The EPA’s eagerly anticipated Watersense label for showerheads was finalized March 4, and manufacturers are now submitting products for testing. Like Watersense certifications for lav faucets and

toilets, qualified showerheads must meet performance specifications as well as flow rates. Units receiving the label will have a flow rate of 2.0 gpm or less – 20% lower than the current federal standard

of 2.5 gpm- while also meeting performance- attribute requirements for flow rate across a range of pressures, spray force, and spray coverage. The specifications apply to showerheads and handheld

showers, but not to bodysprays. Showerheads and heandhelds must be tested by an EPA licensed  certifying body to qualify for Watersense. A number of manufacturers are already offering showerheads

that combine lower flows with improved performance, which means buyers won’t have to wait long to purchase certified fixtures. The EPA says it expects labeled products to hit shelves as early as May.

Here’s a simple concept that makes perfect sense. Capture the wasted heat from water used in a shower or dishwasher and put it back to work. The Power-Pipe is a simple heat transfer device that

uses copper as a thermal bridge. As hot graywater ( see my blog on graywater) flows vertically down the central copper pipe9 typically from a shower) copper tubes attaced to the pipe carry cold

water up, capturing some of the heat. That pre-heated water, the company says, should then be diverted to the home water heating system, presumably via insulated pipes. The company claims

that up to 40% of a home’s water heating costs can be recouped with this gadget.  Cool but Hot….    www.renewability.com 

Killing Vampires

Put an end to power predators with a new energy-saving device.

All plug-in appliances, devices, and gadgets that go into standby mode when not in active use can be considered vampire electronics. Even when such items are turned off, they’re actually still sucking power from wall outlets. Recent studies have shown that up to 40% of power drawn by vampire electronics is wasted in standby mode.

Which are the most obvious culprits? The devices with digital displays (think clocks and timers) and LED indicator lights that burn brightly day in and day out. But there are a host of other power-predators, including TVs, cell phone chargers, and even electric toothbrushes, which give no tell-tale signs.

Cable Organizer has developed a Smart Strip you can offer your home buyers to help solve this problem. They can simply plug peripherals and other electronics into it, and the unit can differentiate between primary devices like computers and HDTVs, and secondary devices like printers, scanners, DVD players, and video game systems.

Why is it important to differentiate? Because when a smart power strip senses that a primary device has been turned off, it automatically cuts power to all of the vampirical accessory electronics that are connected to it. After all, there’s no reason why you should let your printer and speakers feed voraciously off the power grid if your PC is turned off.

The $ 8,000. first time home buyer tax credit has been extended. We have not gotten all the details but it looks like it will last until March. We will keep you posted.

Unlike many green building products, the term “energy effcient” may not be the No. 1 selling point for induction cooktoops. While these appliances are indeed efficient, it’s their superior cooking capabilities that likely will be what seals the deal with most home buyers. boasting energy efficiencies higher than gas and electric along with precise temperature control and myriad safety features. The challenge, however, is a familiar one: Though popular in Europe for some time, induction technology is still largely foreign to many Americans. HOW THEY WORK.  Traditional electric or gas cooktops transfer heat from the burner to the pot and then to the food. With induction, magnetic coils under-neath the smooth ceramic surface generate an electromagnetic frequency. This frequency stimulates molecules in ferrous-metal pots and pans ( such as cast iron ) that generate the heat that cooks the food. The process transforms the pot- rather than the burner – into the heating source, so less heat is lost in transfer. As a result, induction cook tops are roughly 87 % to 90 % efficient, compared to about 50 %  for gas and around 60 % for electric. Whats more, in most units, the magnetic coils under the surface only react to the size of the pot on top of it. Just one more example of how you can make your home more Green and put more Green in your pocket.