Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Window-Mounted Mini Room Air Conditioner For Small Apartment

Lately, people become more careful when it comes to money, and energy consumption. With rising costs it is logical that all look to find alternatives so as not to create compromise when it comes to comfort and satisfaction. Mini Window Air Conditioner units are ideal in case you do not want to spend a lot of money, but then again you can enjoy the pleasant cold during hot days.

Frigidaire's FRA052XT7 5,000 BTU Mini Window Air Conditioner is perfect for small size rooms up to 150 square feet. This unit features rotary controls and top full-width air discharge. The antimicrobial filter reduces bacteria, room odors, and other airborne particles for a comfortable environment. And the included pleated quick mount window mounting kit makes this air conditioner easy to install.

Save Energy with Westinghouse Ceiling Fans

Get substantial energy-saving benefits—and a cooler home—with efficient, stylish Westinghouse ceiling fans. You can add comfort and lighting to any space, indoor or outdoor, keeping things cool for summer entertaining while saving both floor space and energy costs.

Ceiling fans can be an energy-saving, "green" addition to any home, adding more value than many homeowners realize.

Did You Know?
  • Most ceiling fans use only about as much power as a 100 watt light bulb
  • Energy Star® ceiling fans (available from Westinghouse) circulate an average of 15% more air than other ceiling fans, and use 60% less energy than a 150 watt incandescent bulb
  • Used properly, ceiling fans can save you money in winter as well as summer: up to 10% in heating costs and up to 40% in air conditioning costs
  • Turning off the air conditioning, opening a few windows and turning on an efficient ceiling fan can make you feel up to 8 degrees cooler (and save up to 40% in air conditioning costs!)
  • Peak energy savings are realized by placing ceiling fan blades 10-12 inches below the ceiling and 7 to 9 feet above the floor
  • Ceiling fan airflow can be an effective deterrent to flying insects


The Westinghouse 42-inch Contempra Trio Ceiling Fan features five reversible wooden blades and a light kit with three frosted glass shades.

Designed for Low Ceilings
The Westinghouse Contempra Trio fan is one of Westinghouse's Hugger series of fans, which are specially designed for rooms with low ceilings. This 42-inch ceiling fan is best suited for medium-sized rooms, such as recreation rooms, living rooms, or children's bedrooms.

Reversible Blades and Reversible Switch
The Contempra Trio's five blades are reversible, so you can choose the finish that best suits your room's decor. The attractive wooden blades operate smoothly and efficiently.

For year-round comfort and maximum energy savings, Westinghouse ceiling fans include a three-speed, reversible switch that allows the ceiling fans to be used during cool or warm weather. In the summer, keep your home cool by running your ceiling fan counterclockwise. In the winter, run your ceiling fan clockwise to circulate warm air from the ceiling, eliminating cold spots and drafts.

Light Kit with a Trio of Frosted Glass Shades
Equipped with a light kit, the Contempra Trio fan features three lights that hang beneath the center of the fan. The lighting fixture's frosted glass shades provide a soft hue of light. If you choose, use compact fluorescent bulbs to increase efficiency and reduce your energy costs.

There are five different styles:









Thursday, May 12, 2011

Honeywell True HEPA Air Purifier Sweepstakes at ELLE DECOR


Ideal for a medium-sized room, the Honeywell HPA-150 True HEPA Tower Air Purifier captures up to 99.97 percent of harmful allergens including dust, pollen, smoke, mold spores, and pet dander. The product circulates and filters air up to five times an hour, features three cleaning levels, and has a carbon pre-filter that helps reduce common household odors. The machine does not emit ozone through the filtration process. Total value: $190;

10 winners

No purchase necessary.

Entry period May 12, 2011 Noon ET to July 11, 2011 Noon ET.

Enter Sweepstakes

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Ceiling Fans Vs. Air Conditioning: Which is a Cheaper Way to Cool Your Home?


To the budget conscious people, an air conditioner is not a wise alternative in a room especially during the summer. There is always the standard stand or desk fan or using fan or just plain opening the window.

A wise addition to a room, which is both, cost efficient and stylish is a ceiling fan. This is preferred especially when your aim is keep one room cool. The ceiling fan functions by moving the both cool and warm air around the room, which would really aid in making the room comfortable.

Ceiling fans has gained popularity as a fan of choice in homes. They are popular because they can be both stylish and very useful. Also, most ceiling fans are within the budget.

In shopping for your new ceiling fan it is important that you look at various brands. Check essential features such as the pitch of the blade, the size of the motor and the finishes on the surfaces of the ceiling fan.

Note: don’t hesitate to ask for help from the salesperson to help you with selecting the ceiling fan that suits you needs.

Ceiling Fans Saves Money

Many people save a lot of money because of using ceiling fans instead of air conditioners. However, this will depend in a lot of different factors. An important factor is the type of blade used. The material and weight of the blade would be determine if the ceiling fan’s lifetime. High-end ceiling fans are usually made of plywood and weighed accordingly to prevent wobbling. Low-end ceiling fans are usually made of cardboard and can be observed to have slight wobbling.

Ceiling Fans Saves Energy

In addition to the practicality of using ceiling fans, it is also very productive in cooling. The fan pushes the warm air that has risen back into the room. In turn, the thermostat will not turn on the heating system.

Essentials

Remember that the greater the pitch and the more revolutions per minute, the more efficient the fan is in cooling and heating. The smaller motors may seem fine at first but could possibly produce annoying sounds when she’s done.

Fan size depends on the size of the room and the height of the ceiling. Usually specifications come with the purchase of the fan. A fan dealer can help you select fans for your room. For high ceilings sometimes a downrod is needed. For sloped ceilings, flush mounts and angled mounts are available. Some ceilings must even be braced to support the additional weight of the ceiling fan.

Whatever the theme of your house or room may be there will be fan for you. Ceiling fan have been available since the late 1800’s. Today ceiling fans are specifically made for hallways, patios or even children’s bedroom.

The fan is usually hung in the middle of the room. This gives the best air circulation compared to any corner of the room.

Putting lights are optional. Some people attach glass globes or bulbs that will provide the needed illumination in the room. If the ceiling is low, lights cannot be added.

The real deal

The selection of ceiling fan is not just picking another appliance for your room. Remember that this item will add to whole environment of your room. You must take the selection of the ceiling fan for granted.

Ceiling fans can be bought in various stores such as hardware stores, home improvement centers, discount stores or at Amazon.

在美国买电风扇

近几年由于地球暖化益发严重,连美国东北这块新英格兰地区,原本舒适凉爽的夏天也逐渐变得难以忍受。

最近康州这里也愈来愈热,前一阵子还有热浪来袭,每户人家的冷气、电风扇早早就粉末登场。

只是美国的电风扇,真是叫人傻眼。因为.....吹起来一点儿都不冷!

用过比较好的值得推荐的有Lasko 3520 20-Inch Cyclone Pivot FanHoneywell Fresh Breeze Tower Fan with Remote Control。前者风力大价格便宜但有些吵,后者省地风大也安静。

在美国买空调

窗式空调把室内外机合为一体,适用于小面积的房间,安装方便且价格便宜。

纽约的夏天还是非常炎热的,虽然现在的天气估计让你很难想象再过两个月的酷热!现在未雨绸缪会省掉不少银子。

我推荐Frigidaire FRA052XT7 5,000 BTU Mini Window Air Conditioner,在亚马逊到货很快。

好:
1.适合较小的房间,制冷效果还不错
2. 这是我能找到的最便宜的空调了并且这个牌子的空调口碑还算可以
3.安装比较方便
4.当然就是省电啦,功率小嘛

坏:
1.没有remote controller,操作全靠手(没办法,便宜嘛)
2.噪音稍大(不过不至于影响睡眠)

Thursday, April 28, 2011

25条通往凉爽居室的省钱途径

比如把灯与自动调温装置的距离拉大,如此简单的改变就可以省下几百美元, 即省钱又节省能源.

当然,把自动调温装置调至80. 你还是会流汗,依然要支付一大笔钱;除非你采用其他步骤来使夏日的炙热变得柔和,从而减轻空调的负担.

这里提出的许多方法几乎不用花费你一分一厘. 感谢能源部门的节约能源项目,在它的网站上公布这些生活小贴士.

大大利用你的空气调节装置

  • 打开窗户,使用便携式或者悬挂于天花板的风扇替代空调.持续,适度的风速,每小时风速1米,可让你感觉到降低3或四度后的凉爽.确定悬挂于天花板的风扇是开夏天档的-你可以感到风是往下吹的.如果你的居住环境相对干燥,那么可以在风扇箱前放一碗或一盘冰块,因为冰块再蒸发的同时也可以制冷.
  • 在使用窗式空调的同时,打开电扇,从而可以散播冷空气.
  • 为了保证空气流通,建议把外设的压缩机装在一个隐蔽的位置.夏天期间,每个月更换一次空气过滤器.
  • 使用空调上的可编程调温装置可以再夜间或家里无人的情况下,调节设置.
  • 不要把灯或电视机安置再空调调温装置附近. 因为这些器械会使空调运行的时间增长.
  • 如果气候适宜,也可以考虑安装一部可以作用于整间屋子的电扇或是蒸汽式冷却装置(一种煤层聚水的冷却器). 由于顶楼聚集了大量的热量,一台可以作用整间屋子的电扇需要有相应的尺寸,并且放置在合适的位置,以此通过底楼的窗户吹动空气,然后再从屋顶排放.这样不仅可以降温,而且其降低的耗能相当于三台空调.如果自己安装这样一台电扇要花200-400美元.一台蒸汽式冷却装置的基本原理是在冰水浸泡过的垫子上推动空气,使用的能源是冷却空气能源的四分之一.花费仅在200-600美元之间.(参见”没有空调也可以制冷”)
  • 安装白色遮光帘,窗帘或百叶窗来反射屋子里的热量. 白天的时候,拉上南面和西面的窗帘在南面的窗户上可以安装遮阳篷.因为太阳,树木,格架或者栅栏的一角会在南面窗上留下阴影.在南面窗户上装控制阳光的薄膜或其他可反射阳光的薄膜

美化冷却屋内景观
  • 种植树木或灌木来遮蔽空气调节装置,但不要阻碍空气流动.在阴凉处操作该设备可以省电.
  • 生长在格架上的攀缘植物,比如常春藤或葡萄藤可以遮蔽窗户或房子的整面.
  • 尽量避免再南面和西面布置大量不遮光线的岩石,水泥或者沥青.因为他们会增加房屋周围的温度,并且在太阳落下后把热量转移到屋内.
  • 在西面,南面种植落叶树可以使你的房屋整个夏天都保持凉爽.仅仅三棵树,只要适当种植在房屋周围,就可以每年省几百美金的空调费. 在夏天,有树荫庇护的房屋,白天可以降温3-6度.

不要忽略细节
  • 用白炽灯泡替代紧密的荧光灯.因为白炽灯仅损耗荧光灯五分之一的能量和热量.
  • 自然风干碗,拒绝使用洗碗机来干燥碗
  • 使用微波炉替代传统的电器或烤箱
  • 不使用电脑和监视器的时候就关闭它们的电源
  • 把类似电视和录像机的家电的电源插在电源板上,不用的时候就把插头拔下.
  • 调低热水器上的自动调温器,一般115度的温度就让人很舒服了
  • 经常使用淋浴方式来洗澡,尽量少泡浴缸,这样可以减少用水量.
  • 当碗和衣服都堆满的时候再清洁.

不要盲目地制冷房屋的各个角落

  • 夏天的时候,封住窗或门的挡风雨条可以保持室内凉爽的温度.
  • 如果你发现管道上出现洞或有裂缝,赶快请专业人员来修理.
  • 当空气调节装置被安装在条件恶劣的空间的时候,再其管道上绑上绝缘材料,比如安装在屋顶,槽隙或者车库,当然当电扇被安装在室外或屋顶时候也该采取这样的措施.
  • 检查你的壁炉节气闸是否关紧.

提前规划

在你的房屋的制冷设施运行正常的时候就开始升级以及维修,这样既省钱又有效.

  • 例如,一台使用了10年的空调的效率是一台新机的一半.提前检查你的空调的效率可以辅助你决定是否有必要找专业服务人来来维修.使用家用温度计来测量出风口和进风口的温度.(把温度计放置5分钟,从而得到一个稳定的温度值).专家说两者间的温差为14至20度.如果空调的制冷度达不到这些水平,则可能是制冷剂过少或者有空调有漏出物.如果制冷设备的温度超过20度那么问题很严重
  • 在一个新的屋顶放置亮鹅卵石可以降低房屋所吸收的热量.再涂一层亮色的油漆,尤其是油漆在面向南面以及西面的外部,效果很显著.
  • 升级顶楼和周围的双层玻璃窗,在图上一层油漆来反射阳光,同样也是很好的方法.