You Can Go Green And Save A Bundle of Green

by Rebecca Montana

Now that it is so popular you may have found that there are tons of examples of how going green can save you money. Despite Kermit the Frog’s claims – it IS very easy being green. Not only is it easy but it can save you money at the same time. Our planet is facing a period of warming and our actions are believed to be a primary cause. That being the case, it just makes sense to seek out examples of how going green saves you money and act on them.

Just think about the cell phone charger that is always plugged in or your DVD player that is just waiting around for you to play it once a week or once a month. Does your TV just sit on standby all night? These are prime examples of how small actions can save you money – if you unplug them or better yet buy a smart energy strip you are going green with ease. For even if the items are not being used, those blinking lights and clocks mean that they are consuming energy!

One other prime example of how going green can save you money is switching from bottled water to filtered tap water. Are you aware that the average family spends around $1,400 a year just on bottled water. The worst part is the 95% that ends up in the refuse pile as people just toss their plastic bottles and don’t recycle them! For less than $100 you can purchase a good staged water filter to make your tap water perfect. You can also consider purchasing stainless steel water bottles to carry your water in. They over come the need for plastic and last a long time.

Here is yet another example of how easy going green can save you money. They are simple every day things and are everywhere. If you have a lead gas foot and drive as fast as the law allows or faster, you should think more about how much it is costing you. Your cars engines performs most efficiently at around 55 miles an hour. Combine that with gentle driving on properly inflated tires, you will save money and help the planet too.

You could always use a bicycle to travel around town. Or you could simply walk for those short trips. You won’t be pouring hydrocarbons into the atmosphere, warming the planet, you will save money, and you will get some good exercise at the same time. Walking and cycling when you can are excellent examples of how going green saves you money.

Out of the approximately 65 million newspapers that are printed every day just in the US. Unfortunately 70% will not be recycled. Can you imagine this waste of trees? How can you can do your bit to help? In this day of Internet access you can now read whatever news you want to read simply by going online. Even local papers have an online presence these days, so save some money and read from the web pages. Just don’t spill your coffee on the keyboard.

By simply changing a few things each day you will be easily going green and saving money. They are all around you. Just look and you certainly will find them.

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How to Develop Your Own Renewable Energy

by Michael Fleischner

Today more than ever people are creating their very own energy. Doing so is good for the environment and can save you thousands of dollars a year. Save on your electricity and other power bills by creating your own energy. Generating your own electricity is rather easy to do and anyone can learn how. If you are curious about energy creation or simply want to make a difference to the planet, explore the development of renewable energy resources including solar panels and wind turbines.

Having your own resources for generating power is really catching on. As more individuals consider joining the movement to go green, independent power creation is becoming more common. One of the reasons is the prevalence of new systems that can help you become energy independent with the help of solar and wind power generation systems. As a result, more people than ever are going off the grid and breaking their dependence on big power companies.

There are a variety of ways to generate energy for personal consumption. This has become more common with the advent of new technology designed to harvest the power of the wind and transfer this energy into electricity. Through the development of home made batteries and other devices, power can be distributed on a regular basis allowing you to offset energy costs significantly. What’s great is that many of these wind turbines can be built easily and at very low cost.

Solar panels are also a common source of green energy. Solar panels take the energy of the sun and converts that energy into electricity. Even though solar panels have been around for many years, they have improved their power and efficiency most significantly in the past 2 – 3 years. Building your own solar panels is also very easy if you have good documentation and access to the right parts for assembly. When used in conjunction with other energy sources, solar panels are a great way to achieve energy independence.

The problem faced by many first time energy seekers is that the cost of professionally installed solar powers is far beyond their budget. Additionally, could take a very long time to get a favorable return on their energy investment. The good news is that there are plenty of options when it comes to solar energy. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars in order to be energy independent. In fact, building solar panels as a do-it-yourself project is fun, easy to do, and relatively inexpensive.

For anyone interested in going off the grid, building your own solar panels and wind energy sources are closer than you think. You wont have to spend a lot of money and the return is truly exceptional. The key is to start small and build from there. Most systems available today cost less than a couple of hundred dollars and can begin offsetting your costs in as little as 48 hours. Don’t be afraid to purchase a how to guide and start your first project today. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll have a renewable energy supply and smaller monthly energy bills.

When looking for a do-it-yourself guide, be sure to find one that meets the following criteria: A detailed instruction booklet, how to videos, a checklist of required parts, an estimate of all related costs, and resources for finding components and scaling your energy generation system. Most importantly, be sure that the site you’re purchasing form offers online or phone support as well as a money back guarantee. Doing so makes good business sense and can get you off to a good start.

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Diy Solar Power,Solar news and Energy Rebates

by Mike Hendrics

Creating a solar powered structure out of your home these days could of at one time been thought as difficult and there are a couple of reasons for that.Many people never get started due to having to get together everything needed to for assembly.

Solar cost is without a doubt the deciding factor in whether or not to purchase solar products or not . In some cases it can reduce your pocket book by an amount anywhere between six and ten thousand to convert over to free solar energy.For many people it it just not affordable.

But there is something that a lot of people can take advantage of that no one really seems to have a clue about. And that is solar energy rebates that can be given to the homeowners from certain energy companies.

The point of the solar energy rebates is to help encourage homeowners to take that first step in conserving energy and taking advantage of what our sun has to offer us. The solar energy rebates are a wonderful way to allow homeowners the chance to afford this upgrade being the rebate is generally anyway from forty five to seventy five percent of the cost of materials and installation.

Where To Get These Money Saving Rebates?

Because there aren’t as many people that know about the rebates there are fewer people that are aware of the resources and locations by where they can be obtained.Your local energy company is the best place to contact and find out what they have to offer.There may also be places in your area that are giving the rebates ,so don’t give up on it if your energy company is not issuing any at the present time.

Solar energy rebates may not be available at many companies in your area depending on where you live.This should not cause you to totally give up however and remember that you can start out with a partial Homemade Power Plant or Diy solar Power center if your not able to go full fledge.

Solar energy centers can help you at a later time to finish your solar system job with further rebates if they are not available at the right time for you . So don’t get discouraged and just keep in mind that you’ve already got a start so you’ve already done good.

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Going Green This Holiday Season

by Terra Hangen

A fun Christmas tradition is to plant a living Christmas tree in your yard and create a legacy for your family, as you watch the tree grow. For families with plenty of land available, you can plant a tree each year, and even name them for special people, like “Nona’s tree.” Enjoy your decorated tree as the star of your living room for a week before planting it, but before you purchase a living tree, consider the full height that this tiny tree will reach.

Noble Fir, Grand Fir and White Pine are classic Christmas trees that can live for a hundred years and reach 60 to 90 feet tall, and thirty feet in width. Is a tree this size appropriate for your yard? If you have a farm with acreage, you are very blessed, and every tree you plant will provide a home and food for wild birds and other critters.

For typical size yards, dwarf Blue Spruce cultivars are excellent choices, with perfect conical shapes and thick foliage. Fat Albert reaches fifteen feet and Blaukissen or Blue Kiss reaches eight feet tall. Zones 2 or 3 to 7. The conifer Chamaecyparis obtusa Compacta reaches ten feet tall, and Aurea 20 feet tall, in Zones 5-8.

Pines do well in warmer areas, and Calabrian Pine, Pinus brutia, has a classic pine tree shape, grows 30 to 80 feet tall, and thrives in heat, drought and wind. Calabrian Pine cannot take temperatures much below zero F. Zones 6-10. This pine and the closely related Eldarica Pine make ideal windbreaks and bird sanctuaries.

All evergreen trees need full sun and well-drained soil away from buildings. If soil freezes in your area, to prepare for your living tree, dig a planting hole earlier in the year and fill it with leaves. In cold climates where snow falls and temperatures reach freezing, keep your tree in an unheated garage or on a porch for a few days, to let it acclimate to the warmer temperature of your house.

These trees need cool temperatures, so keep them indoors for only a week, with plenty of light, and away from heaters or fireplaces. Keep the roots moist but not standing in water. In cold climates before planting outdoors, put the tree back on the porch or in the garage for a few days.

I am celebrating the publication of my new book, co-authored with five other writers, “Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts: Stories to Warm Your Heart and Tips to Simplify Your Holiday.”

In our book I wrote many green thumb Christmas tips, including the story of mistletoe, how to grow myrrh, how to keep your poinsettia perky and how to make a wreath of pine cones. I love the gorgeous and electricity saving LED Christmas lights for our trees, and found a neat online store, All American Christmas Company, at www.aachristmas.com that sells these lights, and www.homedepot.com also sells them. Consumer Reports issued a report lauding LED lights.

Each thing we do, every day, and especially at Christmas, can help the environment. I suggest that folks use gift bags instead of wrap, and re-use the bags many times. I found foil gift bags in gold and in green at a dollar store, and use them for birthdays, Christmas and any gift occasion. So for a fully green Christmas, you could purchase the ideal living tree, light it with LED lights and fill re-usable gift bags with presents under the tree.

Terra Hangen writes numerous devotionals and articles on prayer, gardening, faith, nature and wildlife. Her publishing history includes national print and online publications such as Vibrant Life, Dog Fancy, Lutheran Digest, Flower and Garden, and Hobby Farms and an essay in the Rainy Day Book. Terra and her family enjoy living on the Monterey Bay in California.

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