Bad neutral = high power consumption?
don_b_1
13 years ago
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billhart
13 years agowayne440
13 years agoRelated Discussions
High Rise Condo Living Room Layout
Comments (46)Honeycomb shades are quite energy efficient, but they are either up or down, not allowing you to control the sun as you could do with wood (or faux wood) blinds. Silhouette shades allow some view outside and are quite expensive. Wood has always been pretty good at insulating but wood blinds have no energy efficiency rating that I'm aware of, I presume because the rating people don't know if you'll have them open or closed. If you keep them closed when you're gone, they should work well for you and be quite affordable. They're not terribly contemporary looking, however. You could even consider metallic silver metal blinds which would look more contemporary. Your building may have rules and regs about what you can put on your windows. It would be good to talk to your neighbors to see what they have done....See MoreWould you ever put an elevator in your home?
Comments (132)Many good personal and future-minded reasons for adding an elevator here to agree with. I am building a 3-storey townhouse, and for me there are also other reasons: layout will have kind of an upside-down design where kitchen and living areas are on top, with bedrooms on middle floor. While an elevator's practical usefulness speaks for itself, there is also a psychological reason for it. Not just knowing I will be OK if my mobility fails but also, for example, having to let guests in on the ground floor and making them walk 2 flights up would not be a source of pride. So even if the stairs are still mostly used it will always be of comfort knowing the elevator is there. Also, since there will be an elevator I am OK not putting a powder room on top floor, because nobody will be forced to use stairs to reach a bathroom. But most no-brainer of all is elevators typically provide a positive return on investment if/when the house is sold. Which makes for good 'bidness sense....See MoreFabric softener in washer or dryer?
Comments (192)This is an old thread. And very odd to see such back and forth about environmental issues. I'm really surprised to find multiple people who have no interest in the subject and being hostile to people who do. But today, even though it's only a few years since this thread was published, I think there is even more reason to make smart decisions about the products we buy and bring into our homes. If you don't care about the environment, I would think you would care about your family's health. We are all overloaded with chemical exposure in our homes, at work and in the environment. Products made by companies whose primary concern is not anyone's health and well being. Profit is the bottom line. PR departments that cover up their lack of safety concerns. I haven't used fabric softener for decades, and after reading about it's effects on the website ewg dot org, I have even more reason not to use it. It is the Environmental Working Group that evaluates all kinds of products and the water we drink, etc. I've made a lot of changes to what I buy in the past two years, but fabric softener has been off my list for decades. I have always hated the fragrance added to clothes. When I pull clean clothes out of the wash or dryer, I want them to have no odor at all. Just clean. I do add white vinegar to the rinse cycle instead of softener. It helps to remove detergent residue and is supposed to do a little softening....See MorePool Power Cost
Comments (12)I live in SD CA where I believe we have the highest electric in the country at .35 per KLW. I have a 35x20 pool with a very old pump and it never goes over $50 a month. How can you possibly pay $1800 a month for an above ground pool??? What are your electric rates? A simple plastic bubble cover will raise your temps close to 10 degrees and cut your evaporation in at least 1/2. In between using a $100 cover and having a dark bottom we raised temps lost 15 degrees in a couple full days of sun. My pool easily gets close to 90 with nothing but the cover. Most states offer rebates for upgrading a pool pump. $1800 a month? How does that happen?...See Morepaulusgnome
13 years agofixizin
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13 years agodon_b_1
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13 years agoTim Collins
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