Don't tell Ed Begley Jr. but I didn't buy the A. O. Smith Vertex 100 hot water heater to be green. I didn't even pick it to save money! Truthfully, we decided to buy this high-tech, 96% efficient water heater so we would have plenty of hot water. But of course the energy savings are nice, too! The Sad Truth About Water Heaters Water heaters are giant tea kettles. Nearly … [Read more...] about A High-Tech Water Heater? Yep! Introducing the A. O. Smith Vertex
Energy efficiency
How I Eliminated Over 2 kW of Lighting at Home
The average home is incredibly inefficient, and nowhere is this more obvious than the ubiquitous electric lightbulb. Compact fluorescent (CFL) and LED lights are an order of magnitude more efficient at converting electricity to lumens rather than heat, but making the switch is not simple. The limitations, pricing, and sheer variety of lighting options are daunting. 1 kW No One … [Read more...] about How I Eliminated Over 2 kW of Lighting at Home
My 2012 Project: Improving Energy Efficiency
I am in the process of upgrading my own home to make it more energy efficient. I do this mainly as an exercise of faith and science, since my electric and gas bills are not currently all that expensive. But I just can't countenance burning 10 times more electricity than I need to, even if I can afford it. It's also an exercise in geekiness, since today's lighting alternatives … [Read more...] about My 2012 Project: Improving Energy Efficiency