EnviroGadget » heating and cooling gadgets

Sunflower – Solar Powered Lunchbox Concept

Anita (EnviroGadget Writer) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:00:46 +0000

The Sunflower is a concept for lunchbox that would heat or chill your food and drink to whatever temperatures you desire. Using solar power the lunchbox would be able to achieve this in an eco-friendly way.

The Sunflower Lunchbox Concept has been created by Industrial designer Edita Barabas to help you eat your lunch at the temperature you desire without requiring energy hungry equipment. The lunchbox comprises of 3 food compartments and a compartment for a flask for liquids. Each compartment can be set to a different temperature, this allows you to have hot pasta in one section, cool salad in another without any issues.

The Sunflower Lunchbox Concept has a set of 4 petal shaped solar panels that can be collapsed down when not in use. These panels are what leads to the concept’s name, spreading out like a flower to capture than sun and, like any good sunflower, should be positioned towards the light. The electricity produced is stored in a battery, ready to be used at the push of a button. When the food compartments are closed, a circuit is created allowing the heating and cooling to occur. Once the segments are separated out the circuit is broken, allowing you to take out the food safely.

The Sunflower Lunchbox would allow you to be able to take food with you anywhere and be able to eat it at a suitable temperature. The lunchbox can be used outdoors or indoors, be it to supply you with a tasty lunch in the office or when out camping. By using solar power the lunchbox would provide you with an eco-friendly way of storing foods at correct temperatures.

Source: Yanko Design

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Vent-Miser – Programmable Energy Saving Vent

Anita (EnviroGadget Writer) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:00:52 +0000

The Vent-Miser is a programmable vent that opens and closes itself based on the settings you have programmed into it. By only allowing warmed or cooled air into a room when it is needed, the Vent-Miser helps conserve energy and keep costs down.

The Vent-Miser should be used to replace an existing AC or central heating vent. The device is compatible with instillation in walls, floors and ceilings. The device can be programmed to make sure that the vent is closed at times of day during the week that a particular room is unoccupied. It is programmed through a simple to use 3 buttoned timer, this timer can be removed from the system to allow it to be programmed with a minimum of hassle. The device uses a battery to power itself and includes a warning light to inform you when the battery is running out of charge.

Though vents can be closed manually, this device does make sure no vent goes unnoticed and is handy for hard to reach vents, or for those with hectic lifestyles. By closing off rooms from the central heating or AC system you allow the heated or cooled air to reach the rooms it is needed in with more speed. This should allow the room with the thermostat in it (which obviously must not have a closed off vent in it!) to achieve idea temperatures without using as much energy, as there is no energy wasted to heat unused rooms. This may not be that noticeable a difference depending on size of house or the regularity of unused rooms.

The Vent-Miser is available for just $21.65 with free delivery.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Vent-Miser – Programmable Energy Saving Vent article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

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ecobee Smart Programmable Thermostat System

Dan (EnviroGadget Writer) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:00:09 +0000

The ecobee Smart Thermostat is an advanced temperature control system for your home, which makes it easier to save energy through having more control of your central heating system. The ecobee allows you to set up highly specific schedules for your heating and cooling systems, rather than the twice-daily on/off settings that exist on most central heating controls.

The scheduling system allows you to determine when the heating system is switched on and off, such as when you leave for work, when you go to bed, when you wake up in the morning, etc. However, the ecobee goes one further allowing you to set a different temperature for each event too. This means you can have the temperature warmer in the cold evenings, but cooler during the day when the sun is up.

With the ecobee, you can also programme in your vacations, which means you can override the normal heating schedule with a basic schedule to keep the house from freezing. At the end of your vacation (determined by date and time), the ecobee will resume the normal heating schedule.

The ecobee console is a touch-screen interface, making it very intuitive for all homeowners. The console can connect to the internet via your existing WiFi connection so that you can use the built-in web console. This is great if you’re away from home, as you can ensure your house is nice and warm by the time you return!

Going even further, ecobee have just released a free application for the iPhone, which integrates with the web console on the ecobee unit. Clearly the designers of ecobee want to make it as easy as possible to save energy in your home. The ecobee unit costs around $500 USD, but you’ll need a trained technician to have the unit installed.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the ecobee Smart Programmable Thermostat System article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

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Aladdin Auto-Bleeding Radiator Vent

Dan (EnviroGadget Writer) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:03:53 +0000

With the days getting colder, we’re starting to think about having the central heating on once again. Given that the heating has probably been switched off for a few months over the summer, its pretty likely that you’ve got some air in the system. Having air within the central heating system can reduce the heating efficiency by up to 60%! This means you have cold zones on your radiators and you’ll probably turn up the thermostat to compensate too.

The smart Aladdin Auto-Bleeding Radiator Vent gadget bleeds your radiators of air for you, ensuring all of your radiators are running as efficiently as possible. Automatically!

One of the annoying aspects of bleeding radiators is the black or brown rust that sometimes leaks from the radiator. You get it all over you or the carpet, which is far from pleasant. Thanks to the auto-bleed vent, you don’t need to worry about that ever again. Air in the system actually contributes to corrosion of the radiators, so releasing trapped air means that your radiators last much longer.

By reducing the cold zones on your radiators, you don’t need to have the thermostat set so high, so you actually save money on your heating bills. Clearly using less fuel is better for the environment too.

The Aladdin Radiator vents cost just £10.95 each and are very easy to fit. They fit all standard modern radiators.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Aladdin Auto-Bleeding Radiator Vent article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

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Off-Grid Solar Powered Refrigerator

Dan (EnviroGadget Writer) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:00:19 +0000

To do their job, fridges and freezers need to be powered on constantly. If you have an unreliable power source, or you’re in a remote location, you’re going to have issues if you have food that need to be kept cool. Industrial Insulation Systems has a solution, which is basically a solar-powered refrigerator kit.

Using the sun’s energy, the solar panel charges an internal battery. Additionally, due to the size of the solar panel, it also provides some shade for the refrigerator. The refrigerator/freezer is able to maintain temperatures down to minus 20 degrees Celsius, which is what’s needed for 99.9% of food typically stored in a fridge or freezer.

A full charge of the batteries gives 24 hours continual chilling time, thanks to a bank of four 12V 100Ah batteries. The batteries are mounted out of the way at the base of the fridge. The solar panel itself is mounted on the frame of the refrigerator, keeping the unit compact and easy to move.

Unfortunately no pricing information is available on the website. A great idea though, and very suitable for remote locations, disaster relief, boats, humanitarian aid and domestic home use.

Source: Eco-Friend

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Off-Grid Solar Powered Refrigerator article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

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Chromasun Solar Powered Hybrid Air Conditioner

Dan (EnviroGadget Writer) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:00:38 +0000

If it’s a really hot summer, there’s no doubt that having an air conditioner will make the hot evenings a lot more bearable. However, air conditioners do use an incredible amount of electricity. A new company called Chromasun has announced their plan to release a highly efficient air conditioner unit.

The Chromasun air conditioner contains photovoltaic and solar thermal technology that harvest light and heat from the sun. Using a combination of mirrors, receivers and concentrators, the unit is able to offer 75% efficiency compared to the 23% efficiency of traditional solar cells. Chromasun’s device uses 95% less silicon than a conventional solar system with the same power rating, and this is mostly due to the Fresnel concentrator lens used as part of the thermal system.

The Chromasun air conditioner works in a similar way to natural gas double-effect chillers. A liquid in a sealed tube is heated to 220 degrees Celcius, which is used to warm a solution that contains a refrigerant. The refrigerant boils away. When the refrigerant and solution are re-combined, the reaction is endothermic, creating a cooling effect.

The reason why this air conditioning unit is such a cool gadget is because it combines a number of technologies to achieve the designed cooling effect. Nice to see a solution that doesn’t just assume that solar cells will solve all of our energy problems.

Source: Energy Matters

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Chromasun Solar Powered Hybrid Air Conditioner article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

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Inflatable Chimney Pillow to stop Chimney Draughts

Dan (EnviroGadget Writer) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:00:28 +0000

If you have an older property, it’s very likely that you have a chimney. You probably don’t use your chimney every day of the year, so there’s a strong chance you’ll get draughts coming down. That’s where the Chimney Pillow comes in. The Chimney Pillow inflates into the gap in your chimey, blocking it off. If you need to use the chimney again, just deflate the pillow and extract it.

The pillow (or balloon) stops downdraughts and updraughts flowing up and down the chimney, but also stops debris, soot and bird mess from falling down. If you’re never going to use your chimney, it’s worth getting it blocked off permanently. However, the Chimney Pillow is a perfect semi-permanent solution! Hopefully it’ll save you money on your bills too.

Prices start at £18.99 for a small inflatable chimney pillow up to £24.99 for a large inflatable chimney pillow.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Inflatable Chimney Pillow to stop Chimney Draughts article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

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EcoFan – Heat Powered Wood Stove Fan

Dan (EnviroGadget Writer) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:00:07 +0000

The EcoFan is a heat-powered fan that circulates heat from a wood stove into a room. The fan generates it’s own energy to power the fan by using the difference in temperature experienced by the fan at the top and bottom. The fan is almost completely silent, and will automatically circulate air when the stove heats up.

The fans have a small thermoelectric module which acts as a small generator to power the fan’s motor. When the module experiences a difference in temperature, it generates electricity. The fan will help circulate heat from the wood stove into a room, reducing the heat wasted up the chimney or into the back wall.

It doesn’t need any batteries, and is almost completely automatic to operate. You just need to be careful of over-heating the unit, which happens at around 350 degrees Celsius.

More technical information is available directly from EcoFan.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the EcoFan – Heat Powered Wood Stove Fan article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

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Eco Tutor: Solar Heating for your Home

Dan (EnviroGadget Writer) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:00:01 +0000

This guest article was kindly written by Ron Bean of The Green Chameleon. It’s a great introduction to domestic Solar Heating and how it all works.

It’s that time of year again – time to break out the sweaters, winter coats and watch those winter heating bills go up every month. Chances are that along with those monthly energy bills, you’re also contributing to global warming.

If your home uses a conventional gas-fired furnace, or fuel-oil, both of which are fossil fuels, which generate greenhouse gases. If you have electric heat, you are indirectly generating greenhouse gases, since the electricity needed to power electric heaters is often provided by coal-burning electric power plants.

But what if you could keep your home toasty warm all winter long, generate zero greenhouse gases and your monthly heating bill was zero? That’s right, I said zero – as in nada, nothing at all.

By using the sun’s energy to heat your home, you can effectively do exactly that. A Solar water heater uses a solar panel which to collect energy from the sun and convert it to electricity. Solar heat works on an entirely different principle known as “convection” or “thermal siphoning”.

There are two primary categories of Solar Heaters; active and passive:

Active Solar Heaters use fans to move solar-heated air through a building
Passive Solar Heaters uses the fact that warm air rises to the heated air through a building

In both types of solar heaters, a collector is used to capture the sun’s energy. There are two types of collectors.

Active Solar Heating

In an Active Solar Heater, an air collector is used, which consists of a metal box with a glass top that allows the sun’s energy to enter the box, trapping it. The trapped energy is concentrated on a dark metal plate and transferred via air-filled or fluid-filled tubes and then passed to the rest of the house using electric fans.

In Active Solar Heaters that use fluid collectors, tubes filled with a heat conducting fluid (usually water or antifreeze) are used. These tubes capture and transfer the sun’s energy and pass it to the rest of the house using electric fans.

Passive Solar Heating

There are several types of passive solar heat in use today. In Passive Solar Heating, the structure of the building itself is used to capture the sun’s energy. This heated air is then transferred to the rest of the home without electric fans or other energy-consuming method.

One type of Passive Solar Heater, known as a Thermal Chimney is constructed with a chimney with a glass panel on one side. Inside, a blac panel absorbs the sun’s energy. As the air in the chimney is heated, it causes an updraft which transfers the energy to the rest of the house either by convection (the heated air and enters the house through a vent) or conduction (the heated panel transfers heat to the adjoining walls).

DIY Solar Heat

The technology behind either type of Solar Heater is simple enough that with some careful planning is something that some homeowners are doing themselves.

Several sites have plans for building your own Solar Heater – here are a few:

Build-it-Solar – great DIY solar site with many types of projects and information on solar projects.
Alternative Energy Sources (AES) – has some excellent information on DIY solar projects
Sundance Solar is one of my favorites. Sundance not only has some excellent information, but also sells all kits, hardware and parts for DIY that wants to build their own solar project.

You can find more information on eco-friendly projects from Ron at The Green Chameleon.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Eco Tutor: Solar Heating for your Home article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

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Heating & Cooling System Vent Booster Fan

Dan (EnviroGadget Writer) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:00:15 +0000

Despite every effort to make them efficient, heating and cooling systems can only be truly efficient if they are able to effect an even temperature distribution in the whole room or house. However, this is quite tricky, as homes often lack the infrastructure to distribute hot or cold air evenly.

The Register Vent Booster Fan aims to ‘pull’ out heated or cooled air from air vents and push the air into the room. This therefore boosts the efficiency and energy saving potential of any heating or cooling system. The booster fan fits over existing ventilation grills in the home, and is activated by a temperature-sensitive sensor.

Generally speaking, improving the air flow in a home will avoid cold or hot spots. This is where pockets of air are unable to circulate, leading to uneven temperature in a room or home. By simply using air circulation gadgets, you can considerably reduce your energy bills.

Source: Coolest-Gadgets

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Heating & Cooling System Vent Booster Fan article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

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