EcoRenovator

EcoRenovator http://ecorenovator.org/forum This forum is about green home improvements that reduce power use, help the environment, and save money. en Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:27:20 GMT vBulletin 60 http://ecorenovator.org/forum/images/ramadhan/misc/rss.jpg EcoRenovator http://ecorenovator.org/forum Hello from Low Sun Land http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/hwDJSwoeKZo/750-hello-low-sun-land.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:57:29 GMT It is good to see so many familiar names here. It turns out that of the two projects sitting in my backyard, the solar panel got built first. I'm still driving the "bad" Metro instead of rebuilding the "keeper."
Anyway, I put up a 5 X 15' "false front" on one of my gables to catch some hot air. I'll post pics after it is working, unless I get bugged for construction shots. I'm aiming to insulate the back, and use cheap plastic to build the collector. Arches bent from lath will create one large duct running sideways and back, and adding the single strip down the middle will tension everything nicely.
Right now, I'm trying to think of the elegant way to attach the ducting. I've been warned that I might melt the plastic, but so far, a test section has only yielded 70C, so I shan't be too fussy about fail-safe fans. I'll put in an easy pop-off vent for summer.
The idea here is to develop something that works best as a retrofit on an existing south wall. It is vertical, to avoid collecting dust, and because that is close enough to the sun direction when it is needed most, especially up here at 53N. By using air as the working fluid, I have a bit more electricity turning into heat via the fan, but I loose all worries about expensive freezing or leaks. Once inside, the air will go over a junked truck radiator to warm water for a tepid water tank. If there is no temperature difference, the thermosiphon shuts down, and a flap prevents backflow. The rest of the heat will be delivered to the house via the normal furnace ductwork. ]]> Introductions Bicycle Bob http://ecorenovator.org/forum/introductions/750-hello-low-sun-land.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/introductions/750-hello-low-sun-land.html Gas oven uses 360W of electricity. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/pKD_Is8bwac/749-gas-oven-uses-360w-electricity.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:34:25 GMT My gas oven has electric "glow-bar" ignition. Apparently, it runs non-stop, at full power, whenever the oven is set to Bake.

It's using more electricity than I think it should, and electricity is three times the price of gas. But at least all 360W is being turned into heat, which is what ovens are for, anyway.

The real waste here is that I'm using a full-sized oven to bake a single loaf of muffin. Maybe I should buy a toaster oven. ]]> RobertSmalls http://ecorenovator.org/forum/appliances-gadgets/749-gas-oven-uses-360w-electricity.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/appliances-gadgets/749-gas-oven-uses-360w-electricity.html Another electricity use tracker http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/d8RfA2chHYk/748-another-electricity-use-tracker.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:29:53 GMT Hi, Another power tracking option is the TED -- it tracks power usage using two small current transformers installed in the breaker box. These... Hi,
Another power tracking option is the TED -- it tracks power usage using two small current transformers installed in the breaker box. These wirelessly transmit usage to a TED base unit that sits wherever you like -- it gives instantaneous power use and tracks power use over time. There is also PC software that lets you download and analyze on a PC.

If you don't mind poking around in your breaker box, you can also move the CT's so they track an individual circuit (as in only the dryer for example).

The software on mine was hard to install, but after getting over that it has worked fine. I would like to go through and track each circuit in the house for a few days to see if I can find where our base 300 watts that seems to be there all the time is really going. Kind of a circuit by circuit audit.

T.E.D. : Electricity Monitor, Energy Monitor, Power Monitor

Gary ]]> Conservation GaryGary http://ecorenovator.org/forum/conservation/748-another-electricity-use-tracker.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/conservation/748-another-electricity-use-tracker.html OSSB (Oriented Split Straw Board) http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/CmelgYgTXUo/747-ossb-oriented-split-straw-board.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:56:48 GMT An article about a Canadian developed technology that reuses wheat straw to make an OSB substitute. Pretty cool idea IMO. Supposedly this will be a... An article about a Canadian developed technology that reuses wheat straw to make an OSB substitute. Pretty cool idea IMO. Supposedly this will be a huge help to China who doesn't have an abundant supply of lumber.

For the test board, they had a student worker hand slice a 40 gallon full of this straw stuff. Poor guy, haha.

CBC News - Money - Canadian technology could help China?s housing ]]> The Billiards Room Daox http://ecorenovator.org/forum/billiards-room/747-ossb-oriented-split-straw-board.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/billiards-room/747-ossb-oriented-split-straw-board.html Owl Energy Meter CM119 ??? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/CVRuQEuOb1g/745-owl-energy-meter-cm119.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:30:35 GMT

It's from the UK, but it looks like it's USA compatible.. (It does dollars).

OWL | Wireless Electricity Monitor Designed To Save You Money & The Environment - OWL Wireless Electricity Monitor

It seems to only need one current probe. It snaps around one of the 230vac cables.

My application isn't whole house. I want to monitor only the power used by my new Sanyo heat pump..
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/projec...l-project.html

I would just snap the probe onto one of my heatpump 230 lines in the breaker box..

Would this work?? ]]> Xringer http://ecorenovator.org/forum/appliances-gadgets/745-owl-energy-meter-cm119.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/appliances-gadgets/745-owl-energy-meter-cm119.html Powering a Green Planet (100% renewable energy plan) http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/krWS2KlWYDc/744-powering-green-planet-100-renewable-energy-plan.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:28:50 GMT A nice little interactive presentation on how we could be powered 100% by renewable energy by 2030. I especially like page 5, it ranks the... A nice little interactive presentation on how we could be powered 100% by renewable energy by 2030.

I especially like page 5, it ranks the available renewable power sources. I didn't think that concentrated solar would be so high on the list. Maybe we should look into our own DIY concentrated solar generators...

Powering a Green Planet: Sustainable Energy, Made Interactive: Scientific American ]]> The Billiards Room Daox http://ecorenovator.org/forum/billiards-room/744-powering-green-planet-100-renewable-energy-plan.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/billiards-room/744-powering-green-planet-100-renewable-energy-plan.html Plastic mirror use? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/sjD7_ys6_XQ/743-plastic-mirror-use.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:53:16 GMT I was doing some demolition work recently, which happened to include removal of just over 50 2'X2' plastic mirror tiles from a suspended ceiling.

I was able to take the mirror tiles, and am trying to decide what's going to be the best use for them.

I was thinking that they might best be used for some sort of solar project.

They could be used in a number of ways:
A: Set up outside to reflect more like into house in the winter
B: Use as reflectors to increase efficiency of solar panels (solar water or PV)
C: Build solar ovens
D: Build some sort of solar concentrator
E: Other Use?

Anyone have any other ideas for how to use this material? Some good use for it besides solar?

Let me know ]]> bennelson http://ecorenovator.org/forum/appliances-gadgets/743-plastic-mirror-use.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/appliances-gadgets/743-plastic-mirror-use.html Sealing my Air Ductwork http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/3GndNUaFteE/742-sealing-my-air-ductwork.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:22:44 GMT After looking around in the attic, I noticed that the ductwork was leaking at nearly every joint. I have not done this before, nor did I stay at a... After looking around in the attic, I noticed that the ductwork was leaking at nearly every joint. I have not done this before, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. :D I HAVE watched a crew replace the duckwork in a rental of mine though. I watched very closely thank goodness.

This is how most joints looked before I started.

I cut off the tie wrap holding the flex duct.

Oddly, on this side of the house, each duct was sealed with duct tape. Even after 20 plus years, the duct tape was holding strong.

After removing the tape and straightening the tabs some, I removed the steel adaptor from the duct board.

At least at the beginning the joint probably did not leak as much. Since the tiny bead of silicone was coming off though it leaked now.

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]]> Projects and Improvements GvilleRenovator http://ecorenovator.org/forum/projects-improvements/742-sealing-my-air-ductwork.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/projects-improvements/742-sealing-my-air-ductwork.html Itron Centron Watt-Hour Meter, Read real-time use, yourself http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/TTzTtva5Ln0/741-itron-centron-watt-hour-meter-read-real-time-use-yourself.html Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:13:44 GMT I found this info here: Reading your Itron Centron C1SR Digital Electric Meter - The Watt emulator... I found this info here:
Reading your Itron Centron C1SR Digital Electric Meter - The Watt emulator

Underneath the right-hand LCD digit, there are three little squares.
(To the right of kWh)

"Here is the pattern. First the left goes on, then the middle goes on,
then the right goes on, then the left goes off, then the middle goes off,
then the right goes off. Kind of like a digital wheel being emulated, cute.
Well, that full cycle is 6 watt-hours or to make it simpler,
every time one of those dots changes it is 1 watt-hour.
Now you can do simple tests of turning on something (like a hot tub,
hair drying, drier, tv, light bulb, etc) and count the number of dots
you see or if it is going fast the number of cycles (multiple by 6 the result)
and you have the energy usage of watt-hours of that appliance during a fixed period."

~~~
Anyways, I took out my stopwatch and set it to beep after 60 seconds.
At the beginning of a cycle, I hit the Start button and counted the cycles (or dot changes)
until I hear the beep.

By knowing the number of watt-hours in one minute, I multiplied my count
by 60 to get the watt-hours in one hour. If I counted 24 LCD changes,
24x60=1440Wh, or 1.44 kWh.. In my case, 28.8 cents an hour.. :(

Cheers,
Rich ]]> Conservation Xringer http://ecorenovator.org/forum/conservation/741-itron-centron-watt-hour-meter-read-real-time-use-yourself.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/conservation/741-itron-centron-watt-hour-meter-read-real-time-use-yourself.html DIY: Masonry Stoves (AKA: Mass Stoves) http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/G38YmAg88Y8/740-diy-masonry-stoves-aka-mass-stoves.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:40:35 GMT Dear EcoRenovators, I came across some free plans for building a Masonry Stove (http://www.dnr.mo.gov/pubs/pub781.pdf). If there was ever an... Dear EcoRenovators,

I came across some free plans for building a Masonry Stove. If there was ever an application where thermal mass makes sense, this is it.

Also, Low-tech Magazine (online) has a section on Midieval Oven stoves, with many interesting links... with this link certainly being one of them.

A bit further down the technology ladder is the Cob Stove.

Warm Regards,

-AC_Hacker

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]]> Projects and Improvements AC_Hacker http://ecorenovator.org/forum/projects-improvements/740-diy-masonry-stoves-aka-mass-stoves.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/projects-improvements/740-diy-masonry-stoves-aka-mass-stoves.html Installing a Programmable Thermostat http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/tNYIujglTTo/739-installing-programmable-thermostat.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:52:50 GMT With the winter season fast approaching for many of us, thoughts come to mind of things we can quickly and inexpensively do to save some energy (and... With the winter season fast approaching for many of us, thoughts come to mind of things we can quickly and inexpensively do to save some energy (and cash) this winter. One of those ways is installing a programmable thermostat.A programmable thermostat really is a great thing. Why, you ask? Because, it takes [...]Post from: EcoRenovator.org

Installing a Programmable Thermostat

More... ]]> EcoRenovator Blog Discussion SVOboy http://ecorenovator.org/forum/ecorenovator-blog-discussion/739-installing-programmable-thermostat.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/ecorenovator-blog-discussion/739-installing-programmable-thermostat.html DIY concrete countertops http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/1HhjYBh5e90/738-diy-concrete-countertops.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:15:50 GMT Very nice series of pictures WITH DESCRIPTIONS on how this guy made concrete counter tops. I imagine you could put anything you like in the... Very nice series of pictures WITH DESCRIPTIONS on how this guy made concrete counter tops. I imagine you could put anything you like in the countertops.

Making concrete countertops for our kitchen - a set on Flickr

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]]> Other Improvements Daox http://ecorenovator.org/forum/other-improvements/738-diy-concrete-countertops.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/other-improvements/738-diy-concrete-countertops.html DIY composter info and instructions http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/HE9jBVHf--A/737-diy-composter-info-instructions.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:39:07 GMT I think it would be a good idea to compile a list of DIY composting links and ideas here in one thread. That way, when someone is thinking about... I think it would be a good idea to compile a list of DIY composting links and ideas here in one thread. That way, when someone is thinking about doing it they have a relatively good reference.

I'll start with this one I just found today. It tumbles a barrel end over end which is a bit different form normal.

Spin the Barrel - Making a Rotating Barrel Composter | Greenopolis

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]]> Lawn and Garden Daox http://ecorenovator.org/forum/lawn-garden/737-diy-composter-info-instructions.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/lawn-garden/737-diy-composter-info-instructions.html Attracting beneficial insects http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/ViAZdjOf7NI/736-attracting-beneficial-insects.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:30:10 GMT Nice little article outlining useful insects vs bad insects. It also tells what kind of plants attract the good ones. Attracting Beneficial... Nice little article outlining useful insects vs bad insects. It also tells what kind of plants attract the good ones.

Attracting Beneficial Insects to the Garden: Control Pests in the Vegetable Garden with Natural Predators | Suite101.com ]]> Lawn and Garden Daox http://ecorenovator.org/forum/lawn-garden/736-attracting-beneficial-insects.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/lawn-garden/736-attracting-beneficial-insects.html Secret Knock Detecting Door Lock! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/fdepMGGS2kk/735-secret-knock-detecting-door-lock.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:06:35 GMT lol, how cool is this. Its a door lock a guy made that detects a secret knock to unlock the door. :thumbup: Made by Steve Hoefer... lol, how cool is this. Its a door lock a guy made that detects a secret knock to unlock the door. :thumbup:

Made by Steve Hoefer

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]]> The Billiards Room Daox http://ecorenovator.org/forum/billiards-room/735-secret-knock-detecting-door-lock.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/billiards-room/735-secret-knock-detecting-door-lock.html