Going Green

Power Strip vs Vampire Loads

“Off” is a relative term when it comes to modern electronics. We like when the television screen goes live as soon as you do the remote. Ditto with computer monitors, printers, scanners, desktop computers, etc, […]

Increase Pipe Insulation Thickness

Many older buildings were built at a time when energy was inexpensive. The hot-water piping may not have been insulated at all, or it could be wrapped to a less than optimum thickness. Pipe routed […]

Going Green

High Efficiency Toilet

California now limits every household to 100 gallons of water per day ~ barely enough for the usual household chores, but with zero allowed for watering the yard, washing the car, or topping off the […]

Going Green

Solar Water Heating

In the past, solar energy has been prohibitively expensive, with payback over 20 years for most applications. Photovoltaics are still quite expensive, while parabolic collectors and other concentrating means are not much better. The machinery […]

Going Green

Window Diffuser

Got a window with no view but in a room that benefits from daylighting? You try to dress up the window with blinds or curtains, but it still hurts the senses like a sore thumb. […]