Do you think Energy Star appliances are too expensive? Well, think again.
Energy Star estimates that the average cost of a standard refridgerator is
$1070 and an Energy Star fridge is $1100 … just $30 more.
Dishwashers have no differences at all. You will pay approximately $540.
You can always find dishwashers on sale and may be able to get one cheaper.
You will realise a savings on either appliance from 1 to 4 years, so going
green with Energy Star is a no brainer.
One myth that has lingered for years in regard to low-flow fixtures and
low-consumption toilets is that they actually do not use less water, since
you have to spend more time in the shower or flush more. Thankfully, time
and water usage figures have proven this myth to be false.
What’s more, most people now agree that low-flow fixtures don’t perform any
less efficiently than their higher-flow counterparts. Technology in toilet
and fixture design has ensured comparable (or better) performance in
models that use significantly less water.
Most people think of cedar or pressure-treated lumber for building outdoor
projects, but composites are a greener choice. Made from recycled wood
and plastic fibers, composites can be machined, fastened, and painted just
like lumber. Though they were originally sold as deck boards, composites
are now being made for other purposes, such as railings, stair components
and fences.
And one more thing about those experimental OLEDs made by layering glass
or plastic sheets with organic compounds that luminesce when electrified.
* OLEDs 102 lumens of light per watt
* Incandescents 13 lumens of light per watt
* Flourescent tubes 50 – 90 lumens of light per watt
* CFLs 13 – 50 lumens of light per watt
The U.S. Department of Energy has set a goal for OLED systems, which
are also being developed by General Electric, to produce 150 lumens
per watt and be available by 2015.
I vote that we have them by June, 2009. What is your vote?
