7 Mid - Winter Energy Saving Tips

Now that much of the country is in the depths of winter, it is a great time to think about those energy saving do it yourself projects you did not have time for in the fall.

1. The first place to start is with your thermostat. Did you install a programmable thermostat? If you didn't, do it as soon as possible. If you did, now is a good time to reevaluate the programming. Take some time to really think about when everybody gets up in the morning, when they leave the house, when they get home and when they go to bed. Take the time to learn how to program the thermostat to get the most out of it.

2. Next, go around the house to each window and door and feel for the cold. You might even bring a disposable lighter with you and check for drafts. Did somebody open a window and forget to lock it tight? Is there a draft you didn't notice before or get around to sealing? Plastic film on the windows can stop drafts and adds an extra layer of insulation even if you don't have drafts.

3. Check the insulation in your attic. Often the area where the roof meets the floor of the attic (soffit) is the area most over looked. Nobody wants to crawl in that tight space but it is a common place for heat to leak up from downstairs. Then turn on the lights downstairs and leave the attic lights off, do you see any light? If you can see light, heat can see a way to escape. Always wear gloves and a mask over your mouth and nose while working with fiberglass insulation. Also, use baby powder over your body, it helps keep the glass fibers from getting in your skin. If you do get irritated from the insulation take a cold shower to wash it off and keep the fibers from getting deeper in your pores.

4. Is your hot water heater turned up too high? In our house everybody takes a shower in the morning. The first one up turns up the hot water heater and when the last person is finished the hot water heater is turned down for the next 22 hours or so. Also an insulation blanket on the hot water heater can save a lot of energy, especially if it is down in a cold basement.

5. Don't leave the bathroom fan on endlessly, as it is exhausting all that steam it is also exhausting all your heat.

6. Wash your clothes in cold water whenever possible, there are detergents specifically designed for this.

7. At the hardware store, for a few dollars, you can buy little insulation pads for light switches and outlets. Go around to all your light switches and outlets that are on exterior walls and insulate them. Another trick while you have the cover off the outlets, take a pen and mark the circuit breaker number that corresponds to that switch or outlet. This will save time and headaches next time you need to shut that breaker off.

Enjoy the winter, and remember with each cold spell and snow storm how much more you will appreciate spring.

Victoria Waterhouse is a small business owner who knows there are ways to save fuel and "go green" without going broke. She is on a mission to find products and ideas that can save the average consumer money by saving energy.
http://seeenergysavings.com
http://seefuelsavings.com

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Make Power With a Wind Generator

Using a wind generator to make healthy, all natural energy is one of the best ways that you can use to reduce your energy needs from outside sources. Most people use wind power for outside energy needs, such as draining land, but there are also ways that you can use it in your home, as well.

Building a Windmill

For many people, wind power comes from a windmill that has been placed strategically to catch the wind, so that it can be converted into energy that you can use to power anything in your home. For most people, a large open area is the best choice for producing wind power, especially if there is low wind in your area for a large portion of the year.

For others, the top of a hill might be the best place to work when you make your wind generator. Generally, you will want to make wind generator units in the location that you want to install them, since the windmills themselves can be large and cumbersome to carry to another location. If you have purchased commercially built windmills, then all you need to do is put the wind mill together at the site that you want it located.

How Much Does it Cost?

To make a wind generator, the cost can run from about one hundred to two hundred dollars if you have the right guide to show you exactly what you need to build the wind power system. If you want a commercial windmill then you may expect to pay up to four thousand dollars per windmill, although the price will vary depending on the exact type of wind power system that you want.

If you're interested in building a wind power generator, I strongly recommend visiting http://www.renewableenergyreviewed.info where you can find a review on the No 1 rated DIY guide on how to make a homemade wind power generator.

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Benefit From Home Made Wind Power in 2009

As utility cost go up more and more people are searching for alternative energy sources. If you are tired of paying for high home energy bills month after month then you should invest in a home energy generation system. If you fall into this group of people your answer may be closer than you think. The invisible power of the wind is free and does not produce any pollution. Wind mills of the past where nothing more than water pumps but today a wind mill can be used to power your home.

Its not hard to harness the free power of the wind. You can make a home made wind power generator for $200 - $400. A wind power generator can cut your electricity bill by as much as 75%. This would save you some of your hard earned money and help the environment at the same time. Wind is abundant in most parts of the country.

The wind generator should be as high as possible, this will cut down ground turbulence. Wind speed should be at least 10 miles per hour or higher, more wind creates more electricity. Your home made wind power generator will be best used in combination with solar power which is also a great source of free power which is also a pollution free source of energy. You should use your power company for backup just in case. Home made wind power is inexpensive and saves you money and helps the environment. Just remember wind power produces a clean and renewable source of energy.

James Rawlins is a person set on finding energy saving methods and passing them on to the public, For more information on this subject Visit - Home Made Energy Today!

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Renewable "Green" Energy in the Home - How Does Solar Power Work?

Solar power is often seen as one of the most expensive ways of generating renewable energy. Compared to the number of electricity generating companies using wind power, a lot less of them are making use of solar power. The same goes for people who are trying to generate their own electricity at home -- wind is seen as the most viable option.

Actually though, solar power doesn't have to be that expensive -- as costs come down solar power is becoming increasingly affordable. In this article I will outline the basics of solar power generation.

Solar electricity generation is actually a lot simpler in terms of setup for the home energy enthusiast. Whereas with wind power one must make blades, put up a tower, sort out an alternator and such, in solar generation the magic all happens within the solar power cell.

Solar power cells are more correctly known as photovoltaic (PV) cells. Essentially what happens inside the cell is a reaction based on negative and positive slices of silicon. As the slices heat up electrons start to move around inside the cells. These electrons are captured by electrical contacts and there we have it -- electricity.

Generating solar power at home couldn't be more simple. To generate the electricity all you really have to do is put up the solar panels in an appropriate location within your house and wire them up.

Much like wind power, the electricity generated by solar power is DC or Direct Current, whereas most household devices are alternating current. Generally in a home system you will store electricity in a bank of batteries. You can also setup what is known as a "dump load", so that when the batteries are full the excess electricity being generated is used to heat hot water or provide some kind of lighting -- basically, you are ensuring that none of the generated electricity gets wasted.

The last step is ensuring that we can make use of the electricity we have stored. Without getting too technical, basically the electricity stored in batteries and the electricity we use to power our appliances is different. However, we can make them the same. To do this, the electricity from the batteries passes through what is called an inverter. This basically converts it into the right kind of electricity to power your appliances. From the inverter you have your plugs setup that you plug your TV / stereo / etc into.

The costs of solar power generation are coming down, and it is actually both simple and cost effective to setup a solar power system within your home. In some states/countries you may even be able to sell excess electricity back to your provider - and yes, solar power does work on a cloudy day. To find out more about how to setup your own system, visit

http://www.earth4energy.reviewsworld.info/

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Oregon's Green Construction Tax Benies

Oregon is often referred to as a green state because its bountiful rainfall. As Oregons green construction tax benefits reveal, the title is just as applicable to its environmental philosophy.

It is at the state and local level that green construction has been meeting much success in the area of funding and all in tax credits and reductions. Several states have emerged as leaders and supporters of the United States Green Building Council and the LEEDs Certification program. Among the leading states is Oregon. Oregon, which is one of the States that make up the Pacific Northwest region of the country, has a full range of environmental issues. It borders the ocean and has an extensive inland system of rivers and lakes. It has all of the urban issues with the City of Portland, and it is a fast growing state that has seen development encroaching on its pristine forest areas.

Oregon has become one to the leaders of the green construction movement, and one of its heroes, with a Sustainable Building Tax Credit. This credit starts by determining the value of a building based on its square footage and its LEED Certification level. Once this value is determined a tax break of up to 35 percent is given as a credit. The important thing here is the use of the LEED certification level to determine value. It is a way of saying that the higher the level, the more valuable the building. There could hardly be a better way to support the LEED program than to use it to determine tax savings.

Oregon has other tax credits that are green related. The Business Energy Tax credit is one. This credit is designed to encourage the reduction of energy use and waste, and to encourage the use of alternative energy sources. It is also a tax credit that shows Oregons commitment to green construction ideals. Recently, Oregon introduced a program to allow non profit organizations to benefit from this credit even though they were mostly exempt from Oregon taxes anyway.

Although Oregon is a leader among the states in support of green construction via tax breaks, other states have instituted similar credits. New Jersey is another state offering credits. The recognition of green construction and its importance by state governments has been a critical factor in the progress of the movement in the United States.

It is only with the combined efforts of all segments will the problems of our environment can be solved. Individuals must do their part by demanding green construction standards of sustainability in their own home choices. Business and industry must also contribute. It is the government sector that holds the real key. Without the support of government, and without laws that can give teeth to environmental initiatives, little real progress can be made. Oregon has become a leader with its tax benefits, and we can only hope other states follow this example.

Zack Verde is with GreenBuildingCompanies.com - providing green building articles.

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Kabbalah on Our Demand For Fuel

It is a truism to say that the latest development in fuel prices, with oil above $130 per barrel, is having far reaching consequences for the world economy. Its most obvious impact is on inflation and a subsequent reduction in purchasing power and consumption. The situation is further aggravated by the attempts of central banks to curb inflation by raising interest rates, putting pressure on the housing market and on personal debt to equity ratios. However, this has happened before in history and economies have found ways to adjust.

More worrying are the issues raised at the recent United Nations Food Security Summit in Rome, where delegates from the world community discussed the global food crisis. It is sad to realise that our insatiable demand for energy is also destroying some of the world's traditional agricultural systems. With oil prices above $100 per barrel, biofuels are becoming quite a lucrative business. This soaring industry has resulted in the conversion of millions of acres of land previously used for human or animal food production to production of biofuel stock. This has been cited as a key contributor to rising food costs around the world.

The food and economic crises are the claws of the energy scorpion, but the scorpion also has a tail. It is putting our very life on this planet in jeopardy. Our heavy use of fossil fuels is now almost universally seen as responsible for global climate change, which is a significant contributor to the extreme weather conditions occurring around the world. Part of the appeal of biofuels was that it could help limit the environmental impact of our reliance on oil. However, it is turning out to be a less than ideal alternative since it has accelerated deforestation of primary forests, the lungs of our planet. No matter which fuel we use, we are putting the environment and humanity at risk.

When you look for the origins of our current fuel crisis, it becomes apparent that it is caused by our constant demands for more, bigger and better of everything. Oil is the main fuel of our modern lifestyles. It gives us the freedom to travel, whether in planes, yachts or the family SUV. It makes it possible for factories to produce the myriad of toys that decorate our lives. It allows us to build and heat homes that are increasingly large and luxurious. For generations, the luxuries of one generation have become the necessities of the next. And each generation needs more fuel in order to create and maintain these necessities.

This trend has been sustainable for thousands of years. At first, the resources required to support it seemed limitless. Over the past century, we have realized the finite nature of these resources. However, we have still been able to pursue our personal interests and need for fuel even though it might have been at the expense of others. War has increasingly been viewed as an acceptable means of getting the fuel that society demands. The current conflicts in the Middle East are the ones that immediately come to mind, but they are by no means the first. Access to oil was the primary reason that Japan attacked the United States in 1941, causing the US to enter World War II.

We have now reached the breaking point of the system, however. Exploitation of others is no longer working. As we are seeing, it is now producing economic, humanitarian and ecological crises that we cannot ignore. Globalization is forcing us to realize a startling new truth: Each and every one of us, regardless of race, religion, wealth, health or any one of the sub-cultures one fancies himself or herself to belong to, we are all interconnected. If we continue to focus only on our own self-interest, the scorpion will continue to grow larger and more deadly.

The wisdom of Kabbalah offers us a way out of our steadily increasing misery. It shows us how we can restore balance to the various systems by embracing our interconnectedness. If we are thinking only of ourselves, any "good initiative" we can come up with is destined to fail from the start. It's time to realize that we can no longer act in isolation.

Kabbalah explains that humanity is similar to the human body on a macro scale. In the body, each cell takes what it needs and gives everything else for the support of the rest of the body. There is nothing that forces a cell to do this - it is simply its nature. In the same way, each person must contribute to the welfare of humanity. This cannot be accomplished by force; rather, each person must change their nature to be more concerned about others than about the self. Kabbalah is the method of achieving this transformation of nature.

Oil is a great gift, but we are using it to divide people rather than unite. It is safe to bet that anything we use to divide rather than unite will at some stage become unaffordable. Let's remove the sting of the scorpion before it is too late.

Bnei Baruch, http://www.kabbalah.info/ is the largest group of Kabbalists in Israel, sharing the wisdom of Kabbalah with the entire world. Study materials in over 25 languages are based on authentic Kabbalah texts that were passed down from generation to generation.

http://www.kabbalah.info/engkab/kabbalah-worldwide/ynetnews#a-kabbalistic-interpretation-of-the-economic-crisis

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Wind Generators at Home - Is it a Scam?

Wind power generators and solar power energy are becoming more popular each day, since the demand for power is increasing, but not just the demand for power, but the demand for a cleaner environment as well. Since the demand for power is higher than its supply, we need to make some serious changes to save power. Power companies are trying their best to give us information on how to save power at home, however, the real solution needs to be found elsewhere.

Off course we need to continue being consciously aware about how we use power, but with wind power generators and solar power solutions that won't be an issue any longer. Besides the demands being met with wind generators and solar power the costs will decrease dramatically until you don't have to pay for power at all. You will no longer have to depend on power companies. If you play it really smart, turn the tables by storing your own energy and then you can sell it.

Be a solution to the environment, don't be a victim for high power demands, lower the costs on your electric bills and enjoy the whole package with your home wind generators and/or solar power.

Let's explore the wind generators solution that you can use for your home.

Wind power generators are most effective with the following conditions:

• When you have a house with some ground like a big garden or farmground. This doesn't mean you can't use one if you have a small garden.
• When the wind in the area blows with like 10 - 11 miles per hour. The system won't work if the place has a little wind flow, but that is pretty obvious. If you want to be sure, you should ask the help of an expert before you install the wind power generator at home.
• If you often need water from an outside source, a wind generator will give you the best solution.
• With home wind generators it is easy to create a lot of power which won't be interrupted, since your home needs a lot of that. Wind generators are free of pollution and they give you some relief since you won't have to worry about power uncertainties.

A wind generator tower has five blades to create the energy by off course: wind. The location of your house will determine the length of the tower you will need. If there is not a lot of wind in your area you might be needing a longer tower and when you live in areas with a lot of wind like near the sea, you will be fine with a shorter tower.

When you use wind generators, the energy that it creates, can be turned into electrical energy, which you can use at home for your electrical devices. The energy you don't need right away, can be stored for later or you can sell it if a power company agrees to make a contract with you. You can see that using wind power generators create more efficiency than the usual power systems.

FYI: When people speak about the terms, wind turbines, wind generators or wind mills, they practically speak about the same thing.

Create wind generators and solar power energy to prevent any future electric bills. Read more about it on rameshklinkert.com.

Hi all. My name is Ramesh Klinkert and I am a certified Life Success Consultant and Business partner of Bob Proctor from the movie 'The Secret'. I dedicated my life to help others change their life in many ways!

http://www.rameshklinkert.com

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Home & Residential Solar Power

Is home solar power a realistic option?

All of life here on earth is made possible by the light and heat from our sun. Without this stable source of energy, none of us would be here. The supply of solar energy is limitless and inexhaustible. It causes zero pollution and creates no greenhouse gases.

With the recent price shock from oil and other sources of energy many people have started to investigate alternative sources of energy such as wind power and solar power. In the past, we have become spoiled by the relatively cheap cost of energy derived from fossil fuels such as coal and oil. These are no longer as cheap and the carbon dioxide release when we burn them in power stations and in our homes is increasing global warming.

Solar power has many advantages over fossil fuel energy. The energy that the sun gives is is free - our only expense is that of collecting and storing the energy. These cost of this recovery are falling quickly as new technology comes available and it's now possible to generate much of the power for homes from alternative energy sources including solar power.

There are a number of methods for recovering solar energy for home use. Two of the most ways are:

Flat Plate Hot Water Collectors: These allow almost every home to provide hot water via free solar power. They are inexpensive to install and have a relatively short pay back time. They are often composed of copper pipes which run through and enclosed panel with a black background. They are mounted on a south-facing roof and will provide hot water even on cloudy days.

Solar electricity Generators: These use photo voltaic cells which convert sunlight directly into electricity. Production of these cells has been doubling every two years, making this the world's fastest-growing energy technology. The massive increase in manufacturing capacity has caused prices to fall dramatically making this an economic choice for both home and portable electricity generation.

if you would like to learn more about home solar power, please visit my blog Home Solar Power at http://homesolarpowerinfo.blogspot.com/

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Want to Get Gas Back Down to $1.30 Per Gallon?

I just checked out the "most popular" Facebook group in the Tampa Bay, FL network: "Want to get gas back down to $1.30 per gallon?"

The group is trying to get people to stop buying gas from two big oil companies in an effort to "force" a "price war" among the companies.

I have a better idea: Why not call or email your Senators and Representative and demand they allow U.S. companies to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve in Alaska and in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida?

Look everybody, you aren't going to make a difference in gas prices by boycotting one company or another. The gas will be sold whether it is you buying it or someone else. Let's do something more constructive.

Drilling for oil in ANWR and along the Gulf Coast will actually increase supply. That's more likely to satisfy our demand than to drive MORE in search of gas stations not on your boycott list.

Or, here's a radical concept: Write your Senators and Representative and demand that they remove all Federal taxes on gasoline. Gas taxes represent a regressive tax that hurts poor people and students far more than it helps anything. Rich people can absorb the taxes; poor people end up having to spend less money somewhere else to afford to get around.

While a few of us are wasting our time hurting U.S. companies through ineffective boycotts, the Chinese and the Cubans are--as we speak--drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico. Do they know something we don't?

No. They just don't waste time feeling guilty about drilling for and using oil. Oil-based fuels are the most efficient energy source for automobiles we know of at this point. Furthermore, oil burns cleaner than ethanol (that is, alcohol), and producing oil does not impact the world's food supply.

So, let's let the oil companies find some more oil. If Congress had allowed drilling in ANWR when it was first proposed, the billions of barrels just waiting for us would have come online about a year ago . . . you know, back when the price of a gallon of gas started getting ridiculous?

Boycott if you like, but if you want to make a real difference, then let your Senators and Representative know what the real solution is to high gas prices.

Josh Smith is a telecommunications data analyst and aspiring writer. He is the online editor for the Saint Leo University Lions' Pride newspaper.

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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!

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