5 Hot Water Heater Options for Green Home Improvement

If you’re remodeling your home, thinking about the water heater might seem rather dull. However, this is one place where a home renovation can save you money. Here are some descriptions of energy efficient water heaters.

Gas Water Heaters: If you want to go with a traditional gas water heater, choose one that is Energy Star certified, guaranteeing the most efficient technology. They are slightly more expensive than less efficient models, but it is estimated you gain back this money in fewer than three years.

Tankless Water Heater

Tankless Water Heater: Conventional water heaters use energy 24/7 to keep your water hot, even when you’re not using it. Tankless or demand water heaters heat the water as it flows through the pipes, so it only heats what you need. This creates a substantial savings on energy costs. Demand water heaters provide hot water continuously, so you don’t have to worry about it running out. They are also quite a bit smaller than conventional tank water heaters and some can be installed outside, saving space indoors. They make an ideal home improvement project because they have a life expectancy of 20 years, far more than conventional heaters.

Heat Pump Water Heater

Heat Pump Water Heaters: A new technology, electric heat pump water heaters could save the typical family quite a bit each year when compared to a standard electric heater. They work similarly to heat pumps that are used for heating and air conditioning purposes and combine with your HVAC system. They work by drawing in warm outside air to heat the water, so they are only effective in warm climates. Homeowners can recoup the higher initial investment over time. (Most estimates are around three years.)

Gas Condensing Water Heaters: This is an even newer technology, only introduced in 2010. Using more efficient heat exchangers to capture heat from the fuel source, gas condensing water heaters can shave 30 percent off your energy bills and reduce your carbon dioxide emissions. Greater efficiency allows them to provide a continuous stream of hot water, so you don’t have to worry if you’re the last one to shower!

Solar Water Heater

Solar Water Heaters: Solar water heaters can cut your water heating bill and your carbon dioxide emissions by 50 percent compared to an electric hot water heater. This is the equivalent of not driving your car four months a year; a solar water heater’s average lifespan is 20 years, much longer than that of a traditional gas or electric water heater. Although solar water heaters take 5-10 years to pay for themselves, you can offset this cost with a federal tax credit. Enterprising do-it-yourselfers can save thousands by building their own systems.

Which water heater are you considering for your next home improvement project?

 

Joaquin Erazo, Jr. is the senior vice president of marketing and public relations at Case Design/Remodeling, Inc. Find a home remodeling company near you or read our home remodeling tips blog.

 

 

 

 

Reinventing the wheel, 'Tron'-style

It looks cool, and it converts any bicycle into an electric bike. Oh, and it takes 5 minutes to install.

 

Jim Motavalli

May 20, 2015

The GeoOrbital wheel in motion. That's not an optical illusion — the wheel is motionless as the tire spins. (Photo: GeoOrbital)

 

BOSTON—The first thing I noticed in Harvard Square this week was how many bicyclists there are, and the second thing was the GeoOrbital electric bike. It’s not often that a new invention stops you cold, but c’mon, these Cambridge guys have reinvented the wheel. Here's how GeoOrbital describes it:

Imagine a wheel that has a motor and a battery — a wheel that replaces your bike’s front wheel and makes your bike electric — a wheel that gets you up hills, around the park and to work without sweating. It’s the future and the early adopter price is $450.

I have two electric bikes, and they’re great fun. Beyond that, they’re a credible commuting option, especially if your journey involves hills (or you’re not as young as you used to be).

 

You definitely do a double take at GeoOrbital’s technology, because the wheel doesn’t actually turn — that’s the job of the tire, which rotates via three center-mounted hubs. A non-spinning wheel frees up a lot of space to mount the motor and battery, as well as some inevitable accessories — a cellphone charger, headlights, a speaker.

 

Michael Burtov with his evolving (and revolving) creation. (Photo: GeoOrbital)

 

Early versions weighed 35 pounds, but Dakota Decker, the company’s chief technology officer (and a former SpaceX guy) thinks that can be reduced to 20 or 25 pounds. Weight is the enemy in electric bikes, which can be heavy if pedaled without electric assist.

 

Michael Burtov, the non-engineer who co-founded GeoOrbital, said he got the idea from the motorcycles in the movie "Tron." But those fictional creations don’t make creative use of the empty inner wheel space. Burtov built a crude prototype, then brought some real designers on board. The company is still in its early stages — just three test examples have been built — but they're already taking pre-orders. After a few hundred pre-production wheels are sold, the first mass-market versions will be on the market in six months, Burtov said.

 

The inspiration: The motorcycle in the film "Tron." (Photo: Disney)

 

The beauty of the design is that the front-mounted wheel can be quickly mounted to any bike, and just as quickly removed and the pedaling bike restored. The cruising range, with a 350-watt electric motor and 10 amp-hour lithium-ion battery, is about 20 miles, though that extends to 50 miles with pedal assist (and optional extra battery packs will be available). The weight is on the front wheel, but Burtov denies that makes the bike front-heavy. "The weight doesn't spin," he said. "It's more like a saddlebag; it makes the bike more balanced."

 

GeoOrbital claims it takes only five minutes to install its wheel. The targeted bikes are “700c hybrid and 29er mountain bicycles found in specialty and big box stores.” Future versions will be aimed at 26-inch bikes, then other sizes. Burtov told me, "Our market is people who'd like to commute by bike, but don't want to sweat getting to work. It's all the people who would bike if it were easier and more practical." Is he a big biker? "I wasn't healthy enough to bike," he said. "I'm an avid biker now."

 

GeoOrbital deserves a lot of credit, though, for imagining not only that its wheel design could house a fully operational electric bicycle system, but that it could offer quick changes from conventional to electric.

For full article and a video of the GeoOrbital, go to: http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/transportation/blogs/reinventing-the-wheel-tron-style#ixzz3alyNrObS

 

 

 

Here's What Happened When A Neighborhood Decided To Ban Cars For A Month

 

Everyone loved it, obviously. And the world didn't fall apart.

By Adele Peters  May 11, 2015

[All Photos: The Urban Idea]

 

Two years ago, an average neighborhood in the South Korean city of Suwon embarked on a radical experiment: For one month, the neighborhood suddenly got rid of every car.

Called the Ecomobility Festival, it was created as a way to help the city move much more quickly to a low-carbon future by helping citizens get a visceral sense of how that future could look.

 

 

"Usually in planning you do a computer simulation—an artificial picture of the future, and maybe a PowerPoint presentation," says Konrad Otto-Zimmermann, creative director at The Urban Idea, who helped mastermind the festival. "We're doing it in a different way: in a real city, with real people, in real time. It's like a piece of theater where the neighborhood is a stage."

When planning began, the neighborhood was filled with cars, and people typically drove everywhere, even pulling up on sidewalks to park in front of shops while they ran errands. "Most of the people could not envision how their neighborhood would be car-free," Otto-Zimmerman says. "They simply said it couldn't work."

 

 

The planning process took nearly two years and countless meetings to get support from skeptics. Finally, in September of 2013, 1,500 cars were moved out of the neighborhood to parking lots elsewhere in the city. The city handed out 400 temporary bikes and electric scooters to neighbors, and set up a bike school to teach the many residents who didn't know how to ride. Mail was delivered by electric vehicles. Shuttle buses ran every 15 minutes to take people to their cars.

The neighborhood transformed. Cafes and restaurants added new sidewalk seating, and the streets filled with people. It often looked a lot like car-free streets look during "Sunday Streets" events in other places, but the length of the experiment helped show how people could actually live without cars in everyday life.

"They live it for a month so their daily routines have to adapt," says Otto-Zimmerman. "If you only have a car-free weekend, many cities do that, this is not exciting anymore. If it's only a week, people can still reschedule their way to the dentist or whatever they have that week to work around it. It has to be a month in order to hit people's daily agenda, so they really experience ecomobility in their daily life."

 

 

Though the planners originally considered the idea of switching everything back to normal after the month-long experiment—and then letting citizens push for lasting changes—the city's mayor decided to add some permanent improvements before the festival, like widening sidewalks on major streets and adding new pocket parks.

"The mayor felt that, if after all this effort, and people changing their lives for a month, there would be nothing remaining, people would think the city doesn't take it seriously," Otto-Zimmerman says. "He felt that in order to be credible, he wanted people to see it was the start of a real improvement."

After the festival ended, the city also gathered residents for a huge meeting to ask for ideas for more permanent changes. The biggest result: The speed limit was cut nearly in half, to about 18 miles per hour. That meant that commuters no longer wanted to use the neighborhood as a shortcut, and traffic started to disappear. Neighbors also decided to eliminate side parking on some major streets—and parking on sidewalks—which helped encourage people to start walking and biking to run errands. Every month, the community also hosts a car-free day.

This fall, Otto-Zimmerman will repeat the experiment in Johannesburg, South Africa, and another city will follow. "It takes an open-minded mayor who likes innovation and provocation, and has a greener vision of a city," he says. "And someone who has enough influence and supporters to go through the exercise, because it's in principle controversial."

It's also expensive: The project in Suwon cost over $10 million dollars to produce, though much of that budget went to renovating streets that were already in need of repair. Still, it's not necessarily a simple experiment to produce.

The South Korean experiment was documented in a new book called Neighborhood in Motion: One Month, One Neighborhood, No Cars.

 

http://m.fastcompany.com/3045836/heres-what-happened-when-a-neighborhood-decided-to-ban-cars-for-a-month?utm_source=facebook

 

 

 

An All Electric Harley Sportsbike and 0 to 60 in 4 Seconds!

Harley-Davidson's new electric motorcycle can hit 60 mph from a standing start in 4 seconds.

The company plans to unveil the LiveWire model Monday in New York.

 

 

Harley-Davidson's New Bike Hums, Instead Of Roaring

 

by Bill Chappell

June 19, 2014

 

Don't expect to hear the roar of a gas engine when you see the new motorcycle from Harley-Davidson. That's because it's powered by batteries. The Wisconsin-based company unveiled its new LiveWire bike today, saying it's "time to shape the next generation" of riders.

Harley-Davidson says it's sending the new bike on a tour of its dealerships to let fans of motorcycles often called "hogs" get to know a bike that's notably quiet and has zero emissions. The company will officially unveil the motorcycle to the public in New York Monday.

The LiveWire reportedly has a range of more than 50 miles and can speed from 0-60 mph in 4 seconds. It also has a push-button ignition, lithium-ion batteries, and direct drive.

Motorcycle critic Susan Carpenter of the Orange County Register calls it "one of the biggest game changers in motorcycling history," noting Harley's role as America's biggest motorcycle company (accounting for 44 percent of sales of road bikes last year).

"Electric motorcycles have been on the market since 2008," Carpenter notes, "but they are made by niche manufacturers who account for less than one percent of overall sales."

A video promoting the new motorcycle appeared on the Harley Facebook page today, sparking a lively debate in the comments section.

 

Here's the top-rated response, from a man named Ryan:

"It is funny to see the fear in change. Harley is not posting this saying all models will disappear when this comes out. They are just saying look what they have developed and are giving an alternative.
"Buy a model you would ride but don't slam a company for innovation and a small change."

But another fan, named Mike, didn't agree, writing "Boo" with a stream of o's, before summarizing the views of others: "We don't want electric bikes."

 

The motorcycle isn't yet for sale; Harley hasn't yet announced a release date or an expected retail price.

Here's how Susan Carpenter summarizes her test ride of the LiveWire: "In short, it rides nothing like a traditional Harley. It accelerates like a hot rod and corners like a sport bike."

 

 

 

 

 

Tip of the Day: Check your tire pressure

 

You can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3% by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflation increases tire wear, reduces your fuel economy, and leads to higher carbon pollution emissions. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.

Check your tire pressure regularly. If you don’t know the correct tire pressure for your vehicle, you can find it listed on the door to your vehicle’s glove compartment, or on the driver's-side door pillar. Do not use the maximum pressure printed on the tire's sidewall. When it’s time for new tires, consider purchasing tires with "low rolling resistance," an energy-saving feature.

Learn more tips to improve your fuel economy: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/driveHabits.jsp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May is National Bike Month

Design by Johnny Hsu

 

National Bike Month

May is National Bike Month, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to giving biking a try.

Whether you bike to work or school; ride to save money or time; pump those pedals to preserve your health or the environment; or simply to explore your community, National Bike Month is an opportunity to celebrate the unique power of the bicycle and the many reasons we ride.

As a national sponsor, the League provides resources to help you plan an event in your area, and each year the number and diversity of Bike Month celebrations continues to grow, accelerating the momentum around bicycling nationwide.

And don’t forget: May is the start of the National Bike Challenge; learn more here.

 

Promotional materials for National Bike Month are now available to use! Click here.

 

http://bikeleague.org/bikemonth

 

 

 

 

Today's Tip: Give your car a break

Using public transportation, carpooling, biking or walking can save energy and reduce carbon pollution on your way to and from work. Leaving your car at home just two days a week can reduce carbon pollution by an average of two tons per year.

Do you hate getting stuck in traffic jams? It may seem bold, but consider telecommuting (working from home via phone or the Internet), which can reduce the stress of commuting, reduce pollution, and save money. Even small life changes, like combining your errands and activities into one trip when using your car, make an impact.

Learn more about how you can act on climate: http://epa.gov/climatechange/wycd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keeping Your Car In Shape

Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned

Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4%, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done.

Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40%.

Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4%, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done.

Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40%.

Fuel Economy Benefit:	4%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings:	$0.14/gallon

Keep Tires Properly Inflated

You can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3% by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3% for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.

The proper tire pressure for your vehicle is usually found on a sticker in the driver's side door jamb or the glove box and in your owner's manual. Do not use the maximum pressure printed on the tire's sidewall.

Fuel Economy Benefit:	Up to 3%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings:	Up to $0.11/gallon

Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil

You can improve your gas mileage by 1%–2% by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by 1%–2%. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1%–1.5%. Also, look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.

Fuel Economy Benefit:	1%–2%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings:	$0.04–$0.07/gallon

Replacing a Clogged Air Filter on Modern Cars Improves Performance but Not MPG

Replacing a clogged air filter on vehicles with fuel-injected, computer-controlled gasoline engines—such as those manufactured from the early 1980s to the present—or diesel engines does not improve fuel economy, but it can improve acceleration.

Replacing a clogged air filter on an older vehicle with a carbureted engine can improve both fuel economy and acceleration by a few percent under normal replacement conditions.

Note: Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $3.60/gallon.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/maintain.jsp

 

 

 

Transit use growing faster than vehicle use in the U.S.

Millennials are abandoning cars in favor of bikes, walking and car-sharing, and it's finally showing up in the national stats.

Mon, Mar 17, 2014

 

Jim Motavalli – New York Times contributor blogs about cars and other interesting ways of getting around.

 

 

America is still the most car-dependent nation on Earth, but we’re making progress. In 2013, we took 10.7 billion (with a b) mass transit rides, the highest number in 57 years (and the eighth year in a row above 10 billion).

But the really mind-blowing thing is that all that transit growth is moving faster than our vehicle trips. Our public transportation rides have grown by 37.2 percent since 1995, and vehicles miles just 22.7 percent. As we’ve reported before, despite a population increase of more than 20 percent in the last 18 years, trips by car and truck peaked in 2004.

 

And we thought that only Europeans were ditching their cars! These days Americans have an increasing number of zero-car households (9.3 percent in 2011, up from 8.7 percent in 2007). There’s a bunch of reasons for this, including that famous lack of interest in driving among millennials; not to mention that biking, walking, car-sharing and commuting by rail are getting popular. As noted by Green Car Reports, those car-hating millennials are also moving to cities, where transit is more likely available, car ownership expensive, and they can exercise their concern for the environment.

 

 

Cities showing big ridership increases include Ann Arbor, Denver, Cleveland, New York, New Orleans, Los Angeles (yes, car-crazed L.A.), Indianapolis and Tampa. Some 17 of 27 transit systems report light rail drawing bigger crowds. Bus ridership, meanwhile, is stable, but up 3.8 percent in smaller cities (those with a population below 100,000.)

 

MNN's Sami Grover has already pointed out that smartphones play a role here, because you can use them to summon a cab (Uber and others) or to check transit schedules. It’s a great benefit of new technology.

 

Related on MNN:

• When is public transportation in Paris free? When the pollution gets really bad
• 9 great public transit options for sightseers
• 5 ways to make public transit awesome

 

http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/transportation/blogs/transit-use-growing-faster-than-vehicle-use-in-the-us