As of June 12th all analog broadcasts from television have been eliminated. This long awaited switch came after about two years of planning, debating, and educating the public. Yet even after that much time many of the results and implications of the DTV switch are unclear.

What this change really amounts to is a sort of concrete, all inclusive transformation to the new digital age; a societal switch in which our most basic information and entertainment infrastructure officially joins the internet, mobile electronics, and the entire new wave of technology.

The main reasons for the switch are practical, with benefits for both consumers and government. Digital signals are much more efficient than analog ones. They provide clearer pictures while taking up less space. That is, a broadcaster can fit several digital channels in the space required to send just one analog channel. That opens up airwaves for governments to use for emergency services as well as commercial communication services.

What It Means For You

The time of the rabbit-eared antenna is gone. In many cases so will be the channel numbers for your local television stations. Rather than UHF numbers like 12, 24, even 47 — just for the three channels you get with an old antenna — you’ll find digital numerics reading 5.1, 7.2, etc. You might find the same station broadcast over two or more channels. Typically at least one of these is high-definition (HD).

If you haven’t already, you will need to pick up a digital converter box (or new TV) from a local retailer. Best Buy, Target, other department stores and online sites like Amazon.com all carry them. The federal government has also been offering coupons to put toward purchasing a digital converter, find out more at www.dtv2009.gov. Boxes range in price from $40 to over $100 depending on its features.

The Digital Home of the Future

This rather historic switch to digital will have permanent implications, paving the way for the digital home of the future. Televisions, home stereos and entertainment systems all will now wholly embrace–both in design and function–this new age.

Surely we are already well on the path to an interconnected, smart and digital home–remote control ovens and smart meters are just two existing examples of that trend. Yet the symbolism and real effect on many U.S. households of the digital switch cannot be denied. It literally paves the way for automation of home technologies, likely leading to some (once) very science-fictional outcomes — already we have wireless Hi-Def stereo systems on the market.

Not only that, it will also change the face of electrical work in our country. It’s not going to put electricians out of work or anything, but it may create a new niche of jobs in the related field. Look for digital home entertainment systems to be hardwired into new homes, as well as digital home conversion becoming a big part of remodeling. At the least we will find a new skill set for the electrical contractor today and in the future.

Out With the Old

As hundreds of thousands of families make the switch to digital TV it will create a mass of old, analog televisions heading to dumps and landfills. This however can be easily prevented by recycling your old TV. There are plenty of resources available for this, including one in almost every community. Check out Earth 911 or My Green Electronics to find recycling programs in your area. For a more comprehensive list, see EPA.gov to find out where you can donate or recycle your old computers and other electronic devices, including TVs of the analog age.

Please bookmark and share

Residential electrical contractors can support your lighting creations with efficient placement of power outlets. This is just one of many important considerations that a skilled electrical contractor will take into account when you’re improving your home.

Take a look at how some of CalFinder’s electrical contractors incorporate light into their projects:

Handyman Connection specializes in electrical work as well as bathroom remodeling. This bathroom remodel shows effective use of natural light in conjunction with natural tile and glass blocks.

Mansel Rogers Construction is owned by a “self proclaimed nitpicker” who oversees every aspect of a project. Here’s a Tuscan-style kitchen that’s lit for a warm and sunny feel.

Owens Electric and Solar. Take a look at the skillful yet aesthetic placement of solar panels and it’s easy to imagine that this home’s lighting needs are met with the same care.

CalFinder recommends electrical contractors for wiring, installation and upgrades. From dedicated circuits, to exterior or landscape lighting, ceiling fans or hot tubs, CalFinder can help you get free estimates from multiple licensed professionals near you.

Please bookmark and share

Nowadays your fixtures and appliances are smart enough to control themselves. Your house lights are able to recognize when you’re home. And your sprinkler system can learn exactly when to kick on the water. Electronic sensors are not only controlling the action and efficiency of many of our home systems, they are also making our busy lives a little easier and keeping our wallets a little heavier.

Following are some of the home systems, from lighting to landscaping, that can benefit from the addition of an electronic sensor:

Photo credit: takomabibelot

Lighting.

Home occupancy sensors can save you the trouble of fumbling around in the dark for a light switch as well as save the valuable energy and money involved in leaving a light on when you leave the home. This goes for motion sensor lights on the front porch as well as interior lights in the entryway. Especially popular in bathrooms, electronic motion sensors can be programmed to turn on when they detect movement and turn off after a set time in which no motion is detected.

Photo credit: doortoriver

Heaters.

Electronic thermostats are really catching on, in part because heating and cooling are the number one sappers of energy in the modern home. Electronic or digital thermostats can be programmed to turn off when you are not home (say, 9-5) and can have the home back to a comfortable level upon your arrival. Meanwhile you live with the comfort that your air conditioning wasn’t on the whole time you were at work. Most models allow you to set daily and seasonal changes in the system, as well as vacations and other getaways. Programmable thermostats are regarded as one of the best ways to conserve energy in the home; to the point that some utilities are even paying or offering rebates for their installation.

Sprinklers.

It happens all the time, a home’s sprinkler system (even one on a timer) will kick on in the middle of a thunderstorm, wasting energy and water. We just can’t be home all the time to manually control our irrigation systems and maximize water and energy efficiency. Electronic sprinkler sensors can detect changes in humidity, sunlight, and rainfall to shut off or turn on whenever necessary. Photo credit: drcorneilus

Faucets.

You’ve probably used faucets with electronic sensors in many a public bathroom. That’s because they save the owners or lessees of these buildings a lot of money, as well as saving the community a lot of water. This technology is finally permeating the residential market as well. Electronic faucets are battery-powered and only release water when it senses hand motion, while providing sanitary operation and saving water and energy.

Photo credit: Jeff Sandquist

Motorized Window Shades.

These are still on the cutting edge of home automation, although really no more complex than the above examples. Motorized window shades can be programmed as part of a home automation system or operated by remote control, switches, or sunlight sensors. They are a great way to maximize the benefits of passive solar heating in the winter as well as preventing it during the warm summer months when you’d rather keep the sun out of your house. Not to mention the pleasure of waking up, stretching, and literally watching the world open up before your very eyes. They come in the form of shades, blinds, or drapes. Motorized shutters are another option which allow you to control the amount of light entering and are great for out-of-reach windows.

Electronic Windows.

The future of automated home technology will most certainly include automatic windows as well as window shades. Hooked up to sunlight or heat sensors, these smart windows will know when to open or shut to maximize the home’s energy efficiency. You can see them in action at the world’s first “Active House.”

Please bookmark and share

Thinner. Smarter. More Efficient. These are a few adjectives that represent the future of home electronics, and home improvement as well. The undeniable reality is that homeowners do not want to sell (or buy) homes at present. Instead they are opting for upgrades and home improvement projects that serve at least one of two purposes: to increase the value of their home when the market rebounds, and to make living there more comfortable in the meantime.

Electronics — with their growing intelligence, affordability, and home integration potential — are expected to make up a sizable portion of home expenditures over the next few years. The Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) sees several reasons for continued growth of home electronics.

Efficiency

Going Green has become both environmentally and economically contagious. Here in the digital age we use more power-sucking devices than ever; meanwhile energy prices are rising and the environment is struggling. Therefore manufacturers of everything from dishwashers to DVD players are cutting down on size and energy consumption. Homeowners understand that paying a bit more now for a green product will save money over the life of that product; now electronics manufacturers do, too.

The CEDIA report also points to solar photovoltaic (PV) systems as a substantial piece of the electronics pie. The growing affordability of solar electric systems is motivating homeowners to take this green and energy independent route. Not only that, but PV systems greatly increase home value.

Mobility

Cell phones are smarter than ever. They are already serving as communication devices, computers and soon, remote controls. According to CEDIA, new systems allow homeowners to control a wide variety of home systems remotely. For instance, with only a cell phone (and from any location) you could turn on the air conditioning, open the garage door, or start the oven.

Photo credit: compujeramy

Size Matters

LCD televisions have been rising in popularity consistently in recent years and, says CEDIA CEO Utz Baldwin, such thin technologies will continue to do so into the foreseeable future. New products will be even thinner, lighter, more energy efficient, and eco-friendly. While LCDs are expected to dominate the market in 2009, Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) televisions will grow significantly as well. These LED TVs are thinner and more energy efficient than LCDs and have an even better picture quality.

Digital Age

It’s all going digital. Analog televisions will soon be obsolete once and for all. Yet TVs are not the limits of the digital age. Digital media hubs are the wave of the future, such as Internet-ready televisions which allow viewers to watch shows on demand online at their own discretion.

Wires, Games, and the Telecommute

Photo credit: fasterpanda

Other important product trends include the advancement of wireless technologies (wireless speakers, security systems, etc.), gaming, and telecommuting. Gaming systems are themselves turning into media hubs, allowing gamers to play other gamers online in real time on the other side of the world; as well as watch movies, download pictures, and chat online. Gaming “environments” are even being designed into homes as gaming (i.e., Nintendo Wii) become more interactive and integrated into family life.

Higher fuel prices and electronic advancement are creating a telecommuting revolution among today’s workforce. Home office technologies that make this easier are a growing trend among home improvements — homeworkers can now access files remotely or host virtual meetings without leaving the house.

While many of these electronics can be installed by the homeowner, their increasing complexity and integration are creating a major force in home remodeling. Home electronics will become as integral to a remodeling upgrade as conventional electricity, plumbing, even the very walls themselves.

Get free estimates from electrical contractors in your area.

Please bookmark and share

You have a brand new home theater system with high-def sound, the only problem is you want it to be heard and not seen. To fix that dilemma, here are some of the ways to avoid the clutter and cables of a high-def sound system.

Invest in a wireless home theater system. Sony introduced the BRAVIA Theater System in 2008. This home entertainment unit comes with five surround sound speakers and is compatible with Blu-ray disc players and Playstation 3 consoles. The unique sound system provides quality high-def audio, despite being roughly the size of a golf ball. Or you could buy a set of wireless speakers and hook them up to the flat screen. They can be installed up high near the ceiling or left to stand alone.

If the system is already in place and you just want to hide the wiring, flatwire is adhesive tape that sticks to ceilings and walls. This tape is specifically designed to hide speaker wires. It works best to attach the wiring and then paint the tape and wires to match the walls.

Photo Credit: naan

Another option is the multimedia wall plate. It looks like a switch plate, but it’s really an opening for cables and wires. Here’s how it works: you cut a hole in the wall and then hide the wiring on the inside of the wall. The gap and the wiring are covered up by the plate. One more system that covers up the wiring and does a whole lot more is an entertainment rack. This type of technology provides a smorgasbord of options for home entertainment. It offers music, movies, lighting, security systems, and even temperature controls. Sony’s Whole-house Entertainment Rack System comes pre-wired and pre-integrated. If you’re leaning towards something like the rack, then you should consider professional installation.

Source:

http://ebuild.com/home-technology/networking–communications/structured-cabling–wiring.hwx

http://crutchfield.com/S-XlY6QGYip8G/Learn/learningcenter/home/multiroom_video.html?page=3

http://gizmodo.com/395176/sony-ht+is100-tiny-hi+def-speakers-look-delicious

Please bookmark and share

Photo Credit: Neosnaps

While that fact is on one hand a testament to the simplicity and longevity of the wired doorbell, it is also evidence that many homeowners are missing out on the doorbell designs of the 21st Century. I have disconnected, connected, wired, and rewired a few doorbells over the years and can attest to their archaic nature and overall size — many dwarfing the modern stereo speakers in the next room.

Even if the doorbell is far from a lot of minds, it is a top priority for doorbell designers and manufacturers who are working to reinvent the doorbell for the modern home. Gone is the need for wires — wireless doorbells use radio waves to send signals to a receiver — and you can even purchase plug-in models these days.

Regardless of wires or sockets, every doorbell is a system consisting of two pieces: the chime, which mounts somewhere on the interior of the home, and the actual doorbell, which mounts on the exterior at roughly doorknob height. With those two components as a base, today’s manufacturers have gone far in re-envisioning the doorbell for the new millennium. Following are 12 examples of how that is being done:

1. Yes, stainless steel has entered the realm of the doorbell — literally the finishing touch to contemporary home design.
2. Combine modernism with schoolhouse memories, thanks to this round (chrome or bronze) chime.
3. iChime. This replacement for wired door chimes is programmable, able to store up to six custom recordings…a sure fit for the oft-visited household.
4. This wireless plug-in doorbell has a built in strobe light designed with the hearing impaired in mind and installs with incredible ease — just mount the bell and plug in the chime.
5. Portability is now a doorbell feature. This GE model (among others) allows you to move the chime around the house as you wish (up to 150′ away). So if you’re expecting guests, hearing them arrive will be no problem — although batteries will need to be replaced from time to time.
6. Do you ever have problems finding a doorbell? This colorful modern doorbell will certainly be hard to miss.
7. Long range is no problem for today’s wireless doorbells. These models have a range of 300 feet; one includes LED lighting and a 2-year battery life.
8. While not technically a doorbell, the mail chime cannot be ignored. That’s right, now you can be alerted when the mail arrives, too.
9. Feeling crafty? Check out these arts and crafts inspired doorbells from the Doorbell Factory — a testament to the wide variety of available designs.
10. If quirkiness and individuality are your motives, check out these painted doorbells — there’s everything from pink flamingos to American flags to Kokopelli.
11. Wood door chimes are also available in a variety of styles — especially useful for masking the door chime against wood cladded or wood-paneled walls.
12. Despite its medieval appearance, this wrought iron doorbell is wonderfully unique, and activated by a pull chain — great for the country home.

Photo Credit: sciondriver

A short exploration beyond the above links will show you the amazing variety in doorbells available. You’ll also notice a wide range in prices as well, from $20 to well over $100. Whatever your style, motivation, or budget, there is little doubt that the right doorbell is out there and just waiting to ring in the guests.

Please bookmark and share

Could you live unplugged?

Do we really need a refrigerator, or is it up there with television sets, ipods, and stereos?

How did our ancestors survive through centuries without that contraption called the fridge? They canned, dried, and pickled. They stored items in the root cellar or in the basement where it’s cooler.

There is a green movement against refrigerators. According to this movement, refrigerators are an unacceptable drain on energy. Supporters are giving up their ice boxes and the lifestyle that goes with them. Most say that once the withdrawal symptoms vanish, they adapt easily to their new fridge-free lifestyle. And they sure don’t miss the constant humming their fridge used to make.

The fridge-free idea has generated interest in Western Europe to the point where scientists at Oxford University in England rejuvenated the “Einstein refrigerator,” a pressurized gas refrigerator that runs without using electricity.

Misconceptions to Going Fridge-Free

• A common myth is that refrigerators use up more energy than any other appliance in the home, other than those used for heating and cooling. People are surprised to find that this isn’t the case. Marty O’Gorman, vice president of Frigidaire, said an 18-cubic foot Energy Star-rated Frigidaire refrigerator uses about 380 kilowatt-hours a year, which is less than a standard clothes dryer, and costs a homeowner $40, or about 11 cents per day. He goes on to say that downsizing to a dorm sized fridge – Frigidaire’s smallest minifridge, from a standard model, would result in only about $6 in energy savings over a year.
• The founder of Energy Efficiency Experts, Pascale Maslin, said people may focus undue attention on the refrigerator’s energy consumption simply because they often hear, incorrectly, that it uses more energy than any other appliance. This Washington-based company conducts energy audits on homes and other buildings.
  

Ready to Unplug?

Taking the myths into consideration, are fridge-less advocates focusing unnecessary attention on its energy consumption because of false beliefs?
Is it practical to unplug the fridge when it results in more trips to the grocery store, thereby burning more gas?

The tone of the buzz out there suggests that once people unplug and adjust to the new lifestyle, they don’t turn back, even after finding out that the appliance wasn’t consuming all that much energy.

If you want to save energy, but you’re not quite ready to give up the fridge, there are actions you can take that should lower your energy bill:

• Get rid of the side-by-side and buy a fridge with a freezer on top.
• Buy an Energy Star-rated refrigerator – up to 20% more efficient.
• Limit the amount of times you open the door and the duration it remains open.
• Do an annual maintenance & cleaning – unplug the fridge and clean the door gaskets and compress coils. If you have indoor pets, it’s recommended to clean the coils every three months.
• To keep the fridge from having to work harder to stay cool, place the unit in an area that doesn’t receive direct sunlight and keep it away from the oven.

Many people have tried tossing their refrigerators but soon found that the inconvenience was too much and wasn’t worth the savings or the green aspects. Still others, those who use recycled toilet paper and use fluorescent bulbs, see unplugging their refrigerators as too extreme and would never consider it. Are you ready to unplug or is that as likely as winning the lotto?

Fridge-free snacks – dehydrating your fruits and veggies:

After tossing the fridge how ‘bout the stove – article on solar cooking:

Trashing the Fridge

Please bookmark and share

Well sure, most of us have been through a power outage or blackout before. Even without food or water, no one is going to lose it in just one evening. But let’s take this a bit more seriously. How we make it through one evening can say a lot about how we’d make it under more dire circumstances.

Let’s assume that I live in the city; no solar panels, no well water, I am sucking all my energy off the grid. But, for just one evening, there is no grid.

In a word association exercise, “Candles!” is probably what we’d all blurt out when cued Blackout. And yes, I have plenty of candles and a flashlight for any reconnaissance work. So lighting is taken care of for the evening. Beyond that?

Next I’d need to worry about food and water. Currently I have some extra five gallon jugs of water so that is no problem. And I try to keep a good stock of fresh vegetables around (thank you farmer’s market!). I also have a small propane camping stove that could make it through an evening or two.

Heat would be a whole other issue, a big one. Even here in the desert it is currently cloudy, rainy, and pushing closer to freezing temps every night. I have no fireplace, no wood stove — just candles and a typical electric heating system. Not good.

Again, I’m sure I could bundle up and suffer for an evening without any complaint. In fact it would be fun. I come from the Midwest where summer thunderstorms and winter snow and ice storms frequently knock out power, so I’m no stranger to Scrabble under candlelight. But the real question here is what happens after that first evening? How far would my few jugs of water and half a tank of propane get me?

The state of people living in extreme poverty around the world attests to the difficulty of living off the grid. It also brings to light the amount of ease and comfort that many of us take for granted. Such is the saving grace of residential solar power and passive solar design, plus the ever increasing need to conserve energy at every turn. Solar power is already making a difference in the developing world and here in the industrial world we know whose lights would still be shining after a grid failure; and our grid is certainly overtaxed at present.

Please bookmark and share

Remember the old days when you had to have those really big speakers in order to be able to hear the music in more than one room? Sound systems have come a long way, and perhaps the best feature we can now enjoy is full-house surround sound. If a new sound system is on your wish list this year, then here are a few tips to maximize its enjoyment to the full potential.

Modern sound systems work wiring speaker wires throughout a house so that every room can have speakers if desired. Each room will have a tiny speaker in the corner. All you have to do with your new sound system is to plug it into a central port and you’re good to go. The great part about installing your system this way is that you can enjoy your music anywhere at anytime. You can even run speakers out to your patio or backyard.

There are many amazing sound systems on the market these days. Choose from features such as surround sound that imitates the sound quality of a theater. Huge speakers are out, but you may still need a subwoofer to help boost the sound. Multi-room systems can allow for you to watch your favorite shows or listen to music from any location in your home. When shopping for a system, look for one that can incorporate your plasma or LCD TV into the system as well. If you are looking for just the right system, here is a site that presents the good and the bad of some of the top brands on the market: Best 5 Home Audio Products.

Bob Vila offers a helpful visual example of a standard whole-house system, complete with a central entertainment center, individual room outlets, and even speakers in the garden. Request free estimates from pre-screened electrical contractors in your area to install your new sound system.  

Photo Credit: cinz  

Please bookmark and share

It has been coming up a lot lately. I see it in the headlines and I hear it from friends and family. “Don’t compact fluorescent lights have dangerous amounts of mercury in them?” This has been a big criticism of these widely accepted, energy saving lights. Sure they last 10 times longer and use much less energy than incandescent bulbs, but the mercury in them will end up in landfills or, worse yet, cause major harm if broken in the home. This and similar fears have sparked some very heated discussion about CFLs and their appropriateness in the green home.

I decided that I should get in on this discussion. It turns out that concerns about CFLs are not exactly unfounded, but a bit reactionary and easily mitigated. There is a lot of useful information available if you are concerned about mercury and CFLs. I’ll provide some links for further study at the end of the article. But first the big problem with fluorescent lighting: mercury.

Mercury levels in CFLs are hazardous to human health and the environment.

1. Recycling. In terms of environment, preventing mercury from entering landfills and water supplies is easy through recycling. There are several ways to go about recycling your CFLs. Companies like Sylvania offer recycling kits. Other information on recycling CFLs in your area is available from the EPA among others.
2. All recycling aside, CFL’s put less mercury into the atmosphere than conventional incandescent bulbs because of the amount of burned coal required to light the incandescents.
3. Furthermore, nearly 90% of mercury in fluorescents is bound to the glass and unlikely to be released if broken.

The fact is that a certain amount of responsibility is required from CFL purchasers. But it is not much. The need for energy conservation is prevalent. In answer to that need, utilities, manufacturers, and local governments are joining forces to make energy efficiency easier for homeowners. That includes promoting CFLs and making recycling an easier task.

On a more aesthetic level, CFL manufacturers are solving problems involving the odd quality of light emitted by CFLs, the size of the bulbs and others. CFLs now emit a wider spectrum of light and can give off more light without over-increasing the size of the bulb.

More Useful Links:

• This Old House: Problem-Solving Compact Fluorescents
• Kitchen-Exchange: Fluorescent Lighting and THE MERCURY PROBLEM
• Earth911.com
• The Environmental Protection Agency

Photo Credit: Purza7

Please bookmark and share