Pete - I've been told before, by mechanics, that you should never use those tire pressure indicators that screw directly onto your tire valves. They've said that they cause your tires to leak slowly. Do you have any information to indicate if the LED ones are any better?

I really appreciate TerraPass having the store, and I am ordering the 'SmartStrip' which turns off electricity to peripherals when power is shut off your computer. (That is a nice convenience since my family is not nearly the eco-crazy folks that I am.)

However, I have to say that the LED pressure indicators concern me. Since they are measuring the pressure rather than just containing it, there is a possibility it could release some pressure and therefore do more harm. There is also the issue that they require batteries, also potentially doing harm. The best environmental choice is to just check your pressure regularly since you have to do that regardless of having this.

LED bulbs are a great idea, but I can understand people not using them yet. We have four LED bulbs in our house, and they can only be used in locations where very low light is acceptable (which, frankly, is rare considering people put in bulbs for light). It also gives a blue light instead of a yellow one, and after decades of being used to yellow light, most people have trouble accepting the new color.

To take this a bit off topic .. We swapped out all of our Christmas lights for 'white' LED mini lights this year which use considerably less energy, however I must admit that it is not for everyone. It gives our home a blue tint which screams LED bulbs, and looks more appropriate for an elf home in Lord of the Rings than a Christmas display. (Not that yellow white is somehow Christmas-like, but we are all used to it.) I would recommend sticking with multi-color LED's for Christmas displays for this reason.

While apparently a good idea, how much more effort is involved in actually sticking a tyre pressure gauge on the valve and checking the *real* pressure? None. You're already on your knees swapping out the cap for the LED one, and you wouldn't want to leave an LED one on the cap as someone will steal it. I doubt it would cause a slow leak but really, this is "energy saving" for the very, very, lazy or those incapable of using a simple pressure gauge.

And it's all very well registering a 4PSI drop, but unless you know what your tyre pressure is supposed to be and what it is before you put the LED cap on, it's all rather moot.

This one deserves to be left on the shelves of the Chinese manufacturer. Save the money a buy a real gauge instead. You'll thank yourself when that blowout *doesn't* occur. ;-)

I've bought two LED lightbulbs for my home. I can say that they are not super bright, but are bright enought to light your hallway or entrance way so that you can find what your looking for without it being too bright. You're not going to be able to use them to light the whole room. The bulbs aren't great for lighting anything near dusk, they work best when it is dark. Also like CFLs they can't be dimmed. I paid about $30 for a 36 led dome (approximately 36w bulb)

There are some drawbacks to them, but if you use them for the right things, they really are great! I find CFL are too bright for my hallway late at night and the LED bulb is perfect. Also great for creating mood lighting without having to hang a scarf over a lamp. Since they last so long, you can install them and forget about them. I specifically like them because I live in a building with high ceilings and the convience of not having to change the lightbulb in my hight ceilings is fantastic.

If LED-based bulbs burn cold, why do they have that massive heat-sink/radiator fin array on them?

Dimmable CFLs are available---make SURE it says so on package to avoid fire hazard.

Chad,

LEDs work similar to computers, where cold temperatures are better. The LED diode junction needs to have as little heat as possible, thus the massive heatsink array. You find that most LED general illumination replacement bulbs have huge heatsinks. These are necessary, but waste a lot of material and do not provide 360 degree illumination you get from a normal light bulb.

Honestly, there are currently no decent LED bulbs that provide general illumination that you find with CFLs. However, you can replace track bulbs and flood lights with LEDs (MR16, GU, and PAR38), as they produce adequate light and are more efficient than halogens. Wait a few years before buying LED bulbs like the one pictured above.

I got under-counter LED strip-lights for my kitchen from a company named Pro-lume. The lights are fabulous. I had to get samples from them and then pick the color, as fixtures are usually mixes of colors. I picked one that was quite yellow. They then make the strips to order. It is, however, not true that they are stone-cold. I don't understand what the glitch is, but the strips do get hot.

What did you use to calculate the 5,700 hour break even point? If you replace a CFL or an incandescent bulb?

re: tire pressure, since you have to get the tire to the "correct" pressure before installing, it seems a bit daft. Just get a basic gauge, check out http://www.4greentires.org for a FREE one! (I got mine and am going to pass-along-the-gift shortly). Also for $35 you could get A LOT of nitrogen fills at your local tire shop.

I put a few LED bulbs in the bathroom. They are working out great. This is an odd curiousity, however. When I turn off the light swith they still emit light like a night light. Not just for a little while but consistently the same and they don't quit. Is my electricity leaking and these are so efficient they can use what is still in the line when off?

Thanks.