Magnetic Refrigerators
Magnetic Refrigerators
Oak Ridge National Laboratory and General Electric have teamed up to create a revolutionary new type of refrigerator that uses magnets to create cold, also known as the magnetocaloric effect (lowering or raising the temperature of the material by changing the magnetic field).
Ultra-Efficient Heat Pumps
Ultra-Efficient Heat Pumps
The Building Technologies Office is ushering in the next generation of heat pump systems, which warm and cool your home by moving heat from one space to another. A fuel-fired, multi-function residential heat pump that can reduce primary energy consumption by 30 percent.
Clothes Dryers
Clothes Dryers
The same concept behind heat pump technologies that keep your home comfortable can also be used for another important application: drying your clothes. Oak Ridge National Laboratory and General Electric are developing a new type of clothes dryer that uses a heat pump cycle to generate hot air needed for drying.
Smarter, More Connected Homes
Smarter, More Connected Homes
We live in an increasingly connected world -- the same is true for our homes. New electronic devices and appliances can now be linked to the Internet to provide real-time data that makes it easier to understand and lower energy use.
Next-Gen Insulation
Next-Gen Insulation
Insulation is one of the most important ways to reduce your home heating and cooling costs. The Industrial Science & Technology Network is developing new foam insulation made with environmentally friendly and advanced composite materials that ensure heat doesn’t escape from the attic, walls and other areas of the home during cold winter months.
Advanced Window Controls
Advanced Window Controls
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Pella Windows are working on new highly insulated windows that use sensors and microprocessors to automatically adjust shading based on the amount of available sunlight and the time of day to ensure proper lighting and comfort, saving consumers energy and money.
Reflective Roofing Materials
Reflective Roofing Materials
Cool roofs coated with materials containing specialized pigments reflect sunlight and absorb less heat than standard roofs. Expect these types of roof systems to get even “cooler” due to new fluorescent pigments developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and PPG Industries that can reflect nearly four times the amount of sunlight of standard pigments.

Energy-Saving Solutions

From heating and cooling to electronics and appliances, it takes a lot of energy to power our daily lives. Our homes use 37 percent more energy today than they did in 1980. But without energy efficiency -- through technology innovation and federal energy conservation standards -- this number would be a lot higher. In fact, even though our total energy use has grown, our energy use per household is down about 10 percent, despite that our homes are larger and contain more devices.

Save Energy Systems

Best Type of Aerator for Lawn

You enjoy spending time working on your turf if you're a lawn care enthusiast. After a long working week, spending a few hours in your yard might be just the therapy you need. So, fellow lawn care buffs, the advantages of aerating your lawn are recognized and appreciated.
For most people, renting an aerator works best, but it can be difficult to bring one home from the rental store.
It makes many homeowners conclude that it's not worth the trouble to find a mate with a tractor, or even rent a trailer before you rent the aerator.
You're more likely to aerate your lawn if it's simpler, like other lawn care activities that require special equipment. Let's explore the opportunity to purchase an aerator, so you never have to rent one again!
What are the types of aerators available?
There are several forms. Some perform well. Others aren't so effective. Some are costly. Others do not. They all operate best in moist soils, no matter which one you pick. Attempting to use a lawn aerator can produce disappointing results in rough, dry soil. Based on cost, let's explore your choices, from the cheapest to the most expensive researched by lawn aeration services in Cleveland, OH.
Shoe Spikes
Cost: $25 to $30
Lawn shoe spikes don't alleviate much soil compaction or remove thatch, like EnvyGreen Lawn Aerator Shoes. Go ahead and give them a shot if you're fascinated by them. The investment is nominal and you get some physical exercise from them. But be wary. They are bulky and can land you with a twisted ankle in Urgent Care.
Manual Aerator Tools
Cost: $35 to $75
This is a fairly cheap way to ventilate the grass. These manual instruments can be successful, but in order to make a difference, it takes some effort to punch enough holes. They work well for aerating thin, target areas such as heavily-used footpaths, along patios, near outdoor steps and house corners that need special attention. They aren't meant for your whole lawn.
Tow-Type Units
Cost: $100 to $250
Usually towed behind a lawn tractor or riding lawnmower, these are larger implements. They're intended to relatively quickly cover whole lawns. Some feature coring tines that extract the earth from soil plugs. Others have slicing knives that only pierce the stone, digging through the grass with tiny gaps. Some offer the option of adding additional weight, such as concrete blocks. This is a brilliant idea and helps to drive deeper aerator tines into the soil.
Commercial-Grade Walk-Behind and Tow-Type Aerators
Cost: New $3,000 to $4,000; used $1,000 to $2,500
You will know the importance of those devices if you are serious about aerating your lawn. In contrast, all other lawn aerators pale. They're not cheap and you won't find them at local stores or via popular online outlets. To purchase one of these jewels, you'll need to visit a nearby lawn care equipment dealer.
Keep a watch for locally sold used ones by lawn care experts or rental shops upgrading their rental fleet. As with any used power equipment, before purchasing, check the aerator closely for unnecessary wear.
All of these units are robust, durable and constructed for daily use. For your typical homeowner, a little overkill, but if you love to take care of your lawn and believe in "go big or go home," they're the aerators for you.