Comment

Comment by TheRetroMetro on January 2, 2009 at 8:53pm

Thanks, Patricia! It's a neat site! I've done the questions. It's late so I'll read more tomorrow!

This is so cool.

Comment by Daniel Boone on January 2, 2009 at 8:11pm

https://www.wattzon.com <-- Interesting little site graphing your personal usage of energy.

Comment by CleoTek on December 8, 2008 at 9:29am

Hey All!

It's nice to find other Eco-Friendly Geeks! I like the site EcoGeek, I really enjoy checking out the articles, like the one from Friday where they discussed the potential of making Bio-Diesel from coffee grounds.

My last personal attempt at reusing old tech was by trying to turn our old Windows ME Laptop into a Print and Media Server. I didn't have much luck but at least it gave me material to write an article for the giveaway.

Has anyone else tried reusing old hardware sitting around the house?

Comment by TheRetroMetro on December 5, 2008 at 6:35am

I think that THAT is an AWESOME idea. SO many folks think, "Hey, that's OLD technology... NOBODY uses that so WHY BOTHER?!?!"

I still say, "There are SOOO many places in this world completely without technology. Not only is this a great idea, it can be a learning experience for many who have absolutely no idea. So it's a double perk, so to speak."

I'm all for closing the Digital Divide, one step at a time.

Comment by Bill Cull on December 5, 2008 at 6:12am

[ What do you do to reduce your "footprint" on the environment? What do you do to squeeze the life out of the products you use? ]

How about recycling old computers (back into service) as (get this now! ;-)

"Windows 95-based" HVAC & Fluid Dynamics micro-controllers using (based on) SERIAL (that's not USB folkes, but RS232, 25-pin connectors)
and HP's GPIB (remember that acronym? if not, it's G}eneral P}urpose I}nterface B}us) communications system. Now WHY is it running on Win95? because the (proprietary) software needs/requires (un ONLY runs on) Win95! ;-0

How's that for being RETRO-Minded?
$C-Note, Bill ;-)

Comment by TheRetroMetro on November 16, 2008 at 6:21pm

OH I know how bad that can be! I used to rent an old trailer. It leaked into the walls behind the plastic and insulation and would FREEZE and expand in areas. That was fun!

Comment by TheRetroMetro on November 9, 2008 at 7:40pm

Winter is upon us... some more than others. What are some ways we can try to keep warm and conserve energy, etc.? Hot showers are a necessity in the "thawing process"...and the "wake up to a cold morning process", just to name two.

How can we make our bathrooms warmer? There are the usual things we can do to make our entire home "weather proof". Plastic the windows and casings, replace weatherstripping, caulk the edges of the windows.

Dry Up the Wet Spots
There's nothing worse than a wet spot on a carpet that takes forever to dry, especially if you end up stepping in it in nice dry and warm socks. The same goes for a bare floor when you leave a wet spot and expect it to dry on it's own. Inevitably, we end up stepping in it anyway... leaving us with wet socks.

The water on the floor issue can be curtailed with just a little effort. If you have carpet, a nice bath rug works well as long as it has waterproof backing. It's a good idea to hang it up over the edge of the tub when you are through, just in case water did get onto the carpet or under that rug. For bare floors, I prefer a thick cotton bath mat. Before I step out of the tub, I dry myself as much as possible. It's far better to keep the heat IN the shower stall anyway! Water is minimal on the floor, but also you won't be as cold physically.

Change the Shower Head
A simple solution for conservation purposes, but also can allow you to shower for a longer period of time! Yes, the sort of goes against the conservation grain, but it's good to treat yourself from time to time. Really, who wants to get out of the shower before they feel adequately thawed? Switching from a shower head that uses five plus gallons of water per minute to a head that uses about two...I know...some folks like to have more pressure. Me, too, but I don't need it all the time. I switch my heads when I have sore muscles. It's a piece of cake. You just have to make sure the water spigot is in the OFF position. You then unscrew one head and replace it with the other, making sure you have screwed the other one on tightly enough.

Existing Vents
IF you have a vent that is placed reasonably close to the tub/shower stall, it's great to dry those towels that just don't seem to completely dry between bathing processes. It can also be useful to help warm your towels. It can also contribute to drying out those bath rugs and bath mats.

Would anyone else care to share any handy heating hints?

Comment by TheRetroMetro on October 28, 2008 at 12:48pm

I'll be putting out a couple of patterns soon. I have to wait until it gets all copywritten and stuff; THEN I can put it out for sale. I'm thinking PDF formats will work best for general download customers. Does anyone have any other ideas on this? I'd like to keep it as user friendly as possible while maintaining sizing. I'd appreciate all input. Thanks in advance!

Comment by TheRetroMetro on October 23, 2008 at 4:54pm

I have the perfect car porn. I'm chomping at the bit while I wait in line.
www.aptera.com
It isn't a muscle car, but by the same token, it's not a hoopty car either. I can live with it, especially since it gets awesome mileage whether or not you get the hybrid or straight electric. Apparently, it can cost a couple bucks or so a day to charge... but compare that average $30 - 90 per month with your weekly vehicular energy bills! It is apparently trying to meet its 2008 deadlines for production. I just want to know how soon I can put an order in!

Yeah, I realize this can be considered a conflict of interest for me (ecologically) due to the "battery" issue, but isn't that the point of technology - to find the best way to recycle them? This is how I see it: We've figured a way to create cleaner energy through solar and wind power. Let's work on a way to minimize even the harsh components of the way the energy is stored. To be sure... there's a way.

"BOOM Goes the dynamite!"