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.
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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.
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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.
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We have had such an HUGE response to our Energy Monitoring service I want go over some of the Main Points.
1. The Monitor is completely wireless.
2. We install in under 30 Minutes.
3. Can Monitor for a week but recomend 30 days to get a better readout.
4. Read moment to moment energy use and cost.
5. Measure how much energy and$’s are contributed by specific appliances.
6. Will show you how to reduce your energy bills by on average 6 to 18 %
7. This is a free service.
8. Will put money in your pocket.
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We have a new GREEN instrument here at BENEDICT BUILDERS!! With our new PowerCost wireless home-energy monitor we can provide you with a 30 – day energy breakdown based on current consumption, allowing for instant feedback on the potential savings and impact of actions. We can also determine the operating costs of each appliance and the impacts of how and when it is used. Don’t wait, be one of the first to get a FREE energy breakdown and start saving MONEY on your energy bills.
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