The chief advantages of tankless water heaters are a continuous flow of hot
water and energy savings. Tankless water heaters heat water directly without
the use of a storage tank. Therefore, they avoid the standby heat losses
associated with storage water heaters. When a hot water tap is turned on,
cold water travels through a pipe into the unit. In an electric tankless
water heater an electric element heats the water. In a gas-fired tankless
water heater a gas burner heats the water. As a result, tankless water
heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water.

Adults generally prefer shower temperatures of 105–120 °F (40–49 °C),
requiring the incoming cold water temperature to be raised about 55 °F
(30 °C) or more, if the hot water is later mixed with cold water. (more…)

U.S. landfills are hitting capacity and closing at a rate of one per day.

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When styrofoam (polystyrene), is heated (like in landfills), or comes in
contact with certain chemicals it breaks down and releases acetone (the
active ingredient in nail polish remover), which is dangerous to our planet
and our bodies. (more…)

(This is a long one kids, so grab a cup of coffee and enjoy)

January 2008

Two architect students from the University of Kansas’ Studio 804, drive
4 1/2 hours to determine if Greensburg would be a viable candidate for
their annual project to build a house using architecture as a way of turning
around neighborhoods. They are concerned about committing here because of the
distance and time. Studio 804 is composed of 22 graduate students, all
graduating in May. The students go out and seek funding for the project, but
it seems they seek from the effected community itself, (gee, thanks). Back
at the University a Studio 804 meeting is held with the 22 students and their
professor discussing if Greensburg can really go that green, can the town
pull it off, the project’s not a charity, it needs funding, can the town (more…)

Half of all heat enters your home through the windows.  Using a
thick shade or window film, especially over the west facing windows can
save up to 15 percent on your cooling bill.  OR shade those windows from
the outside by planting trees or installing window awnings.  Another way
is using solar screens on the outside of the windows. (more…)

Just as there are huge wind farms now providing backup power for conventional
electricity generation, central solar power towers will likely do the same in
the future.  The facilities generate electric power from sunlight by focusing
concentrated solar radiation on a tower mounted receiver.  Hundreds of
thousands of small sun-tracking mirrors reflect sunlight to the receiver.  In
some technologies, liquid salt is pumped and heated through the receiver and
then stored until power is needed from the plant.  The molten salt is then (more…)

Oil was once known as “Texas Tea“.  Well the tea is now new and improved
and healthy too! Introducing – “Texas Light and Breezy Tea“!……

Texas Utility Officials are planning more transmission lines to bring
wind energy from West Texas to the state’s urban areas.  Environmental
Groups says Texas Electric customers will see a $4.00 increase in their
monthly bills to pay for construction costs over the next 6 to 7 years. (more…)

Over the past few weeks the newscasts have been reporting on the illnesses and
deaths caused by salmonella tainted tomatoes. Now, the FDA is not sure if it is
the tomatoes.  They are reporting the culprit could be a ‘companion’ vegetable,
i.e. salad greens, chives, or salsa ingredients like cilantro, jalapeno peppers,
and on and on. Which means they do not know.

But, not once did I worry about popping a cherry tomato into my mouth or run to
regurgitate the salad I ate at 5:30 when the 6 p.m. news said the lettuce was (more…)