green hacks

This week's hack: Make a solar oven

Shade of green: Adolescent spruce

Items needed: Cardboard box at least 18" square and as deep as whatever you want to cook, black construction paper, tin foil, clear plastic, non-toxic glue, pen, tape, scissors or utility knife (put down the beer first, ok?), ruler, piece of dowel or stick or whatnot

Why this hack: Because it's as fun and simple and cheap as they come. Hey, that sounds like the personal ads I've been running lately.

In a few simple steps, convert an ordinary box into a beauteous, practical solar oven.

Heart of the hack: Trace a border around the top of your box, about an inch inside the edges. Cut three sides, leaving one as a "hinge." This is your oven door. Nice, eh?

Now, cut and glue a square of aluminum foil to the underside of your door, and cut a piece of plastic just a little larger than the opening. Remember how, when you were a devious little punk kid, you used to fry ants with a magnifying glass? This is your magnifying glass, only this time, you're gonna be frying, well, hopefully not ants.

read more

comment | permalink | print | email |

share

reddit digg Del.icio.us facebook newsvine stumble What is share?

Shade of Green: 100-year old pine tree

Items Needed: Stack of 2x4's, 4 sheets of 2-inch foamular "pink board," 4 sheets 1/2-inch CDX plywood, enough cedar tongue-in-groove paneling to cover the inside of your framed walls (exactly how much will depend on the size of your "fridge"), 2 small 24v computer fans, 1-3/4-inch hole saw, nails, general carpentry tools.

Why this Hack: Because you live in the north. Because it drives you nuts that you're using electricity to chill your food when it's 20 below outside. Because you're committed.

Heart of the Hack: The idea is simple, though the execution is a bit more complicated. Basically, you're building an insulated box that's going to attach to the outside of your house (preferably in the kitchen area, and preferably to the exterior of an opening that already exists.

The author's AAF (Ambient Air Fridge) fits snug against the outside of a doorway that leads to a seasonal porch off his kitchen. During the warmer months, the AAF is detached for ingress and egress (pretty fancy words for a hack, eh?). It's the ideal size in the ideal location. Your layout and particulars may demand a greater degree of hackishness.

Whatever size you end up with, you want an airtight box that is insulated all around with pinkboard. First, you'll want to frame "walls" for your AAF with the 2x4's, using a standard two-foot-on-center framing pattern. Then, fill all cavities with pinkboard and sheath the exterior with your plywood. The interior gets the cedar paneling, installed with six-penny finish nails.

At this point, you can drill two 1-3/4" holes in the box, one on each side. Drill one at the bottom, and one toward the top. Then, fit two small fans into the holes (Canon makes 24v fans for use in computers). Connect these to a thermostat, and you've got automatic temperature control! (In our next hack, we'll create a solar-powered ice-maker). The bottom will usher in cold air, and the top will expel warm air.

Getting these wired and working properly is the hardest part of this hack, though the carpentry skills necessary to make the box are rudimentary. If in doubt, hire an electrician to help you wire the fans. Once the box is constructed, attach it to the exterior of your opening with 3-1/2" galvanized screws.

read more

comment | permalink | print | email |

share

reddit digg Del.icio.us facebook newsvine stumble What is share?

Shade of green: Luscious lime

Items needed: Air compressor, four to six quarts synthetic oil, common sense, willing mechanic

Why this hack: Because you can't afford a Prius

Heart of the hack: This one's simple, folks. First, you gotta check tire pressure. Consider: There's a 1% loss of fuel efficiency for every 2 PSI under maximum pressure (usually in the 35-psi range). So if you're running at 26 psi, you're giving up about 5% fuel efficiency. Why, on my 1990 one-ton Chevy pickup (454 and four-on-the-floor, if you care, which you should), that's... um... 1/2 mpg.

You, presumably, drive a smaller, smarter vehicle, so you could be looking at a 1 to 2 mpg improvement. At $3/gallon, it'll add up, and if all of you send the savings to this blogger's Paypal account, he can afford to keep driving his Chevy.

Part 2. A synthetic motor oil can improve fuel efficiency quite a bit. Even if you don't believe the outrageous claims from oil and additive makers (and you shouldn't), you can realize a 5% to 10% gain by switching to a synthetic motor oil such as Mobil 1.

Part 3: Slow-the-heck-down. It's that simple, folks. Most modern automobile engines are most efficient at below-highway speeds. Figure around 55 mph for maximum efficiency, then add another 5 mph so you don't get rear-ended by the hotshot in the Lexus (or me in my truck). The gas mileage difference between 60 mph and 80 mph is going to be in the 15% range.

read more

comment | permalink | print | email |

share

reddit digg Del.icio.us facebook newsvine stumble What is share?