Posted by Carol Hart on Mon, Mar 08, 2010 @ 02:20 PM
2010 is looking to be a big year for energy monitoring devices. The much-touted smart grid is slowly moving into place and will enable electric utilities to make better decisions about power availablity and usage, but the consumer has been pretty much left in the dark. That's about to change.
A number of products are poised to change the way we consume energy in the home by giving us real time information about our energy usage. Like counting calories or monitoring real-time gas mileage, the idea is that knowing where you are consuming energy is the first step in reducing energy consumption. One such device, The Energy Detective (available now, although backordered) provides immediate feedback about total number of kilowatts being used, and total electrical costs. It ties into your breaker board and transmits information to a receiver panel (see the demo video here). Models are available directly to the consumer from around $200 dollars, but should be installed by a licensed electrician.
Another device, not yet available to the public, promises even more detailed information and control options. The EnergyHub was named by Time magazine as Invention of the Year in 2009 because of its potential to save billions in energy dollars. All appliances in your home are monitored for energy use, and the control panel (about the size of your electric thermostat) enables you to adjust your usage accordingly. The reason EnergyHub is on my "can't wait" list? It's 3 profiles: Home, Away, and Goodnight. At the touch of a button, you can leave the house, knowing that your hot water heater and the heat have been turned down, the lights are off, and you are maximized for energy savings. (Check out the demo here. ) No word yet on cost but you can bet I'll be watching this one closely.
Posted by Carol Hart on Wed, Jan 06, 2010 @ 12:56 PM
Do you ever wonder why February has only 28 days, while other months have 30 or 31? The official historical reason dates back to Ancient Rome, the agricultural calendar, and a Roman king who needed a short month to make everything add up correctly. I, however, have a different theory—one based on no facts whatsoever. February is short because if it was even one instant longer we would all go mad waiting for spring.
In fact, according to some admittedly murky research, the saddest day of the year falls in late January and goes by the name of Blue Monday. Why so blue? Christmas has come and gone, and any residual warm fuzzy feelings have withered. Even the die-hards among us have given up on New Year’s Resolutions and reverted to sloth and gluttony. By the end of January, our credit card statements have arrived and we have to figure out how to pay the piper. The shortest day of the year may be past, but it’s still cold and dark with a long way to go until spring.
The travel company that promoted this study suggests that making a plan and taking action (presumably by scheduling a vacation) can help to beat those seasonal blue feelings. Britain’s Mental Health Foundation has a website, www.beatbluemonday.org.uk which offers 10 additional ways to beat those blues, including Keep Active, Keep in Touch, Eat Well, & Care for Others.
Some companies promote products that compensate for the seasonal lack of light that can affect our mood. Lighting companies like Philips create full spectrum lighting that mimics the benefits of sunshine, and claim to help restore your mood and increase your energy levels. Does it work? Anecdotal evidence says yes, and clinical studies are beginning to agree.
Although I may feel like hiding under the covers until spring, I just may take some of this advice to heart. Maybe I can keep in touch and care for others (and eat well!) by throwing a mid-winter party. I’ll turn those full spectrum lights on high, throw on the dance music, and pretend I’m someplace warm and bright.
And if you decide to make a plan and take action this winter by doing some home renovation or repairs, don’t forget to include your friends at The Wiring Whiz!