Everybody knows reliable, not-expensive telescopic table lamp, widely sold through IKEA. Though, it’s relatively simple to modify it from 25 Watts halogen bulb to the LED and drastically decrease the power consumption with a little bit less brightness.

I found MR16 LED bulb cluster, 12V 1.2W in Rona store for $6. The point is that the socket for original T4 Bi-Pin Base halogen is the same that for MP16 that have almost identical two needle-like pins. And base of lamp is containing transformer, providing 12v AC current, so the modification is simple and easy.

Of course, it can be elaborated more to make design more neat and adding aesthetic features. There is always room to chase perfection. At least main goal – to reduce consumption about 20 times is achieved.

Here is illustrated DIY guide :

[View with PicLens]

 

The Green Living Show is Toronto’s largest green consumer show dedicated to educating the public about easy and workable solutions for leading a sustainable lifestyle. For three days visitors were shopping the wide variety of exhibitor booths while gathering information and inspiration from a diverse selection of demonstrations, presentations, and activities.

Some pictures from show that we found noticeable and worth to share with others.

[View with PicLens]

 

This great proposition from Home Depot Canada is again in effect and celebrates 10-th anniversary. Now it includes trimmers and leaf blowers too!

Did You Know

• Gas-powered lawn equipment and other off-road small engines are responsible for 9% of Canada’s air pollution?
• An inefficient 2-stroke gas-powered lawnmower can emit the same amount of common air pollutants in one hour as driving a car for over 320 kilometers!
• By switching from a gas-powered lawn mower to an energy efficient, electric alternative, you could save up to $75 a year!

How I made switch two years ago

]]> http://www.greenathome.ca/?feed=rss2&p=212 0 http://www.greenathome.ca/?p=195 http://www.greenathome.ca/?p=195#comments Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:42:39 +0000 Digart http://www.greenathome.ca/?p=195

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

No doubt, there is no pleasure to get into ice-cold car during the winter. That is why we can see many people are idling their engines, even regardless if they are inside the car or not. However, cost of that “warming up” is significant, idling for ten seconds uses more fuel than restart your engine ! This going to be more than 100 litres of gasoline a year for idling ten minutes a day.

Get the electric seat warmer looks like great idea. You car battery will be easily handling the load and you don’t need run you engine when your vehicle is parked.

Why can’t we try to breathe easier, without the unhealthy exhaust fumes from a car that is going nowhere ? We will spare the air by reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to problems such as smog and climate change.

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.

According to some very old survey, the metal paperclips mostly are used as anything else than paperclips : as toothpicks, tactile relaxing objects (bending during conversations), electric shorts, temporary repairs of clothes and any kind of hooks, you name it. Then came plastic ones – bright colors, various sizes…but…require waste procession after end of life as any other usual plastic.

This time there is paperclip made from pressure fortified paper and 100% renewable, recyclable and disposable. Sure it cannot be a toothpick, but from other side, you will eliminate chances of dental injury. And among other benefits, the risk to broke shredder is also gone. Thrown away, it is degradable too and will not plaque the drain hose of washer machine (known experience with metal paperclips).  So, again, recycle matters!

Great green upgrade of heating system! May be, the one of the best for entire home.

Here is the full story. Having the water heating system in the house it’s apparently important to have efficient boiler. The old one was oil-based and despite the good working condition was decommissioned due to incredible “efficiency” to burn fuel and waist heat into exhaust pipe.

The new one is EnergyStar-rated, sleek and high performance, fully automated wall-hanging unit using natural gas. It has ability to manage two separate contours – one for radiant heated floor in basement and another one for main floor radiator-style. It’s computerized and has temperature sensors for not only supplied water, but also for return, incoming from outside and outdoor air.
Depending on weather, it supposed to adjust mode on the fly to make sure the heating is provided with maximum efficiency. It’s amazing, but exhaust pipe is made from plastic – it’s really cold because all of the heat of burned gas is utilized 93%!
The ultimate difference that unit doesn’t heat water as much as possible; it heats it just right to provide minimal difference between radiator and room temperature and get minimal gas consuming.

The info about unit – Triangle Tube Solo110, natural gas model, limited warranty for 10 years.

High Efficiency Upgrade – Part Two : Water Heater

Green Car Journal announced five finalists for their “2010 Green Car of the Year” title, including :

Audi A3 TDI
Honda Insight
Mercury Milan Hybrid
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Golf TDI

The award will be known at Los Angeles Auto Show on Dec, 3.

Meanwhile, the Popular Mechanics magazine run their own review and collected following contenders :

Audi A3 TDI
Toyota Prius V
Smart Fortwo Passion
Honda Insight EX Navi
Ford Fusion Hybrid

See the difference ? Not really much. There are,  apparently, only two kinds of  auto-makers – ones who are developing the green technologies and another ones who don’t.

And applauses go to Jay Leno, please, who is contributing to both Auto Show and PM mag.