What do Smart Homes running off a Smart Energy Grid need to be complete? Why, Smart Plugs, of course!
The energy conservationists at Zerofootprint are adding IQ points to each outlet in the home with their new carbon emission-reducing socket supplements, called "TalkingPlugs™." Designed to fit right on top of an existing outlet, each TalkingPlug™ comes equipped with technology that enables control of a plugged-in appliance across a network as well as real-time measuring of energy consumption. You know how the "Stand-by" mode of every plugged in appliance or electronic device consumes electricity even when said device is turned off? The TalkingPlug™ can be programmed to cut power to the device during certain hours (sleepy time) to conserve electricity.
Widespread installation of TalkingPlugs™ across neighborhoods, municipalities and even the country will result in a sort of mesh network -- information gathered from each home can be sent to Zerofootprint and individual homes can check in to see how their energy usage compares to others.
The current $50/plug price is a little prohibitive. I want to conserve, but I also want to have enough money to actually pay the electricity bill (lower though it may be). I'm not sure if I'm sold on the name, either. I envision cartoonish plastic wall pods from some animated kids' movie fighting for the attention of the human characters. "Plug ME!" "No, plug ME!" Lower the price, change the name, and I'm as game as the next guy.
It doesn't get as much news coverage as health care, war in the Middle East, or little boys flying off in their parents' homemade UFO, but the Smart Grid is a topic worthy of our nation's attention.
The Smart Grid plans for spreading alternative clean energy (wind, solar) from places where it is produced to places where it is consumed. It will also increase the security and reliability of the nation's energy resources.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) says its plans for a national Smart Grid are well underway. The end goal, of course, is greater energy independence and decreased greenhouse gas emissions. All the head-spinning details of the Smart Grid can be found on the NIST's Smart Grid site.
How does this effect you? It's a reasonable assumption that homeowners across the States will have to become pretty familiar with smart metering, energy monitoring and other energy-saving devices in their home. This isn't necessarily a bad thing -- two-way smart meters can inform homeowners when the price of electricity is on the rise during the day, allowing homeowners to run big appliances like washers and driers at cheaper times. Yes, it's more technology to integrate into our lives, but if it saves money in the long run, who wouldn't be game?
How will the Smart Grid be paid for? That's another question altogether. My guess: It's either coming out of our taxes, or the rates on energy are going to rise.
It might be too late to spare China's embarrassment over the contaminated drywall mess, but apparently it isn't too late to right their wrong.
That's what Sabre Technical Services is doing, with their chlorine dioxide decontamination process which -- once injected into the tainted drywall -- renders the problematic reduced sulfur compounds inert.
The company claims that the process requires homeowners to vacate their home for less than a week and costs less than the "rip and rebuild" alternative, which doesn't sound like much fun at all.
What would you do: Hope this is a great fix or start from scratch with new drywall?
Growing up in New Hampshire, I used to marvel at how many bugs would congregate around our porch lights during the summer nights. That may fascinate a kid, but if you prefer to keep pests away from your home, check out the new GE Bug Lite, a lightbulb with a special coating that makes it invisible to flying bugs. The light takes advantage of the difference between human and insect vision. By masking the UV part of the light spectrum (light below 490 nanometers), the light is effectively invisible to insect eyes. Very clever! The bulb has a rated life of 2,000 hours and is available in both compact fluorescent light (CFLs) and incandescent bulbs. Get a couple before your next al fresco dinner party.
Electricity technology hasn't really changed that much over the last 100 years. In fact the idea originally pioneered from Thomas Alva Edison for the breakers are pretty much identical today. With that said, isn't it time for some fresh ideas? The majority of all electrical fires in homes happen at the outlet with a device that isn't preforming properly. A simple new elegant idea has surfaced thanks to John La Grou, a long-time electronics inventor, audio designer and entrepreneur, who wants to help save lives and more. This new idea takes advantage of RFID tags in the plug of a simple household electrical device and talks to another RFID reader in the outlet. If the device starts to require more power than it should it tells the outlet to just turn off. A simple, cost effective way to stop a potential fire. Not only does this increase the safety but can be used to cycle electricity in new ways and save on energy. As a electrical DIYer I see the need for this change. COME ON Underwriters Laboratories/Government agencies...let's make this happen. Save people, save energy and is affordable? What are we waiting on? You have to see this for yourself at TEDcom, a 4 minute video that needs to be shared.
Millions stand to lose their TV reception today (June 12, 2009) when broadcasters complete the switch from analog to digital programming. According to this article in the New York Times, more than 10 percent of the 114 million households that have television sets are unprepared for the switch. Those who are most likely to lose reception include lower-income families, the elderly, handicapped and homes where little English is spoken. Not sure if you are covered? Read all about at the official government website.
It's time to start thinking about your light bulb purchases in terms of both watts and lumens. Watts measure electricity consuption, not brightness. The measure to consider for brightness is lumens. To save energy, choose the light output you need (lumens) that uses the lowest amount of watts. Follow the lumens link above for a chart that compares typical lumen output between compact flourescent and incandesent bulbs.
