Sep/090
GE SmartHome Motion-Sensing Light Switch
Encourage your work place (or organization) to install on of these (or one like it) in their bathrooms (or other rooms that don’t need constant light). I’d been religiously shutting of the lights every time I left the room (unless someone was in there!), and now it seems I don’t have to. Nice.
GE SmartHome Motion-Sensing Light Switch
via Amazon.com: GE SmartHome Motion-Sensing Light Switch (White) (PIR617M): Electronics.
Aug/090
Altoid Tinnovations – Does the name say it all?
I love Altoids. I love the sub-slogan: “…so strong they come in a steel box”. Folks, people are doing things with those steel boxes. Remember the mantra “Reduce Reuse Recycle”. Check out more here.
Aug/090
Twice Green Paint
At least, I assume they have this in green. What a silly oversight that would be by their marketing people, eh?
![CropperCapture[9]](http://terrakeeper.com/terrakeeperblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/CropperCapture9.jpg "CropperCapture[9]")
It’s Ecotrend’s Collagen paint. Using collagen as a major component (the most abundant protein found in mammals) it’s odorless because it contains no harmful chemicals: no VOCs, organic solvents, environmental hormones or heavy metals (according to their information).
Jul/090
UGO FlameDisk – The Charcoal Alternative.
Here’s a nifty new product. I haven’t tried it yet but the propoganda looks neat.
uGO™ FlameDisk™ is FAST, EASY, CLEAN & ECO-FRIENDLY! Great flame-grilled flavor and no need for messy charcoal or nasty lighter fluid.
Jul/090
Tires Made from Orange Oil Instead of Petroleum
![CropperCapture[7]](http://terrakeeper.com/terrakeeperblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/CropperCapture7-300x45.jpg "CropperCapture[7]"){kind=small}
Tires Made from Orange Oil Instead of Petroleum.
“Tire maker Yokohama has begun selling a new type of tire made mainly from orange oil instead of petroleum. The substitution plus the use of natural rubber allows the tires to be 80 percent petroleum-free.”
via EcoGeek
Jul/090
Bioplastics? Cars made of Kelp?
Courtesy of Yahoo Green
…This technology actually creates plastic resins by fermenting the starches and sugars in corn, sugarcane and other plants into lactic acid.
…The production of bioplastics results in the emission of far less carbon dioxide than traditional plastics,
Jul/090
Sump Pump Switch Saves Money – Includes High Water Alarm!
![CropperCapture[6]](http://terrakeeper.com/terrakeeperblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/CropperCapture6.jpg "CropperCapture[6]")
The AU5ES
![CropperCapture[5]](http://terrakeeper.com/terrakeeperblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/CropperCapture5.jpg "CropperCapture[5]")
I personally use this sump pump switch – and I love it. The times between pump cycles at my house went from about once every 20 seconds during really heavy rains to once every 2 minutes. When rains are light, it may never run at all, whereas before, even light rains would usually encourage my sump pump to turn on. Just imagine the savings in my electric bill!
How does it work? The pump is plugged directly into the switch (I’ve tied off my pump’s float switch to the permanently on position). The switch uses an electronic sensing system to sense when the water level has reached a certain level. A wire probe must be set into the sump pit at the desired “fill” height for the pit. Once water in the pit reaches this height, the switch turns the pump on for a selected period of time (in the photo the white dial sets the length of time). Normal floats on sump pumps only let the water height reach a few inches in the pit. With this switch the fill level can be set to the full height of the pit! Also, mechanical switch failure and debris blocking the float switch is not an issue.
In addition, if the water level does not soon leave the sensing probe, an alarm will sound.
The unit has battery backup (for the alarm and sensing function only – not for the pump!).
According to Wayne and many reviews I’ve read – and personal experience – corrosion is not an issue. Presumably as long as a circuit can be completed through the corrosion or scale buildup it wouldn’t be an issue.
The other thing I love about the switch is how much less wear and tear my pump is experiencing thanks to the reduced cycling.
