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" Q: If I have a 100-watt bulb controlled by a dimmer switch, will I use less electricity if the switch is at a lower setting? If so, that would imply that the switch would pay for itself, eventually. Is that true? A: Yes, modern electronic dimmers save energy. Furthermore, a dimmer that&amp;#039;s used to control a frequently used light will almost certainly pay its own way. Dimmer switches save energy by switching the light on and off 120 times per second, which reduces the energy moving through the circuit. The longer the switch is off, the lower the light output and the greater the energy savings. To accomplish this, the switch uses a semiconductor device called a triac (triode alternating-current switch). Buy the best quality dimmer switch that you can find (usually in the $25 to $40 range). These switches are more durable and energy efficient than inexpensive dimmers, and their electronic circuitry eliminates radiofrequency interference that can occur when a dimmer is used on the same circuit with electronics such as an AM radio. Although switches are comparatively simple devices, there&amp;#039;s more to dimmer switches than meets the eye, says Al Lombardi, director of engineering for Leviton Integrated Networks and Controls, who provided a few pointers for us. First, match the dimmer&amp;#039;s wattage rating to the load. For example, control no more than 600 watts of lighting with a 600-watt dimmer. The exception is when you &amp;quot;derate&amp;quot; the switch (restricting its use to less than its full wattage). Derating is necessary when you need to break off a dimmer&amp;#039;s cooling fin in order to fit the switch in a box with other dimmers. Without the extra cooling surface area, and in proximity to the other dimmers, the switch operates at a high temperature and cannot be used at its full wattage rating. Consult the manufacturer for derating instructions. Next, match the dimmer to the type of load, such as incandescent or low-voltage lighting. Also, don&amp;#039;t use a dimmer switch to control a ceiling fan. Use a fan motor control or choose a dimmer/motor control combination device. And never use a dimmer to control power to an outlet or on a circuit with a shared neutral (the grounded conductor). We live in a time when companies are swept easily into the economic trash can, either by market forces or yet another accounting scandal. If not that, they pack off their manufacturing for distant shores. Credit is due, then, to that hardy band of manufacturers that have decided to stay in the United States--especially those that thrive in this difficult environment. Channellock, the family-owned pliers and hand tool manufacturer, celebrates its 120th anniversary this year, and don&amp;#039;t think for a minute that the company is resting on its tool-steel laurels (www.channellock.com). Its recently introduced Code Blue line consists of eight pliers sold on the Web and through professional tool dealers ($18 to $30). Each tool is still made in Meadville, Pa. I tested the line&amp;#039;s high-leverage linemen&amp;#039;s model against my old faithful Channellock Model 348. The Code Blue pliers are more comfortable, and just as effective as my old pair. They are also--dare I say it--pretty cool-looking. --Roy Berendsohn Hit the Shower Q:  I own a &amp;#039;50s-era house that has a bathtub but no shower. The tub has a window above it. I would like to install a shower in the tub and keep the window for light and ventilation. What am I up against? A: Assuming the tub stays right where it is, you&amp;#039;ve probably got a straightforward remodeling job ahead of you that involves a moderate amount of plumbing to install piping and a diverter valve. The valve will supply and control the water flow to the shower head. You&amp;#039;ll also have some tile work, especially if the tub has no more than a row or two of tiles above it--not an unlikely scenario in homes built in the 1950s. Also, I&amp;#039;d advise you to protect the window from the shower spray by surrounding it with a curtain. A more pressing concern is ventilation. Showering releases a tremendous amount of moisture vapor into the air very rapidly, so you should consider installing a bath fan to remove this moisture to the outside of the house.  Solar Heat Gain Q:  I have a large space below my elevated 16 x 16-ft. sunroom that I want to enclose in glass to capture, store and distribute solar heat into my home. I am looking for technical advice, as well as information on grants or loans for this. A: A Web site that will be very helpful to you is findsolar.com. It has a solar estimator, information on finding a solar contracting professional and links related to solar energy. Frequently asked questions are in another section, which links to renewable-energy programs and governmental incentives. The Web site of the American Solar Energy Society, ases.org, is also a good source of information. Before you begin, be aware that when you use a large glass-enclosed area for solar heating, you must also provide a low-energy means to expel the heat from the enclosed area in the summer (or shade it). Otherwise, the cost to cool the house in the summer may offset any gains you receive in winter heating. David Aker Chalfont, PA After reading a recent letter and PM&amp;#039;s response on cleaning soap scum from a shower enclosure, David Aker wrote to tell us about his experience using Gel-Gloss, a product that cleans and leaves a protective film. &amp;quot;Our enclosure was looking pretty dim, but a recommendation to use Gel-Gloss [trindustries.com] was what the doctor ordered. It restored the enclosure to a glistening finish.&amp;quot;  Vanessa Godson  Los Angeles, CA In a recent Now You Know, we advised readers to cover a paint tray using a plastic bag that can be disposed of easily. Vanessa Godson added this last step: &amp;quot;After you pull the bag off the paint tray, you can then knot it at the top. Poke a hole in the bag&amp;#039;s bottom, then just as you would decorate a cake, you can cleanly squeeze the extra paint back in the can without any mess at all.&amp;quot;  Sealing Grout Q:  After I have set grout on the tile floor for the bathroom in my basement, do I really need a sealer? A: Whether you need sealer depends on the grout you are using. Epoxy-based grout doesn&amp;#039;t need a sealer because it absorbs very little water. However, you should seal cement-based grout because it is more absorbent. Check with the grout manufacturer to find out which sealer it recommends and at what intervals the sealer should be reapplied. Given the choice between a less expensive sealer that needs frequent application and a more expensive product that lasts longer, I would choose the longer-lasting one. Prior to applying a sealer, it&amp;#039;s good practice to test it on an inconspicuous area. I&amp;#039;ve seen sealers dramatically change the grout color.  Handle Droops Q:  I replaced the cartridge in my Moen kitchen faucet last week, but now when I turn on the water, the handle slowly falls back down and shuts off the water. Any suggestions? A: I spoke with Moen&amp;#039;s tech service team about your problem, and they said that the silicone lubrication used on the parts during manufacturing is probably the culprit. The lubrication and the handle&amp;#039;s weight can cause the self-closing problem you describe. You can correct this by wiping the excess silicone lubricant from the center stem of the cartridge or by adding a washer around the stem of the cartridge for extra friction. Take a Learning Vacation By Joe Provey Call them Club Ed. These are schools where you can go on vacation to learn anything from chain saw lumber milling to building a solar energy system to crafting a wooden boat. Sessions run from a few days to three weeks, with typical weekly tuition ranging from $400 to $800. Shelter Institute Woolwich, MEshelterinstitute.com Founded in 1974, the Shelter Institute is the granddad of homebuilding schools. From January through October, it offers courses on post-and-beam construction, home design, small house building, and construction management for homeowners who want to avoid the pitfalls that beset owner-builders.  Solar Living Institute Hopland, CA solarliving.org The Institute offers year-round workshops on topics ranging from installing a PV system to processing biodiesel fuel from recycled cooking oil.  Yestermorrow Design/Build School  Warren, VT yestermorrow.org Here you can acquire general woodworking skills or the specifics necessary to build kitchen cabinets. Other courses cover working in steel or stone.  The Heartwood School for the Homebuilding Crafts Washington, MA heartwoodschool.com Set in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains, Heartwood offers courses from April through October. Areas of interest include homebuilding, Western and Japanese timber framing, as well as methods to convert trees into lumber with mills and hand tools. Touchstone Center for Crafts Farmington, PA touchstonecrafts.com  Originally founded to help preserve traditional mountain craft know-how, Touchstone offers training in a wide range of subjects, from fine arts to blacksmithing, stained glass to making a Damascus steel knife.  WoodenBoat School Brooklin, ME woodenboat.com Learn the fundamentals of wooden boatbuilding in two weeks, or take a course on building a Grand Laker guide boat, a skiff, a kayak or a canoe. You bring the requisite hand tools. Sail home with what you make. The school charges you its cost for materials. The Northwest Woodworking Studio Portland, OR northwestwoodworking.com The Studio&amp;#039;s recent offerings included instruction on building projects such as a foyer table with dovetail drawers, a ladder-back or Windsor chair, a tool cabinet, a Shaker wall clock and a guitar. Courses are also offered on specific skills such as finishing and joinery.  Southwest Solaradobe School Bosque, NM adobebuilder.com  This school offers three-day workshops in earth-wall homebuilding processes, using adobe, pressed earth block and rammed earth. Illustration by Flying-Chilli.com "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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