Mechanical systems

Transparent laminate solar cells in film form could put the fossil fuel industry on notice. When considering solar cells as thin as laminate and completely transparent, the possibilities seem endless. Imagine every glass or laminant surface in our built environment and all of our devices, large and…

Ecodrain is the first company we've seen to turn greywater heat recovery units on their side, making heat recovery option where it might not have been before. Greywater heat recovery for slab on grade homes - is it possible? Sustainable construction is on the move! It seems almost every day a new and innovative…

What is a heat pump? An energy efficient home heating system that can save money and reduce fossil fuel use. Read on to find out how heat pumps work and if they make sense for in your home. Are heat pumps really more efficient? When it comes to residential heating and cooling systems, few types of heating systems…

Recycling gray water is becoming more and more commonplace. It reduces the burden on urban sewage treatment along with protecting a quickly dwindling natural resource. What is gray water? Or indeed grey water! The term 'gray water recycling' refers to all domestic waste water that is drained from sinks, showers…

Micro power generation such as wind turbines and other renewable energy generators are a small step towards stopping climate change. We've seen portable charging devices for personal gadgets, we've seen vertical axis wind turbines and now we have seen a marriage of the two. That's right, appropriate technology…

A modern airtight home needs mechanical ventilation. The choices are Heat Recovery Ventilation or Energy Recovery Ventilation & this page explains the difference between an HRV & ERV to help choose which one you need. All homes need ventilation, whether natural or mechanical with an ERV or HRV system. Buildings and…

This is a great little video that illustrates how we are surrounded by potential energy, we just have to put a little thought into how to harness it. We found this video at Whole Systems Design, a New England based company who identify, design, and develop human habitats. In their own words from their website : "We…

Some techniques that will help you reduce your air conditioning needs, and certainly help you stay cool in summer during heatwaves in the absence of having an A/C system at home. How to cool a home without AC While it's true that no matter where you live, be it urban, suburban or rural, the hottest days and nights…

What could be better than an outdoor shower? If your answer is a solar powered hot water shower that you built all by yourself (or with friends), read on. How to build a DIY outdoor solar shower Building an outdoor solar shower is a really effective way to lower utility bills, and it even frees up some bathroom…

Imagine charging your phone with the heat from your morning coffee. With the Epiphany onE Puck you can. The idea behind the Epiphany onE Puck is simple: use a Stirling engine powered by heat disparities (a hot or cold drink, a candle, ice, etc.) to fully charge your cell phone. Invented in the early 1800s, Stirling…

Heat pumps are everywhere; online, newspapers, television with grants to offset their cost. Heat pumps are used as a heating system in colder climates or in central air systems for cooling, but how is the performance of heat pumps measured and compared. SEER v HSPF v COP (& SCOP) - understanding heat pump ratings…