Occupancy Sensor Switches

I recently installed occupancy sensors in my pantry, workshop, bathroom closet, and upstairs bathroom.  I don't normally leave a room with the lights on, but it has been a pleasant change to have the lights turn on and off automatically.  Who knew such a quick and easy upgrade would be so exciting?  Occupancy sensor switches can be install where the current light switch is in about ten minutes.  Please be sure to work safely around electricity and call an electrician where required by law.

If you or your children have a habit of leaving the lights on, you can save a lot of energy by installing these simple switches.  Closets, bathrooms, laundry rooms, garages and children's rooms are great places to install occupancy sensors.  Sensor are available in many price points and options.  Most include adjustable settings for length of time the light is on.  Others include dimmers and on/off override switches.  There is a great selection of switches from $15 - $50.  Dimming an incandescent bulb by just 10 percent can save up to 20 percent on energy and greatly increase the life of the bulb.

Home Energy Savings

Spring Has Sprung

When pruning flowering trees in spring, bring some of the branches inside and place in water.  The heat in your home with force the branches to bloom.  An easy way to celebrate the changing of seasons and bring beauty inside.

Natural Air Purifiers

As we continue to make our houses more air tight with greater insulation, it is important to have an electronic ventilation system to provide fresh air. For better health in these homes, houseplants can increase the oxygen and even purify the air of VOCs including benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. NASA completed a study of the best air-filtering houseplants.

 The list includes:

Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata "Bostoniensis")

English Ivy (Hedera helix)

Mother-in-law's Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Areca palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)

Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii)

Golden pothos (Scindapsus aures or Epipremnum aureum)

Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)

Kimberly queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis sp.)

Nest Thermostat

Genius is the ability to reduce the complicated to the simple.

The new generation of thermostat is here.  There is wait list for the Nest thermostat.  It took about two weeks to receive an invitation to purchase.  Nest programs itself to help you save energy.  It even included a sensor to turn off when you leave your home and can be turned on through your smart phone.  Nest cost $250 and can easily be installed by a homeowner.

Quick Fix - Shower Savings

The great thing about beginning to retrofit green is there are often many easy and inexpensive changes that can make a big difference.  We will talk about water circulation systems in a future post.  Before you take on a larger project, its nice to take small steps.  In the shower, you can save water and energy by installing a shower shut-off valve.

Danco Valve

The valves cost between $5-10 and the project takes 30 minutes to complete.  After installation, simply turn the water off at the valve while shampooing, lathering or shaving.  Complete instructions are available at Lifehacker.  This can cut your water and energy use significantly without having to rush your shower.  It is often overlooked that, even if you are not in a water sensitive area, using less hot water also contributes to big energy savings.

For added water savings, collect water in a bucket while the shower heats up.  This clean water can be used to water houseplants or vegetable garden.