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Lo-Flo Faucets Are IN
Posted on May 2nd, 2011 No commentsAs environmentalists, we know our three R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle. We also understand that the three R’s are listed in their order of importance. Reduction of resource usage therefore plays a paramount role in our lives.
Arguably, the important natural resource is water. 60% of our body mass is composed of water. Without water, life would not exist. However, North American society seems oblivious to its value. Everyday, each North American uses over 380 liters of water.
Is this truly necessary? No. The French use half of what we use, and the British one sixth. What are some strategies that we can adopt, to reduce our water usage?
Lo-flo faucets and showerheads effectively reduce water usage, without inconveniencing your washing. How do they work? Most lo-flo faucets have a ring or a series of small holes, through which air can pass. The water, as it flows from the pipe into the faucet, mixes with the surrounding air.
Aeration increases the apparent volume and pressure of the water. For example, although the actual water output through a lo-flo faucet may be 2 gallons per minute, it will feel similar to a regular faucet flowing at 4 gallons per minute. Of course, if you were collecting the water in a glass to drink, you would notice the difference. But for washing hands and dishes, lo-flo faucets are great.
A normal faucet or showerhead emits between 5 to 9 gallons of water per minute. A lo-flo faucet or showerhead, on the other hand, reduces that figure to 2.5 gallons per minute. An extremely efficient lo-flo showerhead, such as the One Gallon per Minute Showerhead from Bricor, is even greener.
Many people have commented that the sensation of water spraying against skin is highly agreeable. Thus, many lo-flo showerheads have additional pressurizing technology. The holes through which the water is forced may be smaller; the showerhead may employ a valve or a partial vacuum; the end goal is to reproduce the feeling of pressure.
Another nice function that comes with most lo-flo showerheads is the pause button. When soaping or shampooing, many leave the shower running, for a sense of warmth, or simply out of laziness. Readjusting the water temperature is time-consuming. The pause button could either turn the full spray into a modest trickle, or stop the flow entirely. No need to readjust the temperature, but no need to waste water either.
Lo-flo faucets and showerheads are excellent, but imperfect. A common complaint about lo-flow faucets and showerheads is the decreased temperature of the water. However, the difference is generally quite insignificant, and usually unnoticeable.
Are lo-flo faucets and showerheads affordable? Absolutely. In fact, their prices do not differ significantly from their hi-flo peers. Take a look at these low-flo
faucets and showerheads for comparison.
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Why a Hybrid?
Posted on May 1st, 2011 No commentsGlobal warming and the combustion of petroleum fuels are two huge concerns for environmentalists. To combat these two problems, we are frequently encouraged to drive less, and to drive more efficiently. Since the early 2000s, the auto industry has seen a trend toward more fuel-efficient cars—and a dramatic increase in hybrid vehicle sales.
What is a hybrid vehicle? A hybrid automobile uses more than one type of energy to move itself. Most commonly, hybrid vehicle refers to a hybrid electric vehicle, such as the Toyota Prius, and the Honda Insight. These vehicles contain both an internal combustion engine, as well as an electric motor.
The reasons for choosing a hybrid vehicle are not immediately obvious. However, let’s compare fuel efficiencies. A minivan may get about 16 miles per gallon in the city, and around 22 miles per gallon on the freeway. A fuel-efficient subcompact, may get about 27 miles per gallon in the city, and 34 miles per gallon on the freeway.
The subcompact sounds pretty good. However, let’s take fuel efficiency to another level with a hybrid. The most popular hybrid vehicle in today’s market, gets 48 miles in the city, and 45 miles on highways. With the same volume of fuel, the hybrid can go almost triple the distance of a minivan.
You may have noticed something unusual about the popular Hybrid stats: it runs more efficiently in the city than on the freeway. All hybrid vehicles share this characteristic. While traditional cars burn gasoline uselessly at red lights, modern hybrids share what is called the start-stop system.
The hybrid’s internal combustion engine automatically shuts off when the vehicle is not moving, to conserve gas. When the car needs to start moving again, the engine restarts. The start-stop system can save 5-10% fuel.
Also integral to the hybrid’s success is its use of regenerative braking. When the brakes are applied in a traditional car, the kinetic energy of the car is bled off as heat. In a hybrid, however, such energy is too precious to waste. The braking system uses the kinetic energy to charge the car’s battery.
Often, the gasoline pumped into the hybrid is not directly used to propel the car. Instead, the internal combustion engine, by burning the gasoline, charges the car battery, which then runs the car’s electric motor. This results in much greater efficiency.
Because the internal combustion engine is not frequently used to propel the car, it is smaller than that of a pure gasoline vehicle. Consequently, a hybrid vehicle’s internal combustion engine releases fewer emissions. Another consequence of the electric motor is the silence. Hybrids are known as very quiet vehicles. However, to achieve high speeds, the internal combustion engine must supplement the electric motor, resulting in slightly more noise.
Hybrids are inexpensive, some selling for $18000 to $28 000. Easy to maintain, they are not only fun to drive, but cheap to drive! In fact, one particular Hybrid has monopolized the Vancouver taxi industry.