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Advantages of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs



One of the biggest things that goes with the need for light is light bulbs and for the most part these can use up a considerable amount of power. There are alternatives. These alternatives include fluorescent light bulbs. Up until a little less than 20 years ago, there were no fluorescent based light bulbs that could be used inside a regular lamp.

The only ones that were available where the long or short tubes that most people still think of as fluorescent lighting, compact fluorescent light bulbs however can provide your home with energy efficient lightening. These compact fluorescent light bulbs can save you hundreds of dollars a year when it comes to your electric bill and in the process eliminate tons of green house gases. They also tend to last longer than traditional light bulbs making their price more affordable.

These types of light bulbs are going to look like a fluorescent tube that has been bent and twisted into something similar to the size of a regular light bulb. They are not however and while they do have a standard base allowing them to be used in the same socket as a regular light bulb, they may have difficult fitting due to height or width.

They are still difficult to dispose of because of the mercury so like regular fluorescents you do not just want to throw them in the trash. However, the amount of energy they save does make it worth while to dispose of them properly. Recent years have seen a slight drop in price and since they can last longer than a regular bulb and take up considerably less energy while providing a cleaner and brighter light they are well worth it.

The average life for compact fluorescent light bulbs is between 8-15 times greater than a standard incandescent light bulb. This means they are rated for between 6,000-15,000 hours.

These lights are made to be left on for longer periods of time so keep this in mind when lighting your house you can reduce a compact fluorescent light bulbs lifespan by 85% simply by turning it off within the first five minutes of operation. In order to prevent this leave the light on for at least 15 minutes. If you know, you have an area, which has shorter lighting time consider using regular light bulbs on these lighting areas.

Fluorescent light bulbs can create a great deal of benefit for you. They produce a cleaner more natural light as a result; they often appear brighter than regular lights. They take less energy to run making them safer for the environment even if they do need to be disposed of properly and cannot just be thrown away.

You should consider the lighting situation before placing the light bulbs, as there are some fixtures, which may not have the room for these types of light bulbs.

You can be on your way to saving not only the environment but also money and energy through the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs.

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Tankless Water Heaters Guide



People do not heat their homes when they are away so why keep hot water aroundthat you are not using. Tankless water heaters provide water at a rate of 2-5 gallons per minute. This is enough to do anything you need; however, it may not be enough hot water to supply the entire house if you are doing things at the same time such as washing dishes and showering. To solve this there are two solutions.

The first solution is to install a unit for each appliance that is going to be using hot water. This means each one will have water heated separately and so the drain on the overall system will be less. The other option is to install a whole home tankless water heater. While more expensive, it will supply enough water that you are able to run multiple appliances that need hot water at the same time without creating a water shortage or straining the system.

There are two ways that tankless water heaters are supplied with the energy they need to heat water- gas or electric. While they still use regular power sources they are not maintaining a supply of heated water and as a result do not use the same amount of power that a tank hot water system uses. You also do not have to worry about the maintenance that is required to make sure that tanks maintain fresh and clean water. You also do not have to worry about the chance of a tank rupture and the resulting flood and replacement. These are not appliances that can be installed on their own so a qualified professional will be needed.

There are a number of benefits that come with using tankless water heaters. You can install them near to the appliance they are going to be used for, if you are using smaller tankless water heaters eliminating the wait time for hot water to come though the pipes. This is something that has to be done whether you are using tankless or tank water systems. For an average home, you could be between 24-34% more energy efficient and that can increase to as much as 50% if you install a water heater for each of the hot water outlets in your home.

If you are looking for ways to save money and provide your home with hot water on demand, then consider the advantages of using tankless water heaters in your home.

(More Tankless Water Heater Resources Coming Soon!)

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Solar Water Distillation – Water Purification Using Solar Power



Using the energy from the sun to generate electricity is, thankfully, getting a lot more press lately. But there are many other applications for solar power. One of the most important is for treating water.

Many countries around the world have impure water that causes diarrhea, typhus and other medical problems. The same is true of certain areas of the U.S. and other developed countries. Building small devices that can eliminate the problem is cost effective using current technology. Individuals can even build their own.

Solar disinfection, or SODIS as it’s sometimes known, uses a very simple principle. It’s essentially the same as that used to pasteurize milk. Microorganisms that cause health problems can only function in liquids up to a certain temperature. Beyond that, even when they’re not killed, they are deactivated. Amoebas, bacteria and many other small disease-causing organisms can be rendered harmless by this method.

And, implementing the method can be ultra simple. A gallon of water in a plastic jug can be treated in a few hours. Simply place the water in a clear, plastic bottle, preferably on a black background to ensure good absorption, and place it in the sun. On a sunny day the process may take less than three hours if the water is moderately clear to begin with. River water, obtained while hiking for example, can be treated this way.

PET plastic is preferable to PVC plastic for this application. PVC, polyvinyl chloride, type plastics have a slightly bluish cast. They block more UV, which is a more energetic form of light, and hence reduce the effectiveness of this method of water treatment.

There are other methods of solar-powered water treatment, too.

A solar water still can be bought or built for a few hundred dollars or less that will treat considerably more water than jugs. They’re usually made in the form of a rectangular container a few inches deep with a glass panel up the side and a siphon hose. The container is often covered with plastic. Glass blocks much of the UV.

As the sunlight heats the water, the moisture evaporates up and condenses on the relatively cooler glass above. The siphon hose draws off some of the water, which is not only freer of organisms, but contains fewer minerals and other compounds, such as chlorine.

The principle is basically the same as that used in desalination plants around the world.

Many locales have little drinkable water but large amounts of salt water readily available. Transforming the salt water into potable water employs the same evaporation technique, but generally on a much larger scale in desalination plants. Only a small amount of salt water can be consumed before it does damage to the kidneys. That’s one major reason that seawater has killed more than one sailor who found himself in the ocean trying to survive.

Solar radiation can kill pathogens in water and it can provide drinkable water in specialized applications. In short, solar power can generate clean water, just as it can generate pollution-free electricity.

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