Monday, December 31st, 2007 - running time 00:21:26
On this episode of (Eco)Systm, we venture out and take a tour of the Wired Magazine/Living Homes Exhibit in LA. This collaborative effort will redefine what we typically think of when we hear of "Prefab" construction. While not in the price range for most of us, this home does offer some options that we all can all take part in.
This $4 million home in LA isn't exactly what we think of when wanting to integrate more green, eco-friendly aspects to our lives, but it does offer up some great options. LEED certified and designed by architect Ray Kappe, this home offers a great, simple way of constructing a house without compromising the uniqueness of a custom built home. With plenty of options to create your desired look and feel, Living Homes has put together a great package of options while Wired Magazine has covered the interior tech side of things. As we get a tour of the home, all items are available for purchase. Whether it be a Calfee bamboo bicycle, a dual flush toilet by Toto or an energy monitoring system by HP, the Wired/Living Homes exhibit opens up many options for the green, eco-aware folks.
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We got dual flush toilets in our dorms recently. As far as I can tell, the small flush just dilutes whatever's in the bowl, and the full flush is the flush button. Do other people have this problem? I'd like to save water, but sanitation is more important to me.
Posted by s0nix on 01/10/2008 at 12:26:47 am in Systm
In ep31 I think Patrick said he'd like to see something like that system they were using in the WiredHome for monitoring power consumption but on a cheaper more readily available scale. There's always the Watt's Up (used heavily in the first ecoSystm episode) here's what I found a few months ago (but have yet to order):
*link*
*link*
For the TED you install induction sensors on the mains lines coming out of your main panel before the master breaker on the utility side and then wire the unit into a a 15A breaker panel side where it gets its power and transmits it data (powerline data transmission.) Then you just plug the display unit in anywhere and program in your utility rates.
For the PowerCost Monitor you install a sensor on the meter that "reads" the values off of the meter and transmits them wirelessly (RF from the sounds of it) to the receiver/display unit.
I'm thinking more along the lines of the TED myself...They're working on newer systems that will perform automatic load shedding, net metering (ie utility&solar) and now (since I looked at it last) PC linkup for longterm statistics.
Posted by sirgrant on 01/03/2008 at 09:08:28 pm in Systm
Great episode ended up watching the flash version because my rss reader inserted the new episode but when it trys to DL it via torrent it says it's not authorized with use with the tracker. I'm trying to get the large xvid and was just curious when this will be fixed.
Posted by johanr on 01/02/2008 at 10:42:49 am in Systm
Dual flush toilets has been more rule than exception here in Sweden for 25 years as well! And it's not spooky at all. Try it for a week and you'll feel environmentally handicapped at the other stupid ones.
One thing about the greywater is that the rules for what soaps and cleaning liquids can contain is much more rigid here in Sweden, and for what I've heard also in Australia, than in the US. So that might be a reason for rules about greywater. But the rules should, of course, control cleaners and bleachers instead of the greywater.
But still. To use greywater, especially that from the bathroom sink, and rainwater for flushing the toilet can never be bad for anything!
I found it very enlightening, but unfortunately in a negative way.
Here in Australia my house was built for $300,000 and was built with all recycled wood, at the time (7 years ago) the best of Washing and Dishwashers and fridges around (they are even better now). It has 20 solar panels (1.5Kw) and 880AH 48V battery system. It is also all computer controlled with a second hand embedded PC running Linux - all lights can be timed, turned off centrally etc. It is built with Mudbrick and North facing glass, with folding arm awnings - allowing nice sun in Winter, and shade in Summer.
So it has basically the features of the living home but a fraction of the price.
But the surprise for me was the water...
Toilets in Australia have been dual flush for 25 years
Grey water in Australia is all over the place, and is becoming mandatory in some areas. It is totally safe for plants you don't eat.
If you want to worry about ground water, ban crop spraying, not grey water. Grey water is just your dishes, showers and washing machine.
Rain water tanks for Garden and Drinking are extremely common
So to see LA having rules about grey water seems insane, and to have dual flush tanks as a feature is just so far behind. And of course the cost was very high, but it was a fairly luxury house, and I am sure bigger than mine (3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house).
BTW. One other thing - even at the cheapest rate, counting interest, you will never pay off a solar system - by all means do it - but do it because you want to be green, not because you want to save money !
Posted by nakey on 01/01/2008 at 06:21:33 am in Systm
Few thoughts and suggestions from me
Dual Flushing is extremly common down here, also the phraise "If it's yellow, let it mellow. if it's brown, flush it down" also helps
4 minute showers. have a little timer (the local water utility company was handing out 4minute sand timers with built in suction cups for use in showers). also, water saving heads save a lot
Full loads. Only do full loads when you do the laundry. saves a lot of water. If your washer has an eco mode, use that too
Rainwater tank for flushing and watering plants. down here, we get a subsidy for getting one installed
Try not to keep greywater for more than 24H, and getting a diverter tube for your washing machine (connects to your washing machine outlet, and is just a long tube) is a good idea
If you use a garden hose, connect a spring-loaded nozzle (like the ones on pistol grip nozzles). saves water but not spraying when you're not using it.
High pressure water cleaner or bucket and sponge to clean and rinse your car. (alternatively, don't wash it)
With Stage 4 water restrictions where i live, some of the things i've said are mandatory....
Posted by handya on 12/31/2007 at 08:08:01 pm in Systm
one thing that surprised me with that green house was that there was no flushing talk,
a flushing tank, is a tank of water that is connected to your gutters, when it rains, it is filled with water, it then feeds the water to your toilets washing machines and garden. if the tank runs out of water, it automatically switches to mains.
the good thing about this idea is that it can be very cheep to install as it does not require $$ of parts, other than a pump and a tank, which can be found cheaply online or at a scrap yard :)
it also surprised me about your double flush toilet, i thought everyone had one, i cant remember the last time i saw a single flush, must just me where im from :)
I thought I'd drop this on this show because it applies.
I learned a lot from the "voltage" show. That is broadly paraphrasing. I just came home wet from snow. Let the dog out and tried to plug in an extension cord that lit the only area not already lit for the dog to find her way and do her dirty sinful business. Little did I know, said dog had chewed the cord right at the plug point where I grab it. I saw a flash and was slammed against the wall. This stuff is bad.
What a better way to ring in a new year. Lucky to have not been electrocuted. I hope this next year doesn't get any worse.
Posted by jmp2071 on 12/31/2007 at 05:35:09 pm in Systm
Dave,what model HP laptop do you have? I just bought a DV9408, and kind of regret it. I upgraded to 2gb of ram and it still runs really slow half the time. Do you like the model you got?
Posted by chuckles on 12/31/2007 at 04:29:50 pm in Systm
On this episode of (Eco)Systm, we venture out and take a tour of the Wired Magazine/Living Homes Exhibit in LA. This collaborative effort will redefine what we typically think of when we hear of "Prefab" construction. While not in the price range for most of us, this home does offer some options that we all can all take part in.
