You may remember the recent scare about trace amounts of mercury in CFLs (compact fluorescent lights), those energy-saving wonder lightbulbs. While the mercury is not a danger in household use, it can be a problem when thousands of the CFLs are improperly discarded and put into a landfill. But now Home Depot has started a recycling program for these bulbs. It will now take back CFLs at all of its 1,973 stores nationwide. Previously, customers had to seek out local hazardous waste programs or smaller retail stores for recycling, leading to a two percent recycling rate. Both Home Depot and Wal-Mart are heavily promoting CFLs, which are 10 times as energy-efficient as conventional bulbs.
If you enjoy drinking beer and like the idea of solar energy, I've found the web page for you. It provides detailed instructions for creating a solar heating panel made entirely of old beer cans. Why use beer cans? The authors provide a list of reasons, but my favorite is "Instead of buying a sheet of aluminum for $24 at Home Depot, you get to drink $24 worth of beer." Sounds good to me.
With energy costs skyrocketing, homeowners are looking for ways to save money. One of the easiest ways is to use a programmable thermostat. It's estimated that doing so can shave about 10 percent off your annual heating and cooling bill. But not only are programmable thermostats good for your wallet, their efficiency is also good for the environment. Each properly used programmable thermostat reduces the use of 1,847 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions a year. So, why not use a programmable thermostat? Energy Star makes it easy with this page of tips and a video podcast on using a programmable thermostat. And installation is easy. BobVila.com's Step by Step How To video, "Replacing a Mercury Thermostat with a Programmable One", shows you how.
With the rising cost of living, having an energy-efficient home is becoming more and more important. Saving energy can begin with some very simple steps. Energy Star’s Online Home Tutorial estimates that a typical family could save up to $140 annually by properly sealing leaks in the home’s duct system. Turning your water heater down to 120 degrees F and cleaning your refrigerator coils can also help. In the summer, reducing your energy bill can be as easy as closing the window curtains to reduce sun heat and opening windows on the shaded side. Following these easy steps and remembering to use water and electricity sparingly will help maximize your home’s energy efficiency. Any more ideas? Add them to the "Comments" section below.
My wife drives me crazy the way she wastes water while waiting for the shower to get hot. She'll turn on the shower and start brushing her teeth, make the bed, dawdle and do everything beside jump into the water until it's good and warm. According to the evolve™ showerhead Web site, this type of behavior wastes two and a half gallons of water per minute. But now evolve has come up with an answer. Their patented technology slows the flow of the water to a trickle when the water reaches 95 degrees. This prevents hot water from being wasted down the drain and the sound of the trickle tells the person his or her shower is ready. Evolve estimates a family of three can save 2,700 gallons of water and shave $75 off their annual water bill using this showerhead. They offer a wide range of styles to fit most bathrooms and can be ordered online from their Web site.
What are your water saving tips? Tell us in the "Comments" section below.
If you live in a state with a perpetually wet basement like me, you're probably running a dehumidifier year-round. Ours sucks the moisture out of our always-wet walls and drains it into the sump pump.
If you're luckier than me, you may only use a dehumidifier for humid summer days and are dragging yours out of storage right about now. If you have an older model, you may want to consider upgrading to an Energy Star qualified one. It removes the same amount of moisture as a unit of the same size but uses 10 to 20 percent less energy, which could actually power your refrigerator for six months. Visit Energy Star's page on dehumidifiers for more information as well as a list of approved models.
Nothing goes hand in hand quite like sunlight and swimming pools. That's why this solar powered pool skimmer from Hammacher Schlemmer makes almost too much sense. Two solar panels power the device as it continuously paddles the pool, scooping up debris. This is one sophisticated device; when the batteries are running low, it stops cleaning and seeks out sunnier areas to recharge. And when it becomes clogged, it reverses direction to rid itself of the junk. It holds two 3-inch chlorine tablets that slowly dissolve as the skimmer moves across the pool. It can be ordered online from the Hammacher Schlemmer Web site.
