energy efficiency Archives – The Green Optimistic

20 free and cheap ways to improve energy efficiency at home

Matias Prieto — Mon, 13 May 2019 16:18:31 +0000

A simple attitude towards improving your home energy efficiency is to start with simple and cheap actions. Believe it or not, simple solutions might generate a big impact on your water or energy bill. So with the money saved, you can go on working on more ambitious projects. First, gather all your gas and electric […]

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NYC Plans to Increase Its Buildings’ Energy Efficiency

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 23:09:17 +0000

Despite US President Donald Trumps’s refutation of the Paris Climate Agreement and doubts on climate change, Mayor Bill de Blasio drives New York City to lead the fight against this global crisis. “We’re not waiting on President Trump and his cabinet of deniers to address this crisis. It is a sad statement that the actions […]

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How to Green Up Your Home Security Systems

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 18:13:33 +0000

Imagine this: small white fence, nice green lawn, some trees, a quite little and cozy house with two of three bedrooms, a nice handcrafted stone alley, a big red door, flowers everywhere, a swing entrance door. This might be my home, your home, or everyone else’s home. This is the place where families gather and […]

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DIY Energy-Saving Kitchen Design in 4 Steps

Annika Tostengard — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 06:50:42 +0000

Kitchen appliances are some of the most electricity-hungry devices in the home. Even seemingly small appliances like toaster ovens consume a surprising 0.75 kWh every hour. If a new kitchen renovation is in your future, or you’d like to start saving on your electricity bill every month, follow these five tip to make sure the kitchen […]

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8 New Ideas for Battery Technology in 2015

Annika Tostengard — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 06:48:19 +0000

Even though 2015 is only about halfway done, innovative new ideas for battery technology have been announced one after another this year. Though these entries are still just ideas, they have the potential to change battery technology completely. Below are the eight best innovations to be announced within the last quarter: 1. Solar Cells Integrated with […]

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5 Habits That Will Improve Your Home Energy Efficiency

Mila Luleva — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 12:48:45 +0000

Habits that ruin your home energy efficiency are easily acquired with all the daily tasks and duties we all have. However, energy-efficient homes have been trendy in the past few years, and people have been investing heavily into having good insulation or better building materials. Unfortunately, often, people do not even realize that they do […]

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How to Go Green This Year Without Spending Extra

Mila Luleva — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 14:21:09 +0000

It is never too late to go green, and there is no better time than the New Year. Unfortunately, it is a common misconception that being eco-friendly means you should invest in solar panels, or an expensive electric car. Well, it is not true, and here are ten tips how to go green for free, […]

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Aquanta, the Device that Makes Your Water Heater Smart

Mila Luleva — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 09:17:50 +0000

Water heaters have just joined the continuously expanding family of smart appliances thanks to a new controller. Meet Aquanta, a smart attachment that learns the habits of household members and adjusts the functions of the water heater accordingly. All standard water boilers come with one big disadvantage, as soon as hot water starts running through the tap, […]

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Flare: The Most Time-, Cost- and Energy-Efficient Cooking Pot

Mila Luleva — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 09:44:58 +0000

Cooking at home is great, and certainly a lot more healthy (for your body and your pocket) than eating out. Unfortunately, cooking takes up energy, and if you do not have solar panels on your roof-top, this could mean quite a high electric bill. But not if you use the Flare saucepan, the latest energy-efficient […]

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ASMO Smart Phone Charger Does Not Use Energy on Stand By

Mila Luleva — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 09:15:48 +0000

If there is one thing that wastes incredible amount of energy only by being plugged in and waiting to be used, that is the mobile phone charger. Thankfully, now there is ASMO, the first ever mobile phone charger that does not consume energy while on stand by. Everyone knows they have to unplug the charging […]

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Power Efficiency and Smart Grids the Only Step Forward

Benji Jerew — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 17:31:38 +0000

Smart grids have the potential to reduce our energy needs and reduce emissions and, indeed, could be the only way forward. For years, we’ve talked about improving energy efficiency. Reducing energy consumption reduces utility costs and strain on the power grid, as well as reduces emissions. Energy efficiency is only part of the story, though, […]

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World’s Smallest Laptop Adapter Could Increase Energy Efficiency

Danny Harper — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 07:33:39 +0000

The move to digital has been a win for the environment in many ways, but even with all the benefits that come with a reduction in many forms of traditional waste, electricity output per individual actually increasing. This makes the need for greater energy efficiency one of our most pressing concerns. The great minds at MIT are on […]

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NSA Now Interested In U.S. Waste to Power Data Centers

Mila Luleva — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 20:24:14 +0000

A wise person once said, the bathroom is the one and only sacred place, where you can retreat and be with your own thoughts, minding your own business. But if you thought that no one is interested in what you do there, you would be very mistaken. The U.S National Security Agency (NSA) seems to be desperate to […]

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Passivhaus Concept Changing How Homes are Built

Mila Luleva — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 18:02:37 +0000

Passivhaus, the one and only internationally recognized concept solely for its energy saving performance, has taken over the property market, as energy bills continue to increase. The buildings are self-sufficient, super isolated and air-tight, and are equipped with windows that harvest the energy from the sun. The first time people started talking about Passivhaus was […]

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8 Affordable Ways to Weatherproof Your Home

Leigh Hutchens — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 16:57:50 +0000

Whether it is winter or summer, one thing is certain – the temperature outside your home doesn’t match the temperature within, and unless your home is properly sealed and you have weatherproofed windows, the conditions outside have a big chance of affecting the inside. A leaky house affects the consumption for your heating and air […]

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Energy Efficiency More Important Than any Other “Fuel,” IEA Reports

Benji Jerew — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 22:03:16 +0000

With all the focus on renewable energy and alternative fuels, it seems that improving the energy efficiency of the technology we already have has fallen by the wayside. According to the International Energy Agency [IEA], energy efficiency is the world’s most important fuel, and small investments into improving energy efficiency have a huge impact, reducing […]

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Li-Fi Technology Could Provide Fast, Cheap and Energy-Efficient Internet Via LED Bulbs

Mila Luleva — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 18:22:50 +0000

Reading about new energy efficient technologies that can transform the world to a cleaner and greener place, with a lot less emissions and minimal air pollution, can never be tiresome and uninteresting. Probably this is one of the main reasons why scientists continue exploring and developing techniques and gadgets that can rely less on fossil […]

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Residential Homes More Energy Efficient, Thanks to Energy Research Group

Leigh Hutchens — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 02:30:20 +0000

The quality of homes and other existing buildings in Europe may be improved thanks to the ENEDI (Energy in Building) Group of the UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country, an autonomous community of northern Spain. ENEDI is working with the criteria set in place by European directives on thermal insulation, energy efficiency of buildings, general energy […]

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High Energy Demand Calls For High Energy Efficient Network Technologies

Mila Luleva — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 18:17:24 +0000

Developing a next-generation energy efficient core networks is the only solution to meeting the growing energy demand created as a result of current advances in technological developments. This is the conclusion of a round-table event organized by the Institute for Energy Efficiency at University of California, Santa Barbara, where leading members from the academia, government […]

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U.S. Energy Efficiency Increasing Slightly, ACEEE Study Shows

Benji Jerew — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 16:20:44 +0000

According to research just completed by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy [ACEEE], in spite of climate change legislation, the US has made only moderate progress in maximizing energy efficiency across the board. But wait, “Our vehicles are more energy efficient than ever before!” you may counter, and you’d be absolutely right. As […]

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This Is How Little Energy a Tesla Model S Consumes in a Drag Race

Ovidiu Sandru — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 05:22:02 +0000

When you race someone, a normal petrol-powered car will act normally: on acceleration it will sip a lot of gas, on deceleration it will heat the brakes up to the melting point (at times). DragTimes has shown what an electric Tesla Model S does in such a situation. Well, when you accelerate it eats electricity, […]

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Increased Energy Efficiency Could Cut Wireless Data Power Consumption by 90%

Benji Jerew — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:14:14 +0000

Take a look at your mobile device. Other than worrying about battery life and data plan overages, have you ever thought about the energy efficiency [or lack thereof] of the network itself? In our ever-increasingly connected world, many have come to rely on mobile data delivered by mobile-phone networks delivered to tablets, laptops, and smartphones. […]

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Energy Efficient Lighting Industry Blooming in 2013

Mila Luleva — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:52:23 +0000

The 2012 Energy-Efficient Lighting Industry survey conducted by the leading manufacturer Precision-Paragon was released last week, indicating that the industry expects growth in energy-efficient lighting revenue in 2013. More than 4,000 energy efficiency professionals took part in the annual survey. In the past few years, these experts have been extremely accurate in their predictions. Hence, the […]

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Cold Cities Less Energy-Efficient Than Warm Ones, Study

Mila Luleva — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:45:35 +0000

New research published in the latest issue of Environmental Research Letters, suggests that energy consumption and demands are much higher in cold cities. Dr. Michael Sivak, a scientist at the University of Michigan, estimated the difference in energy demand based on three key parameters- heating or cooling, heating and cooling efficiency of appliances, and efficiency of […]

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Green Walls Reduce Urban Pollution, Boost Energy Efficiency

Mila Luleva — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:03:03 +0000

Green walls have been acknowledged as one of the most effective ways to cut down city air pollution, improve building’s energy efficiency, reduce noise and at the same time give a warm green feel to the usually colorless city architecture. Imagine walking on the streets of a major city like Paris, battling your way through […]

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7 Tips on How to Renovate Your Home Energy-Efficiently

Mila Luleva — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 18:55:43 +0000

Renovating your home is always a pleasant activity, especially when the end result brings joy and comfort to the whole household. At The Green Optimistic, we would like to show you a few steps that will help you enjoy the benefits well into the future. Remaining true to ourselves, our tips to a better home […]

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Rethinking the Taxes Should Encourage Energy Efficiency

Mila Luleva — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:00:36 +0000

A new report issued by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) suggests that a tax reform could provide various opportunities to promote energy efficiency. In addition, the report proposes a number of crucial changes that should be made to the tax code, so that all barriers are removed by the Congress. According to […]

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How Supermarkets Could be More Energy-Efficient: Study

Mila Luleva — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:23:49 +0000

Imagine how much electricity is required to sustain a supermarket with numerous rows of refrigerators and hundreds of lamps that light up the huge space. Statistics show that big supermarket chains use around ten times the energy of a normal household. Now a new concept developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy […]

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DOW Corning’s Smart Glazing Makes for Building Efficiency

Benji Jerew — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 20:21:53 +0000

Hundreds of thousands of building operators around the world struggle with building efficiency, there are alternatives to current single-pane window technology. The problem is, while single-pane windows are extremely inefficient, replacing them could be prohibitively expensive. In the face of rising expenses, DOW Corning has devised a new window smart glazing that be be applied […]

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How to Make Your Home Energy Efficient in 6 Simple Steps

Mila Luleva — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 18:39:58 +0000

For most DIY lovers, having the chance to design and build their own house is like a dream come true. Now imagine you do that, but together with the pleasure of actually constructing your home, you can also make it energy efficient and save some extra cash! Today we decided to give you a few […]

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New Smart Electrochromatic Glass Makes for Efficient Green Buildings

Benji Jerew — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 07:40:59 +0000

Glass is a major part of most building design, allowing natural light and ambiance, as well as warming in the winter. In the summer, though, solar load can lead to increaesd use of air conditioning systems. The obvious solution, of course, is to draw the shades, but this requires someone to manually do it. A […]

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Koomey's Law Predicts Computer Energy Efficiency Doubling Every 18 Months

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 06:03:48 +0000

If you remember, in August I published an article about a researcher from Stanford who had discovered that the electricity consumption of datacenters worldwide didn’t double between 2005 and 2010, versus the period between 2000 and 2005, when it did. His name is Jonathan Koomey, and by now there’s a law wearing his name. “Koomey’s […]

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Cheaper OLED Technology Developed By German Researchers

Mike Sandru — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:13:43 +0000

The OLED (organic light emitting diode) technology has been known around for quite a while and lately its presence in the consumer products has been felt more intensively, though at a slower pace due to the costly manufacturing process.

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MERS Device Harnesses Residual Magnetic Power Produced by Electrical Current

Mike Sandru — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:42:39 +0000

After an experiment performed at a military hotel in Tokyo, the system called Magnetic Energy Recovery Switch (MERS) racked up a peak power savings of 39 percent. Now, researchers want that MERS to be implemented in the entire facility by next year, including the printing room, offices, gym, laundry and a break room.

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New Kind of Magnetic Solder Eliminates Toxic Lead

Mike Sandru — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:12:56 +0000

A group of scientists at the Yale University have created a new type of magnetic, lead-free solder that could be used to manufacture electronics more efficiently and cheaply.

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Indian Government Proposed a Coal Tax for Using in Renewable Energy Projects

Mike Sandru — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:52:17 +0000

This tax would produce an annual revenue of around $600 million. According to the National Clean Energy Fund, Mukherjee, the coal is the "mainstay of India's energy sector", being 75% of the country's power generation.

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Thermeleon: Roof Turning from Black to White as Temperature Changes

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:44:30 +0000

While attending a competition for teams of MIT students, Making and Designing Materials Engineering Contest (MADMEC), a team of students and fresh-graduates have shown an invention that could turn the old roof tiles into chameleon-like tiles, turning from black to white and vice-versa as temperatures get low, respectively high.

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Google Planning to Improve Solar Thermal Plants for Cheap Electricity

Mike Sandru — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:30:45 +0000

Google Inc is planning to develop its own mirror technology for solar energy that could be more cheaper and accessible to the masses, reducing the cost of building solar thermal plants by a quarter or more.

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Tesla's Wireless Power Transmission Reinvented by Witricity

Mike Sandru — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:45:33 +0000

Eric Giler, chief executive of US firm Witricitywireless, talks about a new system that can deliver power to devices without the need for wires. The new system exploits simple physics principles and can be used to charge a range of electronic devices over several meters.

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Sugar Cube-Sized Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

Mike Sandru — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 07:20:11 +0000

The world's smallest solid-oxide fuel cell(SOFC), as small as sugar cube, was recently developed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). The sugar cube-sized SOFC is is operable at 550°C.

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