Green @ Home

Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category

The Integrated Hot Water Domestic and Heating System is completed!

Old water heater for domestic use was gas-powered 50-gallon tank rented from Direct Energy for $14 a month. Not really efficient and, at a long-term, money burner. Partially driven by inability of Direct Energy to provide acceptable exchange options for loyal customers and future considerations of utilizing solar energy, we decided to go ahead with green replacement option.

The new, 79-gallon, indirect Wiesseman Vitocell-300 model with second radiator coil for using with optional solar power collector, was installed. This tank is connected to high efficiency boiler and has no gas consumption. Yes, this is the point – high efficiency boiler is only the source for hot water, both for heating or domestic use. Note, that new tank don’t need all those safety labels and warnings, as it designed to provide 100% quiet, safe and efficient operation.
The future is friendly – connect solar power water collectors to the second contour and you will have high efficient system that use boiler only as secondary source to heat the domestic water.

The diagram shows how the solar energy may be utilized for heating water for domestic use.

High Efficiency Upgrade – Part One : Boiler

Chevrolet and OnStar announced that new Volt will be available to be controlled remotely though smartphone application. However, the 007 practice to drive remotely will be not an option. The application will only allow to control vehicle functions and OnStar features. The software will communicate with car from either iPhone, Blackberry or Motorola Droid.

The application will propose new interactive experience for Volt owners that has never ever been offered to any electric vehicle.

Among features the application will display :

• Charge status and voltage
• Battery capacity and available mileage range
• Messages and alerts from the car concerning charge interruption on completion
• Real-time odometer and other readings

It also will provide flexibility to setup charge schedule regarding off-peak hours when electricity rates are lowest, unlocking the doors and some other OnStar features and remotely start pre-condition the interior temperature.

The application will be available for owners at launch of the model that is scheduled for late 2010. Pricing has not been announced.

Gentlemen, turn your lights on!

This is this time again, the time we love from when we have been kids. And here is the trick – the LED holiday lights turn your white Christmas into green! There are no exotic things anymore, major retailers like Canadian Tire, Walmart, Costco, HomeDepot, you name it, all updated their inventory with LED strings of all sizes and colors.

Let’s take it seriously, one entire string of LEDs consumes merely the same energy as single bulb from old-style light chain. There is the myth that LEDs are “too cold” and many people loved their traditional holiday lights because of that. If this is the case, it made great sense with the advent of the ‘warm’ white LED in the 2700K range that you can chose over the ‘cool’ white. Remember “National Lampoon Christmas” ? This way to entertain neighbors is gone. Also, the LEDs dissipate mach less energy into heat, eliminating risk of causing fire on extremely dry flammable evergreen.

Facts about LED using in Ontario.

Since 2004, by the way, seasonal electricity savings in Ontario came close to amount equal to the annual energy consumption of 300 average homes, and this is only because many electricity utilities are participating in “switching to LED” campaign. Also in 2004, Toronto set a mandate for changing Cavalcade of Lights festival to LED applications. All these spectacular displays are available for observation at Niagara at the Falls, so, take a chance to visit Falls and have a look.