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Losing Weight During the Holidays, Diet vs Exercise and Walkstation – Multitask – Fight Obesity, Exercise while Working

easy eco blog — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:00:39 +0000

The holidays are here! The media has reported that the average person gains 7 to 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Ouch. Big dinners, more alcohol, more snacks, more finger foods, tempting desserts, and appetizers. How can we work to combat those pounds?

Exercise and keep going. Do not abandon your exercise routine during the holidays. Work out longer or just start to exercise. Shoot for 30-45 minutes, three to five times a week. Having someone push you to exercise works.

A recent Time Magazine article raised eyebrows with the proclamation “Why Exercise Won’t Make you Thin”. The article sums it up with: “In short, it’s what you eat, not how hard you try to work it off, that matters more in losing weight. You should exercise to improve your health, but be warned: fiery spurts of vigorous exercise could lead to weight gain”

So we need to focus on eating less and eating right.

1) Fill up your stomach with low calorie healthy foods including fruits and vegetables. Shoot for 7 servings or more a day. Fill up BEFORE you head to a party.

2) Avoid areas with temptations. Do not hang out by the buffet table or dining table.

3) Splurge on that fatty item, but limit it. Be a picky eater, do not waste your calories on items that are not worth it.

4) Drink low calorie drinks that will fill you up. Mineral water anyone?

5) Use a small plate, avoid sauces, load up on low cal salads, and focus on socializing not eating.

6) Visualize the party or holiday dinner ahead of time, and think about how you are going to attack the situation.

7) Learn to override your cravings. A thought is just a thought that doesn’t require a rush to action. Think before you put something in your mouth. Will putting this item in your mouth make you that much happier.

Drinking cold water helps the body burn more calories, so skip all those calorie filled drinks.

Get a dog? Average dog owners exercise up to 6 hours more a week than those who work out at a gym. Beware, some dog owners are obese and typically mirror the appearance of their dogs.

Walkstation – Multitask – Fight Obesity, Exercise while Working

Details from Steelcase just introduce the new $4199 Walkstation.

“The Walkstation is the combination of a fully integrated electric Height-Adjustable Work surface with an exclusively engineered, low speed commercial grade treadmill. At a maximum speed of 2mph the Walkstation lets you walk comfortably, burn calories, feel healthier and more energized…all while accomplishing the work you’d normally do while seated.”

Multitask! Fight obesity, improve your health, and exercise while Working. Or spend more time working and less time outside the office.

Somehow this product reminds us of this:

photo credit: lorda

Green EcoMill Treadmill

Woodway has a new EcoMill green manually powered treadmill that uses zero electricity. It has a battery that recharges as the user exercises. Many treadmills uses almost 1000 watts of power. Wow, that is one major step forward.

These guys even make a Desk Mill Desk Treadmill

Save Money – Rainwater Harvesting – Drain Water Heat Recovery Systems

easy eco blog — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:00:52 +0000

Rainwater harvesting or rainwater collection systems are simple ways of taking advantage of mother nature to reduce your water bill and become more green.

It looks a possible drought year for the San Francisco Bay area again. Thoughts turn to capturing any rain we get to reduce our need for water and commensurately our water bill.

Rain Water Harvesting Barrels Or Cisterns

You can get started with an easy barrel or bucket under areas where rain comes off the roof. You could easily make a downspout feed into a barrel. Every 100 square feet of roof can yield 55 to 60 gallons of water per inch of rainfall. Irrigate using a shutoff valve and a garden hose. Amazon even sells Rain Water Harvesting Barrels.

Rain Garden

Store harvested rainwater in the soil by diverting roof downspouts towards shallow basins full of water tolerant plants.

More complex rainwater harvesting can be done using a living roof full of plants or a street curb side planter.

HarvestH20.com is a site with lots of tips on capturing rainwater. Several interesting videos too.

ARCSA – American rainwater catchment system association has a link page with many useful resources and examples of what others have done.

Drain Water Heat Recovery Systems

Drain Water Heat Recovery Systems heat up water by using heat from your waste water. Not many people know about these interesting systems. They are usually hooked up to sinks, showers, dishwashers, and clothes washers.

Systems cost only $300 to $500 with paybacks ranging from 2 1/2 to 7 years depending on the particular situation. Some states offer rebate, making pay back even faster.

Rainwater capture – Costco Eco Round Wooden Rain Barrel

Costco is keeping up with the green wave. They have a Eco Round 67-Gallon Wooden Rain Barrel for $199.99 shipped. A lot more expensive than using a trash can but certainly a lot more elegant.

It has a connector that attaches to your rain gutter’s downspout. A heavy duty bladder inside actually holds the water. It even uses FSC Certified Canadian Spruce wood. A solid brass tab lets you access the water

SDGE Rebates, SDG&E, or San Diego Gas and Electric Rebate for Energy Efficiency

easy eco blog — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:00:03 +0000

New rebates have been added.

San Diego’s power utility San Diego Gas and Electric rebates are here. SDGE or SDG&E has a bunch of cash SDGE rebates and ways to go green and save money.

Home energy efficiency rebates of up to $200 for Energy efficient refrigerators, recycling old refrigerator, attic or wall insulation, Central Natural Gas Furnace, dishwashers, clothes washers, Whole House Fan, water heaters, pool pumps and motors (Variable speed), room air conditioning
You can print rebate forms out online and then send in proof of purchase.

Instant rebates are available select retailers including:

B&B Appliance
Costco
Home Depot
Humphrey Appliance
La Mesa Appliance
MCAS Miramar Home Center
The Navy Exchange 32nd Street
Phillips Maytag
Multifamily energy efficiency rebates
Single-Family High-Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebates
Summer saver program for air-conditioning

Always check your local utility’s web site for rebates before you buy a new item. We recently bought a new dishwasher that had a $50 utility company rebate that was not advertised by the store. They fulfilled the rebate in only 2 weeks. Green your home and get cash back. Most rebates run through December 31 or while funding is available.

Be sure to also take advantage of the Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credit. This Federal tax credit can save you money in addition to your utility companies’ promotions. It applies to many items including: Wind Turbines - GeoThermal Heat Pump – Solar panels.

Plug in Electric Vehicles

San Diego Gas and Electric has special rates for Plug in Electric Vehicles or Electric Cars.

Additional Resources for more information

Read our article: Ways to Save Energy, Money on your Energy Bill – It is full of tips to save you money.

Interested in Solar? Read our article Are Solar Panels for Me?

Other Power Utility Company Rebates

For Northern California Energy Rebates see: PG&E Energy Efficiency Rebates
For Southern California see: SCE Rebates or Southern California Edison Rebate for Energy Efficiency
For San Diego see: SDGE Rebates, SDG&E, or San Diego Gas and Electric Rebate for Energy Efficiency
Energy Efficiency Rebates for other locations.

SCE Rebates or Southern California Edison Rebate for Energy Efficiency

easy eco blog — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:00:19 +0000

New rebates have been added for 2012.

Southern California’s power utility Southern California Edison rebates are here. SCE has a bunch of cash SCE rebates and ways to go green and save money.

Energy efficient appliance $50 rebate Qualifying Energy Star Refrigerator, $30 Energy efficient Electric Water heaters – Expires December 31, 2012
$50 back on Refrigerator or Freezer recycling
Solar Energy rebates
Up to $300 on Energy Efficient Evaporative Cooling
Up to $50 on Whole House Fan or Energy Star qualified room air conditioner. Expires December 31, 2012
Up to $20 back on a portable room air conditioner
Save up to $200 with a summer discount plan
Air conditioner installation and maintenance, up to $2,000 back
Up to $200 on Variable speed pool pumps and motors. Expires December 31, 2012
Home lighting – Discounted Home Lights

You can print out rebate forms online and then send in proof of purchase.

SCE’s Operation Light Exchange allows residential customers to exchange halogen torchiere floor lamps and incandescent floor/table/desk lamps/night lights for new ENERGY STAR® labeled lamps.

You can also call Southern California Edison and ask about Southern California Edison rebate or SCE Rebates at 800-655-4555.

Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credit

Purcell Murray distributes appliances in California and has Bosch rebates, Thermador rebates, and rebates for other brands.

Plug in Electric Vehicles

Southern California Edison has special rate plans for Plug in Electric Vehicles.

Additional Resources for more information

Read our article: Ways to Save Energy, Money on your Energy Bill – It is full of tips to save you money.

Interested in Solar? Read our article Are Solar Panels for Me?

Other Power Utility Company Rebates

PG&E Energy Efficiency Rebates

easy eco blog — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 07:00:41 +0000

New PG&E rebates have been added for 2012.

Our local utility Pacific Gas and Electric – PG&E has cash rebates and ways to go green and save money. Here are some PG&E Energy Efficiency Rebates:

PG&E Energy efficient appliance $50 rebate – Qualifying Clothes Washers, Dishwashers, Room Air Conditioners, Water heaters – Expires December 31, 2012
$35 back on Refrigerator or Freezer recycling, $25 on old Air conditioners
Solar Energy rebates
Up to $500 for Attic and Wall Insulation
Up to $200 per 1000 sq ft of a Cool roof
Up to $300 for Energy-Efficient Natural Gas Furnace
$50 for Energy-Efficient Variable Speed Motor Air Handler System
Up to $100 on Whole House Fan, up to $200 on Duct Sealing. Expires December 31, 2012
Upto $100 on Variable speed pool pumps and motors. Expires December 31, 2012
Home lighting – Discounted Home Lights

You can even submit PG&E Energy Efficiency Rebates requests online and then send in proof of purchase. Questions about PG&E Energy Efficiency Rebates, call 1-800-933-9555.

If you live in California, be sure to check out the up to $8000 Energy Upgrade California Energy Efficiency Rebate

You can also call PG&E and ask for a Smart Home Rebate Booklet or check out their Flex your power website.

Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credit

Purcell Murray distributes appliances in California and has Bosch rebates, Thermador rebates, and rebates for other brands.

Plug in Electric Vehicle Discounts

Pacific Gas & Electric has a new E-9 rate plan for plug in electric vehicle or electric car owners. A second power meter may need to be installed for households in which their plug-in electric vehicle charging significantly impacts their daily energy usage.

Additional Resources for more information

Read our article: Ways to Save Energy, Money on your Energy Bill – It is full of tips to save you money.

Interested in Solar? Read our article Are Solar Panels for Me?

Other Power Utility Company Rebates

PG&E Energy Partners Program – Free Products

PG&E has an Energy Partners Program that provides income-qualified customers free energy education, weatherization measures and energy-efficient appliances to reduce gas and electric usage.

They provide:

Attic insulation
Caulking
CFLs
Door weather-stripping
Energy-saver showerhead
Minor home repair
Water heater blanket

Free Education and Assessment, Installation and Delivery, and Free Inspections.

You can contact them at 1-800-933-9555

PG&E Energy Efficient Rebates are another way to save money.

Also read: Save Energy and money on your energy bill.

Saving Energy with Window Treatments and Coverings

easy eco blog — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:00:54 +0000

photo credit: quinn.anya

We are deep in winter and it is very cold in many areas. Having curtains, blinds, or shades on windows can help keep warm air inside. They will also help keep the hot sunlight out during the summer.

Window blinds and shades are pretty cheap, easy to install, and lead to a short payback time.

Well made Insulated curtains can cost from $50 a window to hundreds of dollars, but work a lot better. Payback time is usually measured in years from 3+ years onwards. Be sure to hang curtains as close to the window as possible and cover the entire window. Close your curtains at night to reduce heat loss. Use can use two drapes to maximize efficiency.

US DOE has a nice consumer guide.

All Home Decor – Resources to help decorate and care for your home.

UV Film for Windows – Privacy, Heat Loss Control

UV Films that are placed for Windows can help enhance privacy and minimize Heat Loss. They are easy to apply and relatively inexpensive. Amazon has 3M kits from under $20.

Insulating films add reflect the sun’s rays in summer, keeping the home cooler without using air conditioning. These UV films also help retain up to 55% of your home’s heat in winter. Curtains, flooring, and furniture will fade less due to 99% UV ray blockage.

UV Window films add to the comfort and energy efficiency of your home at a small cost.

Lowes has instructions on how to apply the window UV film yourself.

You can also purchase new windows with built in sun stopping technology.

Home Energy Audits – Home Energy Assessments

easy eco blog — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 07:00:16 +0000

Housing accounts for 20% of total US energy use with heating a cooling consuming a whopping 44% of residential energy use.

Home Energy Audits or Home Energy Assessments can help pinpoint energy problems in your home and offer you fixes that will save you energy and money. These professionals should provide you with analysis of your home, a list of items that need fixing, the cost to fix them, and the estimated cost savings.

We recently had a Home Energy Audit done, to comply with the Energy Upgrade California Rebate Program. Being environmentally conscious, we wanted to ensure everything in to save energy.

SDI Energy Audit November 2011

We had to choose a contractor that was on the approved list for Energy Upgrade California. SDI of Burlingame, California was selected because they seemed pretty thorough, knew about the rebates, and were priced reasonably at $500.

The company was pretty thorough with their energy audit and performed the following tests:

We provided statistics regarding our home, including one year of PG&E bills
They photographed and mapped out the entire house
We voiced our concerns over problem areas and upgrade interests
They identified all air vents and sealed them to perform duct pressure test. This checks to see how much our ducts leak by blowing air into the return
Gas and carbon monoxide leak tests – appliances, water heater, heater, stove. This actually found a leak by the water heater and the heater, which PG&E fixed for free.
They performed a 64 point combustion safety test
Combustion gas test with all fans turned on, doors set to worst case, they attempted to find whether gases or carbon monoxide was being emitted by our gas burning appliances. This test found that some of our stove top burners were emitting carbon monoxide. We had them check by a pro.
They checked the walls, attic, and floorboards for insulation
They used a pressure and flow gauge to measure how much air was flowing in and out of the home
Blower test – with all windows closed, fans off, they checked how leaky our home was
Crawl space inspection. Checking for insulation, noting whether rodents were present, and looking for plumbing penetrations
Checking the amount of air exchanges our receives. Adequate fresh air is important

In the end, they offered some useful suggestions including additional insulation and weather stripping. We were interested in replacing our 20 year old central gas forced air furnace, so they went back to analyze the costs and benefits of doing so. In contrast to an energy audit the previous year, SDI did not have equipment to look inside walls like a borascope. The criteria that they used was similar. Our home performed better than expected, probably due to all the changes we have made over the years.

Recurve Energy Audit 2010

Previously we had an energy audit performed by Recurve.

They where formerly known as Sustainable spaces. We had a 50% off coupon which made the decision to use them easier. Their normal price is $750. We feel that the price should be a lot cheaper or free considering they want to sell you items. Before the audit, we sent them the last years gas and power bills.

They had a team of people mapping out the layout of the house with laser measuring equipment, this generates information for their energy internal modeling software.

Recurve used a borascope to look inside our walls and check for insulation.

They ventured deep into our crawlspace to check out our heating and ventilation.

This found many interesting holes in our floor like this one. Every wire or cable that is run helps turn your floor into Swiss cheese.

A Fluke Thermal Imager was used to look at our walls and ceiling for insulation and possible heat leaks using infrared technology. It is hard to rip up walls to add insulation but they make it clear that future remodels should incorporate more insulation. A $50 Black & Decker Thermal Leak Detector can help you pinpoint air leaks the DIY way.

Air vents were covered during their air blower tests.

Checking airflow at the vents with a balometer.

Checking heating equipment, operation, make, model.

Recessed light fixtures can be a source of heat loss.

Air blower test with conduct in this special apparatus in our front door.

A couple days after the odd results were sent over to us. They detailed where energy was being lost in our home. The energy audit then suggested how to mitigate these problems.

This report examined our heating equipment and made some recommendations. They found some broken air vents, and asbestos in heating boots. Our home was relatively well sealed resulting in less air changes than suggested.

In the end, we found the home energy audit to be useful in analyzing our home’s energy profile. Recurve focused mostly on our heating – HVAC needs. The firm made several recommendations, many of which were very pricey. No return on investment information was provided. Clearly they make their money on repairs not on doing the audit itself. They should have provided some basic information on how to save energy and how things tie into our solar power system. We had several drafty areas that did not receive the analysis we asked for.

We tried to contact them for some followup work and they never returned our emails.

Here are some certifications to look for in a firm:

RESNET or Residential Energy Services Network certification means the firm has been trained and demonstrated technical proficiency.

BPI or Building Performance Institute Accredited companies have completed rigorous training, administered by a network of affiliates, in home performance evaluation focusing on this house-as-a-system concept.

Be sure to read our article: Ways to Save Energy, Money on your energy bill

Salt Water Swimming Pools

easy eco blog — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 07:00:37 +0000

Salt Water Swimming Pools that are not too common in the United States but are catching on fast. Salt Water Pools are slowly making inroads because most new pools are specified as them. They use a chlorine generator so they are not chlorine free. Swimming in a regular pool may make you feel or see a whitish residual or chlorine flaking, on the skin, frizzled hair or red eyes. In a salt water swimming pool, the water feels smooth and refreshing and does not taste like the ocean. The swimming pool is only 8-9% as salty as the ocean.

Roughly 13% residential and commercial pools were salt water pools in 2010.

How does a saltwater pool work?

Salt reacts with electricity in the chlorine generator. A chlorine generator’s main function is to produce chlorine for the pool so you do not have to buy it, store it or handle it. A generator produce chlorine constantly. A 40 pound bag of salt costs $9 and needs to be replaced roughly 6 times a year. The average yearly cost for residential pool chlorine is around $700. Salt dissipates over time, gets diluted by any rainwater, and also gets filtered out. Water chemistry will be simplified moving to a salt water pool. Note that chlorinators that display salt levels show inaccurate levels when water is cold, so you need to use salt test strips in this instance. More muriatic acid will be utilized to control the pH in a saltwater pool.

It costs from $1000 to $3000 to retrofit an existing pool. You do need to maintain the generator every 3 months or so by cleaning it out with a muriatic acid wash. Salt needs to be replenished every year or so, but costs very little. A 40lb bag costs about $9. The best time to upgrade to it is when you install a new controller for a variable speed pool pump. These new controllers like the Easytouch can handle salt water pools. The only problem areas for a salt water pool installation are if you have stainless steel plumbing or stainless steel in your heater, which will corrode.

Alternatives to salt water pools

Other unconventional alternatives to chlorine in pools include systems that release ozone gas (roughly $8,000) or use ultra-violet light to kill bacteria. The UV technology kills cryptosporeidium, something chlorine does not.

Check this Website with more details. It is best to install a salt water pool system along with a Variable speed Pool pumps to maximize the energy and chemical savings.

Tips on Keeping New Years Resolutions

easy eco blog — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:00:43 +0000

Have you already broken your News Years Resolution to be more green? 46% stick to their resolutions for at least 6 months, but less than 20% of people stick to their resolutions after two years. Here are some tips to enhance the likelihood that you will keep your New Years Resolutions to be more environmentally conscious.

Plan Ahead

Create a realistic plan well before your New Year’s plunge. Practice self-control in other areas, in order to prepare yourself better. Gaze into your crystal ball to list possible obstacles in your way and ways to circumnavigate them.

Take Small Steps

If you pledged to stop driving your car, stopping it completely on January 1 is unrealistic. Ease into it with car free days every week, then increase the frequency. Reduce other diversions or interruptions to help you concentrate on the task at hand.

Tell a Friend

Find like minded friends and family to share the pain. Get your better half to help you setup a resolution. Check in with them regularly to see how you are progressing. Announce your plan to co-workers, relatives, friends, etc. You are making a bigger commitment this way

Change Surroundings

If you want to change, adjust the situations and locales that cause unwanted behaviors to occur. If you want to eat better this year, avoid areas where fast food is prevalent.

Expect Failure

Expect, ahead of time, that you will fail and bounce back from problems, rather than use them as excuses. If you are trying to save energy and then receive a higher energy bill, do not get discouraged, bear down and try harder to save. Make a plan for bouncing back from setbacks and slips.

Reward Yourself

A proverbial carrot or reward should be available if you meet certain milestones. On the other hand, a small slap on the wrist if you slip up, may be useful.

Being Happy During the Holidays

UC Berkeley scientists have studied how to be happy during the holidays and suggests people think about things in their lives that work well and being thankful for them. Being compassionate towards others and participating in family rituals that create togetherness also help increase happiness during the holidays.

Energy Upgrade California (EUC) Rebates upto $4000 – PG&E, SCE, SDGE – Upto $10,300 in San Mateo County, $9500 in San Francisco

easy eco blog — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 07:00:19 +0000

It is getting cold, just in time for a crazy good rebate on heaters, insulation, and more. A very lucrative, new limited time California energy efficiency rebate is available where you can receive up to $4000 in rebates from Energy Upgrade California program. PG&E, SCE, San Diego Gas & Electric – SDG&E, or BVE. customers have this program available. This program is focused on a whole house approach to saving energy. San Francisco Bay Area information line 855-464-8484.

The goal of the program is:

Get rebates, financing, and incentives to reduce the cost of your home upgrade
Reduce energy use
Live in a more comfortable home

Even Larger Rebates

If you live in San Mateo County, the County will match the rebate, raising the potential savings to $10,300 for advanced upgrades. You can thank Stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Expires March 2012 or earlier. More information.

$300 towards the Energy assessment (Available for limited time only)
$1,500-$4,000 from PG&E
$1,500- $4,000 from County of San Mateo (Available for limited time only)
$2,000 from Association of Bay Area Governments (Available for limited time only)

San Francisco has up to $9500 available in rebates for a limited time.

Some Counties are even subsidizing the home energy audit costs. Check with your local County.

Acterra has free energy audits for residents of:

Atherton
Los Altos Hills
Monte Sereno
Portola Valley
Woodside

Funding for Energy Upgrade California comes from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as Federal Stimulus Funds, California utility ratepayers, and private contributions.

Qualification:

You must own a single-family home, commercial, or multifamily property and be a qualifying California utility company customer.
You must be current on property taxes and liens.
Participating contractors are specially trained for this program.
There are 2 upgrade packages:

Basic Upgrade Package – 7 required measures (Air sealing, attic insulation, duct sealing, hot water pipe insulation, thermostatic shutoff valve, carbon monoxide monitor) that together could reduce your energy consumption by an average of 10%. Up to $1000 rebate.
Advanced Upgrade Package - A home energy audit which includes energy modeling must be completed by a certified energy auditor. A customized solution (Basic upgrade package plus high-efficiency furnace, energy-efficient cooling, water heater system, energy efficient Windows, duct replacement, wall insulation) with energy savings of 15 to 40%, with incentives from $1250 – $4000 depending on efficiency improvement. The amount of the rebate you get is based on energy modeling software that shows how much energy your home will save after an energy upgrade remodel.

Energy Upgrade CA approves the project after the audit is done and before the work is done.

A verification test is done after the work is finished by PG&E auditors.

Contact your qualified local contractor or Home Energy Audit firm via the Energy Upgrade CA website today to participate in Energy Upgrade California.

GreenPoint rating

If you add green measures to the Upgrade Package, your home may qualify for the GreenPoint Rated label and receive up to $1000. This validates that your home has been remodeled according to established green standards.

Be sure to take advantage of the Federal Tax Credit to receive additional money back in addition to those received under Energy Upgrade California!