What it means. Studies have pointed to a phenomenon in which some folks who buy lower-calorie foods actually consume more calories than they would by eating full-calorie versions of those same items. They mistakenly believe that it's okay to devour mass quantities of "light" chips or cookies, negating the intended calorie savings. This Snackwell's (or Snackwell) effect takes it name from the Nabisco brand of snacks, which were originally marketed as low-fat products.
When it comes to the home and energy use, the Snackwell's effect is common too, as consumers erase the financial savings their energy-efficient appliances, lightbulbs, electronics, and more can provide through careless consumption, such as doing multiple small loads of laundry throughout the week when it would be smarter to run fewer full loads. While those influenced by the Snackwell's effect might still use less energy than they would with lower-efficiency products, they're not getting the complete benefit of their higher-efficiency equipment.
Why the buzz? At a time when our president has made energy efficiency a priority of his administration, Americans need to avoid squandering would-be energy savings.
A 2008 study by University of Michigan economist Lucas Davis found that people with high-efficiency washing machines do more loads of laundry than those without HE machines. Similarly, people who install energy-efficient compact fluorescent lightbulbs squander 5 to 12 percent of the potential savings by leaving the lights on, according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.
And in a survey of 500 Americans conducted by the Shelton Group, 33 percent of respondents said their utility bills didn't decrease after they made their homes more energy efficient. The Snackwell's effect could be a culprit.
Boosting energy efficiency and reducing energy use through technological innovation like the smart grid and state-of-the-art appliances like the hyperefficient Xeros washing machine are often portrayed as a way to counteract climate change, eliminate our dependence on foreign oil, and stimulate the economy and create jobs. But given the pull of the Snackwell's effect, you'll need to use products smartly to see real energy savings:
Washing machines
High-efficiency front-loaders use about 50 percent less electricity and water than some conventional top-loaders, for a potential annual savings of about $130. To avoid the Snackwell's effect, don't turn laundry into a daily chore and do small loads. Also opt for the cold-water wash cycle whenever possible.
Dishwashers
Stricter federal energy standards have made these appliances more efficient on the whole. To get the most out of your dishwasher, don't prerinse dishes and try to run the appliance only at full capacity.
Refrigerators
A new top- or bottom-freezer refrigerator costs $10 to $15 dollars less to run annually than a side-by-side model. But that's not license to leave the door open while you decide what to snack on. Cleaning the coils behind or underneath the refrigerator will also help the unit run more efficiently.
Televisions
LCD televisions tend to us less electricity than plasma TVs. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't unplug your LCD set(s) when you're away from home for an extended period. You can cut down on standby power consumption by unplugging TVs and other devices.
Lightbulbs
Compact fluorescent lightbulbs are 90 percent more efficient than traditional incandescent lightbulbs, so you'd have to leave your CFLs on for a long time to suffer any Snackwell's effect. But to maximize the savings, always turn off the lights when leaving a room.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter
April 26 2009 | External Blogs | No Comments »
Love the idea of flat-pack in concept, but think the reality involves a frustrating wrestling match with an allen wrench and a cryptic set of Swedish instructions? Not so fast! Aiming to improve upon the not-so-user-friendly IKEA flat-pack experience, Way Basics is a beautiful line of eco-friendly, family-friendly furniture that makes flat pack assembly easy and fun. Made entirely from recycled paper, and requiring no fasteners or screws of any kind, Way Basics is the first green ‘no tools’ line of kids furniture on the market, and we can’t wait to check it out.
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April 26 2009 | External Blogs | No Comments »
Trees are often the victim of building construction, so we were excited when Jeremy Levine shared his design for a Eagle Rock renovation and addition — built around three existing trees — in Los Angeles with us. The project included renovating the current home while adding 400 square feet to the existing house. Jeremy’s design for addition not only preserved the existing trees on the site, it integrated them into the design of the home by creating a courtyard to help the owners appreciate the trees’ beauty. Additionally, the home features everything from passive daylighting and evaporative cooling to keep the interior comfortable and solar panels and a green roof to minimize the house’s environmental impact.
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April 26 2009 | External Blogs | No Comments »
Inhabitat’s Prefab Friday column has seen its fair share of shipping container homes, but we’ve never seen shipping containers paired with bamboo as a construction material before. But now, Bamboo Groves, a design and construction firm in Costa Rica, has developed some great designs for homes made from insulated shipping containers and bamboo. Developed for the tropical climate, these prefab homes are different from the designs we are accustomed to — those designed for temperate or cooler climates. Many of these prefab and shipping container homes focus on passive heating and cooling. But in warmer climates, such as Central America, construction requires a different tactic - insulating from the heat and providing lots of natural ventilation to help cool.
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April 26 2009 | External Blogs | No Comments »
These shoes are commonly referred to as “stripper shoes” but they are quickly becoming more and more fashionable. Celebrities such as Britney Spears, Shauna Sands, Christina Aguilera, and Mariah Carey have all been photographed wearing platform heels. Brides and runway models are wearing them because they lengthen the look of the leg and look so outrageously sexy! High end fashion designers such as Gucci and Christian Leboutin have taken this style and made it into their own. This company uses all kinds of recycled goods for customizing their shoes — vintage jewelry, magazines, vintage pin-up covers, newspapers, wall paper, gift wrap and even books. Going green really can be sexy!!!
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April 26 2009 | External Blogs | No Comments »
Tonight on the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION® program VENTURE, host Cris Valerio talks to Brilliant Earth Co-Founder Eric Grossberg, about the diamond industry, working with conflict free diamonds, and how social entrepreneurship drives his bottom line.
He talks about how the15 percent drop in diamond prices in the past six months is actually helping his business,
“There is an opportunity with diamond prices going down because we don’t hold a lot of inventory as those prices go down we can pass that on immediately to consumers, where a lot of our competitors in the market are holding inventory that they purchased at higher prices and can’t do the same.”
Venture gives BLOOMBERG TELEVISION(R) viewers an inside look at what it takes to be an entrepreneur. The weekly half-hour program will feature interviews with entrepreneurs and small business owners, focusing on issues and policy that impacts the way Main Street does business. “Venture” airs on Friday nights at 8:00PM ET, 11:30PM ET the show re-airs Saturdays at 1:30am, 3:30, 7:30am, 8:30, 11:30, 6:30pm and Sunday at 12:30am, 3:30, 6:30, 9:30, 12:30pm, 3:30pm.
“Venture” can also be seen on Bloomberg.com
April 26 2009 | External Blogs | No Comments »
Remember this fabulous Forsythia linen swatch I ordered from Cicada Studio? Well,
thanks to Ohdeedoh’s post about de-branding the kitchen counter with pretty canisters, I was inspired to make over my stainless steel canisters. I love stainless steel, but it can seem very clinical. I decided to warm up my canisters with linen cozies. Read on for the complete how-to…
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The Tower Grove Farmers’ Market and Bazaar in St. Louis is not only a community center piece, but a regional one. And the group is candidly joining a nation-wide line of community-minded organizations who are in economic straits and need support.
Understanding that there are many worthy groups asking for assistance these days, the one that organizes the Tower Grove market is asking, in particular, for those who already value what it creates in the St. Louis region — shoppers and friends who stop by, even just twice a season — to consider stepping forward. The support can be monetary or otherwise.
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Fourty percent or more of the Amazon rainforest will be “decimated” by the middle of the next century even if we cut all CO2 emissions by 2050, said the UK Met Office. The finding was presented this past month in Copenhagen, which is preparing to host the UN Climate Change Conference in December.
In this satellite image of deforestation in Brazil, tropical rainforest appears bright red, while pale red and brown areas represent cleared land. Black and gray areas have probably been recently burned.
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San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, is known for his particularly progressive thinking when it comes to developing the economy of San Francisco.
According to the Long Now Foundation, which recently sponsored a presentation by him, mayors are the most powerful politicians in America, right up there with county supervisors. This is why cities pay so much attention to each other and learn so much from each other.
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