Eco Friendly Insulating Paint Additive

Eco friendly paint additives are the buzzwords of modern day society. Fueled by constant demands for energy saving products coupled with a psychological desire to limit the damage being caused to our environment through our actions and daily lifestyles. These products promise to be the future answer to some of these problems.

Products of text book marketing theory referred to as "social marketing" for those in the industry. These products are the result of socio-economic demands as an essential component in the complete insulation of homes, building and other premises. Combining the other buzzword of modern day society - convenience, the product ranges are on the whole efficient, effective and very simple to use. Typically applied by adding to paint and away you go, is the claim made by leading manufacturer and distributor Thermilate, based in the UK.

In using such products society will benefit with a win-win situation. Benefits to consumers of such products are the energy saving they promise, which can be as high as 25%. This in turn impacts on costs and provides users with greater control over the temperature in their homes and other buildings where used. The gains for the environment are the resultant reduction in the usage of damaging carbon fuels, one only has to imagine the millions of homes and buildings out there to visualise what the impact on the environment of the absence of such products has been thus far.

These products work by reducing the amount of heat escaping through walls, which many people have yet to realise are a major form of heat loss in their homes or buildings. Social marketing messages to inform consumers across the world about heat loss through windows proved very successful in the 1970's and 1980's backed by multi million pound marketing campaigns. However, in time it has transpired that the messages were incomplete and failed to inform consumers about the heat loss through their walls, which ironically can be far greater than that which takes place through their windows.

How do they work?

Although technologically advanced and safe to use, these paint additives are amazingly simple in their application. Leading eco-friendly additives company Thermilate stated, "they work by reducing the amount of heat escaping through walls via their insulation and reflection properties. The technology has taken years to develop and the resulting product is highly effective."

Heat loss is a fairly simple process - the walls, roofs and flooring are not impenetrable and they allow significant heat loss. These additives are featured in a multitude of journals. Products such as those mentioned above can slow down this process and inhibit this heat loss permanently.

The technology is based on simple micro-spheres, which create an invisible vacuum effect and thus reflect the heat back into the house, creating a double glazing effect for walls. The brand leader in the industry says its products have proved to reduce significant energy losses and energy consumption when these products were utilized. He is very excited about the future of this technology, particularly in its contribution to the global effort on climate change.

Off course the reverse is also true, these products also prevent heat entering a building in hot climates therefore keeping buildings much cooler, which anybody from such a climate will appreciate is a major problem and in doing so saving on air conditioning costs and creating a far more comfortable living environment.

It is recommended that as your first port of call you Google Thermilate. Its many applications are already assisting in the global effort for climate change. The success or failure of the global climate change strategy is hinged upon the cumulative success of individual efforts which will impact on our collaborative environment in the years to come.

Fuel Saving Vehicles - Tips to Convert Your Car to Save Gasoline

How to convert a car to become a fuel saving vehicle? With the current high gasoline prices, many people are searching for simple and practical ways to save fuel. One suggestion to save energy cost is to alter a vehicle to run on water energy. This article will shed some light on the science behind this concept.

The idea behind water fuel is to use one of the component of water which is hydrogen gas (H2) as a supplemental energy source for a car. From basic science, we know that water is made from 2 molecules of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen. H2 can be separated from water with a simple electrolysis device. When the device is wired to the car battery, the electricity current passing through water will generate hydrogen gas bubbles.

The next phase is to vent the H2 into the engine air intake system. The idea is to deliver the hydrogen gas into the combustion chambers to be mixed with gasoline vapor. The enriched mixture will produce a higher engine output due to the high potency of hydrogen gas. Higher engine yield will make the car travel further thus increasing its mileage and ultimately saving cost. As an added benefit, the only by product of using water fuel is pure water vapor discharged into the exhaust pipe.

A car can easily be converted into a fuel saving vehicle. The process can be done by installing an electrolysis kit to the engine. Most of the parts needed for the conversion can be easily obtained from a hardware store. What you will need is some hand tools and a step by step instructional guide. It may take you a couple of hours to finish the project. With the benefits of long term fuel saving, it is worth while to convert your car to run on water fuel.

Would you like to know how to create your own Fuel Saving Vehicle? The system has been proven to save up to 57% on fuel and can double the gas mileage of a vehicle. Read the reviews on top online resources to convert your car to run on water at http://www.water-car-review.info

Be Energy Efficient No Matter Where You Are

Are you super energy efficient at home but you want to do more? Take your energy efficient habits with you everywhere you go and save even more energy. Before you know it, you may have others following your example.

Take It To Work

Everything you do at home can work at the office. As an employee, you probably don't pay the electric bill, but you can still help the environment by saving energy. Encourage your co-workers to join you and you may be surprised how quickly others will help. Once you start talking, you can encourage each other and come up with even more ideas.

Some companies will also recognize and reward energy saving efforts. After all, it saves them money. If your company does not already have one in place, propose a program. Many managers will be open to the idea, especially if you volunteer to organize it! It addition to motivating everyone to save energy, such a program can be good for a company's image.

Help Your Friends and Family Save Energy

If you're visiting someone's home and notice an opportunity for them to save energy and money, tell them about it. Even if your friends and family aren't as interested as you in helping the environment by saving energy, they will appreciate the money they will save by using less energy.

So how do you bring up saving energy in conversation? Talk about energy saving improvements you've made or new programs going on at work. Bring up the benefits you and your office are enjoying. Discuss new project ideas you have and get others talking by asking for opinions and input.

Join A Club

Getting together with like-minded people can help motivate everyone involved and give you more energy saving ideas. It's also nice to know you are not the only person who thinks saving energy is important. Many national and international organizations have local chapters you can join or you can find groups in your area at meetup.com and greendrinks.org. At meetup.com, people create groups for whatever interests them, including sustainability and greendrinks.org is where you'll find out about informal monthly meetings. These Green Drink meetings are open to anyone interested in sustainability. If you don't find a group in your area, start one! Or, join an online group or forum and chat over the Internet.

You can save energy wherever you are and it's so much more fun and productive when you can share it with others. At work, at home, even with new friends; save energy, save money and have fun!

Make Your Home Energy Efficient is a free website filled with ideas for making any home Energy Efficient on any budget.

Energy Saving Lamps - Benefits and Drawbacks

What are Energy Saving Bulbs?

Conventional filament bulbs (including halogens) give out less than 20% of the energy they use as light, the rest is heat. Thus, they are not efficient for the purpose for which they are designed. Some people argue that this has hidden benefits, because they contribute to the heating of the room they are in. I think this does not stand up to close scrutiny for two reasons: (a) you often need light in summer, when you do not want heat (b) as most light bulbs are near the top of a room, and hotter air is at the top anyway, they mainly keep the top warm, and little heat gets lower down where it is more useful.

More efficient bulbs (energy saving bulbs) have been available for many years. These have been traditionally compact fluorescents, and these are still the most common form of energy saving bulb. Early types were not so popular, because they were big, took a considerable time to reach full brightness and were expensive. They have been improved, so that they are now much smaller, reach full brightness in a matter of seconds or less, and are considerably cheaper.

The next generation of energy saving bulbs will be 'light emitting diode' types (LEDs). These are an order of magnitude more efficient again, but at the present stage of development, they are not bright enough for most lighting. Some LED bulbs are starting to become practical alternatives though; notably those designed to replace GU10 or MR16 halogen bulbs. If you are considering this, you should note that the white LED bulbs have a slightly bluish tinge, which is quite attractive, but may look odd if mixed with other types of light. Another advantage of LEDs is they are available in colours, at no extra cost.

What Types of Energy Saving Bulbs are Available?

There is now an energy saving bulb, of one type or another, that will replace any common household bulb, with the exception of capsule halogens - these are the very small halogens, that look like a capsule. If you want to use energy saving bulbs, avoid light fittings that take this kind of bulb.

Some fittings will take energy saving bulbs only, so you have no choice. Recent building regulations in the UK stipulate that a certain proportion of lighting in new builds must be energy saving. Thus, fittings are put in that will only take this type of bulb. It is unfortunate that these bulbs tend to be more expensive than those which replace ordinary bulbs, probably because there is greater demand for the latter.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Energy Saving Bulbs

The benefits can be summarised as follows:
They use about one-fifth the electricity of filament lamps (less in the case of LEDs).
They last at least six times longer than filament lamps (much more in many cases).
They run cooler, so do not damage light fittings as much as filament lamps, so higher light outputs can be used, e.g. a lampholder which takes a maximum of 60W filament lamp, will take an 18W or more low energy bulb, giving the equivalent of 100W or more lighting.
Over the lifetime of the bulb, there will be considerable savings on electricity bills, and thus carbon emissions associated with electricity consumption.

Possible drawbacks are:
Usually they are more expensive to buy in the first place, but this cost is quickly recouped.
Compact fluorescents are not available in clear, only white or coloured.
Most (but not all) are bigger in size than conventional bulbs.
Cannot be used with dimmer switches (except the new type of dimmable compact fluoescents).
Most security light manufacurers (with PIRs) advise against their use, but with modern CFLs I have used them in security lights with no ill effects; they take a little longer to come on, but this is not usually a problem unless a couple of seconds is important.

Typical Savings

These figures are based on typical UK costs of 8p per unit of electricity (a kWhr) with a bulb on for 4 hours per day average and a bulb lifetime of 8000 hours, compared with 1000 hours for a conventional bulb. (You can get longer life bulbs of both types, but they cost more). I have taken a 20W low energy bulb and an equivalent 100W conventional bulb. The costs of the bulbs have been taken from the author's website.

Running costs alone save 9.34 per year.
Running and replacement costs over lifetime of the low energy bulb (5.5 years) 53.18 - this is equivalent to a saving of about one-quarter of a tonne of CO2 emissions.

And this is just for one bulb. Imagine the savings if all your bulbs were replaced.

Good for your electricity bills and good for the environment.

Barrie Newton B.Sc. Owner of Rhyl Lightworks Co http://www.thelightworks.net or for information on energy saving light bulbs: http://www.thelightworks.net/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=37_73

1. Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings

How efficient are front-load washing machines? When is it time to replace your old refrigerator? These questions and many more are answered in The Consumer Guide to Home Energy.

2. Energy Efficient Homes For Dummies
One of the best and most affordable strategies people can employ to combat global warming is to improve the energy and water efficiency of their homes.