Geeky DIY Homesteading [more inside]
posted on Jun 25, 2008 - 11 answers

Is anyone working on harvesting the energy of lightning? [more inside]
posted on Jun 24, 2008 - 13 answers

How come there's no way to harness the rotation of the Earth as a power source? (although I guess wind power sort of does this...)
posted on Jun 4, 2008 - 23 answers

my friend invests a lot of his money in energy and oil trusts. typically these trusts pay a dividend per share every month...and so they tend to average higher yields than most regular stocks. PWE is one of them. im considering putting money into an energy trust, but i want to know if the buzz is legit. somebody write back...
posted on May 6, 2008 - 4 answers

Final half-marathon preparations: I'm signed up for the Sydney Half-Marathon (my first ever!) on May 18th, and I've just got a couple questions as I enter these last few weeks of preparations. Do I need to start investigating energy gels or GUs or something? And is this a *really* bad time to get new shoes? I'm getting a bit jittery so I'd be grateful for any wisdom and advice from the MeFi running contingent... [more inside]
posted on Apr 27, 2008 - 18 answers

Should I have our small business switch to a third party green energy provider? We had a salesman for Accent Energy come to our door and he was a bit shady so I told him that I wanted to look into this on my own time. But from what I'm reading online it could be a great way to convert to a more environmentally responsible energy solution. And its Earth Day today too. Our company wants to do what we can to be "green" and we would even pay slightly more to do so, but if a switch to a third party will cost three times as much then we just cant do it. [more inside]
posted on Apr 22, 2008 - 2 answers

What are the top 3 things I can do this year to avoid consuming non-renewable resources? [more inside]
posted on Apr 17, 2008 - 32 answers

I'm a senior software developer, and I'd like to start working in the green energy sector. What are the opportunities in this area? [more inside]
posted on Apr 13, 2008 - 3 answers

We live in a “vintage” 1920s three floor/six unit condo building. The plaster and lathe walls have their charm, but insulation was an unknown concept in 1920. Next winter, I don't want to freeze. [more inside]
posted on Mar 31, 2008 - 5 answers

Is it possible to say whether more methane is produced from cow feces or their mouths? How political is this topic? [more inside]
posted on Mar 7, 2008 - 16 answers

I can't stop thinking about fridges and winter. Would it save much energy to freeze gallon containers of water outdoors and put those in the fridge now and then? It's Minnesota winter over here and I want to make the most of it ;)
posted on Feb 21, 2008 - 17 answers

Why doesnt my fridge make use of the winter weather? [more inside]
posted on Feb 19, 2008 - 24 answers

I would like to power my laptop with the sun. [more inside]
posted on Feb 10, 2008 - 19 answers

Need advice on buying a tankless water heater - and how to find someone to install it! [more inside]
posted on Feb 6, 2008 - 15 answers

ScienceFilter: Creationists, crystals, and thermodynamics. [more inside]
posted on Feb 6, 2008 - 19 answers

My touch lamp has the same vibrating static electricity feeling that my massage clients used to have. Why? [more inside]
posted on Jan 28, 2008 - 7 answers

What's the best CFL or similar for recessed lighting? A previous question didn't quite provide the direct recommendation I'm looking for. [more inside]
posted on Jan 5, 2008 - 5 answers

What domestic devices can be operated effectively on solar power these days? Know any interesting alternative uses? Wide open question.
posted on Dec 28, 2007 - 11 answers

Is Al right? Am I really saving the environment by switching to CF bulbs? [more inside]
posted on Dec 22, 2007 - 46 answers

I'm awake by 7 AM, but don't feel truly mentally "awake" and in the "zone" till the afternoon. Caffeine and exercise early in the morning help a little, but mainly they seem to affect my physical energy more than my mental energy. Does anyone else feel this way, and what can I do to get my brain up to speed earlier in the day?
posted on Dec 14, 2007 - 29 answers

I wish to travel the world, learning about renewable energy. Discuss. [more inside]
posted on Dec 11, 2007 - 13 answers

Anyone know a simple and cheap solar panel setup to run a small boombox about 9-12V DC? [more inside]
posted on Dec 4, 2007 - 3 answers

I'm looking for representations of renewable energy sources in (i) movies from any country or (ii) any UK mainstream media including TV ads. [more inside]
posted on Nov 21, 2007 - 13 answers

A family member is working on a development project in Africa which will involve setting up a database of patient records in rural medical clinics. There are some cheap computers out there now, but only a few solutions consider the cost and unreliability of power in such regions. He also needs something which runs a standard operating system, so the OLPC computer isn't right. The best I've found so far is the Inveneo project, which was actually designed with such communities in mind. I'm wondering if there are any other solutions that MeFi community members might know of which are comparable to the one offered by Inveneo? [more inside]
posted on Nov 20, 2007 - 8 answers

What, if any, is the relationship between bandwidth and power? [more inside]
posted on Nov 19, 2007 - 14 answers

Chemistryfilter: I'm looking for a solution (colliod? emulsion? gel? resin?) of a few inexpensive and non-dangerous ingredients whose composition can be adjusted to create a melting point near to room temperature (and moderate pressures). [more inside]
posted on Nov 6, 2007 - 21 answers

Is smoking supposed to make me feel this way? [more inside]
posted on Oct 28, 2007 - 27 answers

The oil we use today was made from a biomass from a certain era. When was it, and how long was that era? [more inside]
posted on Oct 27, 2007 - 7 answers

Best replacement for light bulbs in apartment building halls and common areas? [more inside]
posted on Oct 19, 2007 - 9 answers

I'm exhausted... how can I management my energy better during the day? What techniques can I experiment with? [more inside]
posted on Oct 5, 2007 - 11 answers

What is the most energy efficient form of flesh to eat? [more inside]
posted on Sep 19, 2007 - 38 answers

What the heck is in Actipril, and what is it used for? [more inside]
posted on Sep 17, 2007 - 6 answers

How do I find out if my landlord is scamming me on energy? [more inside]
posted on Sep 14, 2007 - 18 answers

S3 Standby mode...Wake On LAN...Energy Savings...WHY DOESN'T IT WORK!!!! [more inside]
posted on Aug 4, 2007 - 13 answers

Sometimes when I exercise I feel full of energy. Other days, I feel weak and a little nauseous. This happens even when I get a good amount of sleep every night (7-8 hrs), and even when I've eated a good breakfast (say, oatmeal or cereal) an hour before exercising. What factors affect energy, especially during exercise? What does it take to get that bubbling, bursting, "I can conquer the world" energy every day?
posted on Jul 22, 2007 - 18 answers

Through no fault of my own, I got 4 hours of sleep last night. What can I eat for lunch to make it through a long (and tiring) day? [more inside]
posted on Jul 10, 2007 - 22 answers

Solar photovoltaic fabric. I'm trying to find or recall about a particular type of technology that I half-remember, as well as find out more about the current state of the art for flexible and/or fabric and/or imprinted solar panels. [more inside]
posted on Jun 6, 2007 - 4 answers

Since December 2006, my electricity bill has shown at least a 1,000 KWH increase over the same period a year ago. We haven't purchased any new appliances, or done anything appreciably different. This month, we didn't use our air conditioning/heating unit at all, and our bill still came in 25% higher (500 KWH) than a year ago. We're at a loss. What could be the reason? We ordered a Kill-a-watt, but till it arrives, we are trying to figure it out. Any thoughts? [more inside]
posted on May 9, 2007 - 34 answers

Is it really impossible to lose weight (in a healthy manner) by substituting two meals a day with some sort of bar? [more inside]
posted on Apr 23, 2007 - 26 answers

What are the most energy-efficient microprocessors currently available in mass-market PCs/laptops? [more inside]
posted on Apr 12, 2007 - 5 answers

What form of energy is used to heat a Wal-Mart, Home Depot or Costo store, and how much does it cost per month in the winter? [more inside]
posted on Apr 8, 2007 - 12 answers

Does leaving a pizza stone in the oven make the oven more or less efficient? [more inside]
posted on Mar 23, 2007 - 15 answers

What could be the most viable environmentally friendly car? I some how focused in compressed air powered cars. [more inside]
posted on Mar 12, 2007 - 19 answers

How can I get myself to feel refreshed & energized after feeling run-down for awhile? I constantly feel overwhelmed with life and thus stressed out and burnt out. [more inside]
posted on Mar 5, 2007 - 66 answers

Would it be feasible (/cost efficient) to put small wind turbines on existing utility poles to generate power? [more inside]
posted on Feb 28, 2007 - 23 answers

I have been switching over to CFL bulbs, but have many lights on dimmers. Dimmable CFLs exist, and they exist in the sizes I need too, but I would like to find a supplier in Vancouver or at least within Canada, as paying customs charges on freaking light bulbs would be a real kick in the pants. [more inside]
posted on Feb 13, 2007 - 13 answers

Where can I find GU10 compact fluorescent bulbs in Canada/US? I've found these bulbs overseas at sites like this one but can't find a source for these in Canada/US. I'm located in Winnipeg (central Canada), so any Canadian vendors would be ideal, shipping to Canada from the US would be second best.
posted on Feb 9, 2007 - 5 answers

Do people have a real genuine "need" for sugar sometimes, or is it psychological? [more inside]
posted on Jan 26, 2007 - 20 answers

We hear a lot about global warming that is attributable to greenhouse effects, etc. Can anyone link-to/guestimate the actual thermal energy we are putting into the planet directly, as a result of burning, moving, etc.? [more inside]
posted on Jan 20, 2007 - 9 answers

Any good diet-friendly caffeinated beverages out there? Looking for something convenient, cheap, and low/no-cal/sugar. [more inside]
posted on Jan 9, 2007 - 53 answers