Light Bulbs: Making the Switch to Energy Efficiency

January 16, 2013 By

light_bulbHere is a brief History lesson for all of us:

In 1878 (ish), Thomas Edison successfully perfected the incandescent light bulb.  In 1904, the incandescent light bulb was made even better, with the addition of a tungsten coil.  And in 2007, the U.S. Federal Government enacted the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, encouraging the phasing out of incandescent bulbs at various wattage levels.  And people got angry.

Now, I am not here to discuss the principle of government regulation.  However, it is important that we all are educated on the reasons why the federal government would impose an act involving light bulbs.  It’s not that Congress wanted to have the brightest building in the country, nor is it that President Obama was tired of the lighting in the Oval Office.  Actually, the heart of the issue lies in the concept of energy efficiency.

 

Little known fact: 

Incandescent light bulbs convert only 10% of electricity into actual light.  The remaining 90% is converted into heat.  I highly doubt that Edison gave a rip about the heat-to-light ratio 1878, when he realized that he was holding the world’s first actual long-burning bulb.  With how much stuff costs these days, things are placed into a different light.  A 10% conversion ratio means that every $100 spent to power lights in a home produces only $10 worth of light.  This begs the question:  Why am I paying $100 for $10 in true results?

 

Energy Star Light Bulb

Over the past couple of decades, a movement has emerged to raise awareness over electrical products and appliances, and how their use ultimately impacts the environment AND your wallet over time.  The end goal would be to use significantly less energy, yet give the consumer the same product result.  The energy savings, combined with added tax incentives, created a winning situation for many consumers upgrading their appliances.  In 1999, the compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) earned an energy star label; meaning that CFL’s met 12 specific requirements, including overall efficiency, lifetime, safety and reliability.  In the end, we are left with a product that can operate with at least 3 times the efficiency of a normal incandescent light bulb.  In most cases, the efficiency is much greater.

 

What’s the catch?

In the spirit of full disclosure, I must be fair and share some of the cons to having a CFL in your home.  That way, you can decide for yourself if the transition to energy efficient lighting is right for your home.

Many CFL bulbs look funny.  They have completely broken the spherical mold, and went with more of a pigtail motif.  For those who might have exposed bulbs, especially in a decorative manner, these might not be a suitable alternative.  However, many CFL bulb makers are starting to catch on to the demand for good-looking stuff, and are putting out some more cosmetically pleasing products.

Many CFL bulbs contain Mercury.  These bulbs are built to last much, much longer than normal incandescent bulbs.  To accomplish this, manufacturers had to use some heavy-duty material.  In the even that a bulb breaks, proper disposal is important.

CFL bulbs cost more.  You can tell this just by looking at them.  These bulbs can cost upwards of 5 times the cost of an incandescent light bulb.  However, you must keep in mind that the trade off is in the energy savings.  Your shopping bill might be more, but your electricity bills will be significantly less.

 

Even though I lean on the side of energy efficiency, I know that every person is different.  If nothing else, I hope this gives you a little more understanding of CFL bulbs.  Saving money and energy are two of the strongest principles we hold here at TenList.com.

All the best for you and your home.

Daniel Nix

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Energy Efficiency, Lighting Tagged With: CFL, Energy Efficiency, Flourescent, Thomas Edison

The Tesla Answer for Alternative Energy – Precisely how Does It Work?

June 4, 2012 By

repair solar panels for electrical systemsEveryone already knows how costly it is to use electricity. However, there aren’t many alternative options available. Our modern society relies on electrical power for its survival. The electricity companies make the most of this by charging us a large amount so that we can utilize electricity. Fortunately, an online program is available which will assist you in getting unlimited quantities of electricity. This is accomplished without expensive installation solar panels for electrical system as well as without costly wind turbines. The name of the plan is the Tesla Secret, and right here we are going to take a more detailed look at this program.

Possibly you are knowledgeable about Nikola Tesla, an inventor that lived during the early 20th century. The guy invented a system which could easily source electricity. Of course everyone said that it did not work and his research was halted. As outlined by the Tesla Secret, anyone can assemble a free electric generator by simply following the guide which they claim uses Nikola Tesla’s authentic research.

Make sure to watch the video on their website. It shows the procedure one individual follows as he builds a small version of this power generator. As soon as the generator was built, this specific individual was able to charge his cellular phone with it. The only thing the person used was basically a very small electric generator. The little generator will cost you about $2.00 to build and the normal size generator will amount to close to $100.

This application is weatherproof, which is certainly a good selling point. This means that you will be able to create electricity if there is no sun, if it is raining, as well as throughout the night. This can save you a lot of money because you won’t need to buy expensive batteries like those you need with solar panels or wind generators in order to store in surplus electricity. You will have the ability to save many thousands of dollars when you build this generator for less than $100 as opposed to putting in solar panels or a wind turbine.

If you’re not actually into DIY projects, you might find this task a little difficult. Don’t be afraid to ask a good friend for assistance if is true for you.

And for people who are cynical about this type of money saving product, this is sold with a full 60-day money back guarantee. So you can get the system, build your own electrical generator and if you’re not happy with it you just ask for your money back. You would not lose any money if it doesn’t work out. You don’t even have to provide them a reason for desiring a refund. In case you don’t like your final results, your money will be paid back in full.

However, if you are a handyman and you know your way around, you can easily repair solar panels for electrical systems and save more money. You can also hire certified local contractors at www.tenlist.com.

Filed Under: Electrical Tagged With: Electrical, hire certified local contractors, install solar panel, install solar panels for electrical system, local contractors, repair solar panel, repair solar panels for electrical systems, The Tesla Answer for Alternative Energy - Precisely how Does It Work?

Taking a Look at Living Green in United States

May 29, 2012 By

energy efficient buildingsThe particular Greenhouse is a block of eco-friendly apartments in US. Not too long ago updated their building laws and this row of apartments are creating less than half of the carbon that they’re allowed by law. By using thermal solar panels as well as an aquifer, this specific building has the ability to produce enough hot water for all of its tenants

One of the better things about this building is that it generates more electrical power than the building uses. The US government is actually seeking these sorts of complexes and it appears as if the Greenhouse is merely the first of its kind. This building has won numerous awards for the new developments, and one particularly is an award for its insulation. The rooms are very massive, with high ceilings, and in the beginning you do not notice any of the green attributes of the building. Just about everything has been created with the environment in mind though, because the taps are aerated, this means they use 25% less water but they still have got the same pressure as standard taps. Even the flooring surfaces throughout the building were manufactured with recycled items along with bamboo.

For extra insulation the whole building is covered in heavy external insulation, which keeps all of the apartments comfortable even in winter months. This doesn’t compromise on the appearance of the building though, because the exterior offers nice 1930s brickwork.

One of my favorite things with regards to this building could be the 32 inch TV. This is simply not your average TV since it is linked to an extremely fast Internet connection and in addition, it works as your doorbell plus it sends you train and bus schedules. The Television is not just a way to answer your door or perhaps make sure you catch the bus but it also operates just like a regular TV set with cable. But wait, it does a lot more. This particular TV as well, monitors the amount of water and electricity you are using and it also tells you just how much all the water and electricity will set you back. Most of the tenants can’t get over how well they’re able to now manage their water and electricity usage. Currently, more and more people are able to control their electricity and water bills more effectively.

Now let’s just say that you just needed to draw a bath. Filling up a bathtub costs about a dollar and twenty cents. It will run you about thirty six bucks on a monthly basis to be able to take a hot bath every single day. In a year’s time, it will certainly cost a lot.

One thing that could bother a few people is that you aren’t the only individual who knows the amount of electricity and water you’re utilizing as the developers of the building keep an eye on your consumption also.

Altering just how much electric you use is just one benefit to having your electric power monitored. Also, since you can now observe how much energy you’re wasting by flipping on your radio and leaving it on all day long, you might just want to make some adjustments.

Just imagine the amount of money that you will save up on heating costs with this system that US buildings are using. You will definitely save electricity and help the environment as well.

For more information about local contractors and professional home improvement services providers, log on to www.tenlist.com.

Filed Under: Electrical, Green Home Improvement, Insulation, Security Tagged With: electricity, external insulation, green living, greenhouse, Home Improvement, local contractors, monitors the amount of water and electricity, solar panels, Taking a Look at Living Green in United States

DIY Hot Water Manual: Save Money by Using an Alternative Hot Water Source

May 27, 2012 By

You must need an Electrical contractors before installing alternative hot water source.

electrical contractors solar powered water heaterA lot of people when they are standing in the shower, or lying in the bathtub, hardly think about the cost of the water. This is true for those who are washing clothes or doing the dishes. Heating water is a task any family will have to do in one form or another. Most water heaters are either electric or natural gas, and their costs are rising regularly. Solar panels can be used for heating water and this could be a great alternative for you. This can save you money and you will also find that you save energy.

So if solar becomes your option for making hot water, you still have a lot to think about to make it happen. For installing an energy saving hot water tank, do you use a qualified pro? A solar hot water package for DIY installation is a choice. Making the system entirely yourself is also doable with the DIY Hot Water Manual. Usually, this decision depends on whether you have more time or money, and if you believe you are comfortable doing projects yourself.

The DIY Hot Water manual is a pragmatic way for you to help the environment. Reducing your electricity bill by approximately a third and constructing a water heater for a price in the region of $100 are what you are going to learn. This can be an enjoyable process and could be done in a few days. Regardless of where you are, this is something you can employ. In merely a few moments from now you could be learning how to do this as the plans are downloadable.

For a mere $37, you can get rolling on your new solar-powered water heater. The fact is you can get started reducing your bills and with a sixty day money back guarantee, this is actually a superb offer. If you look at the money you’ll save, since the separate kits could be more than $1000, the DIY route adds up. The idea is that for an outlay of about $100, you can construct your own hot water system and recover this through lower electricity costs. The system has lot of users who have been able to practice what they learned in the DIY manual. They are making use of their new hot water system and saving a lot of money.

Do you consider yourself handy around the home? Can you easily follow step by step directions? Is the environment something you would like to help? Saving on your power costs may motivate you. The least expensive and most rewarding way to have a solar-powered water heater is to build it yourself. If you truly want to do this properly, The DIY Hot Water manual can help. To remedy any carbon footprint, you can employ energy from the sun. Leaving a legacy of a healthier planet for the next generation as well as cash savings can be realized. This can be righted through following a green lifestyle.

However, before doing any DIY projects on solar water heaters though, you must consider all electrical aspects of the project and find out if it would be safe for you to do them. Or log on to www.Tenlist.com for more info.

Filed Under: Electrical Tagged With: DIY, DIY Hot Water Manual: Save Money by Using an Alternative Hot Water Source, DIY projects, DIY projects on solar water heater, Electrical, electrical aspects, electrical contractors, Home Improvement, solar powered water heater

Everyday Tips to Conserve Electrical Energy

April 9, 2012 By

Conserve Electrical EnergyMore power is wasted daily in America than in any other nation worldwide. With all the problems our planet is having these days with pollution and the depletion of our ozone layer; we have to help conserve electricity, which in turn will help our planet.

Today, we will cover just a few things you can do to help conserve energy and also save a little bit of money every day. These things are very easy to do that anyone can do them; however, you will have to act for it to work and doing so you will help save our planet.

Just switching off the lights whenever you exit a room in your house is one of the things you can do to not waste or conserve  electrical energy. Many of us likely temporarily leave the living room lights switched on when we go to the kitchen to get a snack because we believe we are coming right back. If you do this even a couple of times every day, that is about 30 minutes of wasted electrical energy for just this one light. While you are wasting what could be thirty minutes of power each day may not appear like much, know that millions of other people are doing it too. And every individual who does this is squandering 182 hours of electricity each year for merely this one light. Next, try multiplying that by just 1 million people. The figure comes to a stunning 182 million hours of squandered energy that is essentially coming from one single room in each person’s house.

Another wasteful habit that a lot of people do is switching the lights on when entering a room. This has become a habit done by a lot of people. I catch myself doing it as well. The problem is that most of the time, there is adequate light coming into a room. And yet, we walk into a reasonably lit room and flip the light switch on. And aside from that, because of the natural light filtering in, we tend to forget we turned the room light on in the first place and leave it on for the rest of the day. You just need to make the extra effort to not turn the lights on if there is enough natural light coming in.

One serious problem is people leaving things like TVs and radios switched on the whole day even if they are not using it. That’s a good deal of electricity being squandered. Thus, if you’re not in the room, turn off the television.

These are just a few things that we all can do very easily but can have a huge impact on our attempts to not waste power and to save the environment. If everyone makes just a little effort to do these very simple things, it can add up to make a huge difference.

You can also open the curtains of your windows to let the light in so that you won’t have to switch on the light and therefore conserve energy.

Filed Under: Electrical Tagged With: conserve energy, Electrical, electrical contractors, electricity, Home Improvement

Electrical Hazards: Make Sure Your Air Purifier is Safe

March 1, 2012 By

For electrical safety ideas on your your Air Purifier project, consult your local certified electrician.

ElectricalThe environment in the house is pretty dirty, therefore you should think about having an air purification system in your house. You could potentially install one per room, but possibly installing just one for the entire house is a better option. You must do an evaluation to determine what way is most cost-effective, before you decide which way to go.

Let’s look at what the stores, most especially air purifiers. Typically, you only find a very limited selection, and those are only designed for one or two rooms. This leads consumers to imagine that air purifier systems for an entire house are not manufactured. If you prefer a purifier for your entire house, they certainly exist. The actual issue is that department stores don’t have enough room to display them. Merchants commonly try to put as many items throughout their store as they can, and this leaves no room for bigger items, such as a whole house purifier.

That’s the reason it’s not possible to find entire house air purifiers in department stores, but there are other places where you can. Your neighborhood home improvement store should probably stock them, and that’s the best place to head for if you prefer shopping locally. Do it yourself projects happen to be what home improvement stores specialize in, so they should carry whole house air purifiers. If you can’t get what you want in your local store, the solution is to look online.

Shopping on the web will, in any event, be your best bet if price is an important factor, because selection-wise that’s where you’ll have the most choice. With online shopping, it is possible to compare-shops in minutes, with as many websites as you want to look at. Whenever browsing on the internet, you will need to check manufacturers of air purifiers, home improvement stores, department stores, as well as other home stores. The ideal option for an overall home is a whole house air purifier, but it can get costly. The purchase price can vary from $300 to around $1000. You will discover that the overall cost quickly expands if you think of using a lot of individual room purifiers even though they are less pricy. Unless you have very few rooms, it’s likely that a single whole house unit will be cheaper than installing a unit in each room.

In the end, you might even be saving yourself dollars. Installing a whole-house air cleaner, calls for connecting it to your control system for the house’s air temperature. It definitely will need a little upkeep, including the replacement of a filter. It is best to figure out how often filters need to be changed, and what the cost is. With time, that could build up to being a substantial additional cost.

If you plan to install air purifiers in your home, you need to make sure that the electrical works are done by a certified electrician or contractor.

 

Filed Under: Electrical Tagged With: Air purifier, contractors, Electrical, Electrically Safe Air Purifier, Home Improvement