ladyada.net</A> has all <A title="the details" href="http://www.ladyada.net/make/wattcher/index.html">the details</A> mapped out nicely — with <A title="diagrams" href="http://www.ladyada.net/make/wattcher/make.html">diagrams</A> !</P></blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0px 6px 6px 4px;"><table style="font-size: 11px;border-spacing: 0px;padding: 0px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;"> </td><td align="right" style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;width:107px" width="107"><a href="http://clipmarks.com/share/AA74206C-0B07-4FBD-88AD-373401EE7AF9/blog/" title="blog or email this clip"><img src="http://content7.clipmarks.com/images/c2b-foot.png" border="0" alt="blog it" width="107" height="17" style="border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;" /></a></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table> brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-37410433366949670952009-01-20T12:55:00.001-08:002009-01-20T12:55:26.448-08:00DATA!<div > Like Johnny Five (robot from short circuit for those of you born too late for 80s movie references) this guy needs MORE INPUT!<br/>Here's a blogger who graphs his home power usage every 10 seconds. </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 12px 0px; font-family: arial; color: #333333; background: #ffffff; border: solid 4px #e5e5e5; width: 100%; clear: left;"><tr><td valign="top"><!-- BEGIN_CLIP_CONTENT ID:1DCC64CA-06B9-44B8-A5D0-73066B45F9CD:0 CLIPMARKS.COM --><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;background-color: #ffffff;"><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="clipmarks' clip-to-blog"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_icon/cb6e6502-7e32-4d53-ad5a-c75ae84f4e23/1DCC64CA-06B9-44B8-A5D0-73066B45F9CD/" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://www.picobay.com/projects/2009/01/real-time-web-based-power-charting.html" href="http://www.picobay.com/projects/2009/01/real-time-web-based-power-charting.html" style="font-size: 11px;">www.picobay.com</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.picobay.com/projects/2009/01/real-time-web-based-power-charting.html"><DIV><A href="http://www.picobay.com/projects/uploaded_images/power_monitor_system-789500.jpg"><IMG border="0" alt="" src="http://www.picobay.com/projects/uploaded_images/power_monitor_system-789496.jpg" /></A>This post details a real-time web based household power usage chart. The end result is a live chart in a web page that updates every 10 seconds with the instantaneous power usage for my entire house. The electrical current is measured on the main lines entering my home with AC clamps. The signal is then conditioned with a simple circuit and monitored by an <A href="http://www.iobridge.com/">ioBridge</A> module. The ioBridge module takes care of feeding the data to the internet without the need for me to host a power hungry home web server. By using ioBridge widgets with a few JavaScript API calls on my web page, I am able to chart the data with Google Charts as it is measured and make kilowatt-hour calculations in real-time.</DIV></blockquote><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="clipmarks' clip-to-blog"><img src="http://content6.clipmarks.com/images/clip-icon.gif" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://www.picobay.com/projects/LivePowerChart.html" href="http://www.picobay.com/projects/LivePowerChart.html" style="font-size: 11px;">www.picobay.com</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.picobay.com/projects/LivePowerChart.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content7.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.picobay.com/img/3FFBDDAC-3902-4595-815F-5F4D090EA9EE" alt="" /></div></blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0px 6px 6px 4px;"><table style="font-size: 11px;border-spacing: 0px;padding: 0px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;"> </td><td align="right" style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;width:107px" width="107"><a href="http://clipmarks.com/share/1DCC64CA-06B9-44B8-A5D0-73066B45F9CD/blog/" title="blog or email this clip"><img src="http://content8.clipmarks.com/images/c2b-foot.png" border="0" alt="blog it" width="107" height="17" style="border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;" /></a></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table> brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-64075175221597180672009-01-10T11:22:00.000-08:002009-01-10T11:27:03.945-08:00Garmin for the win!!!! (routing based on fuel economy)In driving my commute to work I have the option of a much longer highway route or a bunch of stop lights. By my rough calculations though based on the much better gas mileage in my car, I would save gas by driving the long way around. I've been wanting google to do this calculation for me in google maps (I've been bugging my friends that work there...) but to no avail. <br /><br />However Garmin has announced that they have created "ecoroute" a route planning algorithm for nuvi 200 and 700 series GPS units<br /><br />Garmin's website <a href="http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/cache/offonce/us/services/ecoRoute">ecoroute page</a> says: <br />"users will have a “less fuel” option as a routing preference. When selected, nüvi will determine the best route for saving gas."<br /><br />"Fuel Report tracks fuel usage over time, and Mileage Report monitors mileage and fuel usage on a per-trip basis. You can also customize your nüvi by entering vehicle type, your car’s fuel economy and the current price of gas."brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-45095305259213824912009-01-06T16:17:00.001-08:002009-01-06T16:17:06.337-08:00Word of the day: Wastricity<div > I learned a new word today! <img src="http://clipmarks.com/images/icons/smilies/happy.gif?r=2" style="margin-bottom: -4px;" alt="" /> and I found another person wanting to reduce energy used on street lighting </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 12px 0px; font-family: arial; color: #333333; background: #ffffff; border: solid 4px #e5e5e5; width: 100%; clear: left;"><tr><td valign="top"><!-- BEGIN_CLIP_CONTENT ID:A03AE746-1659-4B6D-AA99-1418143B9B7C:0 CLIPMARKS.COM --><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;background-color: #ffffff;"><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="clipmarks' clip-to-blog"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_icon/3d08fa81-92ed-4995-b2c7-7e780d4ed490/A03AE746-1659-4B6D-AA99-1418143B9B7C/" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/01/wastricity.html" href="http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/01/wastricity.html" style="font-size: 11px;">blog.makezine.com</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/01/wastricity.html"><P><A href="http://flickr.com/photos/connors934/3152078681/">Wastricity</A> is the use of electricity in a way that provides no personal or public benefit. </P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/01/wastricity.html"><P>There is no public benefit to the money spent lighting streets and the exterior of buildings during the daytime. Who should you talk to when you see municipal money being spent on electricity or other utilities for zero constructive use? How will they respond when you point out that they are burning their budget? Are they planning on going in front of the voters asking for some emergency reprieve in the <A href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/01/01/patricks_education_plan_faces_setbacks/">budget meltdown of the year</A>?</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/01/wastricity.html"><P>In our personal lives, we use wastricity whenever we leave our phone chargers plugged in to the wall when the phone is not attached. We also use wastricity by leaving gaming systems running while we are out of the house. Leaving lights on in the room when nobody is in the room is classic wastricity.</P></blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0px 6px 6px 4px;"><table style="font-size: 11px;border-spacing: 0px;padding: 0px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;"> </td><td align="right" style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;width:107px" width="107"><a href="http://clipmarks.com/share/A03AE746-1659-4B6D-AA99-1418143B9B7C/blog/" title="blog or email this clip"><img src="http://content6.clipmarks.com/images/c2b-foot.png" border="0" alt="blog it" width="107" height="17" style="border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;" /></a></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table> brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-10701302504684257412009-01-06T14:06:00.001-08:002009-01-06T14:06:27.446-08:00Remote controlled surge protector $23 after rebate<div > Here's a nice looking remote controlled surge protector with remote for $23 after rebate from buy.com (I have no affiliation/kickback with them but found them to be a reliable internet purchasing place)<br/><br/>I would suggest taping the remote to the door frame so it's like a switch you can hit when you leave the room. <br/><br/>Of course, you need to make sure you are going to save $23 worth of energy (but be a good citizen and calculate sustainable energy costs based on solar not our subsidized coal!) </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 12px 0px; font-family: arial; color: #333333; background: #ffffff; border: solid 4px #e5e5e5; width: 100%; clear: left;"><tr><td valign="top"><!-- BEGIN_CLIP_CONTENT ID:CC307F25-D282-4929-83AB-2EE8A03487CA:0 CLIPMARKS.COM --><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;background-color: #ffffff;"><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="clipmarks' clip-to-blog"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_icon/9ffeb2f5-77ea-4517-a357-6bfdd23a2362/CC307F25-D282-4929-83AB-2EE8A03487CA/" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=209847435" href="http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=209847435" style="font-size: 11px;">www.buy.com</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=209847435"><B>Features</B></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=209847435"><table background="undefined" bgcolor=""><tr><TD><TABLE cellspacing="4" cellpadding="0" border="0"><TBODY><TR><TD valign="top"><IMG height="12" width="12" src="http://ak.buy.com/buy_assets/v6/july/dot2.gif" /></TD><TD valign="top">Six (6) Remote Switched Outlets </TD></TR><TR><TD valign="top"><IMG height="12" width="12" src="http://ak.buy.com/buy_assets/v6/july/dot2.gif" /></TD><TD valign="top">Two (2) Always On Outlets </TD></TR><TR><TD valign="top"><IMG height="12" width="12" src="http://ak.buy.com/buy_assets/v6/july/dot2.gif" /></TD><TD valign="top">Detachable Wireless Remote Switch with Wall-Mount </TD></TR><TR><TD valign="top"><IMG height="12" width="12" src="http://ak.buy.com/buy_assets/v6/july/dot2.gif" /></TD><TD valign="top">Sliding Safety Covers </TD></TR><TR><TD valign="top"><IMG height="12" width="12" src="http://ak.buy.com/buy_assets/v6/july/dot2.gif" /></TD><TD valign="top">Cable Management </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR /> <BR /></TD></tr></table></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=209847435"><div align="center"><img src="http://content8.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.buy.com/img/E6522757-3CE1-4E34-925A-CF5061A1F831" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=209847435"><DIV><br /><B>Save energy, save money...conveniently.</B> Conserve's one-touch remote switch easily powers off up to six (6) devices plugged into its "Remote Switched Outlets", while two (2) "Always On" outlets let you keep devices such as your answering machine or router constantly powered. <br /></DIV></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=209847435"><DIV><B>Don't standby. Conserve.</B> Conserve energy-saving surge protector with remote switch makes it simple to eliminate wasteful standby power, helping you reduce energy consumption, save on energy bills, and lower your overall impact on the environment.<br /></DIV></blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0px 6px 6px 4px;"><table style="font-size: 11px;border-spacing: 0px;padding: 0px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;"> </td><td align="right" style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;width:107px" width="107"><a href="http://clipmarks.com/share/CC307F25-D282-4929-83AB-2EE8A03487CA/blog/" title="blog or email this clip"><img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/images/c2b-foot.png" border="0" alt="blog it" width="107" height="17" style="border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;" /></a></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table> brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-36711882477077700432008-10-27T09:12:00.000-07:002008-10-27T09:31:09.299-07:00Motion sensingDon't get me wrong, I'm all for using motion sensing to improve lighting. At my previous office we installed motion sensor switches most everywhere, and the lights definitely were off a lot more. Bathroom lights tended to get left on all night and weekend, and the lights in out of the way places that people were too lazy to turn off also benefited from the motion sensor switches. However some of them would repeatedly get set back to manual. The motion sensor wasn't always good enough (so that when you were behind the server rack it didn't see you and turned off the lights and the delay was set too short). I recall that we paid about $30 for the drop in switch replacements like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007N737S?ie=UTF8&tag=electrimetric-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0007N737S">these </a> <br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=electrimetric-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0007N737S&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width: 120px; height: 240px; display: none;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe> though amazon seems to have some cheaper options like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00032ATV0?ie=UTF8&tag=electrimetric-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00032ATV0">this </a> <iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=electrimetric-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00032ATV0&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width: 120px; height: 240px; display: none;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />Current cons include: jerkiness of on and off, having to wait for lights to flicker on (esp. fluorescents), extra costs of the sensor switch, sensor switch getting blocked by furniture, sensor switches getting turned on by pets or breezes outdoors. Also the first one I link to, a certain percentage will die after some amount of time and require replacement.<br /><br />Note that the replacement switches are the most unobtrusive, but they don't always lend to ideal placement for the sensor. Also you need an electrician to do the replacement (though certain electrical engineers I know have done the replacements yourself, though I don't recommend it as death or hair standing on it's end can occur -- remember once you let the smoke out of your electrical system it's very hard to get it back)<br /><br /><br /><br />My motion sensor dream:<br />Switch would have off, auto, 10% auto, and on.<br />Auto would leave the light off until motion is detected, it would quickly ramp the light from 0 to 100%.<br />10% auto would leave the light at 10% (so you can vaguely see and not trip) and quickly ramp to 100% when motion is detected.<br />When leaving a room it would gradually lower the light from 100% to either 10 or 0% depending on the setting.<br /><br />I think these features would eliminate a lot of the issues that people have with motion sensors lights.<br /><br />Also, a lot of houses have motion sensors already for alarms, can we build off that somehow? For that matter the alarms also know when you enter and leave a house, that could tie in to a turn off all the lights when you leave sort of scenario.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />For those with incandescent sockets: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006A2SNG?ie=UTF8&tag=electrimetric-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0006A2SNG">screw in motion sensor</a><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=electrimetric-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0006A2SNG&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width: 120px; height: 240px; display: none;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />or those with plug in lamps: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BSLTNI?ie=UTF8&tag=electrimetric-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000BSLTNI">pluggable motion sensor</a><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=electrimetric-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000BSLTNI&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width: 120px; height: 240px; display: none;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />Please note that I didn't do extensive searching on amazon for the best, I just found the ones I originally bought and amazon recommended the other 3.<br /><br />Note, there are cheaper generic versions of these sensors findable on google products results, though they are from unknown suppliers and unknown stores, but please report back with your findings and let us know good ones that are cheap!brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-9264143511494090742008-10-27T09:11:00.001-07:002008-10-27T09:11:43.149-07:00Battery powered light turn-er off-er<div > So um yeahhhhh. While I agree with the goal of this thing, making a battery power motor that physically flips switches for you doesn't seem to be the best way to go about doing things. How much more resources does this take than a standard motion sensor switch combo? However for those that are unwilling/unable to replace their existing switches I guess that you could over come the battery power requirement and construction requirement to save net energy. I'm sure this will be available soon in skymall. </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 12px 0px; font-family: arial; color: #333333; background: #ffffff; border: solid 4px #e5e5e5; width: 100%; clear: left;"><tr><td valign="top"><!-- BEGIN_CLIP_CONTENT ID:579EBF38-3B5E-435F-9449-0A028A9E5993:0 CLIPMARKS.COM --><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;background-color: #ffffff;"><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="clipmarks' clip-to-blog"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_icon/fcca1f19-9bd2-40fb-ba03-01b033ffafcb/579EBF38-3B5E-435F-9449-0A028A9E5993/" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://gizmodo.com/5069114/black-and-decker-lightsout-ir-gizmo-turns-lights-off-for-lazy-green-types" href="http://gizmodo.com/5069114/black-and-decker-lightsout-ir-gizmo-turns-lights-off-for-lazy-green-types" style="font-size: 11px;">gizmodo.com</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://gizmodo.com/5069114/black-and-decker-lightsout-ir-gizmo-turns-lights-off-for-lazy-green-types"><div align="center"><img src="http://content6.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/gizmodo.com/img/FDA319C1-8E00-49A0-A3D4-C4E8B9BEA587" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://gizmodo.com/5069114/black-and-decker-lightsout-ir-gizmo-turns-lights-off-for-lazy-green-types">Well, actually it's quite a neat gizmo—it's battery powered, and simply mounts directly over a light switch, which it then throws for you if it doesn't detect movement in front of its sensor. Plus it turns the lights on when you enter.</blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0px 6px 6px 4px;"><table style="font-size: 11px;border-spacing: 0px;padding: 0px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;"> </td><td align="right" style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;width:107px" width="107"><a href="http://clipmarks.com/share/579EBF38-3B5E-435F-9449-0A028A9E5993/blog/" title="blog or email this clip"><img src="http://content7.clipmarks.com/images/c2b-foot.png" border="0" alt="blog it" width="107" height="17" style="border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;" /></a></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table> brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com68tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-62548492130376830642008-10-24T11:20:00.001-07:002008-10-24T11:20:11.935-07:00Boeing 767 - 60 gallons to london<div > Ok, I know the comparison isn't totally valid (because you wouldn't be able to drive your car to london), but I still think it's fun. Though this is probably assuming a 100% full flight, and you have to compare the trip to not going at all but... my gut says pretty fuel efficient and those people blaming the aviation industry for global warming should be looking elsewhere! </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 12px 0px; font-family: arial; color: #333333; background: #ffffff; border: solid 4px #e5e5e5; width: 100%; clear: left;"><tr><td valign="top"><!-- BEGIN_CLIP_CONTENT ID:23CE39EE-9D15-4F18-8378-519FBDEA38E2:0 CLIPMARKS.COM --><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;background-color: #ffffff;"><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="clipmarks' clip-to-blog"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_icon/472fc895-dfb6-4c8a-b138-b3c3f55ef717/23CE39EE-9D15-4F18-8378-519FBDEA38E2/" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://blog.delta.com/2008/10/23/deltas-international-workhorse-the-boeing-767/" href="http://blog.delta.com/2008/10/23/deltas-international-workhorse-the-boeing-767/" style="font-size: 11px;">blog.delta.com</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://blog.delta.com/2008/10/23/deltas-international-workhorse-the-boeing-767/"><li style="margin-left:16px;padding-left: 0px;">It takes approximately 60 gallons of fuel per passenger to get from New York to London on board a 767-400ER. The same volume of gasoline would propel an economy car about half of that distance!</LI></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://blog.delta.com/2008/10/23/deltas-international-workhorse-the-boeing-767/"><li style="margin-left:16px;padding-left: 0px;">The noise level of a Boeing 767 taking off from a 1.5 mile long runway is about the same as the average street corner’s traffic noise.</LI></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://blog.delta.com/2008/10/23/deltas-international-workhorse-the-boeing-767/"><STRONG>Here are some interesting facts about Boeing 767s:</STRONG></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://blog.delta.com/2008/10/23/deltas-international-workhorse-the-boeing-767/"><div align="center"><img src="http://content7.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/blog.delta.com/img/971B7AD4-0F11-460C-8A82-2D8A60BC8AE1" alt="" /></div></blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0px 6px 6px 4px;"><table style="font-size: 11px;border-spacing: 0px;padding: 0px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;"> </td><td align="right" style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;width:107px" width="107"><a href="http://clipmarks.com/share/23CE39EE-9D15-4F18-8378-519FBDEA38E2/blog/" title="blog or email this clip"><img src="http://content8.clipmarks.com/images/c2b-foot.png" border="0" alt="blog it" width="107" height="17" style="border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;" /></a></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table> brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-37569566579916424452008-10-21T11:36:00.001-07:002008-10-21T11:36:40.774-07:00Fiat introduces usb drive and software for improving your lead foot<div > This is *so* in the spirit of this blog. Collecting data to help you improve how you do things so reduce our resource consumption. </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 12px 0px; font-family: arial; color: #333333; background: #ffffff; border: solid 4px #e5e5e5; width: 100%; clear: left;"><tr><td valign="top"><!-- BEGIN_CLIP_CONTENT ID:2E488EA0-3A6B-4A41-9E6B-3840E859850D:0 CLIPMARKS.COM --><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;background-color: #ffffff;"><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="clipmarks' clip-to-blog"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_icon/dee4ce79-f60b-446e-981f-4e6926200dbd/2E488EA0-3A6B-4A41-9E6B-3840E859850D/" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://news.cnet.com/8601-17912_3-10071309.html?communityId=2100&targetCommunityId=2100&blogId=72#5023773" href="http://news.cnet.com/8601-17912_3-10071309.html?communityId=2100&targetCommunityId=2100&blogId=72#5023773" style="font-size: 11px;">news.cnet.com</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://news.cnet.com/8601-17912_3-10071309.html?communityId=2100&targetCommunityId=2100&blogId=72#5023773"><P>The program will measure a driver's fuel consumption, speed, braking style, and even how efficiently he or she shifts gears with their manual transmission. It seems very similar in functionality to the <A href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9986371-54.html" title="Got a lead foot? Try 'Kiwi' device to save gas -- Wednesday, Jul 9, 2008">PLX Kiwi</A> from PLX Devices that plugs in to a car's diagnostics port.</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://news.cnet.com/8601-17912_3-10071309.html?communityId=2100&targetCommunityId=2100&blogId=72#5023773"><P><A href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9669749-1.html" title="Blue, Me and Ford? -- Wednesday, Dec 20, 2006">Blue&Me</A> is an onboard computer system currently offered in some Fiats and Alfa Romeos, and possibly soon, in Ford cars, as well. It enables drivers to listen to their MP3 player, make calls on their cell phone, and have text messages read aloud to them. The system includes a USB port, which Fiat has announced could be the key to a 15 percent reduction in a car's CO2 emissions.</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://news.cnet.com/8601-17912_3-10071309.html?communityId=2100&targetCommunityId=2100&blogId=72#5023773"><P>But exactly how bad are drivers when it comes to abruptly starting and stopping? And are they really shifting their manual transmission car correctly for optimizing fuel?</P></blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0px 6px 6px 4px;"><table style="font-size: 11px;border-spacing: 0px;padding: 0px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;"> </td><td align="right" style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;width:107px" width="107"><a href="http://clipmarks.com/share/2E488EA0-3A6B-4A41-9E6B-3840E859850D/blog/" title="blog or email this clip"><img src="http://content6.clipmarks.com/images/c2b-foot.png" border="0" alt="blog it" width="107" height="17" style="border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;" /></a></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table> brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-46723163360579129032008-07-15T12:29:00.001-07:002008-07-15T12:29:21.249-07:00Cheap programmable thermostat<div > Techbargains links to a sale on a already cheap programmable thermostat. If you don't have one already this is one of the fastest ROI (return on investment) eco friendly products out there. Drop the temp at night in winter and during the day when you are at work. Raise it during the summer. </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 12px 0px; font-family: arial; color: #333333; background: #ffffff; border: solid 4px #e5e5e5; width: 100%; clear: left;"><tr><td valign="top"><!-- BEGIN_CLIP_CONTENT ID:0BBADD71-FF9B-45A4-9192-84DE0D3A5186:0 CLIPMARKS.COM --><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;background-color: #ffffff;"><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="clipmarks' clip-to-blog"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_icon/59e6e882-f80a-4c09-8bb5-7bf9e3bdfd4e/0BBADD71-FF9B-45A4-9192-84DE0D3A5186/" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/127901" href="http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/127901" style="font-size: 11px;">www.techbargains.com</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/127901"><DIV class="Content"><P class="Headline">HUNTER 44260 Programmable Digital Thermostat $28.54, <SPAN class="TS">Jul. 15 10 AM</SPAN></P><DIV class="Img"><IMG border="0" alt="" src="http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/ProductImageCompressAll200/96-119-046-01.jpg" /></DIV><P><B>$3 less on top of sale price</B> <A target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.techbargains.com/jump.cfm?id=108&afsrc=1&u=127901-n-10&arg=B000ALGM1U">amazon</A> has the HUNTER 44260 Set and Save Programmable Digital Thermostat for a low $28.54. Free shipping. Tax in KS, KY, ND, WA, NY.</P><P><STRONG><A target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://techbargains.pricegrabber.com/mrdr.php?url=http:%2F%2Ftechbargains.pricegrabber.com%2Fsearch_gen_top.php?topcat_search=1%26form_keyword=44260&mode=tb_127901_n_10">Compare Prices</A> | <A rel="nofollow" href="http://www.techbargains.com/tellafriend2.cfm/127901">Email Deal</A> | <A href="http://www.techbargains.com/catsearch.cfm/0_6_17">Similar Deals</A> | <A href="http://www.techbargains.com/vendor_detail.cfm/37/amazon-coupon-code">amazon Coupons</A> | <A rel="nofollow" href="http://www.techbargains.com/contact.cfm/127901">Comment</A></STRONG></P></DIV></blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0px 6px 6px 4px;"><table style="font-size: 11px;border-spacing: 0px;padding: 0px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;"> </td><td align="right" style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;width:107px" width="107"><a href="http://clipmarks.com/share/0BBADD71-FF9B-45A4-9192-84DE0D3A5186/blog/" title="blog or email this clip"><img src="http://content7.clipmarks.com/images/c2b-foot.png" border="0" alt="blog it" width="107" height="17" style="border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;" /></a></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table> brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-86875711675326473282008-07-10T21:16:00.000-07:002008-07-10T21:16:00.746-07:00Streetlights with motion sensors!!Ecogeek reports sharp is coming out with streetlights with motion sensors, but wait before you join me in my hallejulahs, the motion sensors, wait for it..........don't seem to be used to turn the lights off! They seem to be used to sense earthquakes to turn the lights on when there is no power (I guess a normal power outage isn't enough to qualify for turning on)<br /><br />Please somebody be less lazy than me and read the original article and tell me I'm wrong and these turn off when nobody is moving around them...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1854/">http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1854/</a><br /><br />UPDATE looking at the <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.sharp.co.jp/corporate/news/070717-a.html&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=2&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DLN-LW3A1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26hs%3DOSN">page translated by google for the product</a> it doesn't seem like they turn off the lights when no motion. Booo.<br /><br />Still though, it's nice that they are touting the low energy consumptionbrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671412020108422247.post-56310614833979633572008-07-09T14:23:00.000-07:002008-07-09T15:00:02.643-07:00speed vs. mpg (aka 55 in the left lane?)<div> I have been more and more people saying they are driving slower to reduce their gas usage. Further evidence that market economics work, (insert rant here on why we don't include all the market costs like future environmental cleanup and to build mass transit to reduce demand so that money goes to infrastructure rather than exxon)<br /><br />However, as always, I say make the changes that make the most sense.<br />When I heard a friend describe a relative as complaining about the 55mph minimum speed limit being too high because he wanted to drive his prius slower, I had to address mpg vs. speed here.<br /><br />Each car has it's own mileage to speed continuum. However, for most cars it looks something like the graph below from fueleconomy where it starts to go down after a certain point.<br />A large factor in this is wind resistance, so cars that are like big air dams (pickup trucks cough cough) are going to have a lower speed at which mileage begins to decrease rapidly. More aerodynamic cars like the prius are going to have a higher point. A forum poster graphed his mileage in the prius here <a href="http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/f10/mpg-vs-speed-hybrid-driving-strategy-14276" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/f10/mpg-vs-speed-hybrid-driving-strategy-14276</a>/ and claims that the speed of diminishing fuel savings is around 70mph.<br /><br />So yes, you get better fuel mileage driving more slowly, but it really depends on the speed. So slowing down from 75 to 70 will save in just about any car. Slowing down from 65-60 in some cars, and 55 to 45 will not save nearly as much) Wind resistance goes up as the square of the speed so the higher the speed you'll use significantly more. This is why race cars are so intent on drafting (though I don't recommend drafting on semis, you don't get very good gas mileage when they have to slam on their brakes and you end up smashed, though I guess if you survive and are attached to their truck and your back wheels still work and you are going where they are...)<br /><br />Plus as always here at "tha metric" we have to consider the other external costs. What about the drivers with road rage behind you that have to make an extra trip to the hospital for their blood pressure? c.f. Denis Leary's song<a href="http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/d/denisleary6392/asshole375206.html"> lyrics: "I drive really slow in the ultra fast lane<br />While people behind me are going insane" </a><br /><br />and would you do more for the environment by getting there 10 minutes earlier and spending those ten minutes planting a tree?<br /><br />Answer due in homework bin by friday.<br /><br />PS to clarify any agenda you may think I have or do not have, I generally drive the speed limit, as I think speed differential is dangerous but I also want to get there today and not use too much gas.<br /></div><!-- BEGIN_CLIP_CONTENT ID:TEST/PREVIEW CLIPMARKS.COM --><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(220, 220, 220); white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 10px;"><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="see clips that are hot right now"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_icon/0a832c53-332d-4a66-b679-4bf6cfae320b/56776415-9D36-4E47-9F3D-280FD5750ED2/" alt="" style="border: medium none ; margin: 0px 4px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline; float: none;" border="0" height="19" width="19" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/driveHabits.shtml" href="http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/driveHabits.shtml" style="font-size: 11px;">www.fueleconomy.gov</a></div><blockquote style="border: medium none ; margin: 4px 0px 8px; padding: 0px 8px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; text-align: left; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" cite="http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/driveHabits.shtml"><p><span class="mednavyboldfont"></span>While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium none ; margin: 4px 0px 8px; padding: 0px 8px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; text-align: left; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" cite="http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/driveHabits.shtml"><p>You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.30 per gallon for gas. </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium none ; margin: 4px 0px 8px; padding: 0px 8px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; text-align: left; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" cite="http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/driveHabits.shtml"><div align="center"><img src="http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/images/speedVsMpg3.gif" alt="Graph showing MPG VS speed MPG decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph" height="182" width="233" /></div></blockquote></div>brynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835922457495437154noreply@blogger.com0