SustainLane - Chill That Energy Bill

July 2008
Edition 62

Greetings!

This summer, temperatures are reaching record highs all over our fair nation, and rising thermometers mean blasting air conditioners. Suddenly, the utility bill is through the roof! While air conditioning is a great way to stay comfortable, this week we've collected some awesome tips for AC-free, conscious cooling.

From your body to your home, we're big fans of circulating the cool. Hydration does wonders for overheated humans, so guzzle down some good old old-fashioned H2O, and check out some super solar-powered products and green building materials that keep climates comfy all year round. See our picks, then add some of your own on SustainLane.com.

Bet you're feeling cooler already!

Did you know? We are 100% paid-placement free. Featured products and reviews are intended to represent the views of the SustainLane community.

Featured Product: Solar Powered Attic Fan

The Sunrise, a solar-powered attic fan by Sunrise Solar, uses the sun's energy to power a fan. Cool your whole house, from the attic to the ground. It's comparable to traditional units in price, so it's a no-brainer if you've got an attic and a case of heatstroke!

Click for Solar Powered Attic Fan

Cooling solar panels
Five Stars

"The idea of cooling device utilizing solar energy is pretty straightforward and simple. Put a solar panel on your roof and let it generate electric power that supplies a fan which in turn reduces heat and humidity in your attic. . ." click to read more

- Richard I.

Ever use a solar fan? Write a review for all to see at Sustainlane.com.

Featured Story: No Sports Drink For You

Staying cool means staying hydrated. So when you lose minerals and electrolytes after working out, it's Gatorade to the rescue. Or is it?

Sports drinks are great fuel for intense athletes, but there's a trend toward drinking sports drinks, soda, or energy drinks all the time -- while doing a low-key workout or just while watching TV. Not a good idea!

Gatorade is loaded with sugar that can weigh you down and undo the calorie-burning benefits of a moderate workout. Many sugar-laden sodas contain caffeine, a diuretic with potential laxative effects. Talk about dehydration!

So, unless your workouts are especially intense or you're a seriously sweaty individual, water is all you need. So take it from the tap and spare the bottle. That'll bring your attention back to your own home water source.

Tasty Tip: Add a little flavor to your water bottle with a squeeze of pure juice, a slice of cucumber or a sprig of mint!

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Featured Business: Victor Insulation

For some, home insulation conjures images of pink panthers and rolls of itchy pink fluff. You probably grew up with the fiberglass stuff that looked like cotton candy -- until you touched it and got glass fibers stuck in your hand. Or worse, you breathed it into your lungs.

These days, there are greener (or should we say bluer) options for home insulation. Made from 85% recycled natural fibers like denim, UltraTouch is a popular variety that came onto the market in the early 1980's. Considering the music on the charts back then (i.e., Ebony and Ivory and Eye of The Tiger), it's no surprise that UltraTouch provides extremely effective sound absorption.

With high thermal performance, easy handling, and no warning labels, this is the stuff you want wrapped around your abode. So feel free to scratch that itch and switch to the good stuff!

Click for Victor Insulation

Easy To Use, May Be Hard To Find

"Ultratouch is very easy to work with. We installed the R22 under our kitchen (an enclosed porch). It cut and tore easily and, so far, is insulating the floor well. There was some dust from the cutting and tearing, but none of the irritation of fiberglass batting. My only complaint. . ." click to read more

-Jessica C.

Agree? Disagree? Share your review at Sustainlane.com.

Spotlight: Windows Down Or AC?

Spending over $4.00 on a gallon of gas is the norm these days. And on steamy summer days, when air conditioning may seem like a blessing, the amount of extra fuel consumed is downright costly.

But does rolling the windows down really help conserve gas? Think about how a car handles on the highway when you roll down your windows. You can't hear a word your passenger is saying (DO try this method in a car full of teenagers. It works wonders on your sanity and their hairdos).

More importantly, there's the drag on the engine. Leaving your windows down at high speeds increases wind resistance, making your car work extra hard.

Some cars may perform better with windows open than others, depending on their design, but for the most part, you'll do well to follow this advice: keep your windows down (AC off) in town and turn on the chill as you fly down the Interstate.

There are some fuel additives that claim to increase fuel efficiency. These come in liquid or capsule form. We've seen some rave reviews on these products. Have you tried them? Why not take a minute to write a review?

We want to hear from you. E-mail your thoughts to community@sustainlane.com.

Staff Pick: Ra-Flect

It's got a name straight out of a sci-fi movie, but Ra-Flect offers real results as an effective radiant barrier. This is a seriously durable product that works wonders when installed in the attic.

It's a reinforced 5 millimeters non-toxic aluminum. With a whopping 97% reflectivity, it outdoes most spray-on radiant barriers by more than 20%. And since reflection is what ultimately keeps heat levels down, Ra-Flect brings skyrocketing utility bills back down to Earth.

Our staff pick this week comes from Adam B., who doesn't work for SustainLane (yet). We liked his review so much, we decided to give him honorary staff status this week. Thanks for sharing, Adam B.!

Click for Ra-Flect

Ra-flect Radiant Barrier is Great

"I live in south Louisiana and I just decided to retrofit my attic with some radiant barrier to reduce my environmental footprint and save some money on my heating and cooling cost. So, I bought some Ra-flect radiant barrier, the perforated, not the vapor barrier, because we live in the south and didn't want to have any moisture issues. . ." click to read more

- Adam B.

Add your two cents and get into the conversation! Write a review.

Cool News

Let Your Fireplace Cool Your Home
Out-McGyver anyone with this ultra-clever strategy to circulate cool outdoor air through your home via your chimney.

Sun-Brewed Tea
Why slave over a hot stove when you can have the sun brew for you? Learn how to make the tastiest summer refreshment, sun-powered!

Cool Yourself With Yoga Breath
Did you know your body as a built-in cooling system that's breath-activated? Find out how to cool down fast with shitali pranayama breathing.

Sleep Better In The Heat
Beating the heat means a better night sleep, so check out these great tips for a cool and comfortable bedtime.

Indoor Swimming Pools
Harmful byproducts produced when chlorine combines with sweat and urine have been found to cause breathing problems and more. Purdue University is on the case. Learn more.

Share the news with your favorite folks. Forward this email or have them sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Story: Tips For Energy-Efficient Home-Cooling

Did you know as much as half of your household energy use goes to heating and cooling? Want to know if your cooling system is efficient?

Here are a few things to look out for:

Your cooling system is making a racket. If so, your duct system could be improperly sized or there may be a problem with the indoor coil of your cooling equipment.
Your heat pump or air conditioner was installed before you had a Starbucks in your town. Wow. Time to upgrade to a newer model. Let the utility bill savings pay for your new appliance
You check for leaks or loose hoses around your cooling unit and notice daffodils growing out of one of the tubes. Safely relocate daffodils and make sure to seal, insulate and clean your equipment.
Your blower components and coils are so filthy, you can't tell your blower apart from a pile of mulch. Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow over the indoor coil.
Your condensate drain in your in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump is plugged with Lord-knows-what. Um, go ahead and take care of that.
Your central air conditioner's refrigerant charge has lost that loving feeling. Adjust it if to meet manufacturer specifications. Improper refrigerant charge is a big problem.
Your moving parts aren't properly lubricated. Grease them up! Parts that lack lubrication cause friction in motors.