Save Money on Air Conditioning Costs

Many people don't realize that their cooling system is one of the biggest energy guzzlers in their home (second only to their heating system, depending on where their live). If you have an old air conditioning system with a SEER rating of less than 8, it may be worthwhile to consider replacing it with a more energy efficient system. Generally speaking you should be able to recoup the cost in just a few years.

So what exactly is SEER? SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and is a measure of the cooling efficiency of your air conditioner or heat pump. The higher the SEER number, the more efficient the system is at converting electricity into cooling power.

Matching your AC unit size to your needs is important, too. An air conditioning unit that is too big for the room will work harder and cost you more.

It's also important to remember that because your AC unit can be such an energy guzzler reducing your AC bill helps more then just you and your checking account - it also helps the environment. When the average US household uses 9,000 killowatt hours a year any reduction in power usage helps the environment. Consider this - generating 9,000 killowatt hours of electricity generates as much pollution as driving 13,392 miles in a car.

Here are some more fast, free and easy ways to lower your air conditioning bill.

• Close drapes on the sunny side of your house.
• Close off rooms that you aren't using and the cooling ducts to those rooms.
• Turn off lights when not in use - because lights produce heat they make your air conditioning system work harder (and cost more).
• Turn off your computer and other home office equipment - because they generate heat as well.

If you can afford to invest a little money into your AC existing system you have a few more options. You can:

• Install a programmable thermostat (preferably one that offers zone control)
• Check and replace your filters regularly, a dirty filter can actually cost be costing you money each month.
• Install aftermarket energy saving devices such as a Cool-N-Save(tm)

Remember because your AC unit has the potential to draw so much electricity by maintaining and optimizing your current system you can reap substantial financial benefits.

Sam Greyhawk is an energy efficiency evangelist who works for Cool-N-Save(tm), an Energy Star Partner, in Huntington Beach, California. The Cool-N-Save can save you up to 30% each month on your AC electric bill.

The Solar Controller As an Integral Part of Your Solar Energy System

In this modern era of high energy costs and serious environmental concerns relating to the depletion of natural resources and the advent of global warming, incorporating a solar energy system into your home, office, or construction project can be a great way to save money and do your part to help save the planet at the same time.

While setting up a solar energy system may seem a bit daunting at the outset, a basic understanding of necessary components along with an attention to quality parts will make preparation and installation a breeze.

The most prominent piece of a solar energy system are the solar panels themselves, but these panels require a number of accessories to translate into energy efficiency and savings, as well as a working system.

One of the main components of a solar energy system is the controller, which acts as a liaison device between the panels and the battery bank that stores produced energy for practical use.

In times of excessive sunlight, the energy produced by the panels may exceed the storage capacity of your battery bank; with a direct connection, the batteries can become overloaded, leading to a number of safety concerns in addition to causing battery failure. A solar controller acts as a preventative device in this instance, regulating the amount of energy allowed to pass between the panels and the waiting batteries.

But a solar controller is more than a simple preventative measure in case of overcharge; it is also capable of increasing or decreasing the system voltage as needed, and can automatically reset in the event of a short circuit, improving the overall efficiency of your solar system while ensuring the integrity of your battery bank.

A solar controller carries the additional benefit of acting as an indicator of the overall health and efficiency of your solar energy system. Modern solar controllers can be purchased with an array of readouts and associated options, from digital output windows to special LED light indicators to audio options that can alert you to any problems, as well as announce fully charged batteries.

Picking a suitable solar controller for your system is largely a matter of personal preference; just make sure you purchase a device with a suitable amp rating according to the wattage of your panels. Whether simple and effective or fully loaded with options, your solar controller will play an important part in the proper functioning of your solar energy system.

Andy Bauer is a tech writer for http://www.westfloridacomponents.com, an internet based retailer of electronic parts and supplies including solar panels and solar controllers.

Electricity Producing Windmills

Are you interested to learn how to build electricity producing windmills to run your home with free energy? More people are seeking alternatives to generating electric power for their homes due to the increasing cost of their electric bills.

By building our own windmills at home, many homeowners like me have been able to cut our power bills significantly by producing our own free electricity. This reduction in monthly expenses has made the initial investment of setting up the system well worth the money.

1. Why Electricity Prices are expected to Get Even Higher in the Near Future

Electricity and oil prices will definitely go up higher in the future as the reserves of these natural resources deplete. Experts forecast that our natural resources like oil, fuel, coal and gas will only be able to last for the next 100 years at most. Coupled with the increasing demand for these resources by expanding countries like India and China, it is highly likely that we will experience an exponential rise in electricity and fuel prices.

2. Download a Step by Step DIY Windmill Building Guide Online

With this guide, I am able to build a few small wind turbines that generate power on their own and help to reduce the amount of electricity the house draws from the grid. These turbines can be constructed with materials that can be bought cheaply or found for free.

Thousands of people like me have already reduced our own home electricity bills with the free energy system. We learned how to build it by downloading a step-by-step guide online. You can find out more about how to build this homemade power system at the website link below.

Do you want to build Electricity Producing Windmills? Download the Best Step-By-Step Home Energy Guides at http://www.renewableenergysystemreview.com first!

The author has managed to reduce his energy bill by more than 80% by building his own renewable home energy system. Check out his website above to find out how to do it!

Saving Money, Simply

We all know how to spend our money, but do we fully understand how to save it? I am not talking about setting aside a reserve for an investment or rainy day purposes both of which are good things rather, saving money on everyday items. Here are some simple ways you can save money:

Clip Coupons. You can save on your shopping excursions by clipping coupons. Some stores will even double or triple manufacturers coupons up to a specified amount [typically, one dollar] as an added incentive to bring you in.

Comparison Shop. The worldwide web gives shoppers the opportunity to compare prices and shop right online for almost any product available. Order online if the item is cheaper than ordering in person. Dont forget to take into consideration shipping, handling, and taxes when ordering via the web, however many online retailers offer free shipping and taxes are not always universally assessed.

Energy Efficient Appliances. Your old refrigerator or washer is an energy eater. When you shop for a new unit, check to make sure that the energy rating is high. Do not, however, pay hundreds of dollars more for a product if only a slightly higher energy rating is promised. Learn which models produce the highest possible energy rating for the money.

Get Free Samples. Manufacturers enjoy giving away samples of their products. Sometimes all it takes is a letter or an email to the appropriate department and your freebie will arrive in the mail in the form of merchandise or as a coupon allowing you to purchase the item locally for free.

Shop The Clubs. Warehouse clubs such as BJs, Sams Club, and Costco offer savings that shave 10-30% off of supermarket prices. Many take coupons too!

Sssh! Go To The Library. The big book retailers offer a wide selection of books to their customers. However, you may be able to find that same title at your free public library. If not, ask a librarian if she would order the book for you. A free book is better than the $30 you would have paid for a bestseller, plus latte!

Use it Again; Recycle. Maybe the item you are tossing can be used again. If you definitely have no use for it, sell it at a garage sale [or online via an auction site] and keep the earnings. In any case, you are contributing to a clean environment by not adding to already overcrowded landfills.

There are many other ways for you to save even beyond those that I have mentioned. All it takes is a little bit of imagination and some initiative and you will soon find yourself saving money on in ways you previously did not think of.

Copyright 2005 -- Matthew Keegan is The Article Writer who writes on a variety of topics including: advocacy, automobiles, aviation, business, Christian themes, family, news, product reviews, travel, writing, and more. Samples from his portfolio are available right online.

Kit Homes and Energy Efficiency

The energy potency of kit homes surpasses that of lots of other houses. You'll adore what that implies for you as a householder. You may enjoy energy savings whilst living in a home with healthy quality indoor air. The cash you save on energy costs may be employed for other needs or those tiny extras that make life more fun.

Health Benefits of energy efficient kit homes:

It has been reckoned that roughly folks spend ninety percent of their time inside. Manifestly we all care about the standard of air we breathe. You could be stunned to find out that contaminants can be 2 to 5 times higher within a home than outside. Bacteria and mold expansion could be a problem in houses that are no longer correctly ventilated, sealed, and insulated.

That fact raises plenty of health worries, particularly when considering children and the old or disease prone people. Some of the basic methods to achieve the very best quality of indoor air is through using the following :

Insulation - Correctly installed air and moisture barriers

Heating and cooling systems - Correctly sized and maintained

Studies have shown that a scarcity of attention to such details can cause allergies, asthma, seasonal affective disorder, and even some kinds of cancer. That's never a worry with an energy efficient kit home.

Breathing better air adds to the comfort you may enjoy in your house and it can offer health benefits. In addition, you will find that energy potency means saving money. The walls of the houses get R1.5 Batts standard and the ceilings receive R2.5 Batts standard insulation. The purchaser also has the choice of upgrading insulation to meet BASIX needs.

Another option available is that of adding insulation under the floor. Thermofoil sarking insulation is employed on the roof. The insulation mixed with the sealing of air leaks results in a highly quiet home and energy efficient home.

Filters should be cleaned and modified according to manufacturer's suggestions. Some heating systems may only need to have the filter modified annually and others may require more frequent changes. It is usually a good concept to test the system before the 1st use of the season.

You will enjoy the rewards of the energy potency of kit homes. You may breathe quality air that results in better health and comfort, and you will save cash. Energy potency is an excellent way to be kind to the environment whilst helping yourself.

The energy efficiency of kit homes surpasses that of many other homes. The sunshine coast Queensland builder offers a wide variety of energy efficient kit homes at very reasonable prices. Please visit the author's web site to learn more about kit homes and how you can own one and start saving money today.

Vat Thilek is an accomplished researcher and writer on kit homes and log houses.

Micro Wind Turbines For Cities

When discussions of renewable energy are undertaken, the focus is often on large scale projects. In truth, the answer may be platforms developed for a more local application.

When renewable energy is discussed, most people picture large structures. With solar, it is a valley full of solar panels glittering in the sun. With wind power, most think of large turbines gracefully twirling in the wind as they sit in valleys or up on hills. As more money is put into renewable energy research, the research results are producing an entirely new spectrum of devices.

With wind power, one of the issues is finding optimal places for placing turbines. Monetarily, this can be problematic. The best wind locations are often located smack dab in the middle of developed areas. Even for areas that are available, the cost of setting up transmission lines for the resulting energy can be obscene. Given this catch-22 situation, many have started working outside the box on wind power platforms.

Oregon State University and AeroVironment, Inc, have come up with a unique solution for the wind power problem. Their idea is to abandon the wind farm idea completely. Instead, they are looking to applications that can be used on a per structure basis. In this case, the solution is micro wind turbines.

Micro wind turbines are essentially wind turbines on a scale of a couple of feet in height instead of thirty or forty feet. The idea is to place the turbines on the roofs of buildings to capture the wind that is often found rushing over the edge of roofs. The turbines are designed to be modular, meaning they can be added to the roof on an as needed basis. This is accomplished by using a track system similar to lighting in a home as the base for the turbines. Depending on the energy needs of the structure, one, ten or 100 turbines can be installed.

Admittedly, a row of little wind turbines may look a bit odd on your average office building. On industrial buildings and warehouses, however, the structures would make little or no difference to the appearance. Heck, they would probably be an improvement. More importantly, the turbines would represent energy independence for many of the businesses using the buildings. Unlike solar, the turbines would generate power during both the day and night, meaning power could be stored in batteries or the utility grid at night to cover high energy use periods during the day.

Micro wind turbines may or may not become part of the solution to the energy issues before us. What is clear, however, is talented people are starting to focus on the subject and come up with innovative solutions.

Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com - providing daily energy saving tips.

Two Ways to Save Water in an Energy Efficient Home

Many times we think of energy only as heating and cooling systems or providing electricity to our homes for televisions and other appliances.We fail to understand how much energy it takes to run other systems in the home.

For instance, a great deal of energy is required to deliver and treat the water we use every day in our homes.How much?According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the amount of energy it takes to treat and supply the water we use every day is equivalent to the electricity needed t power more than 5 million homes for a year! With 23 states currently experiencing drought conditions and water shortages, water management is a responsible action to take, especially when you're planning to build a green home. Two money and energy-saving strategies which can be easily incorporated into an energy efficient home design are:

1. Reduce overall water usagein the home by specifying low-flow water fixtures, low-flush or composting toilets, installing aerators on all taps, and installing low-flow showerhead nozzles.

2. Specify a plumbing system that reuses grey water(wastewater from domestic usage such as dish washing, laundry and bathing) for flushing toilets, watering lawns, etc. (note: some grey watersystems require approval by most local building jurisdictions, your architect will verify this prior to design).

By implementing a few simple actions to use water more efficiently, the average homeowner can reduce their water and sewer bills by one third, a significant savings!According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, "If all U.S. households installed water-efficient appliances, the country would save more than 3 trillion gallons of water and more than $18 billion dollars per year."

It's easy to incorporate energy efficiency in your home design.Start by talking to a greenarchitect about your goals and ask questions about what strategies will work for your climate, budget, and home design.

About the Author: Jeremy Bonin, AIA NCARB LEED AP, a principal partner of Bonin Architects & Associates, is an award-winning green architect and the author of TIMBER FRAMES: Designing Your Custom Home. With a special interest in sustainable design and green homes, structural insulated panels (SIPs), as well as timber frame construction, Jeremy incorporates renewable energy practices where possible, including geo-thermal, solar, radiant heat, and energy-efficient foundation systems.

How to Build a Windmill to Get a Free Electricity Supply For Life

Windmill is the simplest device to build and has been in use since a long time. It is a device to harness the wind power in an easy way. It's basically a construction consisting of three blades, which are rotated by the wind energy. This rotation is used to turn the turbines to produce electricity or like in the older days to grind grains or many other things.

In the modern times, windmills are constructed with high tech materials like special alloys or some other light weight materials. A basic windmill is the one, which was used in the olden times with the simplest tools and the basic materials. We would be building a kind of windmill similar to this model. Consider the following steps to build a windmill.

First step into building a windmill is to maximize the conversion of the wind energy into mechanical energy. To achieve this make the windmill as tall as possible. This gives the maximum utilization of the wind energy. Have the blades of the windmill in such a way that the blades rotate easily and have the least amount of resistance.

The windmill has to have the following concepts: a base, tower, wind blades and a gear box for easy movement of the blades. The blades of the windmill are similar to that of the aero planes. You can get this from some specific shops or you can construct them using light weight wood or plastics. The size of these depends on the tower size. For the most basic design of 5 feet tall windmill the blade length can be up to 3 feet.

The base of the windmill should be very strong and heavy compared to other parts. It can be made of concrete, sandbag etc. For the height of 5 feet, the base can be of 20 pounds. A PVC pipe can be used to construct the body of the tower. The size 2x4 should be enough for the height 3 feet. Other materials can also be used. A simple shaft can be used to connect the blades enabling them to spin. Honestly, these windmills are cheap and easy to build.

So if you would like to learn how to build a windmill and generate free electricity for your house, then click here to get professional instructions and get started as soon as possible.

Focus on Green Homes - Grey Water Recapture Systems

What is 'grey water' and why should it be captured? Wouldn't that be unsafe? What are the benefits? This article will try to answer these questions in our first of several "Focus on Green Homes" articles. First, grey water is not actually grey-colored. After being filtered it looks just like regular water. However, it is not potable and should never be used as such.

There are basically two types of grey water recapture systems. 'In the Home' grey water is water from your sink, shower, and laundry that has been filtered and reused. 'Outside the Home' is run-off water from your gutters/ground that has been saved and used. Each one will be described more fully below.

In the Home - Grey water in the home is from your sink, your shower, and your laundry. Under certain conditions and with the right equipment, this water can be used again for things like flushing your toilet. Grey water usage may sound a little strange and at first glance appear disgusting, but with the proper equipment and filtering, non-potable water can be used again.

The grey water usage provides a recycling method that can greatly reduce your water bill and your community's need for expensive giant waste treatment plants. It is estimated that grey water usage can reduce your water bill by up to 60%. Just imagine the reduction if every home in town recycled their grey water.

Outside the Home - Grey water outside the house is comes from storm run-off. This is the water that runs off your roof and ground into the storm sewer and usually runs into a river or drainage pond. This is wasteful. Grey water recapture saves the water so that it can put to much better use. Have you ever noticed that your plants, flowers, and grass look much better after a rain storm than they do after you have watered them with city water? This is because city water is treated for human consumption and no longer contains the minerals and nutrients required by your lawn and flowers. The run-off is saved on your premises and is available for your personal use anytime.

Using run-off water relieves the stress on city services. Have you ever been subject city restrictions on when and for how long you can water your lawn? These restrictions are necessary because watering your lawn with city sources stresses the city's supply. If you've saved your run-off, your actions can alleviate the stress on the system. Simply by capturing the rainwater running out of your gutters or across your property in a rain storm and storing it for later use, you've conserved water while saving money and resources.

Kim Ward is Marketing Director for Green Earth Energy Homes at http://greenearthenergyhomes.com

Green Earth Energy Homes offer affordable, practical, LEED and Energy Star certified homes. Save thousands on energy costs and qualify for thousands in government tax incentives and benefits. Contact Kim for more information about our green homes or to view our model.

Home Made Wind Mill - Harness the Wind to Create Electricity

Wind power is not quite a mainstream energy source yet, at least in the U.S., but it is for some a viable way to power their homes. It can be expensive to buy a wind power system, so some who have made the choice to use alternative energy sources instead opt for a homemade wind mill instead. Basically, a turbine for wind power is made up of three components.

Rotor
Generator
Tower

This sounds simple enough, but keep in mind that a wind turbine should be built of strong materials which can stand up to the elements for at least five years. This periodic replacement is a great tradeoff when you compare it to the electricity savings of at least 10% over the next five or six years. You might want to talk to someone who has already built their own wind turbine before going ahead and building your own.

You can generate enough energy to power your home with a wind turbine that turns at an average speed of 10 mph. While you may not be able to generate enough power with wind alone to meet all of your electricity needs, you can store surplus electricity in batteries and even sell it back to the utility company in your area. If your home is in a very isolated area, however, wind power and other alternative energy sources may be your only options for generating the electricity you need.

Before you get started, make sure that you have all of the necessary supplies. Here's some of the most important:

Motor
Tower
Blades
Hardware and Wiring
Hub
Rotor
Battery Backup
Tail and Body Assembly

Typically, a wind turbine is built like so: the rotor blades will face into prevailing winds. The wind turns the blades and the kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy. All of this happens in the shaft/motor assembly.

TURBINE > MOTOR > BATTERY > INVERTER

This is the pathway that the energy will follow. There are other elements (such as wiring) that will control the current and turn your meter back when you generate more power than you are using.

1. Once you have all of your materials together, then cut your blades from a round section of pipe - PVC is typically the material of choice, but remember to cut your blades to a uniform size for balance.

2. Typically, windmills rotate on a horizontal axis. This axis will be mounted at the top of your tower. For the sake of balance, the back needs to be longer than the front. Bolting your axis to the tower will keep it from rising up as it is turned by the wind.

3. Your tower needs to be sturdy, but that's the only real requirement. You can use metal pipes, a satellite dish stand or anything else which will be sturdy and stable. Use cement to secure it to the ground.

4. You'll need to wire everything together to make the system functional. Run wires from the motor to a controller for saving energy and then to the battery to hold excess energy. From this point, the wiring continues to the household electrical system via your breaker box.

These are the basics of creating a home made wind mill. If you are a bit handy and can use the tools you probably already own, then you can easily make your own home made wind mill.

To learn more about how a Home Made Wind Mill can significantly reduce your electricity bills while supplying you with unlimited power visit http://www.solarwindenergys.com.

Powering Your Off Grid Home

Admittedly it's one of the big sticking points in everyone's move to living off the grid; however, it really shouldn't be. Powering your off grid home is simpler and cheaper than you think.

We recommend first making your home more energy efficient. This means getting rid of those incandescent light bulbs and replacing them with CFL's (compact fluorescent lights), washing your clothes with cold water, turning down your furnace, as well as many other things. Your electric bill should break down how many KWh (kilowatt hours) you use each month so divide that number by 30 to get how many KWh you use per day. For many people this number is 20-30. By using some very simple energy savings tactics you should be able to get this number down to 10 - 15.

If you're able to get this number down to 10 or 15 KWh per day then your job is already two times easier because you only need half as much energy. For example, to produce 10 KWh you need to produce 1000 watts for 10 hours each day. With a couple solar panels and a wind generator this is simple. In fact you should be able to produce 15 KWh / day with some solar panels and a wind generator.

What about the cost though? Many people tell me that they can't do it because it costs thousands of dollars to set up a renewable energy system. This is something that is quite untrue. If you buy it new it would cost you thousands of dollars, but solar panels and wind generators are simple enough that anyone with some DIY skills can do it themselves.

We were in the same position that you are in right now... only 16 years ago. We wanted to make the switch to living off the grid, but was sure that it was too expensive for us to do. After I did some research though, I found that not only is it simple to build a wind generator or build solar panels- it can be done in a couple weekends.

Our first wind generator that we built was quite crude. We just wanted to see whether we could actually do it. Imagine my relief after we put it up and it started spinning happily away! To this day it still sits there spinning away at the top of the tower.

Our motto is "if we can do it then anyone can".

Nothing is more true than that. We had no knowledge going into this, but it was so much fun that we would do it all over again.

Andrew Oke is very interested in renewable energy. Check out his website at Living Off The Grid.

Things 99.9% of Home Owner Won't Inquire About When Replacing Windows Next Spring

As a customer shopping for windows these are some of the basic feature a you should inquire about before you agree to upgrade.

A knowledgeable window technician should be informing about quality of the material used in the manufacturing of the sashes, frame and hardware. The process of assembling the window should be fusion welded to ensure that the joints never fail during extreme outdoor temperature and burglary.

This is important because lower quality material used in windows, may not withstand the extreme conditions and put you life at risk. The material of choice UPVC windows (Unplastersize Ploy vinyl chloride). This newly developed material more durable, glossy and easily cleaned than regular PVC frames.

The seal of the window should be co-extruded with the frame so it cannot separate fro the frame. For maximum energy saving performance the insulated glass unit must be finished with low-e coating and filled with argon gas.

Some window manufacturer even included a light tint to reduce the UV ray, so be careful not to mix and match when replacing window individual windows. One last thing ask for your incentive once you are ready to purchase you`re entitled to it.

Replacing your existing windows to reduce your energy bill and increase your home comfort and curb appeal is not the only solution for defective window. Depended on the extent of the damage to the window you can either.

Consider this when you have professionally installed high quality insulated glazed units windows you can enjoy the benefits of

lower energy bills

Less or no cold drafts

Reduction in sound transfer for outdoors to indoors

High value (equity)

Enhance appearance and curb appeal

Bragging rights.

Government grants, rebates and tax credits.

As a customer seeking window you should expect to upgrade from your existing hydo sucking frames to more energy efficient replacement windows that are attactive and adds to the appearence of your home plus within a resonable budget. Don't settle, click here and fill in your name and email to book a free professional no obligation estimate and presentation, so you can make an informed decision on your new UPVC replacement windows for maximum energy saving.

Green Bathroom Remodeling

Green bathroom remodeling advantage that is most talked about is that it saves energy and water resources. It also takes advantage of recycled or refinished materials. Bathroom remodeling makes property attractive to homeowners, hotels or motels, apartments or any other person that has bathrooms that need to be updated. This is especially important in a sluggish economy where prospective property buyers are looking for properties that have energy and water efficient fixtures already installed.

Home improvement adds value to any property. And that is why realtors who know the advantages of remodeling are educating those they are helping in selling their properties that potential home or property buyers are looking for energy efficient fixtures and appliances. Realtors who understand and embrace the this knowledge are using it to sell four times more houses than their competitors.

Bathroom remodeling in combination with refinishing involves the consideration of many factors before the home renovation starts. Whether your motivation is environmental responsibility, or saving money, bathroom remodeling would make you feel satisfied. Your bathroom, is your place of solitude, health, hygiene and relaxation.

Many building materials vendors' are selling bathroom remodeling materials that are made of recycled materials like tile; vanities and flooring for example. Recycled fixtures like refinished sinks, and countertops save money and conserve natural resources. Antique claw foot tubs are becoming popular again. Newer tubs are not as good as the originals, therefore, many home owners prefer the old fashion traditional claw foot tubs.

Environmentally sound bathroom remodeling starts with a good consideration of water resources. How is water used? That means that much consideration should be given to how much water is used while flushing the toilet and also how much water your shower heads use. For instance switching from an old standard toilet to a much smaller, dual-flush toilet, alone can reduce your water consumption by 22 percent.

Refinishing, coupled with a good use of environmental assets can save apartment owners and other commercial institutions money on their energy and water bills. It takes quite a good amount of energy to pump water to a purification facility, process it, and pump it to the house. In addition, it takes energy to process the waste coming out of the house. And when you add the energy that is needed to produce hot water, you see that substantial amount of energy is involved.

According to American Water Works Association, toilets consume an average of 20.1 gallons of water per person, per day in a home that doesn't't have water-conserving fixtures. That is a lot of water in a day and close to 30 percent of the water that one person in an average home uses indoors in a day. Therefore for for good savings, consider water-saving fixtures like low-flow toilets. Dual-flush toilets are the way to go.

According to the Federal Energy Management Program, just upgrading from a 3.5 gpf (gallons per flush) toilet to a 1.6 gpf model reduces yearly water use from 27,300 gallons to 12,500 gallons. Another way to reduce water usage and save money is by using low-flow toilets and replacing your bathroom showerheads.

Home renovation offers the opportunity to go from high energy consuming incandescent lighting to lower-energy-consuming fluorescent and halogen lighting. Since saving energy is the goal here, it is a time to add insulation cover openings that loose energy, while avoiding more energy-consuming features like heated floors.

By refinishing, beauties like antique claw foot tubs can be restored to like new condition. Many ceramic tiles may not need to be thrown into the landfills. The colors can even be changed to match your bathroom decor. Remember, not replacement, but refinishing is your best remodeling alternative.

Today, there are varieties of good recycled tile products. There are also materials for your walls and even your bathroom countertop. Use nontoxic grout and caulk.

To achieve the maximum efficiency for your bathroom, make sure that your plumbing supply and waste lines are upgraded. Proper shut-off valves should be installed, while making sure that the hot-water system is running smoothly. With all other considerations, make sure you have a bathroom remodeling or refinishing budget.

Remodeling a bathroom with durability in view

Bathroom remodeling offers an opportunity to remodel with a long term view since most remodels are done to last a few years. It is estimated that 40% of waste that goes to the landfill sites is from home remodeling, that includes bathroom remodeling. Remodeling bathrooms to last just a few years, adds to the landfills and has a big impact on our environment. As you consider your home improvement, pay attention to how long you want your remodel to last.

Benefits of the green bathroom remodeling

The best environmental benefits of bathroom remodeling are achieved when building materials, lighting, ventilation, are combined with equally environmentally sustainable products. By using products that are not friendly to the environment we cross out the gains we have made in reducing VOC's. The same goes for the products that are used in cleaning.

Wilson Ukah, owns Refinishing Stars, a bathtub refinishing company serving homeowners in Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashville and Knoxville. Refinishing Stars, refinishes bathtubs, sinks, and countertops for hotels and motels nationwide. Wilson can be reached at http://www.refinishingstars.com or sales@refinishingstars.com.

Residential Lighting - Aesthetics & Function For Home Improvement

It has often been said that the right kind of lighting has the potential to raise property values, and in general enhance living spaces and office aesthetics. Thanks to the continuous evolving and revolution of style and function, residential lighting can be beautiful and something to admire while still remaining functional and cost effective. You'll easily find many different styles of residential lights to meet your design needs.

Grow lights on the other hand, are not so much about being pleasing to the eye, as they are more geared towards being a functional form of lighting. A grow light is used to promote growth in a plant by emitting the same electromagnetic spectrum that photosynthesis needs to take place. There are many different types of grow lights available, with each giving off certain colors, spectrums, temperatures and light waves. Grow lighting is desired by those who are interested in growing plants because they give off the same daytime rays, tones and color temperatures that natural sunlight does. You can pick the right grow light for your growing needs by looking over a color rendering index and choosing the appropriate solution.

Then there is commercial lighting. Commercial lighting blends contemporary style with the need to provide appropriate lighting in a functional manner. You'll find commercial lighting in use in just about any non-residential setting you can think of. These settings include stadiums, stores, outdoor arenas and even the streets and roads that are lined with street lights. Commercial lighting solutions are available based on form, function, energy savings and cost effectiveness. Mix and match commercial lighting options for the desired result and attributes.

All of these types of lighting - residential lights, commercial lights, grow lights - can be used as an application to make living more enjoyable and more functional. Without lighting, we'd have a pretty hard time of it once the sun set.

If you would like to shop for these types of lighting, any hardware store or discount retailer will have their own selection of them. But for the greatest overall selection and best prices, look to the internet as your source.

Many websites, such as http://www.accessdiscounts.us - have a large selection of lighting solutions available.

Sam Brown is a personal shopper, avid gardener and home improvement specialist with tips and solutions for residential lighting, Grow lights and commercial lights.

Lower Your Electric Bill

Looking to lower your electric bill and start saving money? Check out the tips below and start saving today. Hopefully all of us can not only save money but also save the environment at the same time!

Did you know that of the total energy consumed in America, about 39% is used to generate electricity. Most of the electricity in the US is generated from fossil fuels.

We can all start making small changes to not only lower our electricity bills, but to also clean up our environment.

Here are tips to help you!

1. Turn of lights! Don't forget about the T.V., computer, and video games. You should also unplug items (such as your microwave & alarm clock) as well, even though they are turned off they are still using energy!

2. Clean or replace your air conditioner filter. This will not only cut cost, your unit will also run more efficiently.

3. Wash your clothes in cold water, and try to wash your clothes at night. Running your dryer during the day will cause your home to warm up, and in return kick you air conditioner on in order to cool it down.

4. Close vents in unused rooms.

5. Use energy efficient light bulbs. This may be an investment in the beginning, however they will save you in the long run.

Following these tips will certainly help you lower your electric bill. We all leave our footprints here are earth long after we are gone. Lets all make a change that will positively affect generations to come.

To learn more about solar energy, and drastically lower your electric bill click here!

http://www.squidoo.com/lowerelectricbill

Tips For a Happy Valentine's Day While Still Saving Money

Tips for guys -girls love sentiment.It's not always the size of the gift but it is always about how much of yourself you have put into the gift. Men sometimes get confused and think that all they have to do to make a woman happy is to buy her a big present ( getting the secretary to buy anything big or small is so very, very inappropriate) and she "should" be happy.Then they wonder why spending all that money on the girl hasn't made her happy. There will always be exceptions to the rules of course, but all the women I know would be much happier with a card containing a poem hand written and composed by the one they love than an expensive bunch of roses.

Remembering her favorite flower, her favorite movie, her favorite song and presenting her with that on Valentines Day will mean more than a box of chocolates.Girls like to know you "made and effort" Try and tailor your gift to suit your special someone.She wants to know that you notice her.Knowing her likes and dislikes shows her that you are important to her. It may sound crazy to a guy that remembering a girl's favorite song makes a difference in the relationship, but it does.Things that we like or are important to us stick in our minds. Things that don't have meaning to us get sent to the trash bin in our minds. So take something that relates particularly to your loved one and weave it into your message of caring on Valentine's Day.

Tips for girls - guys aren't all that big on sentiment Haven't you noticed when you get all misty about something really sentimental they wonder what all the fuss is about?I know I'm not telling you something you don't already know.It's not that they have less heart; it's just that different things are important to guys. So include something sweet for your guy if you think he will appreciate it (my guy appreciates more sentiment than most guys) but focus more on the practical.

Practical things will get your guys attention.Whereas you will enjoy a romantic dinner mainly because it is romantic, he may well enjoy it because the food tastes great. You will remember the restaurant because it was a wonderfully romantic night and he may remember it because it had his favorite drink on the menu or that the prices were reasonable. It doesn't mean he doesn't care, guys are just wired differently to girls.

So the biggest tip to having a happy Valentine's Day is to appreciate where each other is coming from and don't expect them to be different to what they are. Appreciate how each other expresses your feelings and don't get caught up comparing them to anyone else.Appreciation will always make you feel better than disappointment.So when you appreciate the effort your Valentine makes be it big or small, both the giver and the receiver will enjoy the day and who knows what next year will bring.

Here are some Low Cost Valentine's Gift ideas you might like to try:

1. Fill the trunk of his/her car with balloons and big write a love note on the inside.When they open the trunk all the balloons will fly out and they will get a wonderful surprise.
2. Cook him a special dinner at home and give him a token that says - "we are having a special diner tonight and part of your present is that you get to choose what I wear - if anything" This one appeals to his stomach and other things.

Whatever you do make it memorable.

Cheers
Gaynor

Money Saving Tips 4 You is a great money saving series and can be found at http://www.moneysavingtips4you.com. Now with a Special Edition on VALENTINE'S DAY that has 101 great ideas. Lots of them are NO COST or LOW COST ideas and all of them will make your loved one smile without straining your wallet.

The original Money Saving Tips 4 you book has 450 ways to save money in areas of your life such as Mortgages, Credit Cards, Saving Around The Home, Energy Savings, Saving In The Kitchen, Saving On Food, Laundry Saving, How To Save With Children, Health Savings, Savings At Work For Employers And Employees, Car Savings, Saving On Gift Giving, Entertainment Savings, Gardening Savings, how to save when you have Pets along with Recipes For Family And Pets.

You also receive a FREE copy of the best selling inspirational book of all time, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill when you purchase the original money saving book, so see how you can make your dollar go further with Money Saving Tips 4 You at http://www.moneysavingtips4you.com

Provide Your Own Power With Solar Energy

As environmental awareness increases, and people look for ways to lower their energy bills, alternative sources of energy have been getting more and more attention. There has been a recent surge of interest in solar energy lately, partly due to technological advances that have made solar power much more affordable. Solar energy is the most abundant energy resource available, and gives off more energy than any source on earth. Unfortunately, most of the solar energy that reaches the earth is not being harnessed.

What Are The Advantages Of Solar Power?

One of the primary advantages of solar power is the cost. A commercially available solar power cell can be purchased for around $500, and it will help to drastically reduce your monthly expenses. If this is still out of your price range, you'll be happy to know that it is actually possible to build solar panels and cells yourself, right at home. Instructions for doing this can be found in many places online, and will tell you exactly what you need to do in order to start collecting solar energy for your own home.

Another advantage of using solar power is the independence it gives you. This means that is a storm knocks out power lines in your area, you may not be affected by it.

How Do I Start Using Solar Power?

You will need solar panels to collect the sunlight, and a solar power cell to store it. You can either buy these items commercially, or you can build them yourself. Details on how to build them are too involved for this short article, but can be found by getting a guide on the internet.

I've had a chance to review most of the guides available on how to build your own solar panels, and I've narrowed it down to the 3 that are the best value for your money.

=> Top 3 Guides <=

There are a lot of scams out there, and people selling solar power systems that just don't work. That's why I've put together these reviews for you.

=> Solar Guide Reviews <=

Getting Solar Power For Homes - Find Out How

Have you been thinking about getting solar power for your home? Does the idea of powering your home with the rays of the sun interest you? If so, then you'll be glad to know that you many options. No matter what kind of budget you're on, there are affordable solutions that will match your specific needs.

You could always go out and purchase solar panels, but you can save a lot of money if you make your own. Even if your budget is tight, you can still afford all the materials necessary for building solar panels. You can either build from scratch or buy solar panel kits. The kits will have the components needed and all you'll have to do is assemble them. Either way, getting solar power for homes can be very affordable.

While solar power is becoming increasingly popular in rural neighborhoods, those living in urban areas still have options. If you live in an apartment complex in the city, you still may able to place a small solar panel on your roof or patio. You can also ask your electric company if they have any options for customers interested in solar energy. It's becoming more common for cities to offer residents solar generated power through grids. See if that's an option in your area.

No matter where you live, you should consider getting solar power for your home. Not only will you be doing your part in helping the environment, but you'll be saving a lot of money too. While energy sources from the earth are limited and nonrenewable, there will always be a sun. And as long as there's a sun, there will be solar power.

Earth4Energy will teach you everything you need to know about getting solar power for homes. You can learn how to store FREE solar power that you can use anytime you want. Earth4Energy will also help you to understand your options better through informative guides, illustrations, video tutorials, and more.

About the author:

Nadav Snir is a chemistry and physics student who studies energy and ways of convservation. To find out more about energy saving and Earth4Energy, visit his site: http://Great-Info-Products.com/WaterForGas/earth4energy.html

How to Make Your Own Power Living Off the Grid

Making your own power and living off the grid is actually much easier than most people think. For some reason just the promt at the mere idea of an undertaking of such a project seems to imply complexities to most. There are several methods for creating off grid energy all of which are very easy to implement. The only really important component is the power source itself. Important and very necessary. The methods that will be discussed in this article uses the wind and the sun as the power sources. These power sources are considered renewable power sources because they are continuous and everlasting and don't need any type of interaction from man to work.

The most common type of sun activated energy source is very familiar to most people. Solar energy is the energy source being referred to. Solar energy is created from photovoltiac cells which are activated when the sun's rays are directly on them. Each one of these cells produces very little energy alone and would do very little by way of making enough energy to power a home, however when many of them are grouped together, making up what is better known as solar panels, the energy created is astounding and creates enough energy to power appliances, lights, and just about anything else that a home owner or outdoorsman wishes to operate. Solar panels while are expensive if purchased from a retail store are not all that difficult to build at home and at a very small fraction of the cost of retail solar panels.

The second energy source is wind energy. Wind energy is the most popular type of renewable energy and it is used to turn a propeller which activates a generator that creates electricity much in the very same way as an automobile creates power to keep it's battery charged. In order to use this method in a living off the grid setting the generator is mounted 50-60 feet off the ground for the best results inside a shell with a propeller on it's exterior to catch the wind. A wind generator is not at all complicated to make and instructions on what you need for parts and how to figure out out just what you'll need comes with kit plans. The parts for generators are few and are easy to come by. The entire procedure may take an average person a couple of days to do after all parts are rounded up with most set ups.

For the novice or anyone, for that matter, who wishes to build their own homemade wind generator to start producing their own off the grid energy there are plans available that are very specific that also have easy to read text tutorials and or video tutorials that will allow you to build your own generator. Usually there is some type of support in place to ensure that your build goes without a hitch. Living off the grid energy is fast becoming the way of the future for powering homes and large factories too. It is a great way to help the environment, save tremendously on power bills, gives home owners incentives like tax breaks by way of tax credits and rebates, and they are a good way to increase property value.

Important conditions of use...This article MUST NOT be changed or altered in any way. Please include the resource box with the article when you publish it, You may publish this article on your blog or website, you can email it to your subscribers and submit it to the various online article directories.

All Rights Reserved (c) Copyright 2008

Donald Whitehead: Researches and Writes Articles concerning topics on various subject matter.
For an amazing resource on how to create your own off grid energy for $100 or less and being Successful Living Off The Grid Please visit our link.

Harness the Power of the Sun

We have recently seen shock rises in oil prices and corresponding rises in gas and electricity. While oil prices have thankfully declined, we have yet to see the cost of our utilities decline to their former levels. Many people are considering the real possibility of a massive energy shortage in the coming decades. With this in mind, more and more companies and households are seeking out alternative sources. The ideal alternative is an energy source that is less demanding on the Earth's natural resources, more economical for the company or individual and finally a source that is kinder the global environment.

The answer to many people is not to deplete the world around us but to harness it and utilize the Earth's natural power without causing lasting damage that will be felt by our children. The number one area that people are investigating is the so-called 'renewable' energy sources. This concept refers to sources that provide energy from natural resources that are, unlike oil or coal, naturally replenished. Sources such as wind and tidal power have long been candidates for the main provider of energy in the future. However, there is one source that has been providing energy for our planet since life itself began, the sun.

Harnessing the power of the sunlight, or so called solar power, is not a new concept but as today's technologies increase in sophistication, new means and methods of bringing the energy provided by the sun to the everyday consumer are turning heads in the scientific world. The beauty of solar power is that households and businesses can eliminate the need for reliance on vast power stations and turn to solar panels to provide a self contained solution to energy needs. In fact, many architects are now beginning to incorporate solar power solutions into their original plans for buildings. By designing buildings and structures with both energy conservation and generation in mind, the final goal is to create what is called a 'Zero Energy Building'. This, despite the jargon, literally means a building that has an energy consumption of zero. This would effectively eliminate that building's requirement to be attached to some national energy provision service and reducing the overall burden on natural resources.

One of the major benefits of solar power over other renewable sources is the fact that the sun is a globally obtainable source of power that is not as expensive as demanding as sources like tidal or wind power. With advances in technology, using solar energy for heating and electricity generation has become a realistic and affordable solution for home owners.

To read more about using solar power at home, please visit Home Solar Power at http://4solarpower.net

Vertical Wind Turbine - Easy Electricity at Home

When looking for information about using a vertical wind turbine at home, there are several things you need to take into consideration. In this short article, I am going to cover a few of these things and hopefully better educate you on the subject on making your own electricity easily at home.

The first thing you need to take into consideration is whether or not you want to buy a pre-made wind turbine system. Just so you know, these can range in price from $1000 to $5000 or more. If that very high price tag doesn't fit your budget, do not worry. There is still an inexpensive way to make your own power, and I believe that it is even more effective than buying a pre-made system.

To make your own home windmill, it will take a pretty small investment. This small investment will be for basic parts. It will not take long to build, and this small investment will pay for itself very quickly. This is what is drawing literally millions of people to the idea of a home vertical wind turbine. It is easy, cheap, and a great financial decision.

In addition to saving money, you can help the environment exponentially and feel good about it. While the saving money part is great, this will give you a personal sense of satisfaction because you will be doing your part to help our beautiful planet. Usually when I mention this combination of savings and environmental health to people, it becomes a no-brainer to get started.

These are just a couple of the basic principles behind using your own vertical wind turbine at home. I highly recommend that you expand your learning on this subject through my totally free email course. I have helped many people realize the opportunities of home wind power and see great results.

Interested in the idea of making your own electricity very easily?

My totally free 5 day Home Wind Power Email Course will teach you EVERYTHING you need to know.

Hundreds of people have seen great results after reading through my email course. Click below to read more:

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LED Strips Guide

Flexible LED strips are widely used as decorative lighting. You may find them in many areas, such as car and motorcycle decorative lighting, architectural decorative lighting, archway lighting, hallway lighting, stairway lighting, cove lighting and so on. They are easy to install and cut every 5-10cm. Besides, LED is energy saving, eco-friendly and long lifespan. Thereby LED strips also have these features. The lifespan is over 50,000 hours.

Main features:

1. LED. The light sources are usually SMD LED. 3528 SMD LED and 5050 SMD LED. The brightness of each types of LED is different. 5050 SMD LED is brighter than 3528 SMD LED. Usually, RGB LED strips are made by 5050 SMD LED.
2. Colors. The color can be white, warm white, red, blue, green, pink, RGB and so on. The price is different in different colors.
3. Quantity of LED. Usually the quantity of LED is 15PCS, 24PCS or 30PCS per 50cm. It also influences the brightness.
4. Length. In most of case, the length is 50cm. There are also 30cm, 60cm and 80cm length. However, you do not need to worry about it. Usually, every LED strip can be cut every 3 LED. That's 5-10 cm.
5. Waterproof or non-waterproof. Waterproof or non-waterproof are both available.
6. Working Voltage. Usually working voltage is 12V DC.
7. Power Consumption. Usually power consumption is from 2.4W to 3.6W every 50cm.
The above features are main factors. For more features, you may contact your suppliers.

How to Choose right LED strips in your project
After we know the above 7 main features, it's easy to choose right products in you project. You just need to tell your supplier the following requirements:

1. Colors. If you need RGB colors, you need a controller to control the colors.
2. Brightness(Luminous Intensity, Flux or other in your descriptions )
3. Waterproof or non-waterproof. If you need waterproof products, IP rating is also a factor.
4. Length. If you a very long strip in your project, you need a amplifier to keep the effect.
5. Input voltage. Usually you need a transformer to transform the voltage.
The above 5 factors are important to both your project and price. You may take more requirements in your project into consideration.

If you want to find appropriate and high quality LED strips, I am pleased to help. If you are interested in other LED lights, welcome to discuss with me.

Homemade Solar Panels - The Pros and Cons of DIY Solar Power For Homes

Solar energy is a technology which has been around for more than 20 years, and has recently taken the lead as an alternative fuel source, thanks to the high and fluctuating oil prices. This is especially so in these times of global economic crisis with shrinking household budgets and escalating utility bills.

The benefits of using solar energy to power your home are well documented. While oil requires expensive exploration and holds consumers ransom by its fluctuating prices, sunlight for solar power is absolutely free. Sunlight is not only free to all, it is also a constantly renewable source of power and is an alternative clean natural fuel source by the gift of mother nature. Solar power comparatively is a better fuel source for us as it does not discharge harmful gases unlike oil. It is no wonder that many households have begun switching to solar power for homes as their key energy source.

In light of the escalating utility bills, many people either have problems paying their bills or drastically cutting back on usage in order to make ends meet. Adopting solar power by building your own solar panels to generate electricity is a proven effective solution to the above problem. And the best part of it is, you need not have to change your lifestyle or cut usage just to pay your bills.

High cost of purchase and installation of the solar panels used to be the key setback for solar power to take off. But this situation no longer poses as hindrance to solar power development, especially when building solar power for homes with the do it yourself approach. Guides and instruction manuals have become available online which provide specific instructions on how to build your own solar panels for home use. Some better ones even have step by step videos that walk you through the every critical stage as well as a member forum for discussion. The cost of components and materials do not even exceed 200 dollars if you so choose to build it yourself.

In this difficult economic downturn, especially when you are never sure if you will still be able to bring home your next pay check, a dime saved is a dime earned. And being self reliant on homemade solar power is a great start towards being liberated from high escalating costs. In fact, it has been tried and tested by feedback from existing users that those claims of 80 percent savings in utility bills are true.

Join the thousands of families tapping on Free Renewable Energy. Visit SolarWindEnergyDIY.com for Your Complete Solar Power Guide Review.

Also Find more information here to Build Your Own Solar Panels and Save 80 percent on Your Electricity Bills.

Prefabricated Homes - Green and Growing

Prefabricated homes are on the rise and home buyers are taking notice. A prefabricated home is built in a factory, disassembled and shipped to the property where it is erected. More "prefabs" are being purchased as people see that this type of home is a far cry from some of the shoddily constructed buildings of the past. Advantages of the prefabs are their quick construction and installation, the option for "green" materials and construction and the customizability of many models on the market today. Now that they are coming into vogue, prefabs are definitely an option for the property buyer, as more and more lenders are starting to include the purchase and placement of a prefab homes in their mortgage options.

The prefab has gotten a bad rap from shoddy building practices in the past, due to mass-produced, low-quality buildings of the past. Also, prefabs have been erroneously associated with mobile homes, which have their own stigma. It has taken interest in economical, customizable and "green" buildings to overcome the perception that homes manufactured in a factory are inherently ugly and poorly constructed.

A prefabricated home is, as the name indicates, built before it is placed on the property where it is to stand. Some of the advantages that people cite are that the factory process results in less waste, less chance of environmental damage, less overhead from stolen tools and equipment (that might be left during the building process of a traditional home), and less chance that structural faults will be overlooked. Once built, most prefabs don't look different from "stick-built" or traditionally constructed houses. High quality prefabs also age and appreciate in value similarly to stick-built houses, making them a viable choice for the property owner who wants to have a home constructed according to their specifications.

Recently, a number of award-winning environmentally sound designs and structures have awakened the public's interest in manufactured homes. There are now a number of reputable companies producing these buildings for a market increasingly aware of their "footprint" in the world. Many prefab homes are being sold as "green" due to their efficient method of construction, their adherence to "green" codes and their space saving design. Some prefabs use a large amount of recycled material for the structure and interior features, like recycled glass tiles for bathrooms and countertops made from recycled plastic resin. Solar power and other alternative forms of "green" energy have also been utilized in some prefabs for exceptional savings on heat, light and power.

Most manufacturers can customize standard designs or build custom homes to meet clients' needs. This can mean extra costs, but it results in a home designed to your needs. It also means that you can solve some problems, for instance, building a home for a property that is on a slope. You can add or take away rooms and features, leaving you with the space you need, designed for what you need it for.

Prefabs need property to stand on that is zoned for the type of building you are planning to put on it. Also, most companies do not provide foundation laying; you will have to organize that yourself. However, once the foundation is laid to the specifications of the building and the prefab is completed, the prefab can be set up in a matter of days instead of months. This helps prevent weather damage that can be sealed up inside the building and end up causing further damage that is only found years later.

These structures are not for everybody, of course. There are some situations where a home built on the property is best. Also, today's prefabricated homes are not all to everyone's taste in their design and function. In many cases, the prefabricated home can cost just as much or more as a home built onsite. Also, you need to take into consideration that plumbing and electricity setup may require an extra outlay of cash.

Prefabs are worth checking out if you are considering a likely property that needs a home on it. Consult with your real estate professional for more information about your area's zoning requirements and the permits you may need for the erection of such a structure.

For the tools and information needed to succeed in the Saint Paul real estate market, look no further. Saint-Paul-Real-Estate.com offers valuable information on St.Paul neighborhoods and surrounding communities including Summit-University St Paul real estate.

Solar Panels For the Home Reduces the Homeowner's Energy Cost

Solar energy is a great renewable resource that is growing in popularity with the average consumer. As energy prices skyrocket and the average income stagnating, if not falling, consumers are looking for a way to reduce their costs of living in any area possible. The rise of renewable energy, and the desire to wean our society off of fossil fuels, makes using solar panels for the home a great alternative for power.

Solar power kits save energy for the homeowner because they allow the homeowner to generate their own electricity to power their home. In some cases, the homeowner can go completely off-grid and even sell additional electricity back to the power company. What a powerful concept to be able to take an expense and turn it into an asset.

What are solar panels?

A solar panel is a packaged interconnected assembly of solar cells that are cased in a housing unit to protect the cells from the weather and from physical damage. These panels generate electricity, which is then used to directly power devices in the home, or charge battery cells to store the power for nighttime use. A solar power kit typically includes solar panels, an inverter and interconnection wiring to connect the panel to the electrical system in the home. For those that want to live off the grid, batteries are included for continuous power during the day and night. The use of infrared solar cells also allows the homeowner to generate electricity at night, thus increasing the efficiency of these cells.

The technology of solar cells continues to advance with time. Currently, the efficiency rate of solar cells range from 5% to 19% depending upon the technology. The reason is that the solar cells (or photo-voltaic cells) only convert a limited range of sunlight frequencies into electricity. The renewable energy industry is experimenting with advanced technologies that will raise the efficiency of these solar cells by a whopping 50%.

A new technology for solar cells, also called thin film or third generation solar cells, is being researched. The benefit of this new generation is that they have a higher efficiency and they cost less. These brands are both rigid and flexible thin film modules. The differences between the rigid thin film module and the flexible thin film module are due to differences in the materials that are used to make the modules and differences in the production of the modules.

Solar modules can last anywhere from 10 to 25 years while still operating at 80% of their original capacity. Every year the number of panels sold to consumers continues to grow. In 2007 over 4 million solar units were sold. There are a number of manufacturers that produce solar panels for consumer use, however the average consumer can create their own solar panels using materials from their local hardware store.

Solar panels for the home can provide renewable energy for the consumer. The initial costs can range greatly if the consumer chooses to build their own solar energy kit or have another company install a solar power kit. As the technology improves, the homeowner will have more options available to them to completely power their home with renewable solar power energy.

Discover how you can power your home with solar energy for under $200. You only have to have the right information. The reviews on these popular DIY solar panel info guides that show you how to create solar panels for home, will help you make an informed decision. Get more information on solar power and solar energy at this solar power resource page

Wind Generated Power

Wind generated power is being used from ages past. In the past it was used in flour mills and even to pump water. But we have realized the power that wind has in it and it is this power that can be used as an alternative source for electricity. With the depleting levels of fossil fuels and the increasing rates for electricity it is high time we decide on using such alternative forms of energy.

Not only are we going to save money, but we are saving the earth too. With nuclear energy being used as one of the sources for energy, the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere is growing to such high levels that the issue of global warming is catching everybody's attention. Is there a solution to all these problems? Well, the use of renewable sources of energy like the sun light, the wind generated power etc are sure fire solutions that do work.

If you want to install such a unit for wind generated power and if you find the rates of installing one, you will sure find atrocious prices. The best way to go about this is to use the resources that are easily available in our homes and even in the nearby hardware stores and construct our own wind mill that results in wind generated power.

All you need to set up the instrument that gives you wind generated power is an installation guide and the right components. The most important consideration for this is the location where you will be building this. You need to make sure that the area has a free flowing current of wind most of the time. Selection of such areas will make sure that you have an efficient system that produces wind generated power to the maximum.

You can look up Earth4Energy for more details about wind generated power. The guide that is available is a storehouse of information that will guide you in the right manner to enable you to set up your system.

Homemade Wind Turbine - How to Build Homemade Wind Turbines

Learning how to build a homemade wind turbine became important to our family when we first started looking to buy a wind generator to run our off gird home. The price of 1000w models needed to run our renewable energy system cost nearly $4000 including the tower. We had to even assemble it ourselves. We figured there must be a better way.

Our solar panel array just wasn't big enough to run our home and we figured a large wind turbine would add to our power supply enough to meet the increased demand of 3 children growing up in a mostly normal home.

What did we need?

1000w of power production

40 foot tower

Could we build a homemade wind turbine?

We decided to look at the option of building our own, as we said when we saw the price of new ones. The problem was that no simple plans existed to do just that. All of the wind generator plans we encountered called for complicated layout and even more welding than we cared to pursue. What we needed was a simple set of plans.

None existed so we decided to make our own.

Our homemade wind turbine project took us over 10 years to complete. Trying to find a source of cheap parts that we could put together with relatively simple tools was very difficult. Everyone seems to always want to complicate things in order to keep their share of a very large business sector. The renewable energy field has grown substantially over the past few years and most manufacturers simply didn't want anyone building their own wind generator. I guess we can understand that.

But, not everyone can afford $4000 for the system we needed. We know we couldn't. So we went to work to design a system that could be used by anyone. We even learned how to consistently provide a wind turbine blade design that met the simple tool- easy to learn criteria.

Do you want more information?

Learn how to build a Homemade Wind Turbine. The plans are easy to follow, require simple tools only and no previous experience. It did take us over 10 years to put together our testing and research so that the average person could build their own, but we have still done our best to keep the cost reasonable, under $30.

Our family began living off the grid in 2001 and we have never looked back. Learning how to build a homemade wind turbine is the fastest way to get started living off the grid.

Where Can I Get Plans For Building a Windmill?

Using wind energy as a means of reducing energy costs is a popular subject these days. The green energy movement is in the news every day as more interest grows on the subject of free, renewable energy.

Wind energy has been with us for centuries, but only recently has using the wind to produce electricity become a hot topic. Windmills are no longer considered only as a tool used mainly for pumping water for farms and agricultural purposes.

Windmills for producing electrical power for home use have seen a tremendous increase in popularity. Many homeowners are exploring the benefits of building a home windmill. Many manufacturers have begun producing home windmill kits, but the high cost of installing these wind generators have caused many people to reconsider.

Luckily there are alternatives available to homeowners who see the advantages of using wind energy as a viable means of lowering their energy costs. Building a home windmill is not as complicated or expensive as many would first believe. There are numerous guides available that will teach you the basics of building a windmill.

Unfortunately not all of these guides live up to their claims. Some are sketchy in what information they provide. Still others seem to be hastily put together, and don't deliver on all of the promises the publishers claim.

There are some very good guides available that will take you step by step and show you all you need to know about building a windmill. Some have far superior instructions, diagrams, and graphics that will literally take you by the hand throughout the process.

I have personally reviewed many of these guides, and was disappointed in most of them. Some that I reviewed seemed to be just a way for the publisher to cash in on this market and make a quick buck. The old saying "let the buyer beware" most certainly applies to some of the guides on the market today.

Building a windmill is really not that hard, but for people looking for detailed instructions there are some pitfalls to avoid. I personally would only buy a guide from someone who offered customer support after the sale. Not all of these guides offer a high level of customer service. These are the ones you should avoid at all costs. What good is the guide if you have a simple question but cannot get an answer from the publisher?

I found that there were several windmill guides available that actually were worth the price and delivered what they promised. These guides contained excellent instructions, and everything was laid out in a way that is easy to understand. They all had very good diagrams and pictures that were easy to understand and follow. Some even include video training as well, which makes for a quick and easy learning experience.

If you are thinking about building a windmill, remember that not all guides are created equal. In order to build a windmill that will help you lower your energy costs, do your research before investing in any do it yourself guide. There are some very good ones available and these are the ones that will make your project a success.

Planning on building a home made windmill? With the proper plans you can build a windmill yourself and save thousands of dollars. Learn which plans actually work at http://www.homemadewindmillreview.com

Cutting Back the Costs of Utilities

At this time of year many homes are hit with high utility bills as people look to keep themselves warm and entertained. Increased use of electrical appliances as well as heating and hot water often accounts for a costly utility bill. On receiving such a bill many people then search for ways in which they can cut back and reduce the amount they are paying for utilities.

Before even looking at cutting back on the use of electrical appliances and heating there are several steps that a person can take to save on utility costs. Ensuring your home is weatherproof will allow your house to be naturally much warmer. By making sure your doorways all have adhesive stripping and any air holes around the home are covered up will stop warm air escaping and cold air entering your home! When switching appliances off ensuring appliances are switched off at the plug as opposed to leaving them on stand by (which still uses energy!) will also cut back the amount of electricity being used.

Another technique for reducing the costs of utilities is to look at the source of your energy. In recent years the price of natural gas has soared whilst electricity prices have remained stable. Converting any major appliances such as water heaters and furnaces to electricity from gas will help to reduce costs as you will be paying less for your energy per unit. Although this method will endure some initial costs in the long run conversion will save you a lot of money.

Key to making the biggest saving on utilities is to ensure you are with the cheapest provider. You must ensure that you compare gas providers and electricity providers to make a big saving. Comparing utilities providers will significantly reduce the cost of utilities and give you peace of mind!

Your Hot Guide to Green Energy Wind Systems

Have you heard about all the people that are getting rid of their electric bills lately? Do you see more windmills and solar panels going up in your neighborhood? You are about to learn a secret that will enable you to build a better and cheaper green energy system.

As you may be aware, the wind does not blow all the time, and there will always be rainy days. Without these two sources of energy, you will not have electricity. Therefore, simply putting up a windmill or solar panel without considering energy storage will only give you partially good results. Fortunately, the Earth4Energy program will teach you how to build a complete system. As an added bonus, you will even learn about the best places and resources for obtaining free batteries.

Are you committed to having a green energy wind system? Why not build your own? In most cases, you will find that building your own power generating system will be the ideal weekend project. With just a few tools, and some basic parts, you can be on your way to freeing up a significant amount of money in your budget. At the same time, you can customize your system to suit almost any need. Why buy a pre-built windmill, when you can create one that will be just the right size for your property?

Even though you may be mostly concerned with generating energy, windmills can be very decorative objects. Unfortunately, if you buy a pre-fabricated model, you may not be able to customize the tower, or the color of the blades. On the other hand, once you know how to make your own windmill, you can replicate Dutch designs, or even come up with something completely new. When renewable energy goals combine with the height of fashionable design, you can easily come up with a combination that can be turned into a lucrative sideline business.

Malcolm Hamilton is an expert on renewable energy and the director of popular blog GreenRenewableEnergyForYou.Com. He provides honest information and advice on things like producng green renewable energy for home use and more. Check out his blog for more info!

Ceiling Fan Air - Why Reversing Ceiling Fans in Winter is a Dumb Idea

As an architect and engineer, I can understand why the architects for some projects seek truly reversible air movement from ceiling fans. This simplistic notion of ceiling fan use has been around for decades. Let me explain as an architect with a Masters degree in Engineering, why this is not a sound idea.

Use of ceiling fans for air movement to energy-efficient summer comfort is straight forward. In summer, providing air movement of 160 fpm in the occupied zone will allow the thermostat to be raised 4.7F while maintaining the same thermal comfort. Raising the thermostat 1F typically saves between 3% and 4% of cooling energy cost*. Raising the thermostat 5F will typically save between 15% and 20% of cooling energy costs. In summer, providing air movement of 230 fpm (2.6 mph) in the occupied zone of an air conditioned space will allow the thermostat to be raised 10F while maintaining the same thermal comfort. This thermostat increase would save 30% to 40% of air conditioning cooling costs.

Use of ceiling fans at low speed with air flow downward for energy efficiency by destratification in winter is well established. Circulation of indoor air at 3 to 4 times per hour, particularly in spaces with high ceilings, can allow the thermostat to be set 10F to 15F lower while maintaining the same thermal comfort. For each 1F the thermostat is lowered in winter the typical heating energy cost saving is 1% per 8 hour period, or 3% per day. Lowering the thermostat in winter by 5F from 85F to 80F will typically save approximately 15% of heating energy cost per day.

Here is the catch. If the airflow from the ceiling fan is reversed with airflow upward, even at low speed, the velocity of air across the ceiling above the fan is high, typically around 400 fpm. At this speed, the heat transfer coefficient at the ceiling is around 1.87 Btu/h.ft2.F. However if the ceiling fan is running at low speed with airflow downward the airflow across the ceiling is low, typically 80 fpm. At this speed, the heat transfer coefficient at the ceiling is around 0.051 Btu/h.ft2.F.

In short, reversing the air flow direction from ceiling fans in winter the heat loss through the ceiling is increased by a factor of around 3.7 times due the increase in surface conductance.

Big Ass Fans is the leading manufacturer of huge ceiling fans for large industrial, agricultural and commercial settings. Big Ass Fans range in size from 6 feet to 24 feet in diameter, using low horsepower motors to generate energy-efficient air movement for large spaces. Big Ass Fans can be used year round to provide occupant comfort and energy savings. There are over 35,000 Big Ass Fans installed worldwide in applications such as manufacturing plants, distribution centers, horse arenas, dairy barns, stadiums, art galleries, restaurants, health clubs and even zoos! Product solutions include Powerfoil, PowerfoilPlus, Pivot, the 8-ft. Mobile Vertical, and the new Element designed for commercial spaces. Big Ass Fans have been featured in Inc. Magazine, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, and television programs such as Planet Green, Discovery Channel Canada and the National Geographic Channel. For more information on Big Ass Fans, visit the website at http://www.bigassfans.com

Why Go Green - More to the Point, Why Not?

The new Obama administration has indicated a strong focus on developing America's renewable energy resources. So whether you believe global warming is man-made, or purely a result of the earth's natural cycles of warming and cooling, now is a perfect time to adopt an individual green lifestyle that will conserve energy, save water and result in a cleaner, sustainable environment. The availability of eco-friendly products and services is becoming a great green wave that will make it easier for everybody to become more environmentally friendly. And it doesn't take a major change in lifestyle to contribute to a cleaner and greener world.

Historically there has been a high cost barrier to moving to green products, but that is becoming much less of a hurdle as more companies compete to offer better, greener products. While certain high-end goods remain out of reach of all but the most well off, the energy saving benefits of many green products quickly offset any higher up-front cost. Green cleaning products are often more concentrated than the regular chemical products and therefore offer good cost comparison for their total use.

In most areas of the country recycling programs are the first introduction to helping protect the environment we live in. Unfortunately, the incredible variety of different collection programs leaves much to be desired and there is much to be done in the future to improve the effectiveness of this process. Maybe this is one area where sensible State or Federal regulation could create common recycling procedures and improve the efficiency of collection and re-use. Back yard composting can reduce the disposal of yard and food waste which is estimated to make up around 30% of the waste stream going to landfills.

With the increasing pressure on energy costs around the world and the improving technology developments in solar and wind power, we can expect to see greater utilization of these natural resources in the future. Solar technology is developing very quickly and becoming more usable and cost effective. Solar lighting and water features are now very efficient and an attractive, clean addition to any garden landscaping. While solar leasing programs are making solar power more available for individual homes. Wind power is a very hot topic right now with the Pickens Plan receiving a great deal of publicity. If we are able to capture the tremendous wind energy resources in the US, and then develop an environmentally friendly means of distributing it around the country, it could make a significant contribution to the greening of America.

Along with the growth in the availability of green products has come the problem of identifying what is truly green and "how green is it?" As with any product for sale, the claims of the best and the greenest can often be somewhat exaggerated. However, this need not be too big a distraction. It is not necessary to choose the most energy efficient, or the most natural cleaner, to contribute to a greener world. A higher efficiency rating in a replacement appliance, or a natural cleaning product that gives the best results, enhances the green footprint but should also fit in to the personal choices of a modern lifestyle.

The decision to go green can be as dramatic or as gradual as each individual or family wish to make it. Once the "green light" goes on however, it does appear to take on a life of its own. Each green choice, small or large, contributes to the growing movement towards a more eco-friendly world.

If the choices are there and the barriers to their use are coming down, who wouldn't want to reduce their use of the earth's finite resources and convert to a cleaner, less polluting, healthier, green lifestyle.

Peter O'Grady is the owner of It's Eco Time.com and writes on a variety of subjects involving our impact on the environment and the options available for living a healthy and sustainable green lifestyle. To find products to save money, energy and water and for other green topics visit http://itsecotime.com and share your comments and questions.

Solar Energy Advantages Disadvantages

Many of us know that solar energy is a good thing, but few really understand why. Therefore, I compiled a comprehensive list of solar energy advantages and disadvantages that will enable you to make an educated decision whether on not Solar Power is right for YOU.

Solar Energy Advantages

1. Saves you money

• After the initial investment has been recovered, the energy from the sun is practically FREE.
• The recovery/ payback period for this investment can be very short depending on how much electricity your household uses.
• Financial incentives are available form the government that will reduce your cost.
• If your system produce more energy than you use, your utility company can buy it from you, building up a credit on your account! This is called net metering.
• It will save you money on your electricity bill if you have one at all.
• Solar energy does not require any fuel.
• It's not affected by the supply and demand of fuel and is therefore not subjected to the ever-increasing price of gasoline.
• The savings are immediate and for many years to come.
• The use of solar energy indirectly reduces health costs.

2. Environmentally friendly

• Solar Energy is clean, renewable (unlike gas, oil and coal) and sustainable, helping to protect our environment.
• It does not pollute our air by releasing carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide or mercury into the atmosphere like many traditional forms of electrical generations does.
• Therefore Solar Energy does not contribute to global warming, acid rain or smog.
• It actively contributes to the decrease of harmful green house gas emissions.
• It's generated where it is needed.
• By not using any fuel, Solar Energy does not contribute to the cost and problems of the recovery and transportation of fuel or the storage of radioactive waste.

3. Independent/ semi-independent

• Solar Energy can be utilized to offset utility-supplied energy consumption. It does not only reduce your electricity bill, but will also continue to supply your home/ business with electricity in the event of a power outage.
• A Solar Energy system can operate entirely independent, not requiring a connection to a power or gas grid at all. Systems can therefore be installed in remote locations (like holiday log cabins), making it more practical and cost-effective than the supply of utility electricity to a new site.
• The use of Solar Energy reduces our dependence on foreign and/or centralized sources of energy, influenced by natural disasters or international events and so contributes to a sustainable future.
• Solar Energy supports local job and wealth creation, fuelling local economies.

4. Low/ no maintenance

• Solar Energy systems are virtually maintenance free and will last for decades.
• Once installed, there are no recurring costs.
• They operate silently, have no moving parts, do not release offensive smells and do not require you to add any fuel.
• More solar panels can easily be added in the future when your family's needs grow.

Solar Energy Disadvantages

• The initial cost is the main disadvantage of installing a solar energy system, largely because of the high cost of the semi-conducting materials used in building one.
• The cost of solar energy is also high compared to non-renewable utility-supplied electricity. As energy shortages are becoming more common, solar energy is becoming more price-competitive.
• Solar panels require quite a large area for installation to achieve a good level of efficiency.
• The efficiency of the system also relies on the location of the sun, although this problem can be overcome with the installation of certain components.
• The production of solar energy is influenced by the presence of clouds or pollution in the air.
• Similarly, no solar energy will be produced during nighttime although a battery backup system and/or net metering will solve this problem. See www.dsireusa.org for details on how net metering allows you to save electricity and money.
• As far as solar powered cars go - their slower speed might not appeal to everyone caught up in today's rat race.

To learn more about solar energy, go to http://facts-about-solar-energy.com/

You'll discover ...

• what solar energy is
• how solar energy works
• interesting facts about solar energy
• how much solar energy costs
• passive solar energy for homes, and
• how to build solar energy systems

There's a whole section for students, teachers and parents; whiles homeowners can obtain FREE QUOTES for their solar energy projects. You'll find book and product reviews some helpful energy saving tips.

Please email any questions to info@facts-about-solar-energy.com