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One of the biggest energy expenses for homes is heating the pool. Using the power of the sun can keep you swimming in the middle of winter.

If you have a pool, you know heating it can run your utility bill through the roof. Fortunately, there are a number of practical steps that can be taken to cut costs.

Many people who complain about the cost of heating their pools fail to take common sense steps to cut the bill. One of the unrealized costs is the power required to run the filter circulation system. Spend the money on a high powered pump and you will save money. The more you pump, the less time it will need to be on.

Next, make absolutely sure you use a cover for the pool. Heat escapes through uncovered surfaces. If you’re not using the pool, put a cover on it just like you would a hot tub. Try to add a solar bubble cover, which will create a bit of water heat by letting the sun in. Regardless, using a pool cover will make a major difference in your utility bill. Don’t be lazy! Make sure you keep the cover on the pool.

Even pool covers can only do so much to keep a pool warm. For some people, cutting the costs associated with warming a pool means going to a solar system. Solar heating systems for pools can be a very cost effective way to keep water warm throughout much of the year without driving your utility bill through the roof.

Solar platforms typically will heat a pool up to around 80 degrees, but not much more. The systems tend to be less expensive than home heating systems because they are smaller and need fewer components. You solar vendor can help you figure out what you need for your particular situation, but the rule of thumb is you need panels totaling half the size of the pool. This can vary based on whether the pool has a dark bottom and is isolated from the wind.

With utility bills soaring, many people are forgoing heating their pools to save money. By taking practical steps and possibly using a solar heating system, you’ll have the glory of swimming in January and not worrying about the utility bill.

Rick Chapo is with http://www.solarcompanies.com - a directory of solar energy and solar power companies. Visit http://www.solarcompanies.com/articles to read more solar electricity articles.

Tags: energy survey, energy saver, solar power, wind power, save gas, save energy, save money, reduce power, cheap electricity, conserving energy

During the winter, your heat bill can sky-rocket. You can save money on heating by following these simple strategies in this literature. Even if you can save a few cents here and there, it can add up significantly.

Most people leave heat on throughout the day when they’re at work or school. This definitely drives up the cost of your heating bill. Turn off the heat when you’re not home. Even if you’re gone for a few hours, turn it off. You really don’t need to leave it on since you aren’t there. Also, only heat rooms that you are using. For example, if you are going to bed, turn off the heat in the living room.

Check around your apartment for any cracks or openings and fill them in. Find them and caulk them immediately. This also means making sure that your windows are closed. Don’t leave windows open in the winter. Buy portable heaters. These are very useful since you can bring them around the apartment. There are good portable heaters that don’t drain too much electricity. Consider electric blankets. These are pretty handy because they plug directly into your outlets. You can control the temperature of the electric blanket as well. They are definitely less expensive than heating an entire apartment or room.

You could also take the traditional path and wear more clothing. I suggest long-sleeve shirts and long pants. This way, you can still have the heat on but at a much lower temperature. Some people walk around in tank-tops in the middle of the winter while blasting their heat to 100 degrees. Maybe they should put on something more reasonable and turn down the heat to a comfortable 65 degrees. No wonder their heating bill is so high…

By following these suggestions, you will trim off your heating bill by at least half. It’s all about properly managing and balancing your heat usage with what’s available and at your disposal.

Tags: powersaver, solar panels, plug and save, cheap energy, energy saver, how to save energy, cut electric bill, save fuel, conserving energy, save energy

There are many reasons why it?s a good idea to save energy in the home these days. To begin with, prices of gas and electricity in Europe have been very high in recent times, and so you can save a lot of money by making your home more efficient. As well as saving money, we all need to do our bit to help fight climate change by reducing the amount of energy we use. Finally, some of the things you can do to save energy in your home, such as installing insulation, can make your home warmer and more comfortable in winter.

The U.K. government and some local authorities are keen to encourage people to save energy in order to help it meet European targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to help people cut the amount they have to pay in energy bills. They offer big grants to help pay for home energy efficiency, such as installing insulation or more efficient central heating. However, you need to know what is available and how to apply

Almost everyone is eligible to receive a major contribution to the cost of installing insulation in their home, or else a more efficient heating system that saves energy. The main way you can do this is by arranging for your insulation or heating upgrade to be done by one of the major national insulation or central heating companies or, alternatively through a major energy supplier. You first need to arrange for a quote from them, and in the quote they should let you know how much you can qualify for in grants. If you agree to the quote, they will then take care of all the paperwork and administration as well as completing the work for you.

Many local authorities will also make a contribution to the cost of insulation and heating improvements. You should look on your local authority web-site, or contact them by phone to see what grants are available specifically from them and how you can apply.

Finally, it is quite possible that you will be able to get all of this work done for free. The UK Government provides up to ?2,700 to households where a member of the household is receiving certain benefits. In England the scheme is called ?Warm Front?, In Northern Ireland it is ?Warm Homes?, in Scotland ?Warm Deal?, and in Wales it is the ?Home Energy Efficiency Scheme?. If you receive any benefits, you should contact your energy supplier or a major insulation or central heating installer, and they can tell you what kind of work you can have done for free. When you have the work done, they should also take care of the administration for you, leaving you free to enjoy a more comfortable home and lower heating bills.

Tags: reduce power, plugandsave, reduce energy, cheap energy, cheap electricity, save fuel, wind power, powersaver, plug and save, save power

Because electrical lighting consumes nearly 15% of a household’s electricity use, you may wish to learn about some energy efficient lighting alternatives. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are one you should consider.

Their design blends the energy efficiency of fluorescent lighting with the convenience and interchangeability of incandescent fixtures. CFLs will fit nearly any fixture designed for an incandescent bulb.

CFLs can replace incandescent lights approximately 3-4 times their wattage, which means you can save up to 75% of the lighting energy. Although CFLs cost 10-20 times more than comparable incandescent bulbs, they last 10-15 times as long. In other words, over the long term you save lots of money by paying more up front.

Compact fluorescent lamps work a lot like regular fluorescent lamps. They’re comprised of two parts: a magnetic or electronic ballast, and a gas-filled tube. The gas inside the tube glows with ultraviolet light when electricity from the ballast runs through it. This in turn triggers a white phosphor coating on the inside of the tube, emitting visible light all the way through the surface of the tube.

The type of compact fluorescent lamps which use magnetic ballasts flicker when they start, like regular fluorescents do. They also weigh more than CFL’s with electronic ballasts, which may make them too heavy for some light fixtures. Electronic ballasts are more expensive, but light immediately. They are also more efficient than magnetic ballasts. Most currently available CFLs have electronic ballasts. Because compact fluorescent lamps are designed to operate within certain temperature ranges, temperatures outside the range cause reduced light output. A CFL’s temperature range can found printed on most lamp packages. Although there are models offered for outdoor use, most are for indoor applications. You can install outdoor CFLs in enclosed fixtures to reduce the effects of colder temperatures and wind chill.

This type of lighting is at its most cost effective in areas where lights are left on for long periods of time. In locations where lights are turned on for short periods of time, such as in closets and pantries, an incandescent bulb may be a better choice. Since compact fluorescent lamps do not need to be changed often, they are perfect for hard-to-reach areas like ceiling fixtures.

Try out a CFL for a test run and see how much energy you save.

Carlo Morelli writes for OnlineTips.Org, where you can read tips on adding insulation to your attic, outdoor steel gazebos and other home/garden topics.

Tags: save energy, reduce energy, cheap energy, wind power, how to save energy, save gas, plugandsave, save fuel, cheap electricity, energy survey

Batteries, or dry cells are manufactured to supply steady and uninterrupted D.C power to different modern day gadgets that run with electrical energy. Batteries are generally lead-acid cells. Over 15 billion are produced every year and are sold worldwide. Many of these are alkaline-batteries which are discarded after being used for a single time. But there are also some which can be charged again and again after every use and are known as “rechargeable batteries”. These should be kept at fully charged condition so as to meet the D.C. power demand whenever needed. Therefore suitable battery chargers are required to charge those types.

The different types of battery chargers are:

1) Medical 2) Automotive 3) Commercial 4) Industrial

These may be stationary or portable.

These rechargeable batteries are of high capacities. Rechargeable batteries, like Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) or Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries can be charged several hundreds of times and last far longer period in high drain devices.

By using these repeatable charging batteries people can save tons of money. When the charge goes down below a certain level it stops supplying D.C power to electrical instruments, then the battery needs to be charged to regain its capacity of supplying D.C power. Low quality chargers can even damage batteries and shorten their lifetime. The charger takes current directly from electric lines and induces the electric charge into the batteries.

The charging of these depends on different factors such as its capacity, its age, its initial charges, etc. Different chargers vary widely in this matter. There is a tendency of generating heat during the charging of rechargeable batteries which is one of the most commonly cited factors for the damage of these battery. The heat mainly generates due to the internal resistance and chemical reaction of the rechargeable batteries. Excessive current can also damage the battery after it is fully charged.

There are some automatic chargers which initially charge at a very high rate and continuously monitor the cell voltage to reduce or shut off the charging when the battery tends to charge fully. The battery chargers can take 1 hour to 8 hour of time for charging depending upon the design and ratings of these chargers. There are also different visual indications like LED on the battery chargers. These indicators indicate that the rechargeable type batteries should not get overcharged and help them preventing them from overheating.

Nowadays there are wide applications of rechargeable styled batteries. These types are even used in power generating stations as a substitute of D.C current and emergency Lighting System. They are also used in vehicles like cars, trolleys, bus, etc. There are also some battery driven cars which run on streets completely based on battery-power and not on fuel.

The use of rechargeable batteries can also be found in laptops, IPods, cellular phones, electric wheelchairs, etc. Therefore suitable chargers are essential for the charging of these re-chargeable batteries.

Tyson J Stevenson creates useful articles & reviews on a wide variety of everyday subjects. Expect to see his name often. View further samples of his work at HubbuH or at Chargers

Tags: cheap fuel, save power, cut electric bill, wind power, plugandsave, how to save energy, energy survey, save energy, powersaver, energy saver

With the escalating price of gas, buying a fuel-efficient car makes a lot of sense. Approximately 15% of new car buyers reject a model due to poor gas mileage. Nearly 40% of those consumers who eliminate a full-size SUV due to gas mileage ultimately purchase a midsize SUV instead, while nearly 20% purchase another model altogether. (J.D. Power and Associates, Sept. 2004.)

But even if you don’t currently own a fuel-efficient car, there are lots of ways you can improve the fuel efficiency of your present vehicle until you’re ready to purchase one of the best gas mileage cars. Your personal driving habits have a big effect on your fuel use and costs. You can better manage your vehicle operating costs as well as minimize the emissions it produces by driving less and more efficiently. Here are some tips to help.

First, you need to know what kind of mileage you are getting. Calculate this by filling up your tank and recording the odometer reading-or you can reset your trip gauge to zero. Next time you get gas, fill the tank again and divide the miles you traveled between fill ups by the quantity of gas you bought on this fill-up. This is your car’s miles per gallon or mpg. If it’s pretty dismal, here’s how to turn your fuel guzzler into a fuel saver:

Drive slower: The aerodynamic drag on your car increases noticeably the faster you drive. The drag force at 70 mph is about double that at 50 mph, so keeping speed down can increase your mileage considerably. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds over 60 mph. Each 5 mph above 60 mph is like paying an additional $.10/gallon for gas. Observing the speed limit is also safer for everyone.

Maintain a constant speed: Every time you speed up, you use energy, some of which is wasted when you slow the car down again. By maintaining a constant speed, especially driving the posted speed limit, you will improve your fuel efficiency. Just by increasing your highway cruising speed from 62 mph to 74 mph you increase fuel consumption by about 20%! Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and will usually save gas.

Drive gently: Aggressive driving-speeding, rapid acceleration and hard braking-wastes gas. These bad habits can lower your gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and 5% in the city. In addition, reasonable driving is safer for you and others, so you may be saving more than gas money. Consider using overdrive gears on the highway, as this decreases engine speed, reducing fuel usage and engine wear.

Avoid Excess Idling: Idling gets 0 miles/gallon and wastes fuel and money, is hard on the engine and adds to toxic emissions. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than those with smaller engines. Turn off your engine if you think you will be stopped for more than 30 seconds. However, if you’re driving a fuel-efficient car like a hybrid, your electric motor is on when you idle, so you’re not wasting any gas at all!

Minimize air conditioning: Using your air conditioner in hot weather can increase your fuel consumption by more than 20% in city driving. Whenever possible, close all windows and use the air vents to circulate air instead of air conditioning. You will improve your fuel efficiency in summer by minimizing the use of air conditioning and using your car’s flow-through ventilation, especially on the highway. If you must use the air conditioning, set the controls to a level that lets the system cycle, and turn it off once the interior of car is cooled down enough. Also consider such options a sunroof and tinted glass to keep the car cool.

Keep Your Car in Shape: Maintaining your vehicle in top working condition saves you fuel and money, and reduces long-term maintenance costs while minimizing harmful emissions.

Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned-Getting regular tune-ups when your car is out of tune or has failed an emissions test may improve gas mileage by about 4%. If your car has a faulty oxygen sensor and you have it fixed, gas mileage could improve as much as 40%. Make sure the spark plugs, if you have them, are firing properly, replacing them when necessary. Have the engine timing checked for accuracy.
Check & Replace Air Filters Regularly-Replacing a clogged air filter could improve a car’s gas mileage by as much as 10%. Additionally, it will protect your engine from impurities. Change this more often if you live in a dusty climate, drive on dirt or gravel roads or if you drive off-road for fun.
Keep Tires Properly Inflated-Your gas mileage can increase by about 3.3% if you keep tires inflated to their proper pressure. It takes more effort and gas for the engine to propel an underinflated tire than a correctly inflated one-which provide less road-resistance, thereby improving fuel efficiency. Beware over-inflation, though, which can lead to handling problems and uneven tire wear. Check tire pressure on a regular basis, looking for signs of uneven wear or embedded objects that can cause air leaks. In winter, check tire pressure if there is a sharp change in temperature, as cold weather decreases air pressure in the tires.
Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil-Fuel efficiency can improve by 1-2% if you use the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. Also, if you change your own oil, look for motor oil rated as “Energy Conserving” to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.
Check Which Gas to Use-Choose the correct octane gas for your car by checking your owner’s manual. It’s not necessary to buy the “super” high-octane gas unless your car manufacturer recommends it or your engine knocks without it. While you won’t do harm to the engine, you will be paying more than you need to, since premium (highest octane) gas sells for an average of 17 cents more per gallon than regular gas. Only about 6% of cars sold in the U.S. need premium gas, according to the AAA. Also, avoid topping off your gas tank, since in warmer weather, fuel expansion can cause an overflow and you’ll be wasting precious fuel. You want to be a fuel saver-not a fuel waster!
Planning & Combining Trips: Combining errands to do together and in similar areas saves time and money. Several short trips starting from a cold engine can use twice as much fuel as a longer multi-purpose trip that covers the same distance when the engine is warmed up. With a little advance planning, you can avoid high traffic areas, road construction, retracing your route and ultimately reduce the distance you travel while running errands. You’ll not only save on fuel, but also reduce wear and tear on your car.

Commuting: If you can alternate your work hours to avoid rush hour, you’ll spend less time sitting in traffic and burn up less fuel. For stop and go traffic, drive your best gas mileage car if you own more than one vehicle. Contemplate telecommuting (working from home) when your job permits. If you can, participate in carpools and ride-share programs. You can cut your weekly fuel costs in half and save wear on your car if you take turns sharing driving with others.

Traveling: A roof rack or carrier affords additional cargo space and helps out when you have a smaller car. However, a loaded roof rack decreases fuel efficiency by 5%. Reduce the wind resistance and increase your fuel efficiency by putting objects inside the trunk when possible. Also, remove any unnecessary items, especially heavy ones, as an extra 100 lbs. in the trunk reduces a car’s fuel efficiency by about 1 to 2%.

2004 AllAboutHybridCars.com. Any reproduction of this article in any manner is prohibited without the consent of AllAboutHybridCars.com. We give permission to use this article on your website or e-zine if you reproduce it exactly as it appears here including this notice. Visit www.AllAboutHybridCars.com/eBook.htm to order your FREE report, “7 Critical Facts Everyone should Know Before Buying a Hybrid Car.”

But even if you don’t currently own a fuel-efficient car, there are lots of ways you can improve the fuel efficiency of your present vehicle until you’re ready to purchase one of the best gas mileage cars. Your personal driving habits have a big effect on your fuel use and costs. You can better manage your vehicle operating costs as well as minimize the emissions it produces by driving less and more efficiently. Here are some tips to help.

First, you need to know what kind of mileage you are getting. Calculate this by filling up your tank and recording the odometer reading-or you can reset your trip gauge to zero. Next time you get gas, fill the tank again and divide the miles you traveled between fill ups by the quantity of gas you bought on this fill-up. This is your car’s miles per gallon or mpg. If it’s pretty dismal, here’s how to turn your fuel guzzler into a fuel saver:

Drive slower: The aerodynamic drag on your car increases noticeably the faster you drive. The drag force at 70 mph is about double that at 50 mph, so keeping speed down can increase your mileage considerably. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds over 60 mph. Each 5 mph above 60 mph is like paying an additional $.10/gallon for gas. Observing the speed limit is also safer for everyone.

Maintain a constant speed: Every time you speed up, you use energy, some of which is wasted when you slow the car down again. By maintaining a constant speed, especially driving the posted speed limit, you will improve your fuel efficiency. Just by increasing your highway cruising speed from 62 mph to 74 mph you increase fuel consumption by about 20%! Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and will usually save gas.

Drive gently: Aggressive driving-speeding, rapid acceleration and hard braking-wastes gas. These bad habits can lower your gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and 5% in the city. In addition, reasonable driving is safer for you and others, so you may be saving more than gas money. Consider using overdrive gears on the highway, as this decreases engine speed, reducing fuel usage and engine wear.

Avoid Excess Idling: Idling gets 0 miles/gallon and wastes fuel and money, is hard on the engine and adds to toxic emissions. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than those with smaller engines. Turn off your engine if you think you will be stopped for more than 30 seconds. However, if you’re driving a fuel-efficient car like a hybrid, your electric motor is on when you idle, so you’re not wasting any gas at all!

Minimize air conditioning: Using your air conditioner in hot weather can increase your fuel consumption by more than 20% in city driving. Whenever possible, close all windows and use the air vents to circulate air instead of air conditioning. You will improve your fuel efficiency in summer by minimizing the use of air conditioning and using your car’s flow-through ventilation, especially on the highway. If you must use the air conditioning, set the controls to a level that lets the system cycle, and turn it off once the interior of car is cooled down enough. Also consider such options a sunroof and tinted glass to keep the car cool.

Keep Your Car in Shape: Maintaining your vehicle in top working condition saves you fuel and money, and reduces long-term maintenance costs while minimizing harmful emissions.

Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned-Getting regular tune-ups when your car is out of tune or has failed an emissions test may improve gas mileage by about 4%. If your car has a faulty oxygen sensor and you have it fixed, gas mileage could improve as much as 40%. Make sure the spark plugs, if you have them, are firing properly, replacing them when necessary. Have the engine timing checked for accuracy.
Check & Replace Air Filters Regularly-Replacing a clogged air filter could improve a car’s gas mileage by as much as 10%. Additionally, it will protect your engine from impurities. Change this more often if you live in a dusty climate, drive on dirt or gravel roads or if you drive off-road for fun.
Keep Tires Properly Inflated-Your gas mileage can increase by about 3.3% if you keep tires inflated to their proper pressure. It takes more effort and gas for the engine to propel an underinflated tire than a correctly inflated one-which provide less road-resistance, thereby improving fuel efficiency. Beware over-inflation, though, which can lead to handling problems and uneven tire wear. Check tire pressure on a regular basis, looking for signs of uneven wear or embedded objects that can cause air leaks. In winter, check tire pressure if there is a sharp change in temperature, as cold weather decreases air pressure in the tires.
Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil-Fuel efficiency can improve by 1-2% if you use the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. Also, if you change your own oil, look for motor oil rated as “Energy Conserving” to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.
Check Which Gas to Use-Choose the correct octane gas for your car by checking your owner’s manual. It’s not necessary to buy the “super” high-octane gas unless your car manufacturer recommends it or your engine knocks without it. While you won’t do harm to the engine, you will be paying more than you need to, since premium (highest octane) gas sells for an average of 17 cents more per gallon than regular gas. Only about 6% of cars sold in the U.S. need premium gas, according to the AAA. Also, avoid topping off your gas tank, since in warmer weather, fuel expansion can cause an overflow and you’ll be wasting precious fuel. You want to be a fuel saver-not a fuel waster!
Planning & Combining Trips: Combining errands to do together and in similar areas saves time and money. Several short trips starting from a cold engine can use twice as much fuel as a longer multi-purpose trip that covers the same distance when the engine is warmed up. With a little advance planning, you can avoid high traffic areas, road construction, retracing your route and ultimately reduce the distance you travel while running errands. You’ll not only save on fuel, but also reduce wear and tear on your car.

Commuting: If you can alternate your work hours to avoid rush hour, you’ll spend less time sitting in traffic and burn up less fuel. For stop and go traffic, drive your best gas mileage car if you own more than one vehicle. Contemplate telecommuting (working from home) when your job permits. If you can, participate in carpools and ride-share programs. You can cut your weekly fuel costs in half and save wear on your car if you take turns sharing driving with others.

Traveling: A roof rack or carrier affords additional cargo space and helps out when you have a smaller car. However, a loaded roof rack decreases fuel efficiency by 5%. Reduce the wind resistance and increase your fuel efficiency by putting objects inside the trunk when possible. Also, remove any unnecessary items, especially heavy ones, as an extra 100 lbs. in the trunk reduces a car’s fuel efficiency by about 1 to 2%.

2004 AllAboutHybridCars.com. Any reproduction of this article in any manner is prohibited without the consent of AllAboutHybridCars.com. We give permission to use this article on your website or e-zine if you reproduce it exactly as it appears here including this notice. Visit www.AllAboutHybridCars.com/eBook.htm to order your FREE report, “7 Critical Facts Everyone should Know Before Buying a Hybrid Car.”

Tags: plug and save, cheap electricity, energy saver, cheap energy, save energy, cut electric bill, solar power, wind power, save power, how to save energy

When you bought your swimming pool, you knew the summer fun involved additional costs. First in line is the cost of the pool. Next there is maintenance and pool chemicals. Then you received your summer electric bills.

You cannot eliminate the electric costs of running your pool, but you can minimize them. Swimming pool pumps consume a lot of electricity, second only to home air conditioning. Is your swimming pool pump sized correctly? The larger the pump the greater your maintenance costs will be. Most private residential pools require .75 horsepower pumps or less. Consider the following chart.

  Hours   .5 HP	.75 HP	1 HP	1.5 HP	2 HP  4	70	105	133	184	239  6	105	157	200	276	358  8	140	209	267	368	477  10	174	262	334	460	597  12	209	314	400	552	716  kWh per month ? multiply by your electric rate for dollar figure  Source: San Diego Gas & Electric Co.

Reducing the size of your next swimming pool pump by even .25 horsepower will have a significant impact on your electric use. But you say you need a large pump to circulate and filter the water frequently. Generally if your swimming pool water recycles once every 24 hours, it should be adequate.

Many pool owners run the pump much longer than necessary. Four to six hours a day is usually sufficient. Remember you don?t have to run the pump constantly for this 4-6 hour period. If you tend to get bugs collecting overnight, run the pump for a few hours at mid-morning then again for a few hours in the afternoon or early evening. In between your filtering, use your skimmer net for any surface debris that gets in.

Make sure to monitor and adjust chemical levels as required. If the water is properly balanced and is still cloudy with your reduced filtering, add filtering time in .5 hour increments until you reach an optimal filtering time. Any amount of filtering time reduced will save you money. It?s worth a little trial and error to find your lowest required recirculation time. Do the math, and then save some money.

If your current swimming pool pump is nearing replacement, consider a high efficiency, two speed pump at the correct horsepower rating. With a two speed pump you normally run the pump on low except for vacuuming and backwashing. The low speed is much quieter and consumes much less electricity.

Tags: cut electric bill, solar panels, reduce energy, reduce power, how to save energy, save energy, cheap electricity, save money, solar power, wind power

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, solar energy systems are the best way to generating power because they do not cause any pollution or noise. In fact, an average 6-kilowatt solar energy system will save about 30 pounds of nitrogen oxides, 40 pounds of sulfur dioxide and more than 17,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. Just how big is that? That?s equal to the carbon absorption of two acres of trees or the carbon dioxide emitted by two cars!

Many home and industrial users of solar energy systems find that solar energy is a sensible investment because almost of them experience positive cash flows within a year of installing solar energy systems in their homes or buildings. As long as a structure has adequate solar exposure, a solar energy system can be successfully installed and run.

Solar energy is apparently the future ? probably the third generation of power sourcing. Developers are finding new ways to make it more affordable for average users, and the government is helping out by providing tax incentives to people who use it. California, for example, gives rebates of $2.80 per watt to solar energy users. The incentives are even higher for residents and businesses in New Jersey and New York — the rebate level in these parts if the country is currently pegged at almost $5 per watt. If you don?t have enough money but would like to install solar energy system in your home, you can even get a federal tax credit worth $2,000 to get your started.

Experts advise people who are interested in ?solarizing? their homes to first analyze the solar exposure of their home or business building before spending money on rather expensive solar panels. It also makes sense to study and plan mounting and electrical interconnection issues before signing up.

Tags: cheap energy, cut electric bill, energy saver, reduce energy, energy survey, powersaver, plug and save, reduce power, save fuel, how to save energy

Solar power is one of the cleanest ways to produce energy. The solar panels convert the energy of the sun into energy that we can use–with no negative impact on the environment and no harmful byproducts. When used for residential purposes, solar power can provide hot water, warm pools and room heating. We can also get energy to cook with. Though installation of solar power equipment for residential purposes requires an investment, it pays back over a reliably short period of time. If your home is supplied by solar power that covers only 50% to 70% of your power needs, the savings are substantial, over a period of time.

The benefit of solar power systems is that they can be installed to complement the existing, conventional power systems already in our homes. During times of extreme heat or cold, solar heating and cooling systems can be supplemented with conventional heating and cooling systems.

Using Professional Help

Depending on the type of solar power chosen, a do it yourselfer can easily install a home water heating system for $2,000 or less. You can choose systems that can store power in batteries. The stored power can be used later for heating, cooling, cooking, lighting and uses. Many DIY-ers are quite creative in using re-cycled materials to set up their own solar power generating systems. Obviously this comes at a reduced cost.

However, building your own solar power panels from online designs, using recycled materials, carry no guarantee against performance. Commercially available solar panels, which you can install yourself to save money, will still be covered by a warranty.

If you are all thumbs, you can always use the services of a qualified and licensed professional contractor to set up a solar power system for your home. This will cost more than doing it yourself, of course, but like all solar power systems, it will pay for itself over time. Make sure that your contractor offers a warranty against assured performance standards.

Most people who install solar power in their residential homes do it to heat water for their pools. Normally, large rooftop arrays of solar photovoltaic panels are installed to heat pool water and provide heated water for other household needs.

Residential Solar Power and Local Regulations

Before deciding to install solar power in your home, you should check the local regulations. Some states offer rebates or or tax credits. If your solar power system generates more electricity than you can use, it can be fed back into the local power grid and your electric account credited.

Cha-ching!

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Each room of a house requires different levels of general lighting and task lighting. Ideally, general or ambient lighting which is the base level of lighting for the whole room, should be as even as possible. Many home owners today are concerned with how they can reduce artificial lighting for home construction so that the home’s artificial lighting can be as practical and energy-efficient as possible.

The ideal way to approach this issue is to develop a lighting plan. This lighting plan should include both the location and the specifications of the fixtures and controls respective to the architectural plans. Decorative, task, focal, and safety lighting should be addressed in the lighting plan and specifications, along with the ambient lighting prescribed in the codes.

For home owners seeking guidance this can be retrieved from professional lighting designers. Typically, these designers are architects or interior designers with a specialty in lighting. If you are interested in locating a lighting designer in your area then simply contact the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America or the International Association of Lighting Designers.

Another way that a home owner can actively reduce the use of artificial lighting throughout his home is by the use of fluorescent fixtures. Where existing incandescent fixtures can’t or won’t be replaced with fluorescent fixtures, compact fluorescent bulbs can be used to reduce the electricity usage. As an example, a 60-watt incandescent bulb can be replaced with an 11 to 15 watt compact fluorescent, allowing for roughly a 76% reduction. Although compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) cost more than incandescent light bulbs, in reality each bulb saves a great deal of cash over its lifetime. In order to maximize their benefit, use CFLs in rooms with the most traffic. For lights that are used for only short periods of time, specify incandescents with dimmer switches.

Adding dimmers to lighting switches allows several lighting functions, such as task lighting at full illumination and decorative or safety lighting at lower settings. This is especially good as dimming increases lamp life and saves energy because less electrical wattage is used. Even incandescent lamps last longer when a dimmer is installed. For fluorescent fixtures these require either dimmable ballast or additional wiring. Dimmer switches and other lighting controls are rated for total controlled wattage, type of wiring, and type of fixture such as electronic ballast, incandescent, or other.

Some fluorescent lights and fixtures may also be put on dimmers. The benefit of improved artificial lighting allows homeowners to save lots of cash on their electricity bills. For this reason, it is important that home owners take the time to implement methods that will help reduce artificial lighting. This should ideally be done during the construction stages as it can be neatly done.

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