Fresh AIRE

What you may not know about your cable box…

  …may be costing you!  The folks over at Amicus Green Building Center

did a quick assessment on a recently installed Verizon FiOS service at one of the staff’s homes.  What they discovered is that the service box cannot truly be turned off, so it’s drawing power constantly at a rate of 40 watts.  Using a Kill-A-Watt EZ meter, they learned that this translates into about $3.50/month.  That can really add up!

To really put this into perspective, Adam-Green Building Outreach Coordinator for Fresh AIRE, did some further calculations.  Considering that Verizon FiOS has over a million subscribers, it is estimated that over $40 million are wasted annually on phantom loads from those pesky boxes!  And if Verizon meets their goal of getting to between 6-7 million subscribers by 2010, that number could grow to nearly $300 million!! 

Amicus recommends using the Smart Strip--a power strip that kills the power to the set-top box--it really turns it off--when you turn the TV off.  In fact, Amicus is making the following offer:  Bring in your Verizon FiOS, Comcast, or Cox cable bill and we'll give you 11% off our Smart Strips and electric meters to help you plug this hole--and any other hogs running around (offer good through May 16).

24 hour green TV launch at the Washington Nationals Stadium tonight

Do not adjust your television set, this is not a test.  If you are scratching your head wondering if 'green' is mainstream yet, your answer has arrived.

First we had the all news network, then ESPN, the weather channel, and now Planet Green.  Yes, the Discovery channel is launching the very first 24-7 green television channel called Planet Green tonight at 6pm EST at our very own LEED certified stadium in DC.  Now we have American pie, baseball, and green tv. 

This evening some 50 million homes will be introduced to 250 hours of original green lifestyle programming as the 24/7 Planet Green network launches.

Here are the details:

Planet Green Launch Celebration at Nationals Park on Wednesday, June 4
6:00 PM - Planet Green Goes Live
6:59 PM - Opening Pitch
7:10 PM - Washington Nationals vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Tune in to the game and Planet Green, then let us know what you think about the new network.

Today Show Chases Away My Night Scares

Last night, I went to bed scared to death. Why? Well, a couple days ago, I started reading "An Inconvenient Truth," and it was the last thing I read before turning out the light.

Yet this morning, I turned on NBC's Today Show and was filled up again with hope! (Things always look better after a good night of sleep, 'eh?) There was a long segment about "How to Go Green" (when you click on this link, be patient...a 30-sec ad comes first) that included some interesting energy efficient items. They had the standards such as CFL bulbs, then some nifty items like a water-powered alarm clock?! And a solar "Juice Bag" that can power various small devices. Oh yeah, I learned that front-loading washers use MUCH less water than top-loading washers -- about half. Hmmm...this might help win the "discussion" with my husband about getting a new energy efficient washer/dryer this year. And ENERGY STAR rated washers "spin out" more water, reducing drying time and saving energy.

I also saw a segment about someone who had converted a Civil War tear-down Victorian house into a green home of the future. Very cool. All the energy consumed by the renovated home (which is now a bed and breakfast) is made in the backyard! Check out the video segment (again, you'll have to wait through a short ad, but it's worth it).

I'll end with a quote that Matt Lauer used to introduce the segment: "You don't have to be a green tree-hugging environmentalist to worry about the planet and what you're doing to it."

Jennifer K. Smith, 17-year resident of Arlington
Arlington County communications mgr. (and AIRE blog administrator)