http://www.househacker.com/ househacker/tags/a Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter, but instead elected to use a coco planter, which we thought was attractive and fairly inexpensive. We will post progress pics throughout the growing season and with any luck, we will have a bushel (ok, maybe not quite a bushel - but who knows?) full of upside down-grown tomatoes by the summer.

Link: DIY Upside down tomato planter]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Quick-and-Easy-Upside-Down-Tomato-Planter-Project
About the pic above, from the site:

Wrapped by neoprene which is the wetsuit material for surfers, this piece is created to the indoor/outdoor lifestyle and fits perfectly on a patio or waterfront deck. The Jet Set Lounge Chair is made of 8 decks with neoprene cushions on a metal frame. Dimensions: 32"x32"x65"

Nice stuff...]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Super-Creative-Skateboard-Furniture
For the project, a Firgelli Automation FA-400-12-18" stroke linear actuator was used. Now if that doesn't sound like something that belongs in a kitchen, what does?

From the site:

Of course the top would typically be the granite square that was cut out originally, and the spice rack could be a coffee machine, microwave, TV, wine rack or anything else you wish to hide in your kitchen.

Link: Automated Pop-Up Spice Rack ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Pop-Up-Kitchen-Spice-Rack announced that they were close to launching a Microwave based (instant) hot water heater, called the Vulcanus MK IV. There were a fair amount of stories on the net at the time, as it sounded like an interesting idea:

Powered by electricity and unaffected by the volatile gas markets, the Vulcanus MK4 can heat water from 35 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit in seconds and can source multiple applications at once: showers, dishwasher, sink usages and more. The Vulcanus MK4 is the size of a stereo speaker with a sleek modern look, making it ideal for condos and apartments, while powerful enough to serve the needs of any size family.

Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper ran the original story about the Vulcanus in November of 2005.

Well, perhaps unsurprisingly, it's now looking like the product is vaporware. The company's original website, Pulsar-at.com is now just some sort of placeholder site with faux content. The web address the company eventually moved to is also just a spamsite: Pulstech.com.

It's unlikely anyone is too shocked, given the delays and comments like this one from February of last year, where the Pulsar people told an email inquirer that they weren't planning on releasing the product at any point in the year, and this was about 14 months after the Globe and Mail ran the Vulcanus launch story in 2005.
]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Another-Update-on-the-Vulcanus-Microwave-Hot-Water-Heater
All of them involved taking the laptop apart completely and generally rendering it useless for any other activity. The screens were also smaller than I wanted ? equivalent to an 8?x12? photo, and varied considerably in contrast, brightness, and general image quality.

For my project, I wanted a desktop quality LCD screen of a size equivalent to an 11?x14? photograph. I also wanted professional quality matting and framing.

So, the author opted to use an old LCD monitor along with a hidden laptop. The trick is using two holes in the wall; an upper and a lower. The VGA and monitor power cable is fed through the upper hole and fished out through the lower hole, which is where the laptop sits, still accessible for maintenance and whatnot, but, in the author's case, hidden by a piano and usually controlled wirelessly.

Se also: previous post on DIY digital frames.

WiFi enabled digital picture frame on Amazon.com. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Slick-DIY-Wall-Mounted-Digital-Photo-Frame Making Every Pixel Count", which is about the importance of properly photographing your home for online real estate sites.

From the article:

When selling properties online, agents and Web designers say that the pictures buyers see of houses and apartments for sale are often the first ? and sometimes the only ? chance for a seller to make a good impression. Less-than-flattering pictures can turn buyers off and lead to lonely open houses.

So why is this so important? Well, some stats, from the piece:

Eighty percent of people across the country who bought a new home last year used the Internet while house hunting, and they rated photographs as the most useful tool in their search, according to a survey of buyers and sellers by the National Association of Realtors. The survey also found that 24 percent of home buyers got their first glimpses of their new homes on the Web, up from a mere 2 percent in 1997.

And let's face it, this number is probably going to continue to tend upward. If you've ever searched for a house or apartment online, you've probably been surprised and/or frustrated at the lack of pictures some listers provide. As many people will tell you, all the details in the world are still taken with a grain of salt when pictures aren't provided. Unless listers are trying to hide something, why not give web searchers what they want?

And although the mere act of posting pictures is crucial to attracting web-savvy prospects nowadays, the variance in the quality of the pictures can change the buyer's impression drastically. Be sure to see the audio slideshow that accompanies the article for examples of this.

Via 37Signals]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Taking-Better-Real-Estate-Photos
This how-to walks you through the process of modifying a mower as well as creating the solar panel/charging station that provides the power. The mower does take a while to charge up (40 hours by the authors calculations, assuming a half-charged battery), but since most lawns don't require mowings of any greater frequency than that (or anywhere near that, one would hope), the solar solution seems like a perfect fit for the task.

The author provides a lot of detail, including a couple of schematics and a parts and costs table. The final price tag was $699, with the bulk of the cost going towards the motor ($312), solar panel ($120) and battery ($90).]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DIY-Solar-Charged-Lawnmower
This article by George Ou should help sort things out. He covers the advantages and disadvantages of:

Projection: Pro: price. Con: viewing angle.
Plasma:Pro: resolution, colour, viewing angle. Con: price.
LCD:Pro: picture quality. Con: expensive large size sets.

George also advises, bluntly, against getting suckered into buying so-called high end cables:

Consumers need to get the concept of "monster cables" out of their minds since they DO NOT apply to the digital world. There is zero difference in quality between the cheapest $12 HDMI to DVI cable versus the $100 gold plated "monster cable".

He also makes available some colour gradient graphics and explains how to use them in testing the colour quality of an HDTV.

This is a great piece for anyone in the market for a new HDTV, and it's especially useful for those of us that may be more than a little confused and/or overwhelmed by variations in HDTV technology.

Also see this previous post on HDTV resolutions. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/ZDNet-Offers-Thorough-Rundown-on-Numerous-HDTV-Options Decluttered.com demonstrates one way to get a handle on the situation by making clever use of a pegboard and wires. A pegboard is mounted on the underside of the desk and any routers, powerbars, modems and the like can be lifted off the ground and secured to the pegboard, bringing the plethora of associated cabling along for the ride.

The site has a lot of pictures of the process and results, and has recently added pictures sent in by people who've tried the pegboard method on their own desks.

Total cost: $33.42 CDN.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Better-Cable-Management-through-Pegboards
Sort of related: Love-Hate shirt.

Via haha.nu ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Doormat-with-Direction-Dependent-Message Enviroscaping to Conserve Energy is an interesting guide on maximizing your home's energy efficiency by modifying various aspects of its immediate environment, or "Microclimate".

A microclimate is any small, local area within which the effects of weather are both relatively uniform and easily modified. Microclimate modification involves the best use of structural and landscape design elements to maximize or limit sunlight, shade and air movement. Structural modifications involve the design of the house and associated construction (walkways, fences, patios). Landscape modifications (enviroscaping) involve the use of plants to further increase or decrease the impact of sun and wind upon the local environment.

This site, which applies mostly to homes in hot weather climates such as Florida, offers a lot of interesting ways that a home owner can creatively reduce energy usage. Some of the suggestions apply to potential home builders, such as home orientation (a house is more energy efficient if it is oriented with the long axis running east-west), however the majority of the tips apply to existing residences.

There are many examples of "enviroscaping" strategies on the site, such as optimal tree placement for maximum shading, tree type (In winter, the sun is low in the southern sky. Southern exposures of a home in north and central Florida can receive free benefits of passive solar heating, provided that deciduous trees are used along the southern exposures. Deciduous trees shed their leaves in the fall, and are bare during the coldest months of the year.), fencing options (fences vary in amount of air circulation), shrub and vine placement along walls, increasing air conditioner efficiency and much more.

Link: Enviroscaping to Conserve Energy: a Guide to Microclimate Modification]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Enviroscaping-to-Conserve-Energy
...outfitted with a lens ring that emits a bright glow in the dark. The new generation photoluminescent material in the plastic absorbs the energy from any light source - fluorescent lights, the sun, or even the flashlight's own beam

As useful as charging the photoluminescent matierial on the flashlight with the beam from the flashlight itself sounds, one might be better off storing the flashlight in the garage rather than a broom closet to expose the material to some light, both natural and artificial, during the day. The description suggests the material is 'new generation' - and it would have to be, as the stuff found in toys and trinkets never lasted long enough for any practical purpose. Perhaps Pelican used something along the lines of this material that is both brighter and longer lasting.

Something to think about before the next late night power outage.

Amazon.com link: Pelican Big ED 3700PL Flashlight w/ Photo Luminescent Shroud

]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Pelican-Emergency-Flashlight-with-Photoluminescence previously). Essentially, Paul deems this device everything but a dream:

Ok, let's take another approach. Mag-Wind says its wind turbine will produce 5 kW at a rated speed of 28 mph (12.5 m/s). To produce that much power at that wind speed it would need to be 281% efficient! Yee ha. That's some windmill. Modern wind turbines, at best, can deliver 40% of the energy in the wind at any specific wind speed. This turbine has a specific rotor loading of 3,360 W/m² of rotor area. Let's compare that to the over rated AirX. The AirX is somewhat smaller so we won't compare actual production, just rotor loading. Remember, the AirX doesn't even deliver what is promised. The specific rotor load for the AirX is about 400 W/m². The Mag-Wind claims to produce from its rotor almost ten times more power than the AirX which can't even meet its performance claims. Ouch. I've never seen such outlandish claims before-and I've seen a lot of them.

Link: Wind-Works.org

Via TreeHugger]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Update-on-the-MagWind-Levitated-Vertical-Wind-Turbine software based cousins, can run widgets. Widgets are displayed on the unit's dual 2.5 inch LCD displays (one colour, one mono).

From the site:

WidgetStation is a desk clock which can run various "widgets". Widgets are small, user-friendly applications that can perform a variety of tasks. Users can even create their own widgets and share them with other WidgetStation users!

And also:

WidgetStation is a standalone device, with services available via Wi-Fi or Ethernet Internet access, without being connected to a computer. Alternatively, users may choose to interface their WidgetStation with a computer via USB connection.

According to the hardware specs, the device will run Linux and will be available in either black or white. The price has not yet been set. See the FAQ for a little more information. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Widget-Friendly-Desk-Clock Kill-a-Watt, the Watts-Up electricity monitor sits between the device whose energy you would like to track and a wall outlet. Both devices present you with a handy display of power comsumption, but the Watts-Up Pro (not the standard) has a USB interface, which allows you to download the stored data onto your PC for further analysis. The data can also be exported to Word or Excel. Conveniently, the Watts-Up displays the cost, in dollars and cents, on the unit's LCD screen.

See also:

Watts-Up and Kill-a-Watt at Amazon.com
The Gadgeteer's review of the Kill-a-Watt
]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Watts-Up-Electricity-Consumption-Tracker
Start with a base coat of store-bought black chalkboard paint, and then mix in varying amounts of white chalkboard paint for lighter squares.

The effect is nice and the calendar would probably be quite handy, although it might be tedious painting work to ensure straight and clean lines.

Via Lifehacker ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DIY-Chalkboard-Wall-Calendar page lists some of the features of the device, which include the ability to adjust the rotation speed through a tension controller.

This picture gives a better impression of the width of the unit (dimensions are here) than the pictures on the home page do.

Price: 65 bucks, but currently sold out (January 2006).]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Ferris-Wheel-Shoe-Storage-System-by-Rakku
Clocky gives you one chance to get up. But if you snooze, Clocky will jump off of your nightstand and wheel around your room looking for a place to hide. Clocky is kind of like a misbehaving pet, only he will get up at the right time.

The unit is also available in a few colours as well as in a brown shag and can jump (fall?) from a 2 foot height.

Via Reddit ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Alarm-Clock-that-Runs-Away-and-Hides-Unless-You-Wake-up http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Festive-Lighted-Glass-Block-Howto Brondell Swash, the Harmony toilet seat seems like a pretty ingenious product. The seat makes use of a small connector that runs from the bottom of the toilet seat latching mechanism to a float that you place in the toilet tank. When the toilet is flushed, the float lowers with the water in the tank which triggers a lever on the connector under the seat, which in turn releases a latch that activates the seat closing action. The seat closes very slowly for, as the company refers to it, a pinch-free close.

The unit is currently only available in Home Depots of the American Midwest.

Also: Froogle Search gives a price of about $80.
Promo Video of the seat in action.

Link: Harmony Toilet Seat]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Harmony-Flush-Activated-Toilet-Seat flickering LED candles before, but none were quite as clever as this set that can actually be blown out (and back on).

From ThinkGeek.com:

The LED Blow On-Off Candles still have a waxy coating and a natural-looking, flickering light just like normal candles, but they have one magic feature. Regular candles will blow out if you blow on the flame, but these LED candles will also blow on. All you have to do is press the master on/off switch on the bottom, and these candles will turn on and off with just a puff at the "flame." From the proper distance and height, these candles will fool everyone into thinking they are the real thing; they are a fantastic way to put candles where it is too dangerous to have open flames. And, they won't drip wax all over your mithril armor either.

Unfortunately the candles are not rechargeable, but they do, however, light for 300 hours off of two AA batteries.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Flickering-LED-Candles-that-Can-be-Blown-Out
One of the more interesting things in this piece is how the author used the hard paper columns that builders use to pour concrete along with some marble paint to create some faux marble columns for $20. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Thorough-Home-Theatre-Construction-Howto
From the site:

Grasp the handle and with a squeeze of the trigger the bristles open. Once you have surrounded the spider quickly release the trigger and the bristles close gently around the spider, catching it safely and soundly. Now you can safely release the spider outside by pressing the handle again and the bristles open up and the spider falls out.

But wait - there's more!

We know that you maybe apprehensive about using the Spider Catcher that's why we provide you with a practice plastic spider with every purchase of a Spider Catcher to show you how safe and easy it is to use.

See also: Video of the Spider Catcher in action. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Friendly-Spider-Catcher DigitalLife show (New York, October 12-15) asking if I would let the readers of this here website know that they will receive free tickets for the event, should they choose to attend.

Quote:

We would be thrilled if you would let your community know that we are offering FREE tickets to this year's event (regular price is $15). To redeem these tickets, just use the source code "INSIDER" on this page, where you can print out your own tickets: http://digitallife.com/tickets.html

I have no relationship with the people running the show but after checking out the site (looks ok, might have a few interesting things) I thought that if anyone was planning on attending anyway, they might as well go for free.

/psa ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DigitalLife-Consumer-Tech-Expo Cydus' has addressed the dearth of residential RFID access controllers in the marketplace by releasing a pair of modern electronic deadbolts. The locks operate as you may expect RFID proximity access controllers to, however, this unit, the MyKey 2300, unfortunately requires that a button be pressed before the unit is ready to read the keychain RFID tag. The higher end unit, the 4000, only requires the card to be in close proximity to the reader for activation. Besides it's raison d'etre; the convenience of keyless entry through small RFID cards, the deadbolts have some interesting features, including this backup battery system in case the unit's batteries die:

Simply touch a 9v battery to the built-in battery terminal and your MyKey 2300 is up and running. The MyKey even stores all of your existing security keys, so even if it's without power, when you turn it back on your access cards and pin combination are fully intact!

Lost or forgotten RFID cards aren't the end of the world either, as the unit comes equipped with a nicely hidden keypad for which to enter your password.

See also: RFID Enabling your front door. This is a homemade RFID entrance controller with a PC backend. The author shares a parts list, source code and cost breakdown (see author's comments ).

Previously: DIR RFID Access to your Front Door
]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Cydus-Home-RFID-Deadbolts
From the site:

Keep necessities within easy reach. You don't want to waste precious time during dinner prep looking for things. Make a place in the hot zone (around the stove and the sink) for the essentials: oil, vinegar, knives, cutting board. Move special-occasion cookware, like a fondue pot, out of cabinets in the zone so what's left can be neatly organized and easily spotted.

And also:

Make recycling efficient, too. Having a bin for bottles and cans right next to the one for regular trash, instead of out in the garage or in the mudroom, streamlines end-of-meal cleanup.

Link: RealSimple.com ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Keeping-an-Organized-Kitchen
From the site:

This design can be applied to just one wall and can completely alter the focus of the room. In just a few hours Wallter adds life to walls. The effect can either be stunning or subtle, you decide. For easy, no fuss installation these lightweight pieces have a peel-away 3M adhesive backing. The applications can be applied to almost any interior wall or door.

Via Constructiondeal.com]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Unusual-Wall-Treatment Sunset magazine has a lot of cool stuff on their site, not the least of which being this huge home decorating idea gallery, viewable by room type (within kitchens, for example, there are small kitchens, eat in kitchens, etc) or style (contemporary, retro, exotic, etc). There must be thousands of beautiful room images online to serve as inspiration for those of us that tend to know what we like when we see it, but can't come up with much from scratch - or perhaps the gallery is most useful for those just suffering from some sort of temporary design block.

The site also has this 25 item smart home piece, as well as an interesting before and after gallery.

Definitely lots to explore.

Link: Sunset Design Assistant]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Huge-Gallery-of-Home-Decorating-Ideas some nice examples. From the site:

Fixtures may be cut and shaped to exact size right on the job, and all lamps are easily replaced to keep things in perfect working order.

One could probably make great use of this sort of lighting in a home theatre or in a modern basement bar setting.

See also: Flexible LED Lights by Mule Lighting
]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Tokistar-Flexible-Lighting-System
Use this lightweight burner to clear weeds and their roots in driveways or walkways in summer, or to melt dangerous ice patches in winter. Adjustable regulator valve lets you control flame intensity. Durable, nickel-plated steel and brass burner uses widely available standard 14 oz. propane tank (not included).

These aren't new though: here's a heavier duty unit and a video demonstration of another one in action (although not on weeds, but whatever - you get the idea).

Would it safe to say that people that use these probably aren't the same people that sit on these?

Weed Burner at Amazon.com

Via Toolspotting]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/eXtreme-Gardening-via-Weed-Burners Gutter Stuff and still have to manually clear your eavestroughs, then this tool called "Gutter Tongs" might be something to consider. From the site:

Eliminate the danger of climbing ladders and crawling along roofs. Efficient, safe, and easy to use from ground level: extend your reach to approximately twelve feet! Manufactured with lightweight, anodized aluminum shafts, generous pliable rubber hand grips and fiberglass ABS jaws, hinged with a steel pin: Gutter Tongs are 60 inches in length, durable, and made to last!

And for those of you confused by this tong-technology-of-tomorrow-today, the site offers a breakdown:

To use the tool: merely spread the arms apart and slide the open jaws either from left to right or right to left along the inside of the gutter. Once sufficient material is collected, swing the arms together, lift upwards, and remove the debris.



Via Toolmonger]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Gutter-Tongs-Eavestrough-Cleaning-Tool
Skills and materials honed and tested in the demanding boatbuilding industry mean you don't have to worry about your bath ever springing a leak. Indeed, keep the stopper firmly in and you could probably paddle your bath quite safely. And because our baths rely on marine technology they are designed for a far more ravaging environment then your bathroom.

Furthermore:

Each wall is built using a strip building technique where narrow wooden strips are locked one to the next using a boat building technique called cove and beading. This technique means the walls behave as single sheets of wood. Each strip is individually cut, placed and bent to perfectly shape and seal your bath. The floors of each bath are built from over 25mm (1 inch) of wood. This might sound excessive but it prevents any possibility of creep and sagging with age, ensuring your bath floor will always remain sound and true.

The baths must be quite a hit with people as the site is closed to new orders, according to a notice on the homepage. That or it just takes them years to build one.

Via Trendir]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Nice-Handmade-Wooden-Baths-by-Driftwood
Link: CNN Money: 4 renovations that kill a home's value

Previously: Best Bang for the Buck Home Remodelling Jobs, Best Return on Investment Home Improvement Tips

]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Renovations-that-Kill-Home-Value this one) it's easy to see why. Concrete combines solid, chunky beauty with a lot of flexibility-through-moldability, enabling designers to create some stunning countertops in both kitchen and bathrooms.

The site does a nice job of describing a concrete countertop's personal value to its owner:

But remember, don't fall too deeply in love with anyone else's piece. You can have the exact same design and color as they have, but yours will be yours alone. Because as the mixture of sand, stone, water and cement cures, it captures a moment in time that's unique. The pattern of stone will always be different. The color will always vary slightly. And that's what makes it uniquely yours.

See also: Concrete Countertop HowTos]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Gorgeous-Concrete-Countertops snail mail notifier). The stainless steel unit locks and comes with a tube newspaper receptacle.

The mailbox measures 15.5 by 15 inches and is 4.5 inches deep. $68.

Via RobotDeathSquad]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Slick-Glass-Mailbox-by-Chiasso Google, toilets account for anywhere between 20 to 40 percent of household water consumption. Given that we waste clean, otherwise drinkable water flushing our toilets, it should come as no surprise that many people harvest rainwater for toilets and other household purposes where potable water isn't necessary.

The author of this howto walks us through the setup of a rainwater-to-toilet system, while sharing his reasons for doing so:

While it doesn't come close to making up for our gas-guzzling, high-consuming lifestyles, rain harvesting does have a positive impact on our environment. Domestic potable water collection requires effort, energy, and chemicals for purification and transport...
Your house is an "impermeable surface". Rain would otherwise hit the ground where your house is and soak into the underground water table or enter a natural stream. Instead, rainfall from the roofs of many urban homes is tied into the sewer system. During periods of heavy rain, this storm surge from houses, parking lots, and streets into the sewer system can max out treatment capacity, causing raw sewage to flow out untreated into waterways. Harvesting some of this storm surge can reduce peak demands on our water treatment facilities.
Besides the more important environmental issues, most of us in urban areas pay for domestic potable water. I have calculated that each flush of the rainwater toilet (1.6 gallons) saves me just over 1 cent. Costing less than $100 to install, this system will pay for itself over the years.
Also, I have the satisfaction of a small level of self-sufficiency from an urban lifestyle otherwise dependant on society for survival.
The guide covers the details of rainwater collection, a formula for calculating your harvest potential, detailed pictures of the entire setup (including how to mesh the rainwater system to standard toilet plumbing via selector valve, enabling the toilet to run off of either system) as well as a breakdown of parts and costs for the project.

]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Harvest-Rain-Water-for-Toilet-Water
Sorry.

Hearthfalls manufactures interesting "fireplace waterfalls" that are unlike anything you may have seen before (less, of course, fireplaces and waterfalls). The concept is simple - a waterfall runs within a fireplace immediately in front of the flames to produce a visually interesting piece of art that also offers the soothing sounds of flowing water. Whether or not this will work for people is still to be determined, as the unique design is sure to dichotomize opinion, as any such departure from the traditional would.

Hearthfalls also offers some less expensive "Lightweight " units. The Lightweights are waterfalls made for retrofitting existing fireplaces.

Try to visualize one in your home with the company's interactive fireplace and room designer or just view the existing installations in the gallery here.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Waterfall-Fireplaces-by-Hearthfalls handy list of home energy reducing techniques that will not only help make your home a little greener, but will also put some money back in your pocket in the process. Tips cover heating and air conditioning improvements, greener gardening, hardwood floor choices and a few more.

Wikibooks also has a very large page of energy saving tips that should be useful to most of us, including efficient heating and cooling ideas as well as lighting, water, household waste and electricity reducing suggestions. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Ten-Easiest-Ways-to-Green-Your-Home Update: please see this post for an update on the claims of this product. -Sean
If you can't tell by the picture, this is, of course, a "Magnetically-Levitated Axial Flux Alternator with Programmable Variable Coil Resistance, Vertical Axis Wind Turbine". It's called the Mag-Wind MW1100 and, thanks to some interesting technical maneuvering, promises 1100 kWh/month in a 13 mph average wind. The unit will cost around 3.5 cents/kW or, put another way, ROI will be reached in 3 years for someone with an average monthly electric bill of $300 - which sounds very high; a 6+ year ROI might be more realistic for home use. Nevertheless, the inventors claim the unit is cheaper than solar or horizontal wind turbines while requiring much less space to operate. The site's page on roof effect describes how the device can produce as much electricity as it does with such a small footprint:

So, how is it possible to make as much electricity as we do with only a 4-foot sweep? We use the roof of a house or other building to extend our reach and increase the volume of air reaching the sails of our VAWT. This gives us the effect of a larger surface area without actually having a larger vane. The great thing is that every house or other building also has a roof. The roof moves the wind, and that wind has a lot of energy.
The two major factors that determine how much energy is available are the vertical rise of the roof and the pitch, or angle, of the roof. The more rise there is, the more wind will hit it and be moved upward towards the VAWT. This is good. However, the steeper the roof is, the more wind energy will be lost in pressure against the roof and wind moving around the roof and the building as a whole. This is not so good.
A roof with a 10-foot vertical rise and a 30% angle will provide nearly a 200% increase in the amount of wind energy that is available to be turned into electricity. Compared to the same turbine just sitting on a pole, the roof effect increases the power yielded by operation of the wind turbine dramatically.

So, although it might be cost prohibitive for some (most), it might be worth looking into if you live in a fairly windy area, as the faster the average windspeed, the quicker it will be to see significant returns on your investment.

Via Greengeek.ca]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/MagWind-Magnetically-Levitated-Vertical-Wind-Turbine Avega Systems are developing WiFi speakers that connect to your wireless home network. The speakers, called "Oysters", play digital audio streamed directly from your computer. Listeners can control, browse and select media from their PC through the Oyster's graphical remote control. The speakers will also accept input from a CD/DVD source and wirelessly distribute the audio to the other speakers in the room. The Oysters also will accept iPods or other MP3 players, via USB port, which will, again, trigger the connected speaker to distribute the audio via WiFi.

The speakers feature wireless connectivity (801.11 a/b/g), support for DTS, 5.1 surround as well as MP3, OGG, WMA, AAC and FLAC digital audio formats.

The unit also has 2 S/PDIF optical connectors and USB port for wired connections.

CNET feature on the Oysters with video.
Company FAQ and spec sheet (Both PDFs)]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Avega-Oyster-WiFi-Speakers
The IP Thermostat is compatible with most HVAC systems, so whether you have a gas or oil furnace or boiler, hydronic heating or central air conditioning, you'll be able to integrate this single-stage heat and cool thermostat into your existing heating system. Thermostats can be configured to send alerts in the event of required maintenance or low temperature alarms. Use this system to turn on the heat or air conditioning in your vacation home or receive an email notification if the thermostat has detected a danger of freezing pipes. You'll appreciate the IP Thermostat's flexible temperature scheduling options. With 366-day programming, you'll be able to determine four temperature periods per day, with vacation and special day schedules available as well.

Previous remotely controllable thermostat entries.

Via UberGizmo]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Another-Internet-Friendly-Thermostat we've seen, but they are the largest. The previously linked sets were smaller and perhaps easier to integrate into some tile work, but this version of the same idea comes in more of a standard brick size - and in the end, the more options the better, really. From the site:

Flush-to-the-ground, integral solar panels generate up to 8 hours of light each night. So guests can follow a cheerfully illuminated path to your door...Sun Bricks come on automatically when darkness falls, and incur no operating costs. Just recess them in your walkway, and forget them!

Via PopGadget]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Solar-Powered-Sun-Bricks
View the complete process with pics and video here.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Tile-Over-Laminate-Countertops-with-Tavy-Thin-Skin-Underlay-System headboard.

Headboards can have a dramatic effect on any bedroom, but they tend not to come cheap. If you don't have a lot to spend and you're plagued by a tiny bed in a big bedroom, then maybe a DIY project like this is what you need to create a handsome focal point while balancing the space.

The different headboard guides offered in the howto all end up in the $70 ballpark, which isn't too bad at all.

Also check out their complete list of DIY projects and crafts here.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Make-Your-Own-Headboard
Via Fepy.com]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Consumer-Reports-Air-Conditioner-Power-Calculator gallery of soapstone countertop installations. It's a little surprising that soapstone can be used as a countertop, as one might have assumed that because of its use by the Inuit and others as sculpting material, it would be too soft to stand up to the wear and tear of a kitchen countertop. Perhaps it's the fact that, according to the Soapstone West FAQ, countertop scratches can be repaired easily by sanding it with

...120 grit sandpaper to remove the blemish then mineral oil can be reapplied to achieve a good as new look.

The company clarifies the material's properties here:

What is Soapstone?
Soapstone or Steatite is a metamorphic rock that comes in degrees of hardness. It is composed of talc, magnesium silicate and chlorite. The softer is known as "talc" and is used to carve or crush to a powder for a variety of purposes. Soapstone West uses the harder version of steatite, which makes it appropriate for countertops and other similar uses that require durability and other unique properties. It is a quarried stone that comes in shades such as green/gray, blue/gray and charcoal gray in its natural state but turns quite dark to almost black with the application of mineral oil.

The material seems to have real drama and weight, even if it doesn't appear to be the most flexible or versatile stuff available for countertop installations.

Here's their soapstone sink gallery.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Beautiful-Soapstone-Countertops foot in the door' high-heeled doorstop will more elegantly welcome your guests. Hell, do both. These products are from WorldWideFred, which produce clever, lighthearted goods for the home and office, like those pictured here.

Clockwise from top left: Manhole cover welcome mats, Rubberized cast-metal Lift and Shake salt and pepper guy, Silicone Hotheads animal oven mitts and a remote controlled Retro Mood Light Alarm Clock that displays a test patterns while playing cheesy game show theme music.

That's all very well and good for the home, but what if you're looking to enlarge your cellphone (and really, who isn't)? This old time phone receiver that plugs into your cell phone will help you get there. Of course if you really want an old time cell phone, you can go here.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Manhole-Cover-Welcome-Mats-and-Other-Silly-Household-Goods Switchlite.com explains how the glass works:

The secret of the transformation between clear glass and translucent glass is found in the Liquid Crystal sheet. In their non-energized state, the Liquid Crystal molecules disperse light. When voltage is applied, however, these same molecules arrange themselves in a specific direction in a way that permits parallel light to pass through the glass.

How Stuff Works offers some more detail on the technology involved.

The "Smart Glass", as it's also called, promises to be a huge energy saver for homeowners over the coming years, as it won't be long before smart glass is coupled with home automation systems that turn the transparency on and off at optimal times throughout the year.

There are a few companies on the web that offer liquid crystal privacy glass, but finding a price on any of their sites seems to be impossible, which means that this flick-of-a-switch privacy glass, although very cool, is also likely to be ultra expensive.

Here's another privacy glass gallery from a company that understands the subtle power of lightning bolt bullet points.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Cool-Liquid-Crystal-Privacy-Glass http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Prevent-Fitted-Bed-Sheet-Slippage-with-Sleep-Snug videos here.

Amazon.com page - unfortunately they are currently unavailable.

Manufacturer's order page.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Blind-Mark-Drywall-Cutout-Tool video (Windows media) from the Free Hand site.

Available from Amazon.com.

Via the always interesting Smart Stuff.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Clever-Hands-Free-Drywall-Installation-Tool
The Internet claimed that disassembling a toilet to check the flange or to replace the wax ring was easy. Invariably, the same sites that talked about how easy this task was would follow that up by saying, "A TOILET BREAKS EASILY BE CAREFUL!!!!" The sites also varied in how detailed their instructions were, in one case even going so far as to skip the whole "removing the tank" part. As a public service, I'm going to give you the definitive step-by-step guide to disassembling a toilet to repair it.

Also be sure not to miss the toilet diagram Stephen has created, which, although highly technical and beyond the comprehension of the layman, is a useful toilet anatomy nonetheless.

Link: How To Disassemble a Toilet In Many Easy Steps]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Funny-Toilet-Disassembly-Howto DIY concrete countertop project, although that might not be the case once one becomes more acquainted with both jobs, but it does explain why kitchen work can be so costly.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DIY-Kitchen-Countertop cables? With the number of peripherals many of us use, it doesn't take long before an evil wireball from hell forms below our desk. An annoying, eye-sore of a cabling situation can quickly become something that is easier to relegate to the to-do list then to actually deal with. Perhaps seeing this sweet, organized cabling solution will help by motivating us to finally take action.

This step-by-step guide from Lifehacker.com uses an Ikea cable management basket, some Zip ties and a power bar to give a computer workstation the appearance of cordlessness. There's nothing groundbreaking about what's being done here, but there is something about seeing great results that can inspire one to take needed action.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Be-CordFree-by-Untangling-your-Computer-Workspace
Here's the basic setup. The garbage can is filled with ice water, which is then fed by gravity (a siphon) through the copper tubing coiled along the back of the fan. The hot air passing through the tubing warms the cold water, cooling the air. Waste warm water is then pumped outside. The system will cool an average room to a comfortable level in approximately 15-20 minutes. Depending on flow rate, a full bucket of water will last approximately 1-3 hours. I use a single bucket before bed on hot nights, which lets me get to sleep. Once the water runs out, the house has cooled off enough that the fan alone provides sufficient cooling.

Recently, someone has posted instructions for making improvements to the homemade air conditioner, which involves an aquarium pump to recycle the water, which in the first generation model, was routed outside the house.

Via LifeHacker]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Sub-Thirty-Dollar-Homemade-Air-Conditioner
Here's the criteria they were after, from the article:

It must be cheap. Total budget for all materials to make a 100" diagonal 16:9 screen, including frame, must be less than $100.

It must be simple and quick to assemble. We did not want to make a lifetime hobby out of making a screen. We wanted the materials to be easy to find, and we wanted to put it together in less than two hours of invested labor.

It must be easy to install. We wanted a no muss, no fuss solution with a fixed frame that we could hang on a wall in a matter of minutes.

It must perform!!! We had no delusions that we could invest a hundred bucks and a couple hours labor and come up with a screen that would match the quality of the Stewart screens we use in the projection labs. But how close could we come? That was the challenge. And as you will see below, the results were surprisingly good.

If the cost of the screen is what's been holding you back from buying a projector, perhaps a frugal DIY solution such as this one will be your tipping point.

Article: Make a 100" Screen for under $100]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Make-a-Hundred-Inch-Screen-for-Under-a-Hundred-Bucks
The flooring goes for $15 a square foot, including North American shipping.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Cool-Puzzle-Shaped-Hardwood-Floor television wall mounting and has shared the details for anyone looking to undertake the installation on their own. The installer lists the tools you'll need for the hanging and also covers finding an appropriate mount location, stud finding, cabling issues, etc.

About.com also offers some wall mounting instructions, including tips on handling situations where cables aren't (or can't be, for whatever reason) behind the wall:

We can either place an obstacle under the television, which would look odd, or we can cheat the eye with camouflage. I have a friend who had this very problem, and his solution was to create a molding that would be used as a cover for his cables. He painted the molding the same colour of his wall, and when placed over the cables it looks like part of the wall. Granted, it's raised about 2-3 inches off the wall, but it looks very natural. As far as supplies, small strips of wood (a 1x2 for the sides and 1x4 for the face) cut to the length of the TV to the floor should be enough to make such a piece.

Wikihow.com provides a more orderly and straightforward, step-by-step instruction set, if that's more your bag.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Some-Plasma-or-LCD-Wall-Mounting-HowTos and coolest, no?) kitchen gadgets out there, including the Toasterkettle, which, although looks quite strange, probably actually toasts bread, unlike the transparent toaster. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Top-10-Strangest-Kitchen-Gadgets
Speaking of mosquitoes, apparently some clever teens have recorded the so-called Mosquito alarm that malls have been experimenting with to keep kids from loitering (the Mosquito alarm is a high pitched alarm that cannot be heard by most people over 20, but tends to drive teens crazy) and have adapted it to be used, surreptitious, as a quasi-silent ringtone on their cell phones during class. Heh, kids.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Do-it-Yourself-Mosquito-Trap grass, brick, leaves, many different types of stone, pool water, manhole covers, crosswalk and more. Browse the installation gallery to see some of the tiles in use.

Of course, if you can't find the right tile for your space you can always upload a photo you've taken and Imagine will create and deliver your uber unique custom tile for you. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Cool-Photographic-Ceramic-Tiles-by-Imagine-Tile ZigBee wireless communication protocol. The system's base station offers internet connectivity that allows for remote monitoring, and the device can also be configured to issue status updates through email or text messages to the homeowner's cell phone.

The system is built in a modular fashion, meaning the device can couple with many different types of (Home Heartbeat) sensors, as they become available. From the site:

The backbone of the Home Heartbeat system is a network of detection sensors: water sensors, open/closed sensors, power sensors, reminder and attention sensors. The sensors can alert the homeowner to a wide range of problems, including pipe leaks and flooding, opened doors and windows, and appliances that are left on. An additional feature is a water shut-off valve that can be controlled and activated by any of the sensors. Reminder and attention sensors can be set to alert homeowners about easy-to-forget tasks, such as changing batteries in smoke detectors or cleaning out the gutters.

According to Fast Company, the basic starter unit offers only one sensor as well as the base unit and keychain and will retail for $149 US. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Home-Heartbeat-Awareness-System
The home is connected to the power grid, but attempts to satisfy as much of it's own energy requirements through alternative, renewable methods as well as utilizing high efficiency construction techniques, resulting in net zero energy consumption for the year.

From the site:

"Zero energy homes get a black eye in my mind," says McKown, "Every time they do a demonstration site, they run out and they hire some brilliant architect and they go off and they build this one-off amazing house that sticks out of the neighborhood like a prairie chicken, and it costs a million dollars. Everybody looks at that and says, 'That's interesting. With enough money, you can do anything.' "We wanted to show that you can take any house out of a builder's product line," McKown continues, "and make it a zero energy house and it would look and feel and be just like a regular house, and it doesn't have to cost a million dollars. We could do it under $200,000."

The home made use of some interesting energy saving technology, such as:

• Tankless water heaters
• Ground source heat pumps
• South facing solar panels
• Low-e vinyl windows
• Fresh Air HVAC system

The home isn't currently one of the models that Ideal Homes sells. The company says that as people toured the home, they were more interested in the energy saving technology found in the home and using it to achieve super high efficiency, rather than actually having a home be zero energy, oddly.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/First-Affordable-Zero-Energy-Home-in-the-US
Very easy installation and anyone can do it. The wall socket safe comes with a template, saw, and a key. You use the template to trace the rectangular pattern on your wall that will become the opening for the hidden safe. You then use the saw to cut through the drywall and make the opening. Slide the wall socket safe into the opening you just created and use the key to lock it. When you need to take something out or put something in, just use the key to open and close it. Looks just like the real thing and can be placed anywhere.

Thieves also wouldn't suspect:

• An Old Fashioned Peanut Butter safe.
• A snooty Royal Crown cola safe.
• An old school Stone safe.
• The odd Leftovers safe.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Hidden-Electrical-Outlet-Safe TCC Kitchen Center food processing unit lays innocuously flat on the countertop, unlike the clunky food processing space-hogs most of us are familiar with. The genius of the TCC system lies in the fact that the unit is nothing but a control panel and motor - at least until the processor is activated when different attachments (mixer, chopper, blender, etc...) are coupled with the base.
  
  Not only is the unit slim to begin with, but is also installable in a pull out drawer (like the Sharp Microwave) which would obviously save even more space.
  
  Via Mocoloco.com.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Ultra-Low-Profile-Food-Processing-System-by-TCC
  This idea is based on the transparent heating glass featured in this issue. Although the glass does not currently get hot enough to toast bread, some day this application may be possible.
  
  Ok, so this toaster doesn't actually toast bread. It's more of a luke-warmer than a toaster. Still, it's a cool idea and interesting technology nonetheless.
  
  Via Digg.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Cool-Glass-Toaster home theatre. Topics covered include cabling choices, speaker positioning, video tuning, connection types and a ton more. Here's a television tip, from the article:
  
  Try this simple visual test to determine if you have your video image too bright or contrasty. Look at any white area on the screen during scenes from live TV or a movie. It could be the white shirt or blouse on an actor or TV host. Are you able to see detail within the white areas? If you can't, then you are likely running the brightness too high, which washes out fine detail in bright areas. So lower the brightness and/or contrast. There's a reason why control rooms for TV productions and telecasts are always dimly lit: it's because video images on the monitors look best in a dim or darker room and the greatest range of colors and tones can be displayed.
  
  Alan's website is also packed full of home theatre information and worth checking out. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Detailed-Article-on-Setting-up-your-First-Home-Theatre
  From the site:
  
  Ideal for open-plan kitchens, islands and tight spaces, the Microwave Drawer elegantly addresses the question of microwave placement by offering a wealth of installation options, such as beneath a countertop. It features the neat look of traditional under-the-counter installations with the added ease and accessibility that these designs lack, and it frees space above the range for a powerful and stylish ventilation hood.
  
  Via House in Progress.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Microwave-in-a-Drawer arch kits we've seen, this one by Creative Corners looks like it may be the easiest to install, at least judging by the quick four step process outlined on their site. The company lists four arch sets, three of which come in two corner pieces, and the forth being a full, one piece arch. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Another-Doorway-Arch-Kit solar or lighted, but they are cool address numbers, customizable right down to the font and available in nearly any size you want. You can preview your numbers in different fonts by going to the "Mixed Eras" font page (under "Fonts" on the top menu). Enter your house numbers and the page displays the number in a list of fonts, as you type. You're not limited to this small set of fonts, however, as the company will use nearly any font you ask for, provided it can be manufactured. So, fire up your favourite text editor and experiment, then head over to the site's price calculator to get an estimate.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Cool-Custom-Address-Numbers home theatre system. The author, Norman Varney, says that a high end audio system can be wasted in an acoustically poor environment and that a decent system can sound great under the right acoustic conditions.
  
  From the article:
  
  Don't believe it? While working at the Science and Technology Center for Owens Corning, we built two identical rooms of average home theater size. Both included the same equipment, set-up and furnishings. One room had acoustic treatment in it and the other did not. I ran bio-feedback tests with a couple of dozen engineers playing the same 'Das Boot' clip for them in both rooms. We found that when subjects were in the room that was acoustically treated, their heart rate and blood pressure increased. Acoustics controlled their emotions. They did not understand why it was happening, or even care, but they all wanted it at home. A similar thing happened when I gave a little acoustic seminar for about a dozen teenage boys. In the untreated room they behaved like teenage boys, but in the acoustically treated room, it was like flipping a switch; they were totally focused on the movie, motionless, involved. So you see, it's real, and it's for everyone to enjoy. It's not just for audiophile geeks like me with golden ears.
  
  Now don't get too carried away with improving your home audio experience or you'll soon find yourself dropping nearly $500 on volume knobs and the like.
  
  Article: Room Acoustics Number One Component]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Interesting-Article-on-Home-Theatre-Room-Acoustics ecologically sound wood flooring products, including many bamboo flooring choices, as well as the beautifully rich Brazilian cherry.
  
  If you're in the market for some wood flooring and are thinking about some of the environmentally friendly flooring options available these days, be warned; the company describes why some forestry protection certifications aren't always what they're cracked up to be on this page. EcoTimber is certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) and says this about the weight of that body's approval:
  
  The only forest certification system that enjoys the support of environmental groups worldwide is that of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which is independent, non-profit, and has a mechanism for tracking wood from the forest floor to the consumer. The U.S. Green Building Council only recognizes FSC certification as evidence of the sustainability of a non-recycled wood product. If you want verification that the wood you are purchasing came from a truly well-managed forest, demand FSC-certified material, and demand proper documentation.
  
  EcoTimber's bamboo offerings are also ecologically friendly:
  
  EcoTimber bamboo flooring is made from bamboo plantations -- not from wild habitats. Bamboo is a highly renewable resource, harvestable only four to six years after being planted. Its low moisture absorption properties make it ideal for humid climates and applications where moisture might pose a challenge for other types of flooring.
  
  Website: EcoTimber.com
  
  Related entry Environmentally Friendly Sustainable Flooring Options. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Environmentally-Friendly-Bamboo-Flooring solar powered address lights before, but it's always good to have more options on the market - and it doesn't hurt to have sleeker looking options such as these, either. The address numbers are available in two colours; natural aluminium and soon, black.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/More-Solar-Powered-Home-Address-Lights telephone controlled thermostat and the telephone controlled oven, Plutohome produces a home automation appliance that is, conveniently, controllable via your bluetooth cellphone.
  
  The unit is, however, a lot more than simply a home automation PC. In their own words, Pluto is:
  
  the only all-in-one solution for your home that seamlessly combines media & entertainment, home automation, security, telecom and computing. You can control your whole house with a mobile phone, a touch-screen tablet or a web-interface. A Pluto system is like an appliance - not a computer. It is self-configuring, maintaining and updating. No technical skills are required to use or install Pluto.
  
  There are some interesting features on the Pluto, such as television programs following you (or your bluetooth enabled cellphone, more specifically) as you walk from room to room, the ability to instantly turn any television into a videoconferencing unit, using your bluetooth cellphone as a remote control, and the system sending live video to your cellphone upon intrusion detection, as well as turning all the speakers on in the house to give you the chance to scare the potential burglar off, or perhaps make a dangerous new friend.
  
  The software is free and open source and installs on any PC. The company recommends that if you plan a large system with many concurrent processes (streaming video on one TV with a video conference on another, for example), you'll want more in the hardware department, naturally. As far as peripherals go, the company is supposed to list it's recommendations here, but unfortunately, doesn't seem to list anything yet.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Home-Automation-via-Cellphone-by-Plutohome equity elevation than to sloth and physical fitness, but of course that might just be the jealousy talking.
  
  If you've convinced yourself that a luxury home elevator is the true benchmark of luxury, then here are a few manufacturers that would be quite willing to set you up:
  
  
  • Concord Elevator
  • ThyssenKrupp
  • Acme Home Elevators
  • Inclinator.com
  • Residential Elevators Inc. Motto: 'Just say no! - to stairs'. lol
  • Dayton Elevator
  
  If you want, you can design your future elevator cab yourself.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Design-your-own-Luxury-Home-Elevator
  Martha Stewart's got a couple of basement organization tips, as well as a basement layout that suggests different areas for long term and short term storage.
  
  The Dollar Stretcher has a bunch of tips as well:
  
  Handling Sentimentals. If you haven't organized the basement or attic in awhile, be prepared to take a trip down Memory Lane--old photographs, games that haven't been touched in years, ice skates, granny's silverware, and so on. Try to put these items to one side until you've reached your organizing goal for the day. Then, reminisce with your family later on that night after dinner, rather than right now. This way, you'll finish what you set out to accomplish. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Basement-Tuneup-Ideas soundproofing discussion over at studio-central.com. The thread begins with the oft recommended carpet and foam wall technique, which, as you'll read, is a total no-no to some - although it's not quite unanimously opposed. The carpet opponents believe carpet and foam to be dangerous potential fire hazards that, lacking any significant mass, have minimal soundproofing ability - which is hotly debated due to many people adding their anecdotal evidence to the contrary.
  
  The discussion offers many links to different, informative soundproofing resources, including this document called Exposing Acoustical Myths (PDF), which really breaks down a lot of the misconceptions people have about the science of soundproofing a space. Another nice resource is this page that details the different drywall, stud and insulation configurations and their corresponding STC ratings. STC ratings are, according to stcratings.com:
  
  ...a single-number rating of a material's or an assembly's ability to resist airborne sound transfer at the frequencies 125-4000 Hz. In general, a higher STC rating blocks more noise from transmitting through a partition.
  
  So, the higher STC the better. Another site worth checking out is Acoustics.com. They've made available an Acoustics 101 overview page, as well as handy project design resources that give detailed tips on designing all sorts of different types of rooms, including home theatres. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Informative-Soundproofing-Discussion installing ceramic tiles in your home, from cutting tools to grout tools.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Ceramic-Tile-Installation-Tools automated patio door access solutions for pets, to DIY, front door keyless entry howtos, RFID seems to be everywhere, and its popularity is certainly on the upswing. It should come as no surprise, then, that a home automation-friendly, retail RFID product is now available. The product, which is a joint project between RFID developer iAutomate.com and HomeSeer.com, will run with additional software from HomeSeer, and connect to your PC's serial port. Some possible uses, from the site:
  
  
  • Control the lights, HVAC, garage door or security system when your car approaches or leaves your home. The Ultimate Driveway Sensor !
  • Detect if vehicle is in the garage.
  • Detect a person entering or leaving a room or area.
  • Arm or Disarm Security by individual tag.
  • Automatically open a "pet" door when your pet approaches the door.
  • Control, Lights, Music, and Temperature based upon the presence or absence of a tag...
  
  
  Still, as much as the hardware might allow you to do, $599 seems a bit steep given that it ships with only one RFID reader.
  
  Via Automatedhome.co.uk. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/HomeSeer-RFID-Home-Automation-Starter-Kit home theatre, you may want to think about soundproofing the area. A quality soundproofing job will both prevent outside noises from entering your listening room/theatre and, conversely, give you the freedom to listen to whatever you like without having to disturb your house mates. Here's a drywall option, called QuietRock, that claims to be able to deliver that level of soundproofing. From the site:
  
  
  • A single layer of QR-530 is equivalent to 8 layers of standard drywall (acoustically)
  • QR-525 requires no power saw
  • QR-545 is the only THX Certified soundproofing solution in the world
  • 10x more reliable than resilient channel with no resilient channel liability risks
  • Use like standard drywall (installs without special training)
  • Fire rated. Environmentally friendly. Lab tested. Available in X, anti-mold, greenboard, blueboard, high impact and others
  
  
  Installation video from the website available here (direct link to wmv video).]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/QuietRock-Sound-Proof-Drywall home theatre room, created by someone who obviously had a vision of what they wanted, and saw it through to completion. It's probably safe to say that the homeowner enjoys his cinema, no? The homeowner, Steve Jenkins, has posted galleries of the entire construction job, from sketch to finished room. Granted, it's definitely not the most subtle home theatre room in the world, but what a cool in-home movie experience it must create. It certainly looks like it would be easy to forget that you're still at home while enjoying your favourite Michael Douglas film.
  
  
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Another-Amazing-Home-Theatre home theatre seriously. This is one of the more grandiose home theatres on the web (in recent memory, anyway). The owner obviously aimed for a true theatre experience, and given what must have been a sizable budget to play with, it's safe to say that he's achieved his goal.
  
  Here's a nice touch, from the site:
  
  One of the things I wanted to do is to provide a true cinema experience for movie showing parties. So I have three DVD players. One is used to show the theater intro (Welcome to the Regency Theater, etc.) which was done by Digital Forge, the other DVD player is used to show a movie trailer as a preview of an upcoming movie, and then the third DVD player shows a DVD if we're playing a DVD that night (alternatively, we show movies on the JVC 400 D-VHS player).
  
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Amazing-Home-Theatre
  We have incorporated light emitting diode (LED) technology into a flexible and durable package that has the appearance and brightness of traditional neon. Our uniform and super-bright light output is achieved through a proprietary optical maximization technique which is completely sealed and impervious to shock and vibration. The LED-FLEX product is suitable for wet locations and can withstand extreme temperatures. Offering bright color options, very low energy use and ease of installation, LED-FLEX is the ideal lighting solution for any architectural, decorative and indicator application where long life and no maintenance are preferred.
  
  With the right touches, this could be useful in a home theatre or bar, or someone could make a seriously futuristic basement - or maybe a Tron suit, but of course that's been done to death already.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Flexible-LED-Lights-by-Mule-Lighting LEDs everywhere will be shunned by civilized society. Children will ask their parents to tell them what it was like having to live before LED toilet seats and blue LED faucet lights, like this one.
  
  This particular life-improving gadget attaches to your bathroom faucet with its included universal adapter and is activated as the water flows through. Once the LEDs are on, the water glows space-age blue. The unit happens to be watch-battery powered, but wouldn't it be cool if it were powered by generating electricity from the water passing through it - would that be even possible or is the gadget simply too small to contain something like that? Anyone know?
  
  Dave, thanks for the tip. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/LED-Faucet-Light
  Also see Bar Monkey for pictures of other setups as well as a forum with instructions and help on building your own. If you only need drink ideas, check out the drink search engine, YourNextDrink.com.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Super-Cool-Automated-Computer-Controlled-Bar these foam eavestrough fillers, mind you), to giving your dishwasher a tuneup to silencing squeaky floors. They've also offered a list of the regular maintenance tasks that every homeowner should follow.
  
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Quick-Home-Repairs-from-Popular-Mechanics
  Proliphix offers indoor temperature sensors, which can be mounted away from the thermostat so that temperature inside a home or small business can be averaged across multiple rooms to avoid hot or cold spots and wasted energy. With an optional Proliphix outdoor temperature sensor connected to a networked thermostat, the heating/cooling system can be controlled more precisely to efficiently and more comfortably overcome the indoor to outdoor temperature difference. The web browser configuration tool is simple to use and allows users to easily configure heating or cooling programs to maximize comfort and minimize energy use.
  
  Smarthome sells the Proliphix NT20e, which is the same unit but with 2 additional remote temperature sensors, for use in monitoring different zones within your home or even the outdoor temperature.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Internet-Controllable-Thermostat Michael Douglas. Eliminate the risk with this sweet wireless, remote controlled, programmable, digital shower from Grohe. The Grohtherm allows to you wake up in the morning, push a button on the remote and have the shower ready and waiting - at your predetermined temperature and flow rates, no less.
  
  Via Gizmodo.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Grohe-Grohtherm--Wireless-Programmable-Remote-Controlled-Shower
  From the site:
  
  • Attractive Dispenser made of high-impact UV resistant material for installation anywhere inside or out. (Optional colors available)
  • Multiple spout options are included free for easy installation on any horizontal or vertical surface. Backlit selectors are interchangeable to customize SIDEBAR to the beverages of your choice.
    
  • 5 Individually programmable selectors automatically measure and pour each beverage to your desired amount. User selectable labelling clearly display the beverage choices you offer.
  • Drip-free spout.
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Cool-Sidebar-Beverage-Dispenser GelFireplaces.com carries a few really nice flueless fireplaces that are fuelled by a clean burning alcohol gel, resulting in a smoke-free fire.
  
  From the site:
  
  Gel Fireplaces holds three fuel cans, each container burning approximately three hours and, because there is no flue, all the heat is projected into the room. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Alcohol-Gel-Fuelled-Flueless-Fireplaces Scarface poster before it, this Reservoir Dogs poster from L.A. Pop Art is created using the entire, handwritten (and legible) script. Add it to your movie poster collection in your home theatre, or give it as a gift to the Reservoir Dogs fan in your life. We purchased the Scarface poster and had it plaque-mounted as a gift for a serious Scarface fan in our family and it proved to be quite the hit. Sometimes it's fun just searching for the numerous obscenities scattered throughout the thousands of words...]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Reservoir-Dogs-Poster-Made-from-Entire-Handwritten-Script
  
  • 3 different brightness levels.
  • 3 different pattern display time settings.
  • Latest LED technology - illuminated squares last indefinitely.
  • Available in black and silver.
  • Can be hung horizontally or vertically (wall-hooks not included).
  
  
  Video clip of the TIX in action here (wmv video file).]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Cool-Geeky-TIX-LED-Clock here.
  
  From the videos available on Homegain.com:
  
  ...thoroughly cleaning and removing clutter from your home can be worth up to five times what it cost you to do it."]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Best-Return-on-Investment-Home-Improvement-Tips
  The South African solar panels consist of a thin layer of a unique metal alloy that converts light into energy. The photo-responsive alloy can operate on virtually all flexible surfaces, which means it could in future find a host of other applications.
  
  The new panels are 5 microns thick, allowing for a tremendous efficiency improvement over older solar panels that measure about 350 microns thick.
  
  Science in Africa has a November 2004 article with some additional details:
  
  Prof Vivian Alberts of the Department of Physics at the Rand Afrikaans University in South Africa and team have developed and patented a novel manufacturing technique that finally makes it possible to construct CIGS solar panels at a very low cost. The method is easily upscalable to industrial output levels, while remaining much cheaper to produce than conventional silicon solar panels.
  
  Work done over the last two years indicates that panels can be produced in commercial volumes at a cost of about R 500 for a 50 Watt panel. This is much cheaper than existing solar panels available on the market. CIGS is a remarkably stable material and conversion efficiencies should be sustainable for 15-20 years in any given panel.
  
  It will be interesting to see if this technology is able to gain traction and catch on, offering both humanitarian and eco-friendly benefits to the world. Also worth watching is the film-thin photovoltaic solar strips developed by Nobel laureate Alan Heeger's Konarka.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Possible-Solar-Technology-Breakthrough-out-of-South-Africa bathroom gallery available for your viewing pleasure, and it's filled with some seriously nice bathrooms. The gallery is divided into three categories: contemporary, traditional and eclectic.
  
  Of course if you were looking for something classy, like LED toilet seats, you'd want to go here.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Kohler-Bathroom-Design-Gallery
  Unlike your neighbor's garage refrigerator that they retired from their kitchen, the Energy Star qualified Chillerator Garage Refrigerator is not only designed to handle the extreme temperature and humidity of the garage environment, it also saves you money by reducing energy consumption.
  
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Chillerator-Garage-Refrigerator http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Consistent-Garage-Parking-with-Laser-Parking-Helper http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Invisiwire-Super-Thin-Adhesive-CAT5-Cabling top 20 overall projectors.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Find-a-Home-Theatre-Projector-with-this-Exhaustive-Database ready made wireless music player, you can build your own out of some off the shelf (the shelf being ebay, usually) parts and some shell scripts, as Nathan True did. Luckily for us, Nathan has provided a nice step-by-step walk through of the process. If you're not afraid of some hardware work and elastic bands(!), then give it a go and help bring some harmony back to your home audio world.
  
  via Engadget]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DIY-Wireless-Music-Player inanimate object interaction, then Sanyo's got you covered. Sanyo has developed an intelligent oven with voice navigation capabilities. Although it's difficult to discern from the translated page if the oven is internet aware (as this oven is), the oven does come complete with voice feedback/cooking instructions as well as melodies that play at certain times during the cooking process (i.e. when water has boiled, or cooking is complete). The songs can be downloaded to your mobile phone and IR'ed over to the oven.
  
  via PopGadget]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Finally-a-Stove-with-Voice-Navigation Doormate.com makes an automatic patio door opener aimed at the elderly and people with special needs. The unit is pushbutton controlled (keychain) or activated through the optional, mountable numeric keypad for secure entrance. Once open, the Doormate slides the door closed after a short delay. Aside from the obvious practical benefit for people with special physical needs, the most interesting accessory is the 'Pet Prox' proximity device that clips on to your dog's collar. The device is triggered as the dog comes within a few feet of the Doormate- from either inside or out. This should be a welcome addition to the home for anyone that has a dog with a small bladder or frequent, obsessive hankerings for grass.
  
  Doormate system and Pet Prox add-on available from Smarthome.com.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Doormate-Automatic-Patio-Door-with-Pet-Proximity-Sensor basement floor. The video illustrates DRIcore's tongue and groove system as well as the clever levelling squares that DRIcore utilizes to allow the product to be installed on a standard, non-level basement floor.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Quick-DRIcore-Subfloor-Video digitally enhancing your DNA fingerprint.'. They currently offer an intro special of $390 to the first 1000 customers.
  
  via Design Sponge]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Your-DNA-as-Art Warmlyyours.com has an underfloor heating (or radiant floor heating, if you like) Flash tool that allows you to draw a room to scale in order to produce a cost estimate to install their underfloor heating product. Underfloor heating seems like a better idea all the time, especially each morning as the cold winter months bring your bathroom ceramic tile temperature down to about absolute zero.
  
  Warmlyyours isn't the only underfloor heating company around, of course. There are plenty, including:
  
  
• Radiantec
  
• Deviheat, with do it yourself pictures.
  
• Uponor
  
• Watts Radiant (FAQ)]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Radiant-Floor-Heating-Cost-Estimator http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Detailed-Flash-Laminate-Flooring-HowTo Hidden Door Company, but we hadn't realised that HiddenPassageway.com was out there competing for your secret room renovation dollars as well. The company seems to offer doors with more integrated technology and electronics, with specialty switches, biometrics, custom setups and whatnot. Their site has a few videos of their products in action as well.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Hidden-Doors-and-Secret-Passageways this previous post.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Install-Hardwood-Flooring-Video-HowTo hardwood maple veneer with solid maple table edging doesn't look too shabby - and who cares if it doesn't cook your meal for you as well. From the site:
  
  
• Available in King, Queen, Full, Twin and Long Twin
  
• Completely FREESTANDING - no attachment to floor or wall needed.
  
• The Inova TableBed, as opposed to the basic murphy bed, allows for two different functions in the same space without having to move furniture.
  
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Sleep-in-your-Dining-Room-with-Inova-TableBed DRIcore - It looks like you've got some competition that looks a heck of a lot like you. The resemblance is uncanny, really. Anyway, the SubFlor system uses a tongue and groove system that requires only the tap of a hammer to install, and is, like the DRIcore system, suitable for laminate, carpet or hardwood. Vinyl tiles are also possible with an additional underlay of quarter inch thick plywood. Ceramic tiles require an additional "cement board underlayment to ensure absolute sturdiness". The SubFlor site has a Flash based Interactive Installation Guide available.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/SubFlor-SubFloor-System-DriCore-Competitor before, doorway arch kits seem like an easy way to make a doorway look a lot less cookie cutter while adding some extra character to your home. Although, as easy as the Insta Arch kit may be to install, the 15 minutes that the company is claiming it takes to do the job seems like a bit of a stretch, especially if you've seen their pictorial step-by-step instructions. That's not to imply that the installation would be difficult, but for a first time installer, 15 minutes seems a little optimistic, to say the least. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Doorway-Arch-Kit-by-Insta-Arch Pulsar Advanced Technologies, the inventors of the Vulcanus MK4 (now apparently the "Mark 4")microwave based hot water heater, have updated their website, adding some details on the unit:
  
  The Vulcanus Mark 4, is a state of the art microwave hot water delivery system for the 21st Century. It is a containment field otherwise known as a Faraday box, much like the ones used in your microwave oven at home. The unit size is 24x14x7.5 and weighs only 20lbs. It was designed to save on construction costs, as a boiler room is no longer necessary but was made esthetically appealing so that it could fit as a ?stand alone? fixture. Its compact size allows the Contractor, Plumber or Developer the versatility to place the unit as close or as distant to the water outlets as is desirable.
  
  Also, some details from the gas to microwave comparison page:
  
  
• Electricity used only when required
  
• No storage tank
  
• Can fit on wall or closet
  
• Eliminates possible bacterial growth
  
• Corrosion of elements - nil
  
• Unlimited hot water
  
• Gas infrastructure not required
  
• 20 year life span
  
• Weight-20lbs
  
  It looks the company will be showcasing the Mark 4 at the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas in May, 2006.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/More-Info-on-the-Vulcanus-MK4-Microwave-Hot-Water-Heater
  via Metafilter]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Possibly-the-World's-Most-Connected-House http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Make-Your-Own-Hot-Tub
  DRIcore is an ideal product to use on basement floors - or workshops. The plastic cleats raise the panels off the floor, allowing moisture to pass underneath. The DRIcore that Brigitte chooses for her workshop is perfect for so many reasons. It?s ideal for moist conditions, it?s attractive and it?s super easy to install.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DRIcore-Subfloor-System-Installation-HowTo
  via boing boing]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Strange-Under-Bed-Nightlight Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter but don't want to spend the money, why not make your own poor man's version? From the site:
  
  There were of course the usual hanging planters that are really nothing more than a regular pot with strings tied to a ceiling hook. These really didn?t appeal to me due to previous experiences where the water of flowed down through the soil and filled the overflow basin at the bottom. Another option is hanging inverted planters which have been around for a very long time. Some in a much older design made from terra cotta in a traditional mexican style and a newer one made of plastic that had internal foam spacers for dirt/water containment. This naturally put my mind into make it myself mode.
  
  With flora becoming so elevated lately, we may never get to try the nifty gardening chair, sadly.
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Make-Your-Own-Topsy-Turvy-Tomato-Planter http://www.househacker.com/permanent/LED-Enhanced-Light-Switch-Wallplate in-wall fireplaces that look less like fireplaces than art, and Canada's ThermArt is no exception - in fact they make some of the nicest specimens, if you ask us. The company lists five models on their website: the Teardrop (pictured), Quote, Flow, Bouquet and Clarity. Be sure to check out their installation gallery, available for your surfing pleasure.
  
  If you reside in Europe, Safretti produces similarly stunning units.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/More-Gorgeous-In-Wall-Fireplaces-by-ThermArt Engadget has posted a useful step-by-step howto on building your own Tivo-like home theatre PC (HTPC) using MythTV. They list each piece of hardware they used on the way to a successful, smooth install. From the site:
  
  The total for the base system is $988. The addition of the TV tuners brings the grand total to $1126.
  
  This price is probably beatable if you opt for a lower end processor, which will save you some money and really wont cost too much performance-wise provided the tuner cards you choose do hardware encoding. Tuner based encoding takes the vast majority of processing load off of the CPU. That being said, faster is always better when it comes to CPUs, generally speaking, so too severe a drop in clock speed will hamper menu navigation and other features which will detract from the snappy, slick user interface that you want in a PVR. If you're not too Linux savvy and aren't ready to do a manual install, a great way to set up MythTV on a PC is by using KnoppMyth. KnoppMyth is available on a downloadable, bootable CD that aims to make the MythTV installation as straightforward, user-friendly and painless as possible. If your system meets the hardware requirements, the CD will install MythTV onto your system while prompting you for only a minimal amount of configuration questions. If you encounter problems along the way, the KnoppMyth forum is invaluable. The site's admin, Cecil, not only tirelessly develops KnoppMyth, but also personally answers an unbelievable amount of questions on the forum, which, by the way, is packed full of information on getting up and running with MythTV - useful no matter what your method of installation.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Build-Your-Own-Home-Theatre-PC aquarium project, documented step by step. Definitely set aside at least the weekend for this one. It's impressive to see something like this, as you know that there can't be too many people that have the time, money or spousal approval to pull something like this off...]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Howto-Build-a-Fifty-Thousand-Gallon-Fish-Tank http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Solar-Powered-Home-Address-Lights
  The PowerSquid is a power bar that will actually allow you to utilise all 5 of its outlets, regardless of the size of any attached power adapters, thanks to its unique, power distributing tentacles. Pure genius for like $12.99.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/PowerSquid-Electrical-Outlet-Multiplier wishing well illusion coffee table isn't your speed, maybe you'd be happier with this pinball machine coffee table (with working lights, of course) that you can build yourself with instructables.com's thorough step-by-step pictorial. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Sweet-Pinball-Coffee-Table-Howto Monogram Collection, offer this monster of a wine cooler that comes complete with a wine inventory system familiar with 20,000 wines (which will come in handy as the vault stores over a thousand bottles), optional internet action that allows you to browse your wines from work (maybe while you preheat your oven over the net as well), as well as a handy touchscreen and bar code scanner.
  
  Price tag: $35,000.
  
  A few features, from the site:
  
  
• Provides storage for more than one thousand bottles on premium-quality, moisture-resistant redwood racks.
  
• Racks are arranged for single-, double- and triple-bottle storage, while also accommodating magnum bottles and crates.
  
• Liquid-based, digital thermostat system offers precise control over temperature, allowing adjustment between 50°F and 70°F, while maintaining ideal humidity conditions.
  
• Stainless steel walls and door have a high-density foam (R-33 value) that helps ensure precise temperature and energy-efficient performance.
  
  
  via Kitchen Contraptions]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/GE-Monogram-Collection-Mean-Looking-Walk-in-Wine-Vault Doityourself.com has many useful step by step articles for home renovations and repairs, including this one on waterproofing your basement which may be useful to anyone with a leaky basement and looking to save some money by attempting to do the repairs themselves. The site also has a large, active forum with over 40,000 members.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Basement-Waterproofing-Howto jasongraphix.com went through to achieve a clean, popcorn free look. Also, something interesting - and scary, as Jason notes:
  
  Asbestos was used in some sprayed coatings for ceilings from 1935-1978 and can cause Mesothelioma & Asbestosis. It's a good idea to have a sample tested by an NVLAP approved testing center before getting started.
  
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Remove-your-Popcorn-Ceiling Quooker instant boiling water faucet, as well as the very interesting but not-yet-available Vulcanus MK4 microwave based hot water heater. There is also Chronomite Tankless, as well as Niagara Industries whole house tankless hot water heater. If you're browsing, Froogle produces no shortage.
  
  With ever increasing energy costs, and given that traditional water heaters account for up to 20-30% of a homes energy use, tankless water heaters are becoming more attractive to homeowners.
  
  The US Department of Energy has some information on tankless water heaters, including a section on whether the devices would work in your home. From the site:
  
  For homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, demand water heaters can be 24%?34% more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters. They can be 8%?14% more energy efficient for homes that use a lot of hot water?around 86 gallons per day. You can achieve even greater energy savings of 27%?50% if you install a demand water heater at each hot water outlet.
  
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Many-Choices-of-Instant-On-Demand-Hot-Water-Heater-Units Lifehacker has a nice howto on setting up your own personal web server, giving you the ability to do things like stream mp3s from your personal collection to work, set up a web based shared calendar for your family or give yourself quick access to your personal files from anywhere you've got net access. The system is password protected of course, but it is built on a windows box, so beware and be patched.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Nice-Howto-on-Setting-up-your-own-Personal-Web-Server furnicreations.com. The clock captures quite the retro look, and would fit right in with basement wood panelling and A-Team lunch boxes. Of course, if your house isn't going for that old school look but rather has never quite left old school, then it would work just as well. The site is in flash so there's no direct link, but just click on 'store' to browse their unique, if small, product line.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Large-Retro-Digital-Wooden-Box-Clocks
  Use one of the included extension units to connect your router to the AuraGrid, and wire the additional extensions into the cable entry point of the rooms to be connected. Each comes with an antenna: Rooms that are equipped with an AuraGrid antenna will enjoy maximum wireless signal strength as well as data throughput without interrupting cable TV/Internet services.
  
  Great idea.
  
  via engadget]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Use-Existing-Cabling-to-Extend-your-Home-WiFi-Network-with-AuraGrid EcoSmart produces these unique, flueless fireplaces that can be installed essentially anywhere, as they do not require any sort of permanent fixture or fitting. The company makes many different 'shells' that house the actual burner unit which operates using a green fuel. From the site:
  
  The EcoSmart Fire is fuelled by a renewable energy source called Denatured Ethanol. Ethanol is an absolute alcohol, produced by the fermentation of sugars originating from agricultural and forestry products; mainly sugarcane, potatoes, bananas, beetroot and recently from cereals such as wheat.
  
  What are EcoSmart Fires? The EcoSmart Fire is a new, innovative style of open fireplace. It is environmentally friendly, aesthetically appealing, efficient and cost effective. The modular design means it is versatile enough to fit into a wide range of architectural environments. Whether installed in a loft, studio, apartment, terrace house or freestanding home, the EcoSmart Fire provides the 'primal' warmth and comfort of fire while enhancing the contemporary aesthetics of today's living environments. In essence, it is designed to be an inspiring, mobile 'piece of furniture'.
  
  And yes, according to the FAQ, the fireplaces do indeed produce heat (about 13000BTU's worth).]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Beautiful-Environmentally-Friendly-Flueless-Fireplaces-by-EcoSmart how to use a hammer) to intermediate (repairing cracked tile, repairing a defective light switch) to more advanced topics (basement foundation repair). They've also got a nice list of reference materials on topics ranging from the various nail and screw sizes to weights and measures and the metric system.
  
  *Regarding PDFs: it's been said before, but Foxit Reader is a really fast and lightweight alternative to Acrobat Reader that deserves some attention. Give it a shot. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Nice-List-of-General-Home-Repair-Howtos Foxit Reader, which makes loading and reading PDFs a dream by comparison. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Bring-PCs-up-to-Speed-with-Google-Pack-PC-Essentials-Kit Two minutes in the spindryer will save you thirty minutes in the clothes dryer!
  
  So says the website of Spin-X, the clothes drying centrifuge. You may have seen similar devices at your local public swimming pool, allowing swimmers to quickly dry their swim suits before placing them in their gym bags. The Spin-X attempts to bring that same centrifugal power into the home. The site has a list of reasons to use the Spin-X, including this one addressing the important energy usage question:
  
  [The device] Will remove one quart of water from clothing using only 15 seconds worth of clothes dryer electricity.
  
  At $450, the device would take a while to pay for itself, but the energy (and therefore cost) savings combined with quicker dry times and environmental benefits would appeal to many. Could this device not, theoretically, be constructed to harness human foot power instead of electricity, or perhaps a version that would allow you to use electricity or muscle power, at one's discretion? ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Save-Energy-with-the-SpinX-Clothes-Drying-Centrifuge FiltersOnTime.com offers a service that promises to send you furnace filters in the mail throughout the year. The beauty of the system is that the filter's arrival is also a reminder to change the old filter currently in your furnace! Very clever. It looks as though the service is available to US destinations only, unfortunately. Send a note or leave a comment if you know of any similar services for people outside the US.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Receive-Filters-in-the-Mail-and-Forget-about-Forgetting-with-Clever-Service Michael Douglas had a hand in designing in the 1980s. Apparently people with money dig LCDs rising from bed foot boards quite a bit - and it's hard to blame them, really.
  
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Wired-Article-on-the-Coolest-Rooms-on-Earth
  VIOlight uses a germicidal UV bulb - the same technology used in hospitals - to kill germs. Sanitization is activated with a simple push of a button. A blue-violet glow on top of the VIOlight lets you know the sanitizer is working. The entire process takes only 10 minutes. When finished, the bulb automatically shuts off and your toothbrush is fresh, clean, and safely stored for the next time you brush!
  
  A travel version is also available.
  
  
  
  
  via popgadget]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Germ-Eliminating-Ultra-Violet-Toothbrush-Sanitizer here are some tips on making the most out of the space you have available to you, including things like where to place the toilet, amount of space required for sinks, showers and baths, as well as storage and safety ideas.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Good-List-of-Bathroom-Design-Tips some money as well.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DIY-Arcade-Driving-Game-Cockpit
  via digg]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Extend-the-Range-of-your-Garage-Door-Opener kitchen is great, but shoving them deep into a cabinet usually means only the most common, frequently used spices remain accessible - much to the detriment of your culinary creations. So, most people have a spice rack to keep things in order and available. What most people don't have, is a sweet, space saving "Zero Gravity, Magnetic Spice Rack" like this one. From the site:
  
• Only design available where you can store spices on both top and bottom of spice rack, which maximizes space and reduces clutter
  
• Windows on spice canisters indicate when spices are getting low]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Zero-Gravity-Magnetic-Spice-Rack http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Protect-Yourself-with-this-Bedside-Table Fleur de Lys and the next could be the Bull. Go crazy! The tutorials walk the reader through each step with clear illustrations and directions. As a bonus, all the folds are rated for difficulty (simple to hard), so you'll know where to begin.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Great-Site-with-Fancy-Napkin-Folding-Tutorials recroom or bar decor idea, then this fibre optic rug from designer Jody Harrow should do the trick.
  
  via blog.hazaad.com - Thanks John!
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Cool-Fibre-Optic-Rug
  The paper softwall is a beautiful, lightweight, freestanding wall that can be arranged into almost any shape, or easily compressed into a compact sheaf and stored away. softwall dampens sound and can both absorb and transmit light. The paper softwall is made from 400 layers of honeycombed translucent white, fire-retardant paper, bounded by natural wool felt ends. The thick felt ends fold to create handles when the wall is open, and form a casing when the wall is compressed. paper softwall is modular, as the felt ends have velcro fasteners which can link walls together. The paper softwall is delicate, yet its honeycomb design makes it surprisingly resilient to normal handling.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Softwall-Flexible-Room-Partition Glass Block w/ Mini Lights howto. If you're comfortable drilling into glass and haven't had too much egg nog, then you shouldn't have any trouble with this simple project. This is a beautiful craft that emits a warm, soft glow that is really inviting, creating the perfect festive ambiance.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Make-a-Festive-Lighted-Glass-Block candles. From the site:
  
  Hygge-lys Paraffin candle with a built-in matchbox. Walton was inspired to create these candles shortly after coming to Denmark. In Scandinavia, cosiness - locally known as hygge - is often associated with the use of candles. Walton quickly perceived the need for a special candle that kept the matches within easy reach. So he cast a little matchbox in the bottom of each candle, and produced a little booklet to explain the genesis of the product.
  
  via smartstuff.se]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Ingenious-Candles-with-Built-In-Matchbook E-ink. The clock is only 3mm thick and can bend around pillars, making it visible from many angles. This would be a fine addition to any recroom, fitting in nicely with your 360 degree LED television. From Yahoo:
  
  Citizen will start production of the clock early next year upon receiving orders with a price tag at 500,000-600,000 yen (4,200-5,000 dollars) each.
  
  via engadget]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Citizen--Shows-Off-3mm-Thin-Flexible-Clock basement or gameroom. If buying one is out of the question, why not consider building your own MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) unit? This howto describes the steps from cutting the MDF to installing fans, speakers and of course buttons and joysticks. They've included a parts list with costs, which totalled £ 630.79 (about 1,118.19 USD), which is nearly $2,ooo cheaper than the Costco and Target models.
  
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DIY-Arcade-Cabinet unique "three dimensional, form pressed plywood element for modern interior decoration with wood."
  The unique 3D style of the panels would look super cool in a recroom or bar. The brochure (PDF) indicates that the panels definitely aren't the most inexpensive ceiling option in the world, however...
  
  Ceiling Scenes "utilizes state-of-the art technology to print images or patterns directly onto acoustic ceiling tiles, creating truly custom ceilings. Whether you desire bright, colourful scenery or a subtle and serene visual treatment, our capabilities offer limitless potential to create genuinely unique environments." These images seem suitable mostly for a child's bedroom or play area, but an adventurous decorator might be able to work them into other spaces as well.
  
  These tin ceiling tiles offer a very elegant, sophisticated look that can also be mounted as a backsplash.
  
  via metafilter]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/A-Few-Unique-Ceiling-Tile-Options
  Electric Bucket
  Also in today, a bucket still exists in a home and it is used for various uses, such as bleaching of a shirt, pasting, and every clothing beginning. It has been said that it being dirty and putting into a washing machine suddenly washes by hand division washing of the thing, for example, a dustcloth etc., and important lingeries in a bath just for a moment.
  
  It sure does.
  
  Some interesting items:
  
• A refrigerator that opens from either side
  
• Variable height bathroom vanity
  
• Electric carpet
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Bizarre-and-Interesting-List-of-Japanese-Home-Appliances cool Japanese shirt folding technique.
  
  Edit: Fixed the link. Thanks et. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/How-to-Fold-a-Fitted-Sheet unique way to store cookies and disturb young children at the same time. Also, Marcel Dzama sure doesn't seem very happy. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Cute-and-Depressing-Melting-Snowman-Canisters-by-Marcel-Dzama
  Our network uses solar powered radio repeaters and is completely wireless. We can contact sites by phone, internet or license-free UHF radio across a 40 km radius...
  
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Intelligent-Weather-Aware-Lawn-Irrigation-System 03-29-2006 UPDATE: Please note that there appears to be a patent infringement dispute between PowerPipe and GFX Technology. See first comment below for more.
  -Sean
  
  The PowerPipe drain water heat recovery system is a unique product that uses the hot water flowing down the drain to preheat the cold water entering the hot water heater. From the site:
  
  Power-PipeTM raises the temperature of incoming cold water by recycling free heat from waste water going down the drain. Approximately 80% to 90% of all hot water energy goes down the drain, allowing the Power-PipeTM to recycle as much as 60% of the wasted heat.
  
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/PowerPipe-Drainwater-Heat-Recovery-System original post about the Vulcanus MK4 microwave based water heater, the Pulsar Advanced Technologies website found in the Globe and Mail article turned out to be a work in progress. It looks as though the Pulsar Advanced Technologies people have another website, found here. Website number two has some actual information on the Vulcanus MK4, including a FAQ and a tiny picture, seen here. Apparently PAT, as I call them, are developing two models:
  
  To begin with, we have two models whose function is to deliver two temperatures to several points of use. The first model has the capabilities to go from 35F-140F within seconds and supply multiple outlets concurrently. That is to say that this base model can service a bath/shower, and all other household faucets endlessly. The second model is equally fluid, but through a secondary thermostat control will deliver water at a higher temperature to service dishwashers and washing machines along with the various bathroom and kitchen amenities.
  
  Stay tuned... ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Update-on-the-Vulcanus-MK4-Microwave-Water-Heater basement floors require the installation of a subfloor to provide warmth by raising the basement floor up off of the cold concrete foundation. Installing a subfloor tends to be a fair amount of work, as a traditional subfloor system consists of, according to DRIcore:
  
  2x4 sleepers, vapour barrier, 1"-2" rigid insulation, 5/8" plywood and a lot of fastening.
  
  The DRIcore system looks to be a more elegant solution. DRIcore comes in 2'x2' tiles and utilizes a tongue and groove system for easy installation. Also, from their FAQ:
  
  DRIcore subfloor panels are engineered specifically for cold, damp environments typically found in basements. DRIcore subfloor panels are manufactured with a high density polyethylene moisture barrier that raises the 5/8" random wafer board core a ¼" away from damp, cold concrete floors. Since the panels are raised off the surface, the concrete floor is allowed to breathe.
  
  DRIcore claims to save some headroom as well:
  
  The combined height [of a traditional subfloor] is between 2 ¼" and 5 ¼" compared to 7/8" for a DRIcore subfloor panel.
  
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DRIcore-Subfloor-Tile-System Dead Horse Warning:
  Adding an old style gas pump booze dispenser to your bar will prompt your guests to say "fill 'er up!" well over a thousand times.
  The dispenser is 2 feet high and 5 inches in diameter.
  
  
  
  
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Gas-Pump-Beverage-Dispenser ceramic tile or hardwood floors which require constant sweeping action. The SweepEZE vacuuming dustpan powers its 600w motor on when the activity sensing infrared beam is broken by debris, which is then vacuumed up into the unit.
  
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Sweep-Debris-into-the-SweepEZE-Automatic-Dustpan ConsciousFlooring.com offers sustainable flooring products manufactured using materials such as bamboo, cork, natural linoleum, and wood that is:
  
  sustainably-harvested, recycled, non-toxic, and made from rapidly renewable materials.
  
  And furthermore:
  
  At Conscious Flooring we strive to be as energy efficient as possible. By shipping direct to your job site we eliminate the need for the volumes of unnecessary energy that goes into shipping and warehousing showroom products. Our offices utilize full spectrum compact fluorescent lighting, wind generated website hosting, methane and other renewable energies, and to top it all off we are even [travelling] on biodiesel! In addition, we pride ourselves on being an almost paperless company storing most of our data on computers, the little paper we do use is usually 100% recycled.
  
  See also:
  
  
• GreenFloors.com
  
• SustainableFlooring.com
  
• GreenHomeGuide : Flooring
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Environmentally-Friendly-Sustainable-Flooring-Options Now you can make sandwiches with your toaster, like you always have, but differently! The Toastabag is a fire retarding black plastic bag that enables you to place whole sandwiches in your toaster, relegating the cumbersome sandwich maker to it's lonely under-counter home. If you're feeling melancholy, you might want to check out the Toastabag video, which wins the award for strangest choice of music for a kitchen gadget commercial. It's like it was made by a kid out of film school treating the commercial as his Godfather, the Toastabag his Brando.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Toastabags-Turn-your-Toaster-into-a-Sandwich-Maker CathyMoore.com shows you how to stain concrete on the cheap. After some initial testing, trial and error, her floor seems to turn out very warm and inviting (and professional). The procedure seems relatively straight forward, although it looks as though there is definitely room for mistakes or misplaced mop strokes. This informative site, Decorative Concrete, says that the age of the concrete is not an issue, but the concrete's condition is. They also go on to caution:
  
  Also remember this is an acid. PROTECT yourself from accidental splashes, spills and fumes. I like to have a 5-gallon bucket of water close by should I need to neutralize myself or anything else. Protect vegetation and other concrete surfaces. Don't inhale the fumes from the concentrate or your mixed solutions.
  
  Also check out their gallery of possibilities.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Concrete-Floor-Staining-HowTo automation front, although they have posted a decent overview article on the subject. The majority of the projects are related to networking and digital home entertainment.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/CNET-Digital-Home-DIY-Projects PC "kitchen entertainment" unit offers you Internet connectivity, TV, DVD/CD, radio and home video monitoring to distract you from the maze on the back of the Froot Loops box. The device also boasts a touchscreen and a washable wireless remote and keyboard. If, after installing the iCEBOX, you find there's still not enough technology in your kitchen, you would probably want to go ahead and add the compatible breadmaker sidekick, which comes complete with a database of hundreds of UPC codes preprogrammed in (UPC code updates come from the iCEBOX) linking the scanned item to it's appropriate cooking instructions.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/iCEBOX-Countertop-Kitchen-PC http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Great-Page-of-Home-Equity-and-Mortgage-Calculators site has many videos such as this on a wide range of home renovation subjects. If you are considering laying ceramic tile, you may be interested in underfloor heating. Warmly Yours offers an online flash app to aid you in estimating the cost of an underfloor heating system.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Great-Video-HowTo-on-Laying-Ceramic-Tile-in-the-Bathroom light that activates during an emergency. In case of fire, the unit communicates with other like units to illuminate an escape route through your home. The unit is powered by your home's electrical power, yet doesn't rely on it. Instead, the device employs a long life emergency back up battery that activates during an alarm. Now if it only had a wifi notification system...]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Interesting-Combination-Smoke-Alarm-Emergency-Light different way to furnish your bar, take a look at some of the interesting items over at DrinkStuff.com. It's hard to tell if these tube chairs would be really comfortable or not, but they sure look cool. The site is British, but they do claim to ship to many countries around the world.
  
  For those of you looking to class things up a bit, remember, you can't go wrong with a giant stiletto chair, which is some sort of cardinal rule of interior decorating, it turns out.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Unique-Tube-Chairs-for-the-Bar
  Enter the room to motion activated lights. Work your magic. Catch a squirt of soap from your touchless soap dispenser. Wash your hands under your hands free faucet. Finish up by drying your hands sans towel.
  
  Leave.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Make-Your-Own-Hands-Free-Bathroom
  
  
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Japanese-Paper-Lampshade-HowTo VOIP client, just added video capabilities to it's software package. Skype is one of the best internet apps out there because, besides looking good and being intuitive, as many have said before: it just plain works. The sound quality is great, and stands up flawlessly when compared to a regular POTS system. Sticking it to the phone company is always nice, too.
  
  via Digg]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Skype-Releases-Version-2.0-With-Video HDTV, check out CNET's response to reader questions regarding HDTV, and specifically 1080i vs 1080p, source importance, price/value, and some gotchas:
  
  Those of you thinking of running your PC through a 1080p set should be aware that you may not necessarily get to use all that extra resolution--even if you have the right high-end graphics card. For instance, the Sharp set we tested allows you to max out at only 1,280x1,024 resolution while the less-expensive Westinghouse LVM-37W1, along with Samsung's 1080p RPTVs and one series of high-end sets from Mitsubishi, accept true 1,920x1,080 resolution from a PC.
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Informative-CNET-Article-on-HDTV-Resolutions candle wax and stuffed the mixture in an old cigar tube to create a one of a kind product - Java Log. The Java Log burns cleaner and brighter than other manufactured logs, is easier on the environment, smells nice, manages to leave less soot buildup in the chimney, and, according to the FAQ, "has about 25% more energy than wood and triple the flame per unit of energy."]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Java-Log-is-Recycled-Coffee-Grounds Tamarack Technologies claims to be able to reduce the cost of home air conditioning by as much as 30%, all on the energy it takes to run two 60W light bulbs. From the site:
  
  Engineered to reduce indoor air temperature, the HV pushes the hot air out of the house through the attic and replaces it with cooler outside air. The HV utilizes twin, high-tech, super efficient fan motors to minimize noise and power consumption. Our systems have the industry's only automatic door assembly, providing an air-tight seal with an insulating value of R-22.
  
  The unit operates by remote control to boot.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Whole-House-Cooling-Fan
  The SolarCap Lighting system consists of modular, self-contained lighting devices that can be used for decorative or traffic flow purposes -- powered only by solar energy. These unique devices incorporate the newest "EnergyCache" technology for energy storage, instead of the high maintenance rechargeable batteries that are currently used in solar devices. Unlike batteries which must be changed every two to three years and cannot tolerate environmental extremes, EnergyCaches enable SolarCap lighting to be used in any environment without maintenance for more than 10 years with a wide operating temperature range of -13°F -140°F (-25°C - 60°C). ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Outdoor-SolarCap-Light-Emitting-Tiles Gutter Stuff is a clever product that is so simple that it will leave many wondering how it was that they didn't think it up themselves. The product is a non-absorbent foam filler that fits in your roof's gutter, allowing water to drain out as normal while preventing leaves or unwanted debris from settling in. Check out the Gutter Stuff movie (direct link) for a demo.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Clever-Foam-Eavestrough-Filler http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Uber-Sleek-Italian-Faucets website, the Connect Io Intelligent Oven allows you to begin cooking your food remotely, via either a telephone or internet connection. The idea is that you prepare your food ahead of time and place it in the oven, which keeps the food refrigerated until the cooking process is initiated remotely. Throughout the process, the display on your web browser exactly matches the display on the oven itself, in real time.
  
  Program, command, and control your Connect Io oven remotely through your cell phone from anywhere in the world. No matter where you are, send commands over the Internet from your computer through a standard web browser.
  
  Anywhere in the world? Sure, this might be handy to use from work or even to monitor your food from the pc in the other room, but who are they marketing to with 'from anywhere in the world'?]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Internet-and-Telephone-Controlled-Oven-with-Refrigeration BonBon Trading might be just what you're looking for. The clever design allows the sofa to 'effortlessly' convert to a bunk bed. From the site:
  
  Doc XL a convertible sofa-bunk bed solution with rotating mechanism. Doc is a comfortable divan with slipcovers, which requires a simple gesture and no physical strain to become a practical bunk bed with a safe ladder that is both a support element and a protective barrier. To use the item only as a bed, it is sufficient to remove the back cushions. The item can be converted from bed to furniture piece without having to remove the sheets and blankets, thus offering the possibility to always dispose of a ready to use bed.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Space-Saving-Sofa-Converts-to-Bunk-Bed Dave Samuel. The one time dot com entrepreneur was not content to simply relax on some Caribbean island after co-founding and subsequently selling internet radio company "Spinner" to AOL for $320 million. No, Samuel combined a fascination with high end electronic Japanese toilets with a mind for business to produce a start-up called Brondell. Samuel's goal is to bring Japanese toilet technology to America, and the Brondell Swash 600 is his first offering (along with the non-bum-drying Swash 400).
  
  The 600 offers a warm-air dryer, temperature-controlled heated seat, remote control, massage, dual nozzle action, and gentle close lid. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Brondell-Swash-600-High-Tech-Toilet-Seat instant hot water these days. According to Canada's Globe and Mail, a company called Pulsar Advanced Technologies is about to announce a product that uses microwave technology to instantly heat hot water. According to the article, the Vulcanus MK4 "can heat water from 35 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit in seconds and can source multiple applications at once: showers, dishwasher, sink usages and more. The Vulcanus MK4 is the size of a stereo speaker with a sleek modern look, making it ideal for condos and apartments, while powerful enough to serve the needs of any size family." This is exciting news for anyone tired of being at the mercy of natural gas prices, not to mention those just looking to reduce their energy footprint.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/New-Microwave-Based-Water-Heater-Announced The Cooking Blog has an excellent list of tips and tricks for making life easier in the kitchen. Pros may know a lot of these already, but clever tips like: "Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips" are sure to be new to many, if not most, of the kitchen novices among us.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Great-List-of-Kitchen-Tips-and-Tricks http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Turn-Your-Old-Laptop-into-a-Digital-Picture-Frame "Do-it-yourself: Stop junk mail, email and phone calls, which has some solid tips on keeping the junk down by preventing your name, number and address from being added to every customer database on the planet. One clever gem:
  
  Sexually Oriented Advertising (SOA):The only help you'll get from the Post Office in controlling junk mail is for explicit stuff. Fill out USPS forms 1500 if you wish this type of mail to stop. You define what you find to be explicit -- if that's an automobile parts catalog the post office won't disagree with you.
  
  Good stuff.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Reduce-Your-Junk-Mail POTS system to your VOIP system, you may be interested in this DIY project that walks you through the creation of a telephone-to-VOIP adapter for your wired or cordless phones. From the site:
  
  Just imagine: You can walk with your wireless phone chatting with Skype friends for free, you can make free call to your mom if she is connected to the Internet...Skype wireless phones are expensive, VoIP adapters cost ~$60, but you can make it for free if your have details.. from old TV, Radio or other electronics.
  
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Make-Your-Own-Skype-Phone-Adapter BabyCenter.com has a great, idea packed article on organizing your home through a concerted familial effort. The article has plenty of useful tips for anyone feeling that they are losing the clutter battle. Another solid resource for a variety of general purpose organizational ideas is Online Organizing's aggregation of organization tips from the pros.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Secrets-of-Organized-Families CurveMakers.com offers these clever doorway arch kits. Modern homes are rarely built with doorway arches, which were much more common in the past. Arches offer so much character but usually require some significant renovation dollars. These kits, which are reasonably priced, allow any standard doorway to be made to look more elegant and unique. Very nice.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Cool-Doorway-Arch-Kit diynetwork that covers template construction, mold making, pouring, and finishing up.
  
  Here's another very detailed tutorial from NaturalHandyman.com. Both are good, but the diynetwork breaks down the materials needed in a nicer format.
  
  For some inspiration, take a look at Cheng Design to see some amazing examples of what's possible to accomplish with concrete.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Concrete-Countertop-HowTos save energy, you may have experienced this upon coming home early or off schedule. Avoid such a predicament with a telephone controllable thermostat that allows you to call home and chat with your heating system, giving you time to work things out. Talkingthermostats.com offers this device, of which you can hear a sample of here. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Telephone-Controlled-Thermostat
  
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Incredibly-Thorough-Structured-Wiring-HowTo Kill-A-Watt (heh) electricity meter. Plug in any piece of equipment and allow it to project the cost of running the device for up to a year. Until smart energy meters get a foothold in municipalities, devices like this will have to do.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/KillaWatt-Energy-Consumption-Meter http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Cordless-Cube-MP3-Player-Speakerphone-Combo
  Some nice features:
  
• A plexiglas top, which enables washable marker action.
  
• Cup holders that position the beverage flush with the table top.
  
• 3 pull out trays on each side of the table.
  
• 1" Grid covering the entire surface.
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Ultimate-Game-Table bf2005.com lists hundreds of items that are rumored to be on sale on November 25th. The site posts scans of leaked store circulars for the Black Friday sales orgy. Hundreds of items are listed on the site, which allows you to create your own printable shopping list. From the site's FAQ:
  
  With this information, avoid the holiday rush and waking up before 5am to get that certain item. Simply go to the store before Thanksgiving, buy the item, then on Black Friday (November 25th) go into the store and price-match (buy and rebuy) your item back for the new advertised price.
  
  Needless to say, retail stores aren't digging this guy as much as consumers are.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Get-a-Leg-Up-on-Black-Friday-Competition Best Inventions of 2005, the hanging Topsy Turvy upside down tomato planter produces tomatoes that are bigger, better and easier to grow than with traditional methods. The planter's elevation has the added benefit of preventing certain bacteria and fungus, as well as keeping critters at bay. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Topsy-Turvy-Upside-Down-Tomato-Planter
  * Saves water consumption by one third
  * Highly energy-saving
  * User-friendly in every way
  * Minor extra costs compared to standard toilet units
  
  
  Ecoplay estimates that the unit will pay for itself in 6 years. Perhaps if this catches on, Ecoplay will be able to afford to have people other than their children* drawing diagrams of the unit.
  
  *Update: Looks like they've updated their site with really nice diagrams now.
  
  via City Hippy]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Ecoplay-Reroutes-Shower-Water-for-Toilet-Use Mike Matas posted a howto on making a life poster. It was a great idea that caught on in a hurry. What was somewhat surprising was that the big online photo shops didn't latch on to the trend and offer an easy web app to capitalize on the poster's popularity. Well, Kodak now offers a product for making life posters (Kodak calls them collages) with their online photo printing service. The app allows you to adjust the whitespace between pictures as well as having a random tilt widget. For people who don't have the software or patience to do it themselves, this is a decent alternative.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Kodak-Now-Offering-Life-Poster-Service candle's flicker, perhaps more so for those of us unfortunate enough to be experiencing the first hit of old man winter. People of all climates, however, can appreciate the beauty of these stainless steel oil lamp shadow projectors, by Adam Frank. The projected shadow size is "adjustable", obviously dependent on the base's distance from the wall. The site claims this to be the first in a series. The fuel cells lasts 17 hours.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Beautiful-Oil-Lamp-Shadow-Projector hand-written script from the 1983 Pacino classic.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Scarface-Poster-Created-Using-Entire-300-Page-Script new but rechargeable candles are. The Sharper Image now carries these LED votive candles that actually flicker. Priced at about 1000 times the cost of traditional tea lights, the candles are being billed as safer, smokeless and sans melting wax. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Rechargeable-Flickering-Votive-Candles http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Tough-Guy-Fridge Science Museum Store (of Science Museum) sells a voice recognition safe for £ 19.99 (US $34.67). The safe allows you to set your own password which, when spoken, opens the lock. The safe also allows a four digit code to be entered on the keypad, which is plenty, really, as any security expert will tell you that anything over four digits is just security overkill. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Voice-Recognition-Safe iRobot (of Roomba fame). iRobot is accepting pre-orders for the Scooba, which they say will ship in 8-10 weeks.
  
  From the site:
  Scooba is an intelligent and effective Floor Washing Robot. Scooba uses a four stage cleaning system to prep, wash, scrub, and dry floors all by itself. Scooba features iRobot's AWARE Robot Intelligence Systems. AWARE uses dozens of sensors to monitor the robot?s environment, and adjusts its behavior up to 67 times per second, ensuring that Scooba cleans effectively, intelligently and safely. Scooba will clean a standard size kitchen on a single tank full of cleaning solution.
  
  Anything that does anything 67 times per second must be good. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Scooba-the-Floor-Mopping-Robot "Big Chill Fridges" should wait until after you've maximized your kitchen's usable space with this article from SignOnSanDiego.com. The article is full of tips for uncramping your kitchen, even if you're working with very little square footage and/or counter space.
  
  Regarding clutter: see Frugal Homemaker's "Taking Control of Your Clutter" for ideas.
  
  If the kitchen re-org puts you in clean sweep mode, then the plethora of tips over at HowToCleanAnything.com should save some serious elbow grease.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/How-to-Best-Make-Use-of-a-Small-Kitchen Kundalini offers this unique floor lamp that doubles as an uncomfortable-yet-trendy chair. Not to be confused with the stove top-cum-armchair, of course.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Lamp-Seat-Mashup
  via cribcandy]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Deep-Wishing-Well-Illusion-Coffee-Table
  
• Behr's ColorSmart
  Probably the best paint selector. Paint simulation looks the most realistic. Behr allows searches by paint name or number and automatically coordinates colors to match. Program enables users to paint individual walls. Includes a nice 'Inspiration library'.
  
  
• Benjamin Moore's Personal Color Viewer
  Benjamin Moore's app presents the user with multiple rooms to choose from, as well as the unique selectable specialty finishes. Has a standard color slider selector, and is pre-loaded with some color combinations. Not bad, but not great.
  
  
• Sherwin-Williams
  Chose between interior and exterior paint jobs. Multiple room or home types to chose from. The automatic coordinating of color types is nice. Some drag and drop action.
  
  
• Sico Not that dynamic. Allows the change of one entire wall (only) and trim. Gives a good idea of how a room's feel is altered with different paint colors, but could be more functional.
  
  
• Debbie Travis
  Multiple rooms to chose from, but clicking a color changes the one and only dynamic wall in the picture (i.e. user is not able to select individual walls). Very straightforward and too basic.
  
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Roundup-of-Online-Paint-Selector-Apps
  If you:
  have $10, need an answering machine, have a Linux box and have some spare time on your hands, then you may be interested in making your own linux based answering machine. This howto will walk you through the steps to get you up and running with a geek badge called the linux based answering machine.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/A-10-Dollar-Linux-Answering-Machine
  You can listen to your own library streamed from home, live concerts, and other great music from around the web.
  
  This app manages to marry internet buzz like AJAX, del.icio.us and Google/Amazon API stuff to Flash for a damn cool app. Streampad is still in beta.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Streampad-Home-Audio-Server
  From the Depot's useful Know-How page.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Big-Home-Depot-Plumbing-HowTo-List http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Useful-Flash-Room-Planner solution.
  
  via The Green Head]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Amazing-Dinosaur-Plant-Laughs-at-Death Firewall Flueless' lack of a heat-liberating chimney like those found in conventional gas fireplaces. There is also an added environmental benefit in that the warm air the unit exhausts is cleaner than the air it takes in! ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Beautiful-Wall-Mountable-Flueless-Fireplace version.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DIY-LCD-Projector Breakthrough Awards, in which they showcase some of today's most promising and interesting scientific innovations (yeah, they shill, but still interesting). One of the more interesting entries is flexible photovoltaic plastic. The ultra-thin energy producers are being developed by the 2000 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry, Alan Heeger. The more interesting part: the actual energy harnessing chemistry occurs within the solution of semiconducting polymers that can be painted onto surfaces such as roofs, tents, clothing and pets whatnot. It doesn't hurt that the stuff is easier to mass produce and cheaper than big grandpa solar panel. From the article: 'Solar energy is going to happen,' says Heeger. 'It will happen sooner and on a larger scale if we can provide a lower-cost technology.'
  
  I hope he's right. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Affordable-Film-Thin-Solar-Strips
  Perhaps the most fascinating feature of this new design is the fact that it not only gathers energy from the push on the front side, but actually is pulled forward on the back side through a lift effect, similar to the principle that causes lift on a wing. "The back pressure creates a vortex that pulls it around, turning drag into lift," says Taylor.
  
  The result is that the turbine spins just slightly faster than the wind speed -- 1/100ths faster on average, beginning with winds of about 5 miles per hour.
  
  This facet is the "technology breakthrough" that makes it unique, according to Taylor.
  
  Very cool.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/New-Wind-Power-Design Electronic House has a nice slideshow of their product of the year picks. Selections include a nice variety of HDTVs, audio components, projectors and home automation toys. The Electronic House guys sure seem to know how to live.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Electronic-House-Products-of-the-Year-Gallery Quooker sells a nice looking product that produces instant boiling water, straight from the tap. The faucet draws the boiling water from an insulated tank mounted underneath the counter, where water is heated to 110°C. As the water flows from the faucet, it cools to 100°C. Quooker says that the unit's energy consumption is "next to nothing" in standby mode. I wonder if it would melt one of these.
  
  Caution! The boiling water you are about to enjoy is hot...]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Instant-Boiling-Tap-Water eco-furniture.com. It's great to see so many green products that don't look fringe or 'hempy' hitting the marketplace. The more normal environmentally friendly products appear to consumers, the more market penetration they will achieve. It can only help matters that such striking choices like these exist for today's consumer.
  
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Gorgeous-Environmentally-Friendly-Furniture add-on is required for powering essential 120 volt devices, like your PVR.
  
  The Red Cross has some other things to consider for you home emergency kit. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Foot-Powered-Portable-Energy-Source sturdy co-polymer'. Sturdy is definitely the word you want to hear when sitting on something like this.
  
  via Treehugger
  ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Handy-Dandy-Gardening-Chair
  
• Turn your hot water heater down. Most hot water heater's medium setting is fine for most uses. Check your dishwasher manual for minimum recommended temperatures just to be sure.
  
  
• Consider a hot water heater blanket. Minor debate on the subject here.
  
  
• Combat heat loss by caulking around doors and windows.
  
  
• Install compact fluorescent light bulbs.
  
  
• Change your furnace filter monthly. The less work your furnace has to do to push air throughout the house, the better.
  
  
• Drop the temperature in your home to 68°F (20°C). Install a programmable thermostat and set it to a lower temperature at night as well as when you are out for longer periods of time.
  
  
• Run foam insulation on the hot water pipe coming from your hot water heater. Foam insulation sells for pennies per foot.
  
  
• If you suspect your furnace is due for maintenance, have it done as early in the season as possible. It's better to have the most efficiently running furnace for the entirety of the season to maximize energy savings.
  
  
• Energy efficient appliances often qualify for government rebates and of course offer the monthly savings of a reduced energy bill.
  
  
• Check your garage door for gaps and seal around it with weather stripping.
  
  
• Install foam electrical outlet and light switch seals. This may seem futile, as each outlet only lets a small amount of heat escape, but when you consider the number of outlets and switches in the average home, the aggregate heat loss can be significant.
  
  
• Turn off electrical devices you are not using. According to this site, a ball park figure you can use in calculating annual costs of electrical devices is one dollar per one watt (i.e. a 60w light bulb, left running year round, would cost around $60 dollars). Obviously not many things run year round, but for some, this rule of thumb would be easier to conceptualize than kw/h numbers. So, a single 150W PC, therefore, would run you about $150/yr.
  
  
• Add insulation wherever needed - check your attic or between accessible walls.
  
  
• Open the blinds or drapes as much as possible on sunny winter days - and at night, to keep that heat in the house, close them.
  
  
• Use clear cling-wrap style window coverings available at most hardware stores. The plastic simply adheres to the window sill with the help of your hair dryer and the provided thin tape, forming an airtight seal.
  
  
• Don't heat rooms that you don't use. Close off vents and tape them air-tight to prevent wasted heat.
  
  
• Install reduced flow aerators in your shower. This will cut down on hot water usage.
  
  
• Check out the DIY network's home energy audit to trace the source of heat loss in your home, without calling in the pros.
  
  Stay warm. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Winter-Energy-Saving-Tips-with-DIY-Audit http://www.househacker.com/permanent/DIY-Houseplant-Irrigation-System-for-45-Bucks Banana Guard and Fish Noose Food Loop.
  The Food Loop site claims the non-stick kitchen helper can withstand temperatures of up to 675° F / 357° C and is dishwasher and microwave chummy. The site also illustrates the gadget being used on a variety of items, including a seemingly communicative fish. The Banana Guard, on the other hand, is for people who treat their lunch bags the way gorillas treat luggage in the wild.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Fish-and-Banana-Restraining-Systems cost vs. value data which might prove handy if you're planning any remodelling work around the house. If resale is what you have in mind, wikiHow lists some great ways to inexpensively increase your home's value. Ditto for the Peacock. Some of these basements, on the other hand, probably weren't that inexpensive...]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Best-Bang-for-the-Buck-Home-Remodelling-Jobs Vonage in place of a traditional POTS system and find yourself missing the convenience of multiple phones scattered throughout the house, you may be interested in doing what Jake Ludington did to integrate his VoIP service into the preexisting telephone wiring in his home. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/VoIP-by-Jake inside the fridge. It remains to be seen just how many people will shell out the $399US for the luxury of rotting food odourlessly indoors, mind you. Russ Cohn, the unit's inventor and MIT grad, has high hopes for the device, according to this article at PR News Now where Cohn talks about eliminating 50% of the world's waste.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Naturemill-Indoor-Food-Composter post on Ask Mefi caught my eye. Seems like an appropriate enough way to launch the site, no? Lots of great ideas, including:
  
  
• The oft-recommended Hidden Door to a secret room - which would of course necessitate the obligatory Shakespeare Bust switch.
  
  
• These soon (?) to be released Temperature Sensitive and LED enhanced faucets by German based Hansa.
  
  * Beta, or something. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Great-Ask-Mefi-Home-Design-Thread