Household's Energy Efficiency Search Results

How To: Prune tomato plants to increase production

One way to increase production in tomato plants is pruning. Pruning your tomato plants will decrease the amount of energy needed for leaf production and increase the amount of energy that goes into your tomato, which provides a a larger and better tasting tomato. Trimming off branches that are not used and are not in direct sunlight achieves more efficiency by directing sugars into the fruit and not into the other branches. Watch this time lapse how-to video, follow along with the tips, and s...

How To: Make your own magic rollback can

This fun little toy can be made with household items. No extra purchases necessary! Amuse your friends and befuddle your pets with this can that seems to roll back to you when you give it a push. It'll seem wrong, but only you will know the secret!

How To: Replace a programmable thermostat with Lowe's

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to replace and install a programmable thermostat. The materials required for this project are: a screwdriver, masking tape, marking pencil and batteries. Begin by turning off the power of the furnace. Then remove the face of the old thermostat and detach the labeled wires. Now remove the wall plate. Then mount the plate of the new unit and connect the wires to the corresponding codes. Finish by inserting batteries, placing the face plate on the wall p...

News: Scientists Turn Bacteria into Mini Cyborg Solar Panels

Plants all around us capture sunlight every day and convert it to energy, making them a model of solar energy production. And while the energy they make may serve the needs of a plant, the process isn't efficient enough to generate power on a larger scale. So, scientists from the University of California found a way to treat bacteria with chemicals that turned them into photosynthesis machines, capable of generating products we can convert into food, fuels, and plastics.

How To: Help NASA Write Code to Fix the International Space Station and You Could Win $10,000!

The International Space Station is a habitable man-made satellite currently in orbit around the Earth. Launched in 1998, the ISS is used mainly as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory where astronauts perform experiments in large variety of fields, including biology and physics. In order to be hospitable for crew members and scientists, the ISS needs energy. To do this, the station uses its solar panels to capture rays of sun and power the station up. In order to garner th...

News: This Giant Glass Globe Turns Moon and Sunlight into Power—Possibly Even Solar Death Rays!

André Broessel of rawlemon has developed a solar energy generator that can use both sun and moonlight to create usable power. Oh... and it's gorgeous. The device is essentially a huge glass sphere filled with water that uses a ball lens to refract light in a way that increases energy efficiency by 35 percent. It's completely weatherproof and has an optical tracking device, meaning that it can be incorporated into architecture. Here's a concept design of how it could be used to power buildings...

How To: Make a sturdy energy sword from Halo out of paper

If you're a huge fan of the Halo franchise, then you're defnitely going to love this next tutorial. First introduced in Halo: Combat Evolved, the energy sword was a mighty weapon that the covenant carried to help kill enemies. It wasn't until Halo 2, were you able to use the sword yourself. In this multi video series tutorial, you'll find out how to make your own sturdy energy sword using basic materials. It's fun to create and can be used to cosplay. So sit back and enjoy!

How To: Inspect a boiler in a home

This is a great instructional video on how to do inspect a boiler at home. A home inspection must include the boiler and heating system. What you need to look for are corrosion, pressure and blockages. When you buy or sell a house it is better to go in for a boiler inspection. The condition of a boiler depends on many factors. The age factor is also one of the reasons that cause the efficiency of the boiler decrease considerably. If there is some leakage in the pipes it might affect the press...

How To: Reduce water and energy while doing laundry

Here are a few simple solutions to help you save money and reduce your water and energy consumption. By washing your clothes in cold water you can save ninety percent of the energy normally expended in doing a load of laundry. If you do laundry before 9am or after 9pm you can allow energy companies to utilize more efficient renewable energy.

How To: Make a paper colt pistol using household materials

If you're interested in owning a colt pistol, but don't have the money or proper paper work needed, you can always make one from scratch. Of course, in this tutorial, you'll find out how to make one using just paper and other household materials. It may not be the exact thing, but you can always tell your friends that you own a colt pistol. (Made of paper.) Anyway, good luck and enjoy!

How To: Strengthen your career path with feng shui at home

Elizabeth Chamberlain with Space Lift demonstrates how to strengthen your career path with feng shui at home. First, find your focus room with your energy map by laying the energy map on top of your home floor plan. The career area is in the front center section of your home, along the line of your front door. In feng shui, all the energy enters through your front door. Encourage the energy up to your front door with your front yard. Feng shui means "wind water" which is the best way that ene...

How To: Improve the efficiency of your air conditioner

Window and portable air conditioners use a lot of power to do their work. Make sure you're getting what you pay for by cleaning your air conditioner out periodically. The cleaning costs are negligible and can save you a lot of money. In this two-part tutorial series, you'll learn how to make your air conditioning units run as they should. Remember to be careful; air conditioners can be heavy. Get help if you need it and, of course, unplug the air conditioner before doing anything seen in this...

How To: Save energy and money by changing your light bulbs

Saving energy is as easy as 1,2,3! There are various places in your home where you can spend money on that will not only save you energy, but money as well. One of the most common and easiest places is the light fixtures. From sconces, to lamps, to the lights above your dining room table, these lights can be replaced with more energy efficient lights easily. They cost a bit more, but in the long haul will save you money and help leave a smaller footprint on this planet.

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