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1. Cuddling & Other Tips for Saving Energy in Winter
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2. Solar Panel Demand Strong in 2009: Report
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3. Organic Baby Bear Ears for Winter!
Cuddling & Other Tips for Saving Energy in Winter
jchait - Home & Garden
Today we got snow here in Oregon, and trust me it’s freezing. This led me to think a little about winter and energy saving. Cuddling is of course an effective way to stay warm in winter but in case you’re not feeling all that cuddly, here are some other energy saving options.
- Seal gaps or cracked seams in exposed ducts.
- Clean or replace your furnace filters monthly.
- Place window shrink wrap on non-energy efficient windows. You can also hang heavy blankets up with strong nails and this will block quite a lot of the chill.
- Keep everyone gathered in a few rooms. Heat those rooms and shut the doors on rooms that no one is in.
- If you leave turn off the heat! Once you return, your heater will quickly heat back up. There’s no need to heat an empty house - NOTE unless you have pets - don’t leave them freezing.
- Lower your water heater. If you lower it to 120 F you can save money. Typically, a 10 F reduction on your water heater can save up to 5% on your heating, and no one needs their water set above 120.
- Insulate any hot water pipes that lead from your water heater.
- Install low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators - which is not a direct heat energy saving, but the less hot water used, the more you save.
- Don’t underestimate clothing - a nice cozy sweater means you can keep the heat down. It’s not tank top weather!
Quick Energy Saving Tip - DIY Energy Audit
Quick Green Home Tip: Turn Down the Thermostat
Green Action for Autumn - Sealing Your Home for Winter
Is it snowing and chilly where you are?
Solar Panel Demand Strong in 2009: Report
Om Malik - Misc
The Information Network, a research group predicts that:
”The solar panel market will reach only 7.1 GWatts in 2009, equivalent to a global growth rate of 26 percent, down from a 48 percent growth in 2008…’Panel prices will likely fall between 20-to-30 percent in 2009 as global supply of polysilicon doubles.”
The demand for solar panels is going to keep increasing as wireless networks spread to remote parts of the world. A large number of telecom equipment makers are using solar panels to power repeaters, cellular base stations and other parts of the telecom infrastrcuture.
The US administration’s eco-centric policies are likely to help keep the demand for alternative technologies such as solar panel steady.
Related link: Our prior coverage of Solar Panels
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Organic Baby Bear Ears for Winter!
Jill Fehrenbacher - Accessories and Fashion
Now that the weather is getting chilly, it’s the perfect time to make like a bear and cuddle your little ones up in cozy hats made for hibernating. The organic cotton baby bear ear hat shown above (modeled by our resident InhabiTOT Petey) is hand-crocheted by NY eco fashion designer Amy Mohlenhoff from design collective Ekovaruhuset. It is such a simple idea to add little bear ears to a baby bonnet, and yet so cute! Amy crochets baby bonnets when she’s not designing stylish women’s eco cocktail dresses, and her baby accessories are every bit as unique and inspired as her women’s wear.
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