The Guide To Efficient Living
On a perfect New Mexico winter day — with the sky almost 10 percent brighter than usual — Sandia National Laboratories and Stirling Energy Systems (SES) set a new solar-to-grid system conversion efficiency record by achieving a 31.25 percent net efficiency rate. The old 1984 record of 29.4 percent was toppled Jan. 31 on SES’s… [Continue Reading]
Reverse osmosis for the home is a water purifying method in which tap water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane that prevents bacteria and minerals from passing through to produce a more pure form of drinking water. The choice of a water filtration system depends on if you’re looking to rid of a specific contaminant… [Continue Reading]
When Adidas came out with these hemp shoes a few years back, they were given grief about it by the federal government and chose to rename them from “Superstar Hemp” to “Gazelle Natural”. Regardless of the politics, hemp is a very durable and “breathes” very well as a shoe material. The soles are made out… [Continue Reading]
Nike has released four new “Considered” sneakers. This is good news, because the first round of sneakers were fairly unattractive. Nike produces these shoes using sustainable manufacturing practices (more details here). However, Nike has a history of maintaining questionable working conditions in its oversesas factories. More information on this issue can be found on the… [Continue Reading]
When researching energy efficient appliances, we often turn to the recommendations of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The ACEEE continues to publish helpful information about all sorts of appliances, including freezers. The ninth edition of their Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings, published in fall 2007, contains helpful information about selecting a… [Continue Reading]
This hotel, designed by the Atkins groups, will be an outstanding example of incorporating a building into an existing site. The 400-bed resort is to be built near Shanghai in a 100 meter deep quarry. The quarry will provide protection from the weather, and reduce the energy needs of the hotel. The complex will contain… [Continue Reading]
The tallest wind turbines in the U.S. have been installed in Texas — the Vestas V90 turbines are 345 feet high, and are rated at 3 megawatts each. They are part of the 63 megawatt Snyder Wind Project, a wind farm that’s just been installed in western Texas.
This is the perfect paint for people who love the dappled, richly textured look of old plaster but find themselves surrounded instead by flat drywall. It is sold as a powder, made according to a recipe that’s been around since the time of the ancient Egyptians. As you need it, you mix it with water… [Continue Reading]
Ever since we saw Michael Phelps with his headphones at the Olympics not only have we asked the question, “What’s on Michael Phelps’ iPod?”, but more importantly, “How can we too enjoy music in and around the water?”. With science continuing to advance in developing underwater headphones, water lovers can now bring their tunes with… [Continue Reading]
Composting toilets can be a practical solution even for large businesses. We recently visited the Philip Merrill Environment Center, which is the headquarters for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. It has a Platinum rating for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) from the U.S. Green Building Council. After taking a tour of their offices (about… [Continue Reading]
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