CasaSugar

Casa Verde: An Energy-Generating Revolving Door

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:00:59 -0800

When it comes to sustainable technologies, Royal Boon Edam is truly opening doors. The company has introduced the world's first energy-generating revolving door, which not only saves energy but also generates it with each person who passes through. The door was installed in the Driebergen-Zeist railway station in the Netherlands, which was recently refurbished by RAU, an architect firm specializing in ecological buildings. The energy that commuters apply to the door by pushing it is harnessed by a special generator, which safely controls the rotating speed of the door. Meanwhile, low-energy LED lights in the ceiling slurp up the stored energy to keep the door space constantly illuminated. To hear more about this inventive technology, read more.

What's more, red-to-green LED scales inside the door show how much energy is generated and "Human Powered Energy" stickers are adhered to the door, so that people are aware of their contribution as they pass through the door itself. With a daily capacity of 8,500 commuters, the average day-to-day schlep to work adds up to about 4600 kWh in energy savings per year, much more than a standard door that doesn't save any energy! In addition to that, your plain ol' revolving door makes heating and air conditioning more efficient as it prevents air flow in and out of a building. Though Royal Boon Edam's energy-generating revolving door is currently used in a commercial capacity, I think this is only the beginning, and I hope one day our doors will harness our own energy for homes as well - without making me sweat.
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Casa Quickie: Save Money and Energy

CasaSugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:00:30 -0700

We've all gotten better about ditching plastic bags and using CFLs, but there are plenty of other simple ways to be "green" and save money that we often overlook. One of these is to make a habit of only running full loads of dishes in your dishwasher and full loads of laundry in your washer and dryer. This is particularly true for your dishwasher, because most dishwashers don't have a "small" option. It'll save water, money, and energy, not to mention detergent. Stay tuned for more energy saving tips!
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Five Energy Saving Ideas For Renters and Owners

SavvySugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:00:18 -0700

The weather turned ch-ch-ch-chilly this weekend, and while the season change gets us in the mood for Halloween it also means we can expect higher energy bills sooner than later. Right on time, Consumer Reports came up with a list of 25 ways to save on utilities when the weather is cold. They are all great tips but these five ideas can appeal to both renters and homeowners alike.

Save $25 to $75 each year by using the system standby or hibernating feature on your computer.
Don't overload the dryer. Clothes will take longer to dry - and they'll come out wrinkled.
Open blinds and shades on cold days. Solar heat gain can raise interior temperature significantly. But close them at night to minimize heat loss.
Dust off the slow cooker. You'll use a lot less energy than cooking a meal across several burners and in the oven.
Lower the temperature a degree or two before guests arrive. A house full of people generates a lot of body heat.

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Save Money and Energy Whether It's Cool or Hot

SavvySugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:35:11 -0800

Lately, I've been wishing that Real Simple was my BFF! They've come out with some great money tips recently and their latest contribution intersects two essential greens - money and the environment. They put together this handy checklist of energy-related savings solutions, and while some are givens (like buying energy-efficient lightbulbs) others are surprising (I had no idea that it makes a difference if a washing machine is top loading or front loading). Click on the image to see the full checklist and start spending less on your energy bills each year.

How-To: Conduct Your Own Energy Audit

CasaSugar — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:00:00 -0800

Energy bills rise as soon as temperatures drop, but your home's heat may not be the only thing cranking up your bill each month. Before blaming the power company or accepting the astronomical bills, investigate the problem by conducting your own energy audit. An energy audit helps homeowners and renters locate where their pads are not being efficient, and provides insight on where improvement is needed. Grab a pen and paper and use these tips for inspecting your digs' energy efficiency.

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Money Tip: Savings Idea to Try This Month

SavvySugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:00:28 -0700

Oprah featured the "thriftiest family in America" on Wednesday's episode, so I stopped by her website to check out a recap. What I found was nothing really new, just an overall message to cut spending by tracking expenses and finding deals. However, I did find a money saving hint from a woman named Rhondalyn that could be an interesting experiment to save money and energy. Here's what she accomplished.

To save on her electric bill, Rhondalyn unplugs everything in her home when it's not in use. Appliances, TV sets and lamps that are plugged in pull in energy even if they are turned off, and Rhondalyn says the small change has added up. In May 2008, her energy bill was $268. After she started unplugging, her bill went down to $91. And when Rhondalyn got really vigilant-even turning off the air conditioning-her energy bill was only $60.42. That's over $200 in savings!

Have you ever tried this saving idea?

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6 Ways to Cut Back on Utilities and Household Costs

SavvySugar — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:30:24 -0700

Running a household isn't cheap. Whether you're a renter or an owner, you have a collection of other costs - from insurance, utilities, and groceries to cleaning and repair fees. Most SavvySugar readers dish out a minimum of $100 per month on utilities alone. If you are looking for ways to reduce all the dolla dolla bills going out the door, check out some of my household cost-cutting suggestions.

Trade Magazines, DVDs, and Books With Your Friends	Never Home? Consider Stopping Internet, Phone, or Cable	Take Stock of Your In-Home Media Memberships
A Cheaper Way to Clean Your Home	Five Energy Saving Ideas For Renters and Owners	Unplug When You Don't Need Power

Casa Verde: Energy Saving Programs

CasaSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 07:45:02 -0700

A few days ago, I received an unusual thank you note in my mailbox and thought I'd tell you about it. PG&E, my gas and electric company, sent me a note thanking me for being one of 1.5 million residential and 80,000 business customers who had conserved natural gas this past Winter, a time when demand for energy is at its highest. Sweet, right? Well, that wasn't all. Apparently I'm part of its 10/20 Plus Winter Gas Savings Program, which returns additional credit to energy-saving customers, on top of what they've already saved by cutting back on heating use.
To find out all the details, read more.
For every one percent decrease in natural gas that I saved, compared to the average natural gas used at my home over the last three years, they gave me a one percent credit, up to nine percent. So if I reduced my usage by 10 percent or more, my credit jumped to 20 percent. A nice surprise, I must say. I appreciate that PG&E is doing its part to keep their gas rates low; they also offer a program which allows customers to balance out the greenhouse gas emissions from the energy they use, and they reward customers with $25 for every energy-smart air conditioning device installed. Although a 10 percent credit isn't the most impressive credit I've ever received, it is something, and we all know that money speaks louder words. So let's hope generous incentives become a trend among other utility companies - that is, until we can all grow up and save energy where we can by our own initiative. What energy-saving programs is your utility company offering? What programs would you like to see put in place?
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Casa Verde: Keep Your Energy Bills Low When on Holiday

CasaSugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:00:00 -0700

If you're planning on vacationing this August, you know that you don't need to use as much energy at home while you're away as you would normally. But, I thought I'd give you a few reminders about how to cut back your energy use while you're off hitting the beach.

Most people like to leave some lights on to be safe, so you appear to be home even when you're not. If you live in a city or neighborhood where that's necessary, just put a couple of your lights (facing the street) on timers to go on at night so your house doesn't appear vacant, but isn't hogging energy all day long.
Aside from your refrigerator and freezer, you can turn off and unplug all of your major and smaller appliances. But, if you'll be gone for an extended period, consider emptying your fridge and freezer all together and unplugging them as well.

There's more where these came from, so read more.

You won't be needing hot water, so you can turn your electric water heater off, too, or if you have a gas water heater, turn it to the pilot setting.
If you live in a moderate climate, you can turn your air conditioner off as well, but otherwise, set it at 85 degrees.
If you're lucky enough to have a pool, turn off your pool heater as well — Wow, they're pricey! — and reduce the amount of times that your pump filter operates. But, then again, if you can take a dip in your backyard, why take a vacation?

Visually Stimulating Energy Saving Adapters

GeekSugar — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:00:07 -0700

Saving energy never looked so good! Discovered on Yanko Design, these sleek white Energy Saving Adapters by designer Giles Belley are said to reduce the energy consumption of electronics left in standby mode in half. Each module corresponds to a device and when energy is being wasted, a layer of light will glow on the surface of the adapter. This light is intended to warn the user that unnecessary energy is being used and that they should turn off the device. If it does not get turned off, the adapter will automatically shut it down after three minutes. An ingenious design, but somewhat worrisome for a person like me who leaves unsaved work open while my laptop is asleep and prays it doesn't shut down!

To check out more images of this beautiful design piece read more

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