other energy efficient items like window coverings, beds

http://www.brookstone.com/bed-fan-with-wireless-remote

energy issues and energy star
by dean on Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:40 am

.a note, once we hit over the first tiers on our bills electricity is 2-4 times more expensive than US or Canada so when doing calculations if you are above the low tiers some of the DOE calculators do not allow you to enter this high of a price. So just use the 10centa a KW and do a multiplier of 2-4 after for simplicity.

LED lights are amazing energy savers. WalMart in LaPaz has begun selling them for a reasonable price, but they sell out very quickly.



http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=product_specs.pt_product_specs

www.EnergyGuide.com
and
www.Energyhawk.com

http://kilowattourscommunity.org/forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=1

bed air conditioner low energy cost
by dean on Wed Aug 12, 2009 12:16 pm

.http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/kuchofukus-air-conditioned-bed-clothing-line/



I have not been able to find the above bed for sale in the USA. but they can be shipped to the USA in the below link.

Re: bed air conditioner low energy cost
by dean on Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:03 am

.Kuchofuku Air Conditioned Bed $508.00 plus shipping
http://www.japantrendshop.com/kuchofuku-air-conditioned-bed-p-140.html

from LPG person has one and says it is great.   http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lapazgringos/message/5791

I have been asked to relay this info to all who live in hot climates, espeically
here with the price of electricity so high.

I have had such a problem with my mattress absorbing the day heat because I only
run the AC when I am in the bedroom at night. The air would cool but the
mattress retained the heat and was still was just awful in the super hot and
humid months here in La Paz. I found myself floating in the pool at midnight!

The ChiliPad is a bed cooling (or heating) system that has been a God send for
me. Soft, latex tubing placed within a quilted, fitted mattress cover
circulates cool water over the bed surface, getting down to 61 degrees (the
coolest that I have been able to get here). There is a little, quiet machine
that has a well for water and can be set for whatever temp you would like, and
cools and circulates the water keeping the surface temp of your bed fresh and
amazingly comfortable. So far this year, I have yet to need my AC at night! I
turn on this little machine a couple of hours before I go to bed, using ceiling
fans and open windows, most nights I pull up a light blanket as the coolness of
the bed is just terrific for keeping me comfortable.
My eletric bill for May & June was $800 pesos less than last year.
Cannot wait to see what is will be for the next 3 months as we all know it is
the most expensive time of the year to live here.

Here is a website that you can look up this product and read for yourself. They
have all sizes, dual controls, etc.
This has been one of the best investments EVER!
http://www.chilitechnology.com/
You can Google it too and find other companies that carry the Chili Pad.
Sweet dreams!
jg

these are heat or cool starting at $400.00 to dual side at $650.00

http://www.chilitechnology.com/products.php

ChiliPadTM technology uses water instead of air to generate a wide range of in-bed temperature adjustment. Similar to the semi-conductor technology that cools your computer, water passes by the chip and depending on the direction of electron flow the water is cooled or heated. The water flows through soft coils in the mattress pad actively adjusting the temperature of the surface. There is nothing but water flowing through the mattress pad; all temperature change happens in the control unit placed conveniently under the bed. Using advances in semiconductor technology the temperature can change from 46oF to 118oF, at a fraction of the cost of air-conditioning. The result is the effect of a cool or warm bed throughout a night's sleep. The motor is virtually silent (under 20 dBa) and has been designed to fit under a standard bed frame. It is controlled in one degree increments with a hand held remote. The benefits of a cooler night's sleep are medically proven to increase the amount of REM sleep during the night. This is a revolution in sleep!"

http://www.japantrendshop.com/coolingheating-shiki-bed-pad-p-1236.html


http://www.evening-breeze.com/fourposter

As a coincidence because I could not find such a product above at the end of this month july 2010, someone is bringing down for me control temperature sensors ($15.00) that can switch power on/off by cool temperature. The controls on waterbeds only switch on heat, so they could not be used. I am modifying my waterbed to have coils ($25.00) of copper in or under it that will carry cooled water.

For cooling the water I modified dehumidifier (picked it up used cheap ($40.00) , a dehumidifier is a AC and heater in one, that you can separate. much more energy efficient than the electronic cooler technology in the bed system, but not critically important differential in a small application here). The dehumidifier will keep water cold in a insulated cooler that pumps ($25.00)the water though the copper tubes in or under the water-bed. I will insulate the bottom and sides of my waterbed, then set my system to turn on automatically several hours before I hit the sack... my project cost is about $120.00 to have a nice cool waterbed. I will post my energy use as I have a kilowatt use energy meter for single items and take daily energy readings of my CFE meter.

my guess is that energy pad will be more energy efficient because of the mass of water I have to cool. as far as which is more comfortable maybe we will have to do some testing?


I will comment on how well it does soon...
update,
it worked great for cutting the electric bill, did not need AC at night... probably saved me on the upper tier of the rates 1 dollar a day for two months, i was not here for the third month. and my bill is not that high because I do not have concrete walls where I sleep.

the negatives were it was a bit cold to get into initially and I had the temperture so low it was hitting the dew point so my sheets would be damp in the morning. I will try again this year 2011 but will have it on my roof where the sheets will dry out every day.

Now, after wearing your air-conditioned clothes, you can come home from a hot day and sleep peacefully on your Air-conditioned Bed from Kuchofuku. Using extremely quiet dual-fans at the foot of the bed, cool air is pulled in from behind your head and circulated through the soft membrane which also acts as an air-cushion to support you. Best of all, this cooling bed uses extremely low power, costing only $.24 per month if used eight hours a day!

http://www.japantrendshop.com/air-conditioned-bed-mat-soyo-p-1174.html

http://www.japantrendshop.com/kuchofuku-air-conditioned-bed-p-140.html

this summer I used a cot and put a fan underneath it and a fan on top of me and it worked great.    I was never muggy and never was damp/clamy with moisture.       The below cot would work much better because it has continuous venting, the one i used was closed fabric, but it apparently wicked.      

http://www.rei.com/product/767749/camp-time-roll-a-cot-wide



http://www.camptime.net/roll-a-cot.htm
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___41195

I own one of these now jan 2012 and it is perfect in theory, will test it out this summer.

updated;;;;   this one is spectacular...   just have a fan under you and one above and no AC is needed.   very high quality cot also...

http://www.japantrendshop.com/air-conditioned-bed-mat-soyo-p-1174.html?a_aid=kx13689
The side meshing will absorb all the outside air into the mat, while you can control the settings by simple buttons next to the fan. The soft cushion and size are also very comfortable, and should fit most people and most beds. All the heat from your body and the room will be sucked into the Soyo mat and then extracted by the fan, meaning a cooler person on top!

The Air Conditioned Bed Mat Soyo features:

Size: about 965 x 925 x 76mm (38 x 36.4 x 3″)
Materials: polyester 100% (front); polyester 85%, cotton 15% (back); polyester 67%, cotton 33% (cover)
Weight: about 1.6kg (56.4 oz)
Cord length: about 1.8m (5.9″)
Power: DC12V, maximum 2W
Adapter: AC100V (50-60Hz)
Settings: strong, medium, weak
Alternating mode also available
Time: 6, 8 or 10 hours
Includes: AC adapter, cover
Instructions: Japanese

this is amazing. my fridge which is an energy star one uses about three times that.

http://www.gizmag.com/panasonic-most-energy-efficient-refrigerator/23949/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=6fbbeef168-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email

Appearing at IFA, Panasonic has unveiled a brand new refrigerator which the company states is the first-ever A+++rated two-door refrigerator – making it the most energy-efficient two-door fridge, worldwide. Named the NR-B55VE1, it consumes 262 kWh/year of electricity, which by our reckoning amounts to a mean power consumption of 30 W. Gizmag was on hand to take a look.

Despite its green credentials, the NR-B55VE1 still offers features which one may associate with an energy-guzzling refrigerator, such as Panasonic's patented "Vitamin-Safe" technology, which is designed to store fruit and vegetables in isolation from the rest of the fridge contents in order to keep them fresh. In addition to its own high-humidity environment, the Vitamin-Safe compartment makes use of twin flashing LEDs intended to activate the natural protective mechanisms of fruit and vegetables, and keep the natural vitamins locked in.

The NR-B55VE1 also features a door alarm, child lock, a holiday function and Panasonic's "Super Freeze" feature, which cools food placed into the freezer compartment very rapidly. In addition, the NR-B55VE1 is said to run “at a whisper” – or 38 dB, to be precise.

The black model pictured is at present a concept model only, though the NR-B55VE1 will be available in grey from November. Its price has yet to be confirmed.

http://www.gizmag.com/al-bahar-towers/26139/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=fe564234cb-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email

Glass-skinned steel-frame skyscrapers have many advantages. They're relatively quick, inexpensive and easy to build and require comparatively few materials. But they pose problems; heat not least among them. Buildings with fully glazed facades are essentially greenhouses, so when the sun comes out, they can get uncomfortably hot. The problem that is more acute in hot climates like that of the United Arab Emirates, where, despite this fact, the appetite for glassy high-rise continues to be voracious. For its design of Al Bahr Towers in Abu Dhabi, Aedas has developed a unique intelligent skin, inspired by the traditional Arabic mashrabiya, that it claims reduces interior heat gains caused by sunlight by around 50 percent.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Window_Film/Solutions/Markets-Products/Residential/Sun_Control_Window_Films/Prestige_Series/

Clearly superior. Designed to maintain the appearance of your home, Prestige Series films combine lower than glass reflectivity with film options that allow most of the light into your home. Prestige Series films allow 40% to 70% of the natural light into your home. The only thing you'll see day or night, inside or out, is a beautiful window.
Solar heat comes from two primary sources, the visible light you can see and the infrared light you can feel. Prestige Series window films use non-metallized, multi-layer optical film and nano-technology to reject up to 97% of the sun's infrared light and reject up to 60% of the heat coming through your windows. These films also reject up to 99.9% of damaging UV rays to reduce fading of your furnishings. These industry-leading, spectrally-selective films are designed to keep you cool, comfortable and protected.


http://www.eshield.net/window-film.html

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Gila-3-ft-x-15-ft-Energy-Saving-Low-Reflective-Window-Film-10386586/203808910#.UceEIfnVB8E

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Gila-Energy-Saving-Platinum-Window-Film-48-x-15/21641292?findingMethod=rr

http://www.lowes.com/SearchCatalogDisplay?Ntt=solar+reflective+window+film&langId=-1&storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&N=0#!

http://www.brookstone.com/bed-fan-with-wireless-remote

bed fan

http://octaspring.co.uk/memory-spring-mattress-toppers/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuVgBDeSG08&feature=c4-overview&playnext=1&list=TL8LkeUvfg34I



Octaspring Mattress Topper Collection
Even if you’re not quite ready for a new mattress you can transform an ordinary bed to give you the extra comfort and support of Octaspring.
Using the same breakthrough technology in our Octaspring mattress toppers, each individual Octaspring works independently and collectively to support the body in the perfect state, for smooth blood circulation, relaxation of muscles and spine alignment no matter how lumpy the bed you put it on is.
Innovative Ventilation
Without adequate ventilation traditional toppers get hot, causing you to perspire. This heat and humidity disturbs your sleep. Octaspring Toppers have our open sided 3D air mesh sides which allow constant airflow keeping you cool and comfortable all night.

http://www.sitnsleep.com/mattresses/octaspring

[url=http://www.sleepnumber.com/eng/sleepnumber/dualtemp.cfm?cm_mmc=MSN-_-Dual+Temp+Desktop+Brand-_-sleep number dual temp-_-904778&tag=904778]http://www.sleepnumber.com/eng/sleepnumber/dualtemp.cfm?cm_mmc=MSN-_-Dual+Temp+Desktop+Brand-_-sleep%20number%20dual%20temp-_-904778&tag=904778[/url]

First we individualized your comfort with the SLEEP NUMBER^® bed and DualAir^™technology. Now we’re personalizing your temperature with the SLEEP NUMBER^®DualTemp^™ layer—an extraordinary temperature balancing layer that can be added to any bed. It features active air technology that heats or cools each side and allows you to select your ideal temperature at the simple touch of a button. So you can both have your sleep experience exactly the way you like.
DualTemp^™ Layer

• Dual-sided so each of you can set your ideal temperature
  
• Choose from cool to warm at the touch of a button
  
• Evenly distributes temperature for head-to-toe comfort
  
• Breathable comfort layer softly cushions every curve
  
• Timer allows for automatic shutoff in one to nine hours
  
• Three-year limited warranty offers peace of mind
  

$1,000.00 to $2,000.00 for king