13
votes
What form of electrical lighting has the smallest energy-footprint?
i signed up just so i could make this comment. THelper♦ provided a good link to a DOE report on this topic, which i was researching because my roommate is skeptical about the advantages of efficient ...
- 231
11
votes
Accepted
What is the most sustainable way of making coffee?
I live off-grid, so I did a lot of study on this topic. All used coffee grounds make good fertilizer.
Drip machines seem to use a lot of energy, and they seem to use it for a lot of time. They also ...
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11
votes
Getting power from an innovative new mechanism
No, you cannot get more energy out than you put in.
No, you cannot invent a perpetual motion machine.
- 14.7k
10
votes
What to do with old, unused incandescent light bulbs
I disagree with the answers that say not to use it. It may in fact be an excellent idea to use it if:
you live somewhere that requires your home to be heated in the winter
you currently heat with ...
- 1,897
10
votes
What to do with old, unused incandescent light bulbs
I use them in garden/indoor. Something like this...
(source : google search)
- 229
10
votes
Accepted
Can pumped water energy storage be combined with rainwater harvesting?
Water loss is not the issue, because you need a lot of water to make it work at all. Even if your dams lose 30% of their water every year, that's about 0.1% per day. System losses in the best large-...
- 1,307
9
votes
Is leaving the fridge door open for, say, 10 seconds a "big deal"?
It is common knowledge that hot air rises and cold air sinks. Inside a fridge the coldest air will be in the bottom of the fridge.
As soon as the fridge door is opened cold air from the bottom of the ...
- 3,517
9
votes
Should I replace existing inefficient light bulbs?
Sort of.
Consider the pay back time. high efficiency lights are expensive. Expense is, at least in part, a measure of the resources used to make it.*
Replacing the fixtures in the kitchen where the ...
- 7,207
8
votes
Do USB outlets waste energy just like conventional wall warts?
Electronically they're the same and will waste as much energy as a conventional adaptor. Depending on your electrical regulations they may be forced to be at the good end of adaptor efficiency, or ...
- 2,116
8
votes
Accepted
Laptop nights: shutdown or sleep?
To determine the power used when the computer is in sleep mode you can acquire a power meter that plugs into a power outlet & measures the electricity used by devices that are connected to the ...
- 3,517
8
votes
Accepted
Does transporting plastic offset the benefits of recycling it?
tl;dr: No, shipping plastic waste to China for recycling does not offset the benefits, as it reduces the net energy savings by 3% or less.
Polyethylene, The most common plastic
According to ...
- 11.8k
7
votes
How can I determine whether roof top wind turbines would be beneficial in my area?
One approach is to look for studies in this area and decide whether the idea is even plausible. Is it "a bit more expensive but I like the technology" or is it "much more expensive and ...
- 3,875
7
votes
What to do with old, unused incandescent light bulbs
Please consider donating incandescent bulbs to a support group for diseases that can sensitize some people to light. One disease with fairly widespread support group chapters is Lupus.
Lupus has ...
- 79
7
votes
Electrical usage data logging with wireless data transfer
It sounds like the Kill A Watt wireless might be what you are after. For more alternatives keep reading.
There is another product line called the Watts-Up that has USB connections to computers on ...
- 862
7
votes
Is pellet fuel a sustainable energy source in the way it's used now?
It depends.
It is possible to farm wood sustainably, or unsustainably. Both ways happen now.
It is possible to use wood pellets for energy while trapping particulate matter and other non-GHG ...
- 14.7k
7
votes
What is the most sustainable way of making coffee?
Your grinder may be less efficient than a commercial unit, and shipping beans rather than ground coffee may affect the bulk for shipping. If you use extra (hot) water in washing a permanent filter you ...
- 2,116
7
votes
How much energy do wall outlets with USB waste when not actively charging?
In most countries, legislation limits the amount of power a device on standby, i.e. under power but not performing a function, are allowed to use. In Europe it's 0.5 Watts (see EC Regulation No. 1275/...
- 161
7
votes
What should I do with coal that I have been given?
Well, if you are really into it and quite handy, you could turn it into activated charcoal, and then add it to your soil!
Grind it into small bits, heat it anaerobically, then introduce high-pressure ...
- 248
7
votes
Is oil actually a renewable and sustainable resource, but we just use much too much of it?
What does renewable mean?
Wikipedia defines a renewable resource as (emphasis added):
a natural resource which will replenish to replace the portion depleted by usage and consumption, either through ...
- 11.8k
7
votes
Accepted
Gravity assist as energy source
Yes, you can.
It is entirely possible to create tidal power plants, stealing energy from the Earth-Moon system.
Eventually this source runs out of energy, but it would be a much longer duration than ...
- 4,786
6
votes
What to do with old, unused incandescent light bulbs
What to do with existing stock of incandescent bulbs – use them up or just put an LED in any socket where a lamp burns out?
As efficient LED bulbs are widely available the question comes up what is ...
- 69
6
votes
Anything similar to GravityLight that can be readily purchased?
The big advantage of GravityLight is that you can pull the weight once and then you have electricity for a relatively long period (I read somewhere it's 30 minutes). This is ideal when you need to ...
- 14.5k
6
votes
Is Tesla Powerwall a good investment?
No it is not. Your calculations of 13year ROI is based on the assumption that charging the power wall is free during the day time. It is not.
Depending on your locale, either you need to factor in ...
- 380
6
votes
Saving energy in the dryer: short and hot, or long and low?
The generic and vague wording of the question seems deliberate, but unfortunately a meaningful answer can't be so simple.
The primary factor that determines how long it will take a dryer to dry a load ...
- 2,804
5
votes
What is the most sustainable way of making coffee?
Cold brew, which is essentially soaking the beans for 24 hours would only call for energy to roast the beans and to filter them. If you used a metal filter, there wouldn't be ongoing disposable costs, ...
- 216
5
votes
Is 3 phase electrical generation more efficient to utilize than single phase?
I'm going to assume you'e in the USA since you're using Imperial units.
1) Is 3 phase power more efficient to generate/use?
In bulk, yes. Three phase (or sometimes 6 phase/3 phase 220V in low-...
- 3,875
5
votes
Being a sustainable Digital Nomad in a Van - First Steps
Three routes:
A: Your van has all your worldly possessions.
B: In addition you have a place you can store stuff.
C: Use a car towable R.V.
A: Everything is in your van.
Consider removing the ...
- 7,207
5
votes
Accepted
Cost benefit analysis of a PV array with racking to set optimal angle, vs a larger array
According to the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (pdf), the average home in New Zealand uses 7,046 kWh per year, and pays a rate of $0.2879/kWh (NZD).
I used this as a ...
- 11.8k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible