"Living With Ed" ....

Happened to catch it this week. He visited Jay Leno, and a from the ground up super-green house. And they replaced the kitchen appliances with energy star. His wife had her office organized. The house tour was interesting and Jay Leno was very entertaining.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusmaybe @ Sep 5 2007, 06:42 PM) [snapback]507545[/snapback]</div>

For Canadian fans this program will air on HGTV starting in October. Just saw the promo this morning and it did look interesting.

 

It's better this season than it was last season. It seems that his wife isn't quite as annoying as she was last season. What they probably thought would be cute bickering between them was unwatchable to me. This season, they seem to be spending more time on some really good tips. I loved those solar tubes that funnel light into the house during the day.

I wish the energy audit was more informative and comprehensive. I can't believe that what they audited was all that should be discussed in such an audit.

 

I love this show, though I missed last week. I think its pretty funny, plus I love to see all the things he's done!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SSimon @ Sep 6 2007, 10:54 AM) [snapback]507945[/snapback]</div>

I have one of these and it's fabulous. The best bang for the buck home improvement I made to the house.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Sep 7 2007, 07:08 AM) [snapback]508492[/snapback]</div>

Maybe that's the point. She's the "but this is all too difficult and annoying and we'll never keep up with the jones'" stereotype. She's the villain. Besides, people who kinda think like her that watch the show will quietly think to themselves "Christ, is that how I come across?".

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Sep 7 2007, 01:03 AM) [snapback]508417[/snapback]</div>

Leakage? Cost? Pleasant light diffusion/spectrum? Drawbacks?

Wouldn't it be nice to harness the energy from the sunlight during the day and use this just as you would conventional lighting during evening hours? I don't see how this wouldn't be doable.

Also, what if you don't want this sunlight streaming in your house? Is there some kind of a shade that you could pull over it?

We could really use this type of lighting. We have a huge living room/dining room/den type room as soon as we enter the house. There used to be a closet (yes, a closet) right in front of the front door that was in the shape of an "L". We ripped that out so that a closet wasn't all one sees as they enter our house, now our fireplace is. Since this room has windows on the north and west exposures, we really don't get enough natural lighting in the room. Same with our kitchen. If it's not sunny out, I have to use supplemental lighting. This would be a really nice addition for us.

Feedback, please.............

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SSimon @ Sep 7 2007, 11:25 AM) [snapback]508604[/snapback]</div>

No leakage.

Cost about $500 installed, but I had a coupon from the Del Mar Fair. If you're handy you can do it yourself. I think I saw tubular skylights at Home Depot but can't speak to their quality.

I had my choice of several different difusers. It's sunlight but...difused. My kitchen has two small windows over a corner sink. One faces south and one west. I also had a kitchen door, also facing west with a window in the top half. Not much light. Had to turn the lights on even during the day. The first week I had it in I kept trying to turn the sun off. It was brighter than when I had the lights on. I'm extremely happy with it and would spend the money again. I've now replaced that kitchen door with a french door. I get more light but do miss the ventilation as the window in the door used to open. But I still have the windows that open and I have a screen door for the french door if I want to leave it open. I've replaced the shades on my vintage ceiling lights and they are brighter now. (I use compact fluorescents.)

There are several options for tubular skylights, I think having some sort of louvre system to "shut it off" might be an option, but I see no reason to turn off the sun in the kitchen during the day so didn't explore that.

On Living With Ed, after they saw the house Ed said there was rarely something that both he and his wife totally agreed on. She loved the aesthetic of the house and he loved the eco-friendly green stuff. I think it was a good thing that that house was already owned and lived in by people. If it were on the market I think the wife would be hounding Ed to please buy that house.

I missed the ep with Bill Nye. I'll have to try to catch a rerun.

 

I'll probably be putting them on my to do list. Cost seems very reasonable and we truly do need more light in these two rooms. I'm a little uneasy as I've spent quite a bit of money on environmental upgrades for our house and as soon as I feel I've hit the end of my list, I add another upgrade. Most of the upgrades I've installed do not lend themselves to a healthy return on investment.

There has to be an end in sight.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SSimon @ Sep 6 2007, 08:54 AM) [snapback]507945[/snapback]</div>

MY DVR IS SET, LOVE IT.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SSimon @ Sep 7 2007, 11:09 PM) [snapback]508897[/snapback]</div>

LOL. I know.

Next: Tankless water heater.

Eventually. Insulate roof. Attic floor is already insulated. Then insulate floor (crawlspace).

I'm getting pretty near the end of the big stuff.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SSimon @ Sep 7 2007, 10:09 PM) [snapback]508897[/snapback]</div>

Tear yer house down and build an earthship in its place.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tripp @ Sep 8 2007, 02:44 PM) [snapback]509169[/snapback]</div>

Personally, I see no point in tearing down my house and sending the remains to a landfill, only to rebuild with other 'garbage' to prevent IT from going to a landfill. Seems kinda stupid.

I'll just do the best with what I already have.

 

Hmm. Earthship. I like it. One, out of five, of our rooms has passive solar orientation. I could shift four other rooms. I'd be all set and I'd stop whining about my gas bill to you folks. Too bad the skylights on my list can't act as passive solar implements. Posting this, I just thought of something. I better check about heat loss with these things!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SSimon @ Sep 9 2007, 08:32 AM) [snapback]509504[/snapback]</div>

Heat loss will be better with the tubular ones than traditional, I'm sure. They a lot surface area.

 

Living With Ed is my favorite show. My favorite episodes are when his neighbor Bill Nye (the Science Guy) visits and the green rivalry begins.

 

There is a Living with Ed marathon coming up on Thanksgiving. One of my favorite shows. They have an electric Rav4 and a 2010 Prius. Having Bill Nye as a neighbor just makes it better! Science rules!

 

Saw Ed on the news. Boy he lost it. Totally looked like a fool.