A couple of weeks ago I discussed the Nest Thermostat. (See that article here.) One of the questions I have when I see something like this is whether there is return on investment (ROI) or in the case of green technology, is it Green That Saves Green?
According to Remodeling Magazine a programmable thermostat has a payoff in 1-10 years depending on the thermostat installed and the situation in which it will be used. I’ve included some bare bones excerpts here, but for the complete article, check out page 40 in the November 2012 issue of Remodeling Magazine here.
Programmable Thermostat – Materials: $50-$350, Labor: 1-3 hrs, Estimated ROI: <1yr – 10yr
Low Flow Faucets & Fixtures – Materials: $1-$500+, Labor: 15 min – 4 hrs, Estimated ROI: <1yr – 5yr
Tankless Water Heater – Materials: $1,500-$3.500, Labor: 4-8 hr, Estimated ROI: 5yr – 15yr
Air Sealing – Materials: $50-$6,000, Labor: 4-40 hrs, Estimated ROI: <1yr – 8yr
Insulation – Materials: $200-$10,000, Labor: 4-100 hrs, Estmated ROI: 5yr – 15yr
On Demand Circulation Pump – Materials: $50-$150, Labor: 4-6hrs, Estimated ROI: 1yr – 2yr+
* The labor estimates above do not include travel time.
It’s pretty well known that an easy way to save energy (and money!) is to turn your thermostat down. To do this without being there, the choice has always been the programmable thermostat. These come in several varieties with the ultimate being a seven day programmable stat which allowed you to program different settings for weekdays and weekends. The problem has always been the programming. Even on the best of these units, it wasn’t easy.
The Nest Thermostat has eliminated the programming part of this equation by introducing a learning mode. Yes, it saves time and money by learning your household patterns and programming itself.
On top of the self-programming features, if you have a wireless network, the device can be accessed from the web through your computer or smart phone. Forgot to set it to vacation mode before you hit the road? No problem. Making a quick trip up to the cottage and want it warmed up or cooled off before you get there? Easy! Wake up in the middle of the night with that bad feeling about pipes freezing at the cottage? Log on and check it out!
Now in it’s second generation, the Nest thermostat is sleek and stylish. It doesn’t look like your typical thermostat and it catches your eye with it’s cobalt blue face and reflective metal surround. The second generation has added more compatibility with different types of heating and cooling systems, it has reduced the depth of its profile and it is still available for $249 at Amazon.com Not exactly a cheap device, but it does a lot!
Lennox offers their Icomfort Wi-Fi touchscreen thermostat which takes advantage of remote monitoring as well. It provides the accessibility, but not the learning functions or the accessibility to as many other heating and cooling systems available with the Nest. It’s not quite as stylish in my opinion. It is also more expensive, listed at $299 at Bonanza.com
In either case, in the long run, I think this is Green That Saves Green. If you aren’t using a programmable thermostat and by starting save $20 per month, you will have it paid off in a couple of years. From there on it is money back in your pocket.
I have an attic fan on my house. It is a solar fan with a thermostat so that it will vent hot air in the summer when I want to cool the attic, but not in the winter when heat in the attic is positive for energy savings. Unfortunately the one I have is located on west side of the ridge so it only gets sun in the afternoons.
The Master Flow Green Machine Solar Powered Ridge Vent sits on the ridge. This has the advantage of being at the highest point so it takes out the hottest air as well as being in a position to get the maximum amount of sunlight.
I would consider this Green that saves Green…
A window salesman’s pitch put Daniel Linley on a quest to prove that new windows would be more energy efficient than old windows. But in his six-grade science fair project at Pinewood Elementary the old windows won, and so did Daniel’s project – at the school, local and regional levels. Daniel also took home the Servaas Memorial Award and accompanying $1,000 prize from Indiana Landmarks. Read the rest of this article at the Indiana Landmarks website here.
The U-Socket from FastMac features built-in USB ports. It is available in Decora style (shown to the right) and standard style. With so many smart phones, iPhones, gaming devices and other items that charge from USB style adapters, you need a place to charge without having to search out your charger or having to turn on your computer. U-Socket provides this.
U-Socket’s built-in smart sensor automatically detects required wattage and only outputs power when it’s needed and shuts off when it’s fully charged. This makes it a green solution as most chargers continue to try and charge when the device is fully charged or even when the device has been disconnected. Stoppng this kind of “Vampire Drain” is an easy energy saving solution.
We’re going to suggest this device for home office locations and for those counters in the kitchen or near the door where everything gets dropped when you enter your home. Personally, I’ve started using my phone as an alarm clock and the duplex I plug into isn’t conveniently accessible. That means I don’t unplug the charger during tthe day. This appears to be a great solution for this everyday problem.
For more about the costs of vampire drain and how to prevent it, check out the article at the Department of Energy site here.