The Guide To Efficient Living
The Pharox 300 Flame is the warmest LED light bulb I’ve tested. It’s been in a desk lamp in my living room — it gives off a pleasing yellow glow (a 3000 kelvin output). The Pharox’s light quality is very good. Unlike CFLs, this bulb contains no mercury it emits no UV radiation. Typically, quality household… [Continue Reading]
I’ve been testing the Air Jet showerhead, and so far I’ve been impressed. This is low-flow showerhead, but it creates a high pressure shower experience using simple physics.
A community swimming pool called the Richmond Plunge has just opened in Richmond, California, and it may be the most efficient swimming pool in the country. The Richmond Plunge has many efficient features: it’s heated by solar collectors, it’s entirely chlorine-free, and the building is powered by solar panels on the roof. The Plunge is… [Continue Reading]
When researching energy efficient appliances, we often turn to the recommendations of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The ACEEE continues to publish helpful information about all sorts of appliances, including freezers. The ninth edition of their Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings, published in fall 2007, contains helpful information about selecting a… [Continue Reading]
Want to bring your child along on an extended bike ride? One easy way is to use a trailer bike — it’s a one-wheeled bike extension that attaches to the back of your bike. Your smaller companion can then assist you with pedaling, while you control the steering and speed. If your child gets tired,… [Continue Reading]
I’ve been testing the new Zeta-Lux 2 LED light bulb from EarthLED. This bulb looks similar to the first Zeta-Lux –but this bulb retails for $25 instead of $40. This means you can get a 40-watt equivalent LED bulb that consumes just 6 watts. The color temperature of the Zeta-Lux 2 is a pleasing 2800K.… [Continue Reading]
LCD TVs are energy efficient, and today,you can find good LCD TVs for under $500. Here are our picks for the best LCD TVs under $500: Best Picture Quality: LG 42LK450 1080p LCD HDTV LG is known for having the best picture quality in budget TVs. This “42LK450″ LCD TV from LG is no exception —… [Continue Reading]
Important Update: After testing a second unit, I can no longer recommend this product as a bike light. The trouble is that the flashlight popped out of its container whenever I rode over a curb. The problem seems to be the weight of the flashlight. One positive note — the Cree flashlight itself proved to… [Continue Reading]
MIDI controllers have become more loaded with features in recent years, a far cry from the simple keyboard-only controllers from several years back. Now many MIDI models feature full mixing controllers, such as knobs, faders, and even transport controls. Some models also have integrated effects, vocoder microphones, and drum pads for a wider range of… [Continue Reading]
Kenya Hara wrote the book “Designing Design“, which is 472 page tribute to “white” not just as color but as a design concept. It contains chapters by like-minded designers such as Jasper Morrison and Naota Fukasawa. The works of German industrial designer Dieter Rams (Braun), and Apple’s “Snow White” design language are other examples of… [Continue Reading]
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