Jan
30
Learning how to save does not always refer to saving money as most of us understand. There are a lot of things we need to save, things we tend to neglect in our day to day activities.
Saving energy has been the forefront of most government activities. Never failing to remind us that if we save energy we save our resources as well. Undeniably, resources are depleting but the demands are continuously rising. Environmentalist agreed that further exploration of our natural resources to its limits will risk a total damage and exploitation.
But things are different now. More and more people are becoming aware how important energy saving is. The more they save energy, the more they can stretch their budget. By simply turning appliances off when not in use or walking to a next block grocery store can greatly contribute to energy conservation.
Saving energy does not mean you take your whole house down to its lowest energy consumption. If you and your neighborhood will contribute in each of your own little ways, the results would be a huge percentage slash of energy consumption.
Electricity is one of the most hotly debated commodities. Without it our life would be miserable. Without it we cannot perform things magically. Being a fixed part of our monthly bill, it is wise that we all know how to save electricity. Here are good old tips you can do. If you are away for a longer period of time, you can ‘turn off’ or unplug your appliances or lighting fixtures. You may also consider replacing your old appliances with energy-saving devices. These intelligent items consumed far less energy. Most of them carry labels being an energy saver.
Refrigerators, stoves and air conditioning systems perform well when they are clean on regular basis. Employ qualified servicemen to check and repair your appliances immediately. Doing this may both save your life and property.
There are many ways you can save electricity and energy. The time to start is right now — right in your very own home. Conservation of energy is not a one-man show and therefore needs all the participation you can get from each of your own family member. No matter how far you can get in saving energy but no one is doing his fair share then all your efforts will be futile.
Saving energy means saving money and in turn saves the environment too.
Tags: save gas, how to save energy, cheap energy, save power, plug and save, save money, energy survey, wind power, cheap fuel, reduce energy
Jan
30
Energy Saving Tips: - Solar Power Saves on Electricity Bills
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A typical solar system will reduce the need for conventional water heating by about two-thirds. Often the plumbing from a solar heater connects to a houses existing water heater, which stays inactive as long as the water coming in is hot or hotter than the temperature setting on the indoor water heater. When it falls below this temperature, the homes water heater can kick in to make up the difference. Incorporating passive solar designs can reduce heating bills by as much as 50 percent. High-temperature solar water heaters can provide energy-efficient hot water and hot water heat for large commercial and industrial facilities.
Many large commercial buildings can use solar collectors to provide more than just hot water. Solar process heating systems can be used to heat these buildings. A solar ventilation system can be used in cold climates to preheat air as it enters a building. And the heat from a solar collector can even be used to provide energy for cooling a building. The Co-operative Insurance Building in Manchester has the largest commercial solar system in the UK. I think it looks very futuristic and cool!
You can generate electricity for a single building like the co-op but there is the potential in the future to generate enough power for a power plant. The author of a recent Christian Aid report, John McGhie, said that for $50bn (?26bn) the whole of sub-Saharan Africa could be turned into a solar-generated economy. And $50bn is exactly the same amount as the continent would have to pay on extra fuel bills from oil,” he said.
Electrical retailer Currys is about to add a new item to its usual array of washing machines and other white goods - solar panels. Currys is taking a risk as the solar panels will cost far more than anything else the store sells. They say it will cost the average three bedroom household about ?9,000 to buy and install solar panels - compared to ?16,000 in specialist stores. There are also grants available through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme.
What other solar gadgets can you buy?
Well, Sharp, the world’s number one solar cell producer, has just turned its hand to glass studded with LED lights and cells. Instead of generating enough electricity to run a home, it creates a psychedelic light show at night, powered entirely by the day’s sun.
You can also buy solar chargers for iPods and phones. Other recent outlandish additions include a solar-powered tent, scooter and LED house numbers, while mundane ones like bike lights, torches and radios have been around for years.
People can also use captured passive solar heat to cook food. A basic cooker consists of an insulated box with a glass top. Heat from concentrated sunlight gets trapped in the box and can be used to heat food enclosed in the box. These have not been very popular to date.
Tags: powersaver, cheap electricity, solar power, wind power, save power, cut electric bill, conserving energy, save money, plugandsave, energy saver
Jan
29
Energy Saving Tips: - How to Use Alternative Energy at Home
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About solar power.
Solar power is becoming much more widely available for the home consumer and as a consequence solar powered lights and solar powered features can be seen in many gardens and even in houses but often they have their limitations. Nevertheless solar power is still a viable energy source for your home and personal needs. There are grants available to have PV tiles fitted to your house as well as the grid tie systems that are associated with them. If you havent already looked into solar power as an alternative to buying all your power from the grid then do a little research. Not only will you be doing your bit for the environment but will it might just save you money on your energy bills.
About PV tiles.
Photovoltaic tiles are solar tiles used to transform the heat from the sun into electrical power and are becoming much more popular all around the world to power homes as well as heat water, heat your house or to heat your pool. Governments are beginning to offer grants to interested households and they are doing this as part of their commitment to producing more energy from renewable sources.
Photovoltaic tiles are available that look almost identical to normal roof tiles and with the grants they arent much dearer, if theyre any dearer at all. Having PV tiles fitted means you can either use the heat collected to warm your house, warm your pool or even to create electricity to power your house.
Grid tie systems.
If you have PV tiles fitted you should also get a grid tie system. This means that you can actually sell your unused solar power back to the grid, meaning that in summer months you might not just save money but you could also be making a small profit. You only need a small amount of machinery attached to your tiles and virtually any loft has more than enough room to store the transformers and other equipment required.
Other renewable energy uses around your home.
As well as using PV tiles there are other factors. If you are really eco friendly there are small wind turbines available that will produce energy for your home but the present level of technology means that much of the initial energy created is wasted before it can be turned into a useful power source.
You can collect rainwater using rain butts and use it for watering your garden or for cleaning your house. While this doesnt create energy to power your house it will mean that little bit less stress on your local reservoir.
About the author:
For more more information about alternative energy please visit http://www.alternative-energy-tips.com
Tags: plug and save, plugandsave, cheap fuel, cut electric bill, solar panels, energy saver, wind power, save energy, reduce power, save money
Jan
28
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: save power, plugandsave, save money, energy saver, save energy, solar panels, wind power, conserving energy, how to save energy, cheap energy
Jan
27
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!
About the Author:
http://www.real-estate-magazine.com http://www.tech-tips-now.com
Tags: energy saver, save fuel, save money, cheap electricity, save energy, cut electric bill, reduce energy, solar power, solar panels, cheap fuel
Jan
27
Energy Saving Tips: - Electricity Rates Increased For 2007 - Terror At Home! Money Saving Tips Everyone Can Use
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How to beat the increased electricity rates of 2007!
You have seen it coming, even heard the news - Electric rates in some states have increased 58% in 2006-2007!
This is absolutely absurd - not only have we faced climbing gas prices for our vehicles now our homes will cost more to run. You know this because if you have gone looking for new appliances your checking the energy rating and using this as a key feature to compare products. You watch TV and companies are advertising energy saving windows and doors. Gone are the days that “double pane windows” are meaningless - in 2007 we are more conscious about our energy consumption, many because changes in our environment have shown us that the great thinkers of the past were right, we are changing our planet, Glaciers are melting in the summer, winters are colder then ever and to top it all off energy is at it’s peak cost for many.
The key to keeping costs down is not only to use less energy; this can be done in a number of ways.
- Turn off your lights in rooms when not in use.
- Replace the traditional light bulbs throughout your house with energy saving bulbs.
- If you have separate climate control in each of your rooms, turn the heat/AC down or off in the rooms that you use less often.
- Turn off your computer when you aren’t using it. Computers on the market today come standard with larger power supplies and your savings in 2007 could be double what they were 3 years ago.
- In the winter turn your thermostats down to 50 degrees when your not at home
- Buy Energy Star appliances.
- Replace old windows with new double pane glass windows that keep the cold out in the winter and the heat out in the summer.
- Replace the doors in your home with better fitting doors. Houses shift a small amount over time and can offset your doors. Even a small offset 1/16″ to 1/8″ leaves room for the outside air to come inside.
These are only a few ideas that can start saving you money on your electricity bill, but there is something that you can do that will save you money, help the planet and isn’t doesn’t cost you any more then you are currently paying with electricity - convert to green power - go solar!
The problem with Solar in the past is it required a significant out of pocket investment for a complete Solar Power System for your residential home. Costs ranged anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000! Not too many people have that kind of money to invest so solar power for your home has been out of the question, that is about to change!
As stated on a popular website (www.archerworks.com/solar)
“There is a company with a long term solution to the solar dilemma. They offer solar rental and the cost is the same as paying your electric bill! The greatest advantage is you lock in your 2005 rates (If you become a customer before February 28, 2007) and your rates will never change for the life of your contract - up to 25years! If you don’t become a customer by February 28, you can lock in your current electric rate for the life of your contract - up to 25 years!
Read more on how this company is changing the way you look at solar and have made it affordable for EVERYONE! With no equipment to buy, no installation charge and no increased spending! This is one solution that shouldn’t be passed up. Visit www.archerworks.com/solar
The time to make the change is now, whether it is making small upgrades throughout your home or converting to solar. The planet and your pocket book will thank you!
Tags: save fuel, save power, save energy, save gas, powersaver, plugandsave, solar power, reduce power, reduce energy, cheap energy
Jan
26
Energy Saving Tips: - Six Easy Steps to Buying a Hybrid Car
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Buying a hybrid car is a big decision, even more so nowadays because there are many more hybrid cars and hybrid trucks to chooes from. Having a larger choice is both a good and bad thing. Not only do you have to decide which company to buy from but you also have to decide between getting a hybrid car or a hybrid truck or even a hybrid SUV. The decision can be simplified by knowing why you’re buying the hybrid; the issue of saving gas mileage versus just getting a hybrid vehicle in order to say you are driving a hybrid.
Hybrid cars combine two or more sources of power, usually consisting of an electric motor that regenerates energy through braking power and a standard gasoline engine, Because of the regenerated electric power, you are able to use much less gasoline to get where you want to go, which is how a hybrid vehicle saves you money. A hybrid is not an electric vehicle, and does not have to be recharged at night or anything like that. A hybrid is simply a gas powered car with electrical motor assistance.
Many forms of hybrid cars, hybrid trucks, and hybrid SUV’s are currently on the market or coming to market. These include but are not limited to the Toyota Prius, the Lexus GS 450h Hybrid, the Honda Civic Hybrid and Honda Accord Hybrid, the Toyota Highlander and 2007 Toyota Camry hybrid, and the Ford Escape Hybrid SUV.
Because of the large influx of hybrid cars, the cost premium of buying one has started to go down. President Bush even said that to cure our addiction to oil, we must invest in hybrid cars and other energy technology, so now is the time to consider buying one, especially with the world’s oil fields being so unstable and gasoline rising almost daily.
Which leads us to the key question, how do you best go about buying a hybrid car? Of course the start of that answer lies in 6 simple steps, which I have titled HYBRID. * H - How to know if buying a hybrid is right for you. * Y–Your personal driving habits might determine your choice * B–Before you even think about buying, be aware of your options * R–Research thoroughly the manufacturer and dealer to get the best price * I–Investigate other dealers, and also check online, it may be cheaper to buy in another state and have the hybrid car shipped to you * D–Don’t ever go by sticker price. A MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) is just that, a Suggestion, so if you have done all the previous steps you will be armed sometimes with even more information than the salesman, thus allowing you to have the upper hand in the negotiation.
Read more about Hybrid Cars
Tracy Robinson is President of Zen Solutions - providing eco-friendly advice worldwide. More Hybrid Car Information can be found at http://www.HowToBuyAHybrid.com/
Tags: solar power, cheap energy, powersaver, plugandsave, cheap electricity, energy saver, conserving energy, energy survey, reduce power, cheap fuel
Jan
26
Energy Saving Tips: - Cut Heating Costs By Using Indirect Gain In Your Home Design
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Heating costs are pretty high these days and only expected to get higher in the future as fossil fuels become more scarce. Incorporate indirect gain in your home design and you will save a bundle.
Indirect gain is a form of solar energy heating. Now, don?t panic. When most people mention solar power, the idea of large, unattractive solar panels immediately pops into your mind. Indirect gain does not involve solar panels. Instead, it uses the natural power of the sun to create heat for your home. Yes, even in winter.
The energy in sunlight is obscenely powerful. On a clear day, there is enough energy in one square meter of sunlight to produce 1 kilowatt of power. So, why doesn?t solar power take off as a renewable energy platform? We cannot yet build solar cells that are efficient enough to harness the energy. Most solar cells in panels only convert about 10 percent of the energy in the sunlight hitting them. This is why the panels have to be so big to generate enough electricity.
With indirect gain, you don?t have to worry about solar panels or even efficiency. Indirect gain refers to the heating of one area of a home and then circulating that heat to the rest of the home. A classic example is a Trombe Wall, but in this case we are going to talk about a sun room.
A sun room is simply a room built on the south facing wall of your home. The outer walls and roof are glass. The floor and internal wall is made of a material that absorbs heat from the sun. The floor can be brick, for instance. The wall can be painted a dark color. It really doesn?t matter so long as the sun heats it up. During the day, the sun will get your sun room roasting. This is true even in winter if you insulate well. So, how do you get all of this hot air into the rest of the home? I?m glad you asked!
To move the hot air into the rest of your home, you need to install a simple, but unique vent system. A set of vents should be placed as high as possible and as low as possible on the interior wall of your sun room. The vents should lead to an interior space of your home with as short a distance being used as possible. Remember, hot air rises and we are going to use this fact to our advantage.
When you need heat in the home, you can open both sets of vents ? bottom and top. The hot air from the sun room will transfer into the house through the top vents. At the same time, cool air from the interior of the home will transfer into the sun room through the bottom vents where it will be heated by the energy radiating off the floor and interior wall of the sun room. The net effect is you have used the inherent energy in sunlight to heat your house!
So, how effective can indirect gain be when it comes to heating your home? It can cut your costs by about 60 percent. Over the life of your home, that is a healthy chunk of change.
Tags: save money, energy survey, powersaver, save gas, save energy, plug and save, wind power, save power, conserving energy, solar power
Jan
24
The extraction and use of geothermal energy was once associated with projects on an industrial scale, but over the last few years, geothermal energy has begun a significant shift to the commercial and residential markets.
Geothermal power plants were the basis of geothermal technology, harnessing energy from deep within the earth’s crust, on a very efficient scale.
Nowadays, geothermal energy is extracted in different ways, and an ever growing popular method of this is through the use of a geothermal heating, or hot water system.
Around the world (especially in countries such as Iceland, Norway, and Sweden), geothermal energy for the home is becoming a very popular method of providing very cheap, environmentally friendly hot water, through the use of geothermal piping systems linked to energy efficient boilers.
The idea of these geothermal boilers, is that they run pipes for hundreds of meters under an area of land (this could be your garden), which are then pumped with cold water from end, and by the time the water has reached the end of the pipes, it is significantly warmer than the start temperature. This enables your geothermal boiler to use less energy when heating this water, as it is already close to the temperature you require.
The savings (just like the idea of installing double glazing), and many new builds are installing this type of renewable energy technology.
The same method of this geothermal energy is increasingly used in homes and businesses through the form of underfloor heating. This heats your home to a certain degree and can help reduce on heating bills.
Not only do you save on your average heating or electricity bill, you know you are doing something for the environment.
Tags: cut electric bill, plug and save, energy saver, save energy, solar panels, save fuel, save gas, save power, cheap electricity, conserving energy
Jan
23
Energy Saving Tips: - Stopping Phantom Energy Loss Dead In Its Tracks
Filed Under Save Energy | Leave a Comment
I don’t want to alarm you, but right now as you read this…there are vampires in your home.
No, I don’t mean 400-year old Transylvanian men wearing capes. The vampires I am talking about are much more discreet. You may be sitting right next to one as it sucks power from your home and money from your pocket.
The vampires I’m referring to are the everyday appliances, gadgets, and electronic equipment right in your own home that quietly suck energy even when they’re turned off. This phantom energy loss is a result of the standby modes common in modern equipment. Even when turned off, these devices are ready to respond to commands from a remote control. This state of readiness requires power.
Designing devices that are ready to operate or receive signals at all times is convenient, but it’s certainly not energy or cost efficient. Phantom energy loss can add hundreds of dollars per year to the average electric bill, not to mention the added strain it causes on the Earth’s energy reserves. Limiting phantom energy loss will not only help you save money, it will help sustain the environment too.
Which devices use the most phantom energy?
Basically any device that has a standby mode, a remote control, or a display. Chief culprits include computers, cable boxes, cell phone chargers, and any appliance that has a built in clock. Yes, you’re paying for the phantom energy used to power that clock in your microwave or coffee pot.
So what can you do to stop it?
Figure out which devices are causing the most phantom energy loss and unplug them when they’re not in use. To save yourself some hassle, plug all of your home entertainment and computer components into a power strip. Just don’t forget to flip the switch off when it’s not in use.
Tags: cheap fuel, cheap electricity, solar panels, plug and save, powersaver, save power, cheap energy, energy saver, solar power, reduce energy