Recently, I tested trading-in some of my old books, electronics, DVDs and CDs that were gathering dust on my shelves. I was able to free up some shelf space, and in addition I received some cash and credit (about $600 total). All of these trades went smoothly, the most laborious part was packaging all the […]
The Best Places To Trade-In Your Electronics, DVDs & Books Read More »
Bone char — the name is perhaps…uninspiring, but it’s one the most underrated water filtering substance I’ve encountered.
Bone Char: A Very Effective Filter Read More »
Bidets are those devices that spray water (and sometimes air) on your posterior. They are more hygienic than toilet paper, and save you money in the long run. In Japan, high-tech bidets called Washlets are now the most popular electronic equipment being sold — 60% of households have them installed. In Venezuela they are found
Bidet Seats: More Efficient Than Toilet Paper Read More »
Alpacas have been bred in South America for thousands of years. Their wool is a soft, durable, luxurious fibers. Alpaca wool is similar to sheep’s wool, but it is warmer and has no lanolin, which makes it hypoallergenic. Here are some alpaca wool blankets I’ve personally tested: Alpaca Blanket Made In The US If you
Alpaca Wool Blankets: Amazingly Warm And Inexpensive Read More »
Here are some efficient products I like in 2013. I’ve tested all these products and found that they perform well. Generally, I like things that are ultralight and ultradurable. I also look for things that are sustainably made and come with lifetime warranties. For purchase things, I like Amazon and REI, due to their efficient
Efficient Products I Like Read More »
Lasko is a company that still makes its fans in the USA. I like their all-metal fans because they are very durable, and the parts can be replaced by Lasko. They also come with a two-year warranty. The fan featured here is the Lasko 20″ High Velocity Floor Fan, and it will move a huge
Fan Creates Tempest In Your Room Using Just 133 Watts Read More »
In the U.S., toilets account for 30% of indoor water use, but this is mostly due to their inefficient design. So I was pleased to find the Stealth Ultra-High-Efficiency Toilet toilet by Niagara. This is probably the most water efficient flush toilet available for residential use. The Stealth uses only 0.8 gallons per flush (GPF). This is
The Stealth Toilet Uses Only 0.8 Gallons Per Flush Read More »
Today, there are numerous databases and search engines being filled with our personal data, and more people are using online tools to do background checks on their neighbors, business associates and potential employees.
How To Remove Your Personal Information From Online Databases Read More »
We’ve become accustomed to online companies hosting our data, but this practice is actually highly inefficient. This page explains the situation pretty simply. My advice is to use “unhosted” online services that support personal data control, or “zero-knowledge” services that encrypt your data before it leaves your computer. I’ve created a list of suitable services
How To Control Your Data Online Read More »
The rise of collaborative consumption is perhaps the most efficient movement arising in society today. Basically, collaborative consumption is based on an economic model where products are shared or rented instead of owned. This model may become pervasive enough to replace the ownership-based model we have today. For good introduction to this movement, see the
Efficient In 2012: Collaborative Consumption Read More »
I’ve converted my Apple computers to run Mint Linux in place of OS X. Mint Linux was built to be easy to install and a system that novice users could enjoy. Based on Ubuntu, Mint became the poplar desktop version of Linux this year. Linux is a free, open-source operating system that been around for
Mint: A Free, Easy-To-Use Operating System Read More »
The small size and directional light output of LEDs make them ideal for personal reading lights, and they are energy efficient too. Here are some of the best LED reading lamps:
The Best LED Reading Lamps Read More »
LED Lanterns are perhaps the most useful portable lights — they can be used as camp lights, work lights, or emergency lights. The LEDs inside aren’t susceptible to shocks, and they burn for decades.
The Best LED Camping Lanterns Read More »
What do you want in a golf cart charger? Golf cart batteries are lead-acid batteries that operate at 36 or 48 volts. Like all lead-acid batteries, they must be charged at a specific voltage and amperage levels. They cannot be fast charged — a full charge requires 14 to 16 hours.
The Best Golf Cart Chargers Read More »
NiZn (Nickel-Zinc) batteries are a type of rechargeable AA battery that operates with a nominal voltage 1.6 volts, which is very close to the 1.5 volts of alkaline batteries. This makes NiZn battery perform well in high-drain devices like handheld games.
A Review Of NiZn Batteries Read More »
In A Nutshell When recharging a camera flash, you need a battery capable of delivering a high amount of current in a short time. Ideally, you want the batteries with the highest rated capacity. The highest capacity rechargeable AA batteries are: Ansmann’s 2850 mAh batteries and Powerex’s 2700 mAh batteries. Of these two batteries, Powerex’s 2700 mAh gets the most
The Best Rechargeable AA Batteries For Flash Read More »
In A Nutshell The best Ni-MH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) battery charger is a “smart charger” like the LaCrosse BC-700 Charger (sells for $36). Smart chargers have circuitry to prevent overcharging and damaging your batteries. They also provide features that allow you to test and “renew” Ni-MH batteries. If you are looking for a charger that also charges C,
The Best Ni-MH Battery Chargers Read More »
Recently we featured men’s cruiser bicycles. Now let’s take a look at women’s cruiser bikes, which have become very popular in recent years. Nearly every major bike manufacturer now offers at least one cruiser model, if not an entire line. We feature some of the best looking bikes below, with an eye towards classic styling.
The Best Women’s Cruiser Bikes Read More »
I just replaced my shower filters, so I thought I’d update my best shower filter review from earlier this year. Each update to the review generates a lot of useful comments. So I’m incorporating what I’ve learned from those comments into this latest review.
The Best Shower Filters Read More »
Solar power is increasingly becoming a feasible choice for powering electric boats. In the last decade, we’ve seen improvement in the efficiency of electric boat motors, lithium-ion batteries, and the efficiency of solar panels. In 2010, the Tûranor PlanetSolar, a huge catamaran yacht powered by 470 square meters of solar panels, was unveiled by New
Using Solar Power To Run Electric Boats Read More »
