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Well, it is hard to ignore the advertising and the deals available. I have been asked many times which is better, LCD or Plasma and it is usually followed by a nod and "LCD right?"

Well, the question might be a little harder than just which is better. The total cost of ownership might be more useful for some people. Remember, it will depend on how much your TV is "on" that will decide how cost effective one is vs the other. Don't forget, a TV is a visual display device, how it looks to you is probably the most important.

Hopefully the two charts above will enlighten you when you are making a decision. I gathered the data from several sources including the EPA website, Greentoday, Engadget and the Plasma TV Buying Guide. Keep in mind that the above charts compare units that were made prior to the new energy regulations and represent the average of their categories, not one particular brand.

I hope this is helpful.

As you probably know by now, heat is often produced by electrical devices. Easy Bake Oven's, computers, stereos, TV's, etc...

What you may not know already is that heat can be converted to electricity and thereby get some of that energy back. Due to losses in the process, this is not magic or run forever technology. What might come from this newest research is a much longer run time on devices we use and for those that plug in, a much higher efficiency.

From the article:

"Hagelstein, an associate professor of electrical engineering at MIT, says existing solid-state devices to convert heat into electricity are not very efficient. The new research, carried out with graduate student Dennis Wu as part of his doctoral thesis, aimed to find how close realistic technology could come to achieving the theoretical limits for the efficiency of such conversion."

Follow the related link for more information.

Enjoy time with your family and friends.

Happy Thanksgiving!

- Brad

Well, the season is here. From the commercials to the retail decorations, there is no denying we will all be spending money. Keep in mind you can reduce stress and lessen your environmental impact by ordering items on-line and having them delivered. The more items from a single vendor the better.

Routing delivery trucks is a science and the single truck on a route is a lot more efficient than 100 cars taking us store to store to get the same items to our homes. I also recommend that you enjoy what the season offers and get out to see friends and family instead of retail clerks.

In disaster aftermath, a lot of things are suddenly a problem. Dysentery, shelter and food are primary concerns for those people who are displaced. This means a safe shelter with waste management and proper climate controls and a process to clean water are all critical for healthy survival.

HOMErgent has addressed these problems as a group. For a similar cost to a canvas tent, the design is similar to a yurt and is a solid wall semi insulated structure. The system is designed to be modular, allowing you to connect several units creating rooms. Beyond the modular factor is the sustainability. In situations where the time the unit will be used is known to be significant, solar panels, wind turbines, lighting and other necessities are easily added and available.

By addressing these needs right away, a great deal of environmental impact is reduced. Primarily because wood becomes a staple for survival when shelter does not provide enough protection from the elements. When trees are cut down for heat, the tree is gone in a matter of days and takes years to grow back, as well as the huge amounts of CO2 released into the atmosphere.

Follow the related link for a lot more information.