Tag: Electric

Solar Coterie: If You Want To Go Seriously Green, Try A Solar Panel Bikini


Going green is nothing new these days, but it’s not going out of style anytime soon either. It’s become an ideology, and people proudly stand by the lifestyle changes they’ve adopted in an effort to make the world a better place for future generations to come. On that note, it’s hard to argue against the green movement.

What if you could harness the energy of the sun from the clothes you wear on your body? Better yet, what if you could look good while doing it? It may sound bizarre, but that was the very intention of Solar Coterie – a startup producing solar-powered bikinis throughout the early twenty-teens. It’s exactly what The Coterie Room is all about.

Solar Coterie.
Photo: Sai Sriskandarajah

Imaging spreading out a towel on the beach, coating up your skin with a nice, soothing sunscreen, and taking off your outer layer to let your solar bikini start soaking up the rays to charge your smartphone while you lounge for the day by the sea. Sounds a bit unreal, doesn’t it? At the same time, why not? This is exactly the kind of thinking that could propel humanity into the future, with the right touch of artistic inspiration and ingenuity.

While Solar Coterie’s approach may not have resonated with the mainstream, likely due to the general wearability and comfort of the bikini design, there’s no doubting that if a viable product was available to consumers at a reasonable price tag it would catch on like wildfire. Those who fashioned the solar bikini could be generating energy while they’re at the beach, while they’re sipping rose poolside, or even while they’re just soaking up the rays in the comfort of their backyard.

For that matter, why stop there once you’ve gotten the solar bikini down? You could make solar sun hats, work boots, t-shirts, gym shorts, you name it – the list goes on and on. We could simply be making energy for our consumer-driven lifestyles as we go throughout the day in a clean and renewable way, rather than relying on the fossil fuels that pollute the Earth’s atmosphere at such an astonishing rate. Energy generation integrated with human life – that’s been the goal ever since I was inspired by the seemingly simply concept of electricity-generating cardio machines. But alas, good ideas need a great leader… And sadly, my talents are more suitable to writing blog posts!

With seemingly everything running on battery these days, from smart phones to laptops, to power tools and collars for invisible dog fences and beyond, why not beef up our arsenal of renewable-energy production methods? Who knows, maybe that cleaner planet for generations to come is closer to reality than we once thought.


Electric Fireplace Designs


Electric fireplaces are becoming increasingly popular as the product quality increases year after year. What was once a hokey product has now become a potentially stunning addition to your home. They come in all shapes and sizes, so how does one know which one is right for their home? Ultimately, it’s going to be up to you and what your preferences are. However, in this article we’ll discuss some of the most common designs and see if we can help shed some light on which is the right one for your home.

Inserts

If you have an existing fireplace that has been dormant for years, this design can be perfect for you. They are intended to be put directly in a chimney and mimic the traditional feel of a fire place. They are not too dissimilar to a gas fireplace, the main difference of course being the source of energy. If you’re looking to preserve the traditional and rustic feel then this is the design that would work best for you.

Corner Units

Another way to go would be an electric fireplace corner unit. These can be useful as they serve a few different purposes. Firstly and obviously, they fit comfortably into a corner of your room. They can be a great way to save space, or to fill an empty corner. Often these styles come with shelving that can hold books, vases, you name it. They can also serve as a convenient place to put your TV. If you look around enough you might just be able to find a unit made of real wood, which would mean high quality. For some ideas on where to get started with this design, check out this article from Home Reporter News.

Wall Mounts

If you’re tight on space or looking for a more modern style a wall mounted electric fireplace might just be perfect for you. These range from fairly affordable to incredibly expensive, which is because the quality of the product ranges from entry level to top-of-the-line. This is probably the most popular style of electric fireplace among today’s consumers, because modern and contemporary design choices are all the rage. Swap the fake logs for pebbles and choose a blue flame instead of orange, you’ll be on your way to the 21st century in no time.

Free Standing “Wood” Stoves

Do you like the feel of tradition and the olden days? If you’re without a chimney, an electric fireplace insert won’t work for you unfortunately. Never fear though – you have an alternative. This design mimics the look and feel of a wood burning stove. You won’t get that omnipresent smell associated with wood stoves, but you will get the heat, the flame effects, and the visual appeal. This style can also be incredible affordable, which is a huge plus of course.

The Ultimate – Recessed Mount

If you’re looking to up your game and make a truly modern and luxurious home, you can work with professionals to have a huge electric fireplace installed right into your wall. Recessed designs can be flush mounted into your wall to bring a futuristic vibe that screams modern day royalty. Don’t expect it to be cheap though. a fireplace of this style could cost somewhere in the thousands of dollars alone, let alone the labor costs associated with installation.


What To Look For When Selecting An Electric Pressure Washer


You need to know how to buy an electric pressure washer because it is one of the most functional things you will ever buy. You could hold onto one of these devices for a very long time. You can use these devices to clean your home, clean your driveway, or clean the patio. The pressure washer is helpful if you have a business that needs to pressure wash certain surfaces, and you must have a look at different aspects fo the pressure washer as you make this expensive decision.

1. The Water Tank 

You need to find something that has a water tank that is easy to fill, has a gauge that will be easy to read, and has a nozzle that will accept fittings from any hose you wish to use. You need to purchase something versatile because these tanks are only helpful if they work with the different tools that you plan to use while you are pressure washing. 

2. The Pressure Gauge 

You need a water tank with a good pressure gauge, but you also need to have an air compressor that shows you how much pressure it is producing. You want to have the chance to adjust the pressure to the exact amount, and you must adjust to get the level of clean that you believe is needed. Someone who is trying to pressure wash any surface needs to be sensitive to the amount of pressure they use. You could use high pressure on stone, but you need to be careful with the siding on a house. You could use high pressure to strip the paint from your deck, or you could use low pressure if you want to clean gunk from your patio. 

3. The Cart 

You need to choose a pressure washer that has a cart you can push around. The device is not something that you should carry around on your own. It is too heavy, and there are too many moving parts for you to carry something so heavy. Pushing around the cart makes it possible for you to set up in the right place, and you can get to work instantly. You can move close to the water hose you need, you can get close to the space you plan to clean, or you can get out of the sun to protect your equipment. 

4. The Pressure Washer Cannon 

You need to have a pressure washer cannon that is easy to wield and adjust. You are going to get a steady stream of water from the pressure washer cannon, but it needs to have a trigger of valve handle that you can turn on and off in a second. You need to have complete control over the washer cannon, and you should have a handle that is easy to press for varying levels of pressure. You could close the handle very slowly, or you could press it down hard to get the maximum amount of pressure. 

5. Conclusion 

You must search for a pressure washer that is the right price, but you cannot compare prices until you have chosen something that is truly helpful to you as a worker, a business owner, or a homeowner. Try visiting TBEPW by Catherine Galvan for a great guide on some of the best electric pressure washers available today. Someone who is new to pressure washers needs to find a washer that will be easy to move, has all the right fittings, and has a pressure gauge that is easy to read. Most people who want to buy a new pressure washer also need to look at the air compressor and water tank to be certain that the device is safe to use. You can blast a driveway, patio, or deck with this device, but you should not do that until you are sure that you are going to get the right amount of power. The pressure washer is very strong, and you do not want to overdo it because you did not know what to do.