Ecotrope

Fresh ideas on nature and community.

tagged: Energy efficiency

Feb. 12, 2013 · By Cassandra Profita

Newer, Larger Homes Use About As Much Energy As Older, Smaller Ones

The Energy Information Administration reports that U.S. homes built since 2000 are only using 2 percent more energy than older homes despite being 30 percent larger on average. How is that possible? Continue reading →

Filed under: Land, Energy efficiency, Green building, Small homes

Sept. 28, 2011 · By Cassandra Profita

Green homes: Where the floors are made of recycled toilets

So, I have a lot to learn about green homes...and how to tour more than one of them in a Saturday. I went on the Portland Build it Green! Home Tour this weekend. And when I say "home" tour I mean it. I only made it to one home – out of 21! (I also visited the June Key Delta ... Continue reading →

Filed under: Sustainability, Earth Advantage, Energy efficiency, Green building

Sept. 20, 2011 · By Cassandra Profita

A secret to reusing waste heat: Your microwave

In the time it takes you to reheat yesterday's pizza, microwave energy can be used to create compounds that capture wasted heat from cars, machines and industry and turn it into electricity. Continue reading →

Filed under: Energy, Energy efficiency, Oregon State University, Waste heat

Nov. 30, 2010 · By Cassandra Profita

The problem with energy efficiency

One of Clark Williams-Derry's five thought-provoking ideas on The Daily Score blog reassures me that it's not crazy to question energy efficiency as public policy (as I mentioned earlier): His No. 2 thought-provoking idea is that energy efficiency doesn't always save energy: Continue reading →

Filed under: Energy, Energy efficiency

Nov. 23, 2010 · By Cassandra Profita

R2B2: Pedal power for kitchen appliances

Check out these pictures of the pedal-powered kitchen center from FastCompany Design. The concept, from Christoph Thetard, is to power kitchen appliances such as a hand mixer, food processor and coffee grinder with a manual pedal. It could reduce a kitchen's carbon footprint and lower a home's electric bill. Does this retro reinvention have a a place in the modern ... Continue reading →

Filed under: Land, Sustainability, Energy efficiency, Green technology

Nov. 18, 2010 · By Cassandra Profita

Face off: Which Facebook data center is greener?

Facebook's new data center planned for Forest City, N.C., might be greener than its Prineville data center in Oregon. Continue reading →

Filed under: Energy, Coal, Energy efficiency, Greenpeace

Oct. 26, 2010 · By Cassandra Profita

Report: Smaller homes, smaller carbon footprints

Headlines sure have a way of dumbing down the news, don't they? Continue reading →

Filed under: Environment, Land, Sustainability, Energy efficiency, Garbage, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Small homes

Oct. 19, 2010 · By Cassandra Profita

Speaking of energy efficiency … Dr. Chu

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Filed under: Energy, Energy efficiency, U.S. Department of Energy

Oct. 04, 2010 · By Cassandra Profita

New energy-saving idea: Flip the fridge

Bonneville Power Administration is testing a new kind of hot water heater in 40 homes across the Northwest as part of a national energy-savings experiment. Continue reading →

Filed under: Energy, Sustainability, Energy efficiency

Sept. 23, 2010 · By Cassandra Profita

Weatherization: Worthy of tax dollars?

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Filed under: Energy, Elections, Energy efficiency

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About Ecotrope

In the Pacific Northwest, the environment is personal - it's where we live, work and play. Oregon Public Broadcasting's Ecotrope will bring you news and insight on the region’s environmental issues. Site curator Cassandra Profita is an award-winning reporter with degrees in journalism and environmental studies.

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