Aloha all, When Isaw this post about GreenSwitch I was ready to go for it, but apparently it requires a thermostat appliance, which we don't have. I went to the site but couldn't find out if you can install it without it. Anybody know more about this? Betsy At 12:06 PM 5/29/2009, you wrote:
> From advance HVAC systems to kitchen appliances ><<http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/article.asp?article_id=60813>http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/article.asp?article_id=60813> >http://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/mag-glass_10x10.gif, the drive to >save energy in our homes is giving rise to all manner of new household >products with a focus on conservation. With engineers hard at work to >deliver the greenest products available, homeowners are seeing more and more >opportunity to reduce utility costs and protect our natural energy >resources. Here's a glance at a few new items to help tighten the belt. > >High-Efficiency Windows > >Windows are more than meet the eye. Not just glass and a frame, modern >energy-efficient windows include spacer systems, glass and gas fillings that >are vital in the thermal efficiency of a window. And, the framing material >also plays a role in how energy efficient a window is once it is installed >in the home. Premium vinyl is an excellent insulator with thermal properties >far superior to aluminum, steel and stainless steel. Multi-chambered frame >construction and fusion-welded corners of vinyl windows provide homeowners >with superior energy-efficiency capabilities. This keeps the air from >infiltrating into the home through the window. > >Spacer systems inside the window also play a major role. For example, most >Simonton windows and doors feature unique spacer systems as part of an >insulating glass unit built into the construction of the window frame ><<http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/article.asp?article_id=60813>http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/article.asp?article_id=60813> >http://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/mag-glass_10x10.gif. Made of >materials that help prevent air infiltration, spacer systems are placed >between the glass panes and further reduce temperature transfer. The unique >U-channel design of Simonton's Intercept spacer system flexes and contracts, >reducing seal failure in the insulating glass unit. Simonton's Super Spacer >system utilizes solid silicone foam to provide superior thermal efficiency. > >One of two kinds of glass are typically used. Low E (Emissivity) Glass has a >transparent metallic oxide coating applied onto a glass surface. The coating >allows short-wave energy to pass through but reflects long-wave infrared >energy, which improves the U-value. Laminated Glass is specially designed >glass where two panes of glass are bonded to a durable interlayer, providing >increased safety, UV protection and noise reduction. If the window or door >gets broken, the laminated glass will adhere to the plastic >interlayer-preventing glass fallout in the home. This glass can be found in >the Simonton's StormBreaker Plus product line. > >Additionally, the space inside an insulating glass unit-between the glass >panes-may be filled with Argon gas, an odorless, colorless, non-toxic gas >that is six times denser than air. This acts as an added barrier to prevent >harmful UV rays from entering the home. Gases in a window work to help keep >the interior of the home more comfortable by preventing heated and cooled >air from escaping the home. Combined, this leads to reduced energy bills for >homeowners. Visit www.simonton.com. > >Advanced Comfort Control > >ICM Controls now offers the CC750 Comfort Control Center, an advanced motor >speed control that promotes effective humidity control for enhanced comfort >and improved indoor air quality-all with the added benefit of reduced energy >costs. When connected to your existing single-phase air conditioner or >heat-pump system, the CC750 offers advanced air-moisture removal and >control, resulting in drier, more comfortable conditions, even during long >spells of humidity. Its default settings can also be easily customized using >its menu-driven programming screens to meet specific conditions unique to >each home. > >By creating drier conditions, the user can raise the set point temperature >on the thermostat without sacrificing comfort. According to the U.S. >Department of Energy, for every two degrees that you raise your thermostat >set point in the summer, you can save 5 to 7 percent on your summer cooling >bill. Additionally, by slowing down the fan motor speed by as much as 75 >percent, the CC750 dramatically reduces energy consumption that can lead to >even greater energy savings. > >The CC750 also offers certain health benefits. Due to reduced blower speeds, >the CC750 enables air to remain in contact with installed air-filtration >devices, helping these devices more effectively clean the air being >breathed, especially beneficial for individuals suffering from allergies and >asthma. With reduced humidity levels, the CC750 also aids in the defense >against mold and fungus growth, a health hazard that can also lead to >structural damage. For further information, call 1-800-365-5525 or visit >www.icmcontrols.com. > >Home Heating with Power Generation > >One prime example of today's new energy-efficient appliances is the Freewatt >Home Heating System ><<http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/article.asp?article_id=60813>http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/article.asp?article_id=60813> >http://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/mag-glass_10x10.gif, the first >appliance that heats the home and generates electricity. By relying less on >electricity from power plants, a Freewatt system can lower environmental >impact and reduce the high costs of heating the home during winter. > >"Freewatt is designed to operate whenever the home has a need for heat," >says Michael Paparone, ECR president and CEO. "Using a Honda generator, >Freewatt generates 1.2 kilowatts of electric power and nearly all the heat >created by the generator is then recycled to heat the home. This electricity >can be used to power the home or can be sold back to the 'grid.' > >"Unlike a traditional home heating system, Freewatt can produce nearly >5,000 kilowatts of electricity each year, which reduces your carbon >footprint by up to 6,000 pounds," says Paparone. "For example, using >Freewatt for one year is the equivalent to not driving your car for six >months." For more information, visit www.freewatt.com. > >First Incandescent-Shaped CFL Bulb > >The new GE Energy Smart compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb features the GE >Spiral CFL inside the glass bulb. With this new CFL-an exclusive design >achievement that GE has protected with more than a dozen U.S. patent >applications-the electronics fit in the neck of the bulb. The result is a >profile that's virtually identical in appearance, size and fit to a >traditional incandescent bulb, presenting an energy-efficient alternative to >the sometimes unpopular spiral shape. > >"These fit in more lamps and fixtures than standard GE Spiral CFLs with the >plastic base," says Kathy Sterio, general manager of consumer marketing, GE >Consumer & Industrial. "Some people just want an incandescent bulb profile >so they can easily use it with clip-on lampshades or smaller table lamps. >Other people may see it as more aesthetically pleasing than GE Spiral CFLs >in lamps or fixtures where the bulb is visible. > >It provides a more finished or tailored look that appeals to a lot of >consumers." > >This new 15-watt incandescent-shaped CFL is the first in GE's new lineup. >Between April and June 2009, GE plans to introduce 9-watt and 20-watt >incandescent-shaped covered GE Energy Smart CFLs, 40-watt and 75-watt >equivalents, respectively. Each will offer an 8,000-hour rated life and >5-year guarantee based on four hours of daily use. The 20-watt CFL will have >a slightly taller profile that mirrors a standard incandescent 3-way bulb. A >100-watt equivalent, incandescent-shaped covered GE Energy Smart CFL and >other inventive products for household applications could be introduced as >early as 2010. Visit www.geappliances.com. > >Stop Energy Loss to "Phantom Power" > >GreenSwitch is a product designed to eliminate "phantom power," which pulls >extra energy into your home when you don't need it. This is power used by >products such as monitors, printers, telephones, coffee makers, microwaves, >stereos, space heaters, televisions, DVD players, battery chargers and much >more. Most of these products continue to use power, even when they are >turned off or not being used. This can add up to hundreds of dollars per >year in a home. GreenSwitch is designed to eliminate this phantom power and >prevent lights from being left on, as well as provide proper control of heat >and air conditioning with just one switch. You can leave your home and have >all the unnecessary power turned off, which can save 20 to 35 percent for >the average home, according to the manufacturer. > >The entire system is wireless and will easily retrofit into any existing >home. Because it's a wireless system, no rewiring is required so it can >usually be installed in about an hour. With the convenient flick of one >switch, the GreenSwitch Master Switch sends a protected radio frequency to >all GreenSwitch components, which are replacement switches and outlets that >receive the frequency. This signal cuts power to designated lights and >outlets and sets climate control to economy mode. Turn the switch back "on" >to return the system to fully operational. The recommended GreenSwitch >starter kit includes a master switch, a programmable "wand," a programmable >thermostat, four light switches and four control outlets. Find out more at >www.greenswitchteam.com ><<http://www.greenswitchteam.com/>http://www.greenswitchteam.com/> . > >Tankless Water Heater Supplies Three Bathrooms > >The new RTG-66DV direct-vent, gas-fired tankless water heater from Rheem is >powerful enough to meet the hot water needs of a two- or three-bathroom >home, yet takes up no more space than a standard household medicine cabinet. >Measuring a modest 25-1/2 inches high, 13-1/2 inches wide and 10 inches >deep, the new unit saves even more space and reduces installation time and >expense through its use of concentric venting. Instead of separate Category >III stainless steel vent runs for the fresh-air intake and exhaust lines, >the RTG-66DV expels the byproducts of its combustion process through a >3-inch exhaust pipe that sits inside the 5-inch intake run, thus eliminating >the second line. With inputs ranging from 11,000 BTU/hour to 180,000 >BTU/hour, the unit delivers 120-degree F water at a rate of 6.6 gallons per >minute (GPM) at a 45-degree F rise in temperature from input to output. At a >35-degree rise, the flow rate increases to 8.4 GPM. The new RTG-66DV carries >a longer warranty than previous models: 12 years on the heat exchanger and 5 >years on parts-up from 10 and 3, respectively. For more information on water >heaters, visit www.rheem.com. > >Super Saver Refrigerator > >With 80 percent of consumers believing it is important to save energy and, >in turn, money, at home, Whirlpool launches a refrigerator that does not >sacrifice function for efficiency, exceeding federal efficiency standards by >more than 30 percent. The new Resource Saver refrigerator is the most energy >efficient side-by-side refrigerator ever. This refrigerator requires no more >power than a 60-watt light bulb. > >In addition to energy savings, the Resource Saver refrigerator offers >several convenient features such as the In-Door-Ice Plus system, which >places the ice dispenser and collection bin in the freezer door, giving easy >access to ice and freeing up valuable freezer space-enough to store up to >eight frozen pizzas. > >To help stretch the dollar even further and better preserve food, the >Resource Saver refrigerator is equipped with 6th Sense technology. This >technology automatically adjusts cooling to bring existing food to the >desired temperature in half the time. Additionally, it helps the >refrigerator quickly return to normal operating temperatures. A Fast Cool >button, when selected, immediately drops the refrigerator and/or freezer >temperatures to accommodate new food additions, such as hot leftovers. The >technology does not affect the efficiency of the refrigerator. Learn more at >www.whirlpool.com <<http://www.whirlpool.com/>http://www.whirlpool.com/> . > >Pinpoint Areas of Heat Loss > >Homeowners have a new, inexpensive yet highly effective weapon in the war >against energy costs. The new Heat Seeker (Model IRT206) from General Tools >& Instruments Co. is a handheld, easy-to-use tool that can detect and help >stop energy loss around doors and windows, ovens and microwaves, insulation, >ductwork and other areas throughout the home. This precision tool will also >accurately sense temperature differentials in electrical fixtures to help >locate and correct such hazards as overloaded circuit breakers or wiring. >The Heat Seeker is a gun style, remote sensing, infra-red thermometer that >enables users to obtain accurate temperature readings instantaneously, >without having to physically contact the object. It performs the same tasks >as heat-sensing tools designed for industry that cost hundreds of dollars, >but the Heat Seeker is affordably priced to appeal to typical homeowners >($65.95). Its rugged, ergonomic design features a backlit LCD display with >built-in laser sighting. Just aim the laser pointer at a specific location >for an instant temperature reading. For more information, visit >www.generaltools.com or call 1-800-697-8665. > >Dedicated Dual-Fuel Heat Pump > >Lennox now offers a dedicated dual fuel heat pump designed to alternate >seamlessly between electricity and gas to ensure efficient operation. The >XPG15 heat pump functions as a heating and cooling system in one, reducing >gas furnace fuel consumption. Enjoy electric cooling in the summer. Then, on >cold days the gas furnace becomes the primary heat source, making use of the >most efficient energy source possible. This system offers the best use of >both energy sources. Defrost control enhances comfort, virtually eliminating >the "cold blow" that can sometimes occur with dual-fuel heating. Plus, the >patented Silent Comfort technology provides smooth, quiet cooling and >heating. Visit www.Lennox.com or call 1-800-9-LENNOX. > >Solar Water Heater with Gas Backup > >The new Phoenix Solar Water Heater from Heat Transfer is the first solar >water heater to combine domestic hot-water storage with a 97-percent >efficient, gas-fired backup-all in one unit. What also makes the >sealed-combustion, direct-vent Phoenix Solar exceptional is its ability to >deliver both space heating and domestic hot water in a single, energy-saving >package. Side tappings in the jacket permit auxiliary connections to a >hydro-air system for space heating. Here, a pump circulates the heated water >from the Phoenix Solar to a heat exchanger in the ductwork to provide heat >for the living space. The unit can also power hydronic radiant floor heating >and snow-melting systems. > >"The dual capability of the Phoenix should be a major attraction to home >and building owners and managers looking to cut energy consumption," says >Heat Transfer CEO, Dave Davis. "It not only transfers all the energy the sun >provides, but it also includes an ultra-high-efficiency backup when the >sun's not enough." The Phoenix Solar incorporates a dedicated solar heat >exchanger at the base of the unit, for transferring heat from solar panels >to the water in its 80- or 119-gallon storage tank. Visit Heat Transfer at >www.htproducts.com ><<http://www.htproducts.com/>http://www.htproducts.com/> or call >1-800-323-9651. > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
