You might believe that because you’ve purchased a new home that you don’t have anything to worry about where energy-efficiency issues are concerned. Clearly, you can be forgiven for believing that this is the situation, and many times it is, in fact, a fairly accurate assumption. However, simply because a home is new doesn’t mean that it is energy efficient or that it doesn’t have room for improvement. There are many ways in which your new home could still need improving, and these improvements could yield some significant energy savings.

Photo Source: homedit.com

Take a Big Step Toward Savings with Solar

Some of the steps that you can take with a new home to save money on your energy bills are more involved, such as switching to solar electricity. Solar panels have dropped dramatically in price but have increased considerably in efficiency. Today it is possible to save a good deal of money by reducing your dependency on the electrical grid and “going solar” and green. This is always something to consider when it comes to saving money on your energy bills, whether you are in a new home or one that is 100 years old.

Other solar options, such as installing a solar water heater or installing a solar attic fan, are simple enough to do but can save you a good deal of cash. Finding small solar projects such as these can go a long way in saving you big money in a new home that is well insulated!

Photo Source: houseandgardendiy.com

Understand What Kind of Insulation Is in Your New Home

Knowing what kind of insulation you have in your home is an important step. A new home shouldn’t have serious insulation problems; yet, that doesn’t mean that this is the situation. If you work with an energy auditor, you may discover that your attic insulation, for example, could be better. He or she will do various energy-efficiency tests, such as the blower door test. [1] A common problem to look for is that the insulation that has been installed does not have a high R-value or that there are significant gaps in your insulation coverage. Again, this is unlikely, but it is important that you do keep this factor in mind.

Noticing such issues before you move in may work to your advantage in that you may be able to get your homebuilder to rectify the situation. This is particularly likely if you discover areas in your attic, for example, that are missing insulation. Remember that missing insulation is really just money flying out the window every single day of the year.

Photo Source: greenbuildingenergysavings.com

Don’t Forget About Energy-Gobbling Appliances

If your new home is equipped with appliances, make sure you understand the energy-usage profile of these appliances. This can be extremely important with your heating and cooling unit, for example. An inefficient heating and cooling unit can wreck havoc on your monthly energy bills. Likewise, a house full of inefficient appliances can sap the savings that an otherwise energy-efficient and well insulated home might enjoy. You can find a variety of appliances and products with the ENERGY STAR label that will be more efficient and save you money. These items include everything from ceiling fans and furnaces to dishwashers and freezers. [2] Simple steps combined with a little investigation and asking the right questions can help you cut costs in ways both big and small.

Photo Source: jimsappliances.com

Sources:
1. http://www.energybuilder.com/top-ten.htm
2. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=bulk_purchasing.bus_purchasing

While you may be tempted to forget all about your garage when it comes to energy efficiency, there are good reasons that you will want to consider your various energy-efficiency options for your garage. Let’s turn our attention to your garage and the steps that you can take today to make your garage not only a more livable one, but also a more cost-effective and energy-efficient one as well!

Where saving money on your heating and cooling is concerned, it is in your best interest to look at all your potential energy inefficiencies. Many places in your home may be quick to top your list of locations or areas that need insulation; however, other areas, such as your garage, might be overlooked.

Photo Source: accessdoorcompany.com

Insulation Can Benefit Your Garage Space

If you are spending a decent amount of time in your garage, then you will definitely want to consider your heating and cooling options. Homeowners who use part of their garage space for activities, such as exercise, hobby work, or other activities, will instantly see the benefit of making this change. Even if your garage isn’t heated and doesn’t have air conditioning, you can still benefit from installing insulation. [1]

Make Your Garage Toasty with Garage Insulation

Many homeowners choose to heat their garages with portable heaters. A garage that is heated with a portable heater that is well insulated with any type of insulation, ranging from bubble wrap insulation to blue jean insulation or spray foam insulation, will see a tremendous difference. An insulated garage will get warmer than an uninsulated garage and will stay warmer longer for less money. The bottom line is that insulating your garage will save you money over the long run.

Further, if your home is attached to your garage, this can often result in wasted energy. Once you insulate your garage, your heated and cooled air will no longer escape into your garage. In fact, pay extra attention to the door that goes from the garage into the house and make sure it is well insulated and in good condition. [2]

Air Conditioning, Insulation, and Your Garage

Further, if you opt to air condition your garage, then you can expect to see considerable benefits as well. In fact, many homeowners believed that air conditioning their garage was “not practical” – that is, until they installed effective insulation. After installing insulation, air conditioning in one’s garage not only becomes practical but also quite affordable. A simple window-based unit can work extremely well once insulation has been installed. The end result will be a garage that is useful year round. Plus, you might just find that with insulation your garage stays naturally cool without even needing the AC. [3]

Photo Source: garageenvy.com

Add Square Footage with a Properly Insulated Garage Space

Garage insulation allows home owners to essentially add a good deal of useful square footage to their homes. This is particularly true if your garage is in decent condition. Adding insulation can be a low-cost way to add a viable new work or play space to your home.

Sources:
1. http://www.doityourself.com/stry/insulating-your-garage
2. http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/insulate-garage-house.html
3. http://stagetecture.com/2011/07/guest-blogger-how-to-make-money-saving-changes-to-your-garage/

Easy to Use and Transport

Insulated panels are typically made from plastic foam that is sandwiched between two layers of wood or composite. [1] You might worry that insulated panels could be difficult to transport to your home. However, nothing could be further from the truth, as insulated panels stand as a flexible way to meet your insulation needs. Insulated panels are manufactured inside a factory and are designed to be shipped directly to where they are needed. They are frequently used in new home construction as well as in “kit housing.” This, of course, means that you have a great deal of flexibility when it comes to installing and using insulated panels in your home.

Photo Source: enercept.com

Insulated Panels Have High R-Values

The R-values for insulated panels are generally rather high, which helps make them a great value. They can provide an energy savings of 12%-14%. [1] Homeowners interested in increasing the energy efficiency of their home will find insulated panels to be a noteworthy option. Their uniformity of design and manufacturing specification help ensure that insulated panels do an excellent job of insulating whatever structure they are placed within.

It is possible to use insulated panels to build a very energy-efficient home, and this is part of the reason that they are catching on with homeowners and home builders around the country. Thus, if you are looking for an easy way to make your home more energy efficient, it makes sense to consider insulated panels.

Photo Source: renovationexperts.com

Insulated Panels Save on Labor

Labor is a significant cost when it comes to any construction project and, in this regard, insulated panels can help you save a considerable amount of money on your next home improvement project. Because insulated panels are of a uniform size and are essentially precut, they assemble quickly, easily, and generally with few problems. They are usually 4 feet to 24 feet wide and 8 feet or 9 feet high. [2] This contributes to a fast assembly time and saves you money on labor.

Insulated Panels Can Be Used Throughout Your Home

Homeowners and home builders alike are using insulated panels in a wide variety of different ways. Due to their inherit flexibility, insulated panels can be used in walls, ceilings, and even floors. This helps make them an appealing option for those doing construction or rehabbing from the ground up.

5 Important Reasons Why Insulated Panels Might Be Right for You

1) Easy to install

2) Easy to transport

3) Insulated panels can be used almost anywhere

4) Insulated panels have high R-values

5) Insulated panels can help you cut your labor costs

Of course, there are other reasons that you may want to consider insulated panels for your particular needs, but the five reasons listed above make a compelling argument in their favor. Thanks to the fact that they can be placed almost anywhere and truly do get the job done, insulated panels are likely to be one insulation product that you will want to consider especially if you are involved in new construction or a large-scale rehab project.

Sources:
1. http://www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/insulation/ins_05.html
2. http://www.toolbase.org/technology-inventory/whole-house-systems/structural-insulated-panels

Recycled materials have most definitely made their way into the world of insulation and home improvement. You might not think of insulation as being a recycled product. However, in the case of blue jean insulation, this is exactly what has taken place. In this article, we will learn more about this very innovative insulating product and how you can use it in your own home.

Blue jean insulation has received a great deal of attention from the press.  The key reason behind this fact is that blue jean insulation is a decidedly green building material that has earned a reputation for being quite eco-friendly.

The fact is that blue jean insulation is highly prized for a variety of reasons. Green builders love blue jean insulation, as they are able to use it instead of chemical-based insulation. This fact alone would be enough to get people excited about blue jean insulation, but there are other interesting factors as well.

Due to the fact that blue jean insulation is made from recycled blue jeans, it appeals to anyone looking to “go green.” There is no doubt that using old blue jeans to create blue jean insulation was a real stroke of genius. The old jeans are stripped and then covered in boric acid. The boric acid helps to make the materials resistant to mold, fire, and bugs. [1] The energy saved by converting old blue jeans into blue jean insulation instead of producing new insulation from scratch is very significant. [2] This marks the third way that blue jean insulation is environmentally friendly.

Photo Source: inhabitat.com

Blue Jeans Have a High R-Value

Since blue jeans are essentially made from cotton, they have a high R-value and do serve as an effective way to insulate a home. You can use blue jean insulation instead of many other types of insulation. In general, blue jean insulation is easy to use, but some people have noted that it is more difficult to cut than other commonly used forms of insulation.

Benefits for Those with Chemical Sensitivities

Individuals with chemical sensitivities or allergies will want to pay special attention to what blue jean insulation has to offer. Blue jean insulation does not have any potentially harmful or problematic chemicals in its makeup. Toxins and carcinogens that may have been added to the air through Fiberglas insulation are not an issue with jeans. Therefore, those with asthma and allergies will get some relief. [1]

Photo Source: sustainabledesignupdate.com

Blue Jean Insulation Can Be Used Throughout Your Home

Blue jean insulation can be used in a variety of different areas throughout your home, ranging from your attic to even your walls. Those interested in using blue jean insulation will find that despite the fact that it costs more, its environmentally friendly factors may make it worth the added expense. While there are many insulation options on the market, few stand out as being as unique and interesting as blue jean insulation.

Sources:
1. http://greenopolis.com/goblog/green-groove/5-types-eco-friendly-insulation-your-home
2. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11560
3. http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2006/0507-blue_jean_insulation.htm

Energy Prices Are Not Going to Drop Anytime Soon!

It is a brutal and cold reality that energy prices are not likely to drop in any significant fashion in the foreseeable future. While home heating and cooling costs might fluctuate a bit from time to time, the odds that high energy costs are here to stay are very good. As a result, the average homeowner must think about how he or she can best address the issue of rising energy costs. Since you can influence the cost of your energy bills, you need to think about how you use energy and further consider what steps you can take toward reducing the amount of energy that you use.

Photo Source: udcinc.org

Have You Noticed a Major Increase in Your Energy Bills?

One of the fastest and harshest reminders that it is time to think about your home’s insulation profile can come in the form of a jarring energy bill. An electricity or heating bill that is “through the roof,” in fact, may be telling you that you need to insulate, yes, your roof, and other parts of your home, too. The brutal reality of high energy costs can make themselves particularly evident during a heat wave or cold snap.

This heat wave or cold snap might have a nasty impact on your bank account for the month, but it might just lead you toward solid and reliable energy savings over the long haul, and that is, of course, exciting. For example, simply plugging small gaps around your windows and doors can save up to 10% on a heating bill. The materials used to achieve this goal, such as caulking and weather-stripping, are very inexpensive. [1]

Wow, My Heating and Cooling Unit Runs Constantly!

Before you start receiving those shocking bills, there are other indicators that you might need some insulation help. One is that your heating and cooling unit is constantly working. Of course, that energy isn’t free, and it means at some point you will be paying for it and paying dearly. If you are noticing that your heating and cooling unit seems to be operating more often than normal, there are three major possibilities to consider.

The first possibility is that you are in a heat wave or cold snap. The second possibility is that your heating and cooling unit is either in need of repair or needs to be replaced. However, keep in mind that sometimes your unit will stop working just because a filter is clogged. In that case, you can simply replace the filter as opposed to buying a whole new unit. [1] In general, a heat pump or air conditioner should be replaced every 10 years. If you buy a newer, high-efficiency model, that change alone can cut your costs by 20%. [2]

The third reason that your heating and cooling units may be running constantly is because your home needs more insulation. Of course, it is also possible that your answer lies in a combination of all of the above listed issues. Fortunately, upgrading your heating and cooling unit or installing more or higher quality insulation in your home can start cutting those high energy bills instantly.

Photo Source: wpseweranddrain.info

Sources:

1. http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=13107978
2. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_checklist_consumers

Every homeowner has doors. Doors, like our walls and windows, are such a given part of our lives that they do, in fact, tend to “blend into the woodwork.” One of the byproducts of this fact is that we frequently fail to give ample consideration to how well our doors and windows are functioning from an energy- efficiency perspective. You may give your doors some attention if you feel that your locks are insufficient to safeguard against entry, or you might pay attention to your windows if one is cracked or broken, but beyond that, most of us are not very concerned with them. Of course, ignoring the energy profile of our doors and windows will not help you if you are looking to save money on energy. In this article, we will focus on why you should invest the time and money necessary to insulate around your home doors.

Photo Source: blog.garygrover.com

Door Insulation is Inexpensive!

One of the single best arguments in favor of investing the time and money needed to insulate around your doors is that it is an inexpensive and fast process. Buying insulating door strips is one of the cheapest ways you can use insulation to save money. In fact, many homeowners are quite surprised to learn that insulated door strips usually cost only a few dollars and install in minutes.

The More Doors You Have, the More Money You Save

Clearly, the more doors you have in your home and the worse shape they are in, the more you can save by installing insulated door strips. According to estimates, you can save up to 15% on the costs of heating and cooling simply by making this change. [1] If you are living in a home with numerous doors or large sliding doors, you could potentially save a great deal by installing this cheap and easy insulation fix.

Photo Source: howstuffworks.com

Insulating Around Your Doors Is Easy to Do

Home repairs and improvements come in many forms and, of course, range dramatically in price. However, installing insulated door strips is about as easy and quick of a home improvement solution that you are likely to find. When you are selecting your weather-stripping, select a size that allows the space between the doorjamb and door to be tight. However, avoid making the door difficult to shut. [2]

Insulated Door Strips Work Year Round

Installing insulation around doors, especially doors that you don’t use very often or that are very leaky, can help you save money all year long. One of the greatest benefits of insulation is that once it is in place anywhere in your home, you are saving money around the clock and every single day of the year!

If you are the kind of homeowner that likes finding small ways that can help you save, then you will likely find the idea of installing insulation around your doors attractive. Keeping those brutal winter drafts outside where they belong is sure to put a big, warm smile on your face. Plus, you will keep more air conditioned air inside during the summer. [3] This low-cost and easy home improvement fix serves to point to just how effective insulation can be in improving your bottom line at the end of the month.

Sources:
1. http://electrical.hardwarestore.com/learning/8-simple-steps-to-saving-energy.aspx
2. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11280
3. http://www.howtodothings.com/home-garden/how-to-choose-door-insulation

Your windows could be a major source of your energy bill headaches and you might not even know it. Poorly constructed windows or windows that have large or numerous cracks around them stand out as one of the major ways that warm air and cool air can escape from inside your home. The end result can be quite unpleasant, as it comes in the form of lost dollars. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, about $30 billion worth of energy is lost through single pane windows. [1] Luckily, there are many ways that you can address this problem.

While you might not be able to afford new windows, there are steps that you can take that are far more economical. Replacing old windows is a move that will save you significantly over the lifetime of your home, but it is also a costly and major undertaking. If you are not ready to replace your existing windows, then you should consider using window insulation film instead.

Anyone seeking an easy and relatively fast way to deal with leaky windows will find this idea quite appealing. There are many different kinds of window insulation film, but at the heart they have a few core properties in common. Let’s take a look at a few of these properties.

Photo Source: trendir.com

7 Reasons You Should Be Using Window Insulation Film

1) It is inexpensive

2) It is easy to use

3) It is fast to install

4) It is relatively easy to repair

5) It can help you save money as soon as you install it

6) It can be used by almost anyone

7) It can be used year round

Few home projects are as easy and low key as installing window insulation film; however, the benefits both to your comfort and your wallet can be quite pronounced. If you are looking for a way to save on your heating and cooling bills, then using window insulation film on all of your leaky windows is an excellent way to go. When this film is added to windows, you can stop your loss of energy by up to 30% to 50%. [2]

How Do I Know Which Windows Are Most Problematic?

Very often, your most problematic windows will be rather obvious. Yet, there are ways of quickly finding problem spots and windows that you might otherwise miss.

Energy auditors and other home improvement specialists can use special cameras and equipment that allow them to see exactly where you are experiencing your energy losses. Working closely with these experts can yield both money-saving results and surprising insights as well. Of course, if you want to truly stop energy from going out the window, installing replacement windows that have double or triple panes will make a big difference. [3]

Yet, even if you are not planning on undertaking a large-scale project, such as repairing or replacing windows, working with an energy auditor can have instant benefits. An experienced energy auditor will be able to show you a myriad of different ways that you can increase your energy efficiency. It is important to note that many of these options are, in fact, easy to do and inexpensive as well, such as using window insulation film.

Photo Source: diylife.com

Sources:
1. http://www.gogreensolar.com/products/energy-film
2. http://blog.sungarddealer.com/2010/09/how-does-window-film-work-a-complex-answer-with-simple-results.html
3. http://homerenovations.about.com/od/windowtips/qt/doeswindowfilmwork.htm

Saving money on your home heating and cooling bill might sound like a tough job, but, in fact, it is actually a very easy one. The first step in saving more money every month on your heating and cooling bills is to insulate your home in many effective ways. If you are like most people, you will probably want to tackle this problem in as easy of a way as possible. So what exactly is the best first step?

Like most homeowners, you likely want to get the most “bang for your buck,” and there are lots of ways you can do just that. The first way you can start saving big every month and do it easily is through using spray foam insulation in your home. What makes spray foam insulation such a winner? Spray foam insulation is easy to use, and it can reach spots in your home that are more difficult for other types of insulation.

This ease-of-use factor is a major reason that you might want to consider making spray foam insulation your “first stop” when it comes to finding ways of saving on your heating and cooling bills every month. With spray foam insulation, you as the homeowner have to do very little. For example, experienced home improvement experts can spray the insulation in your attic.

At first, homeowners may not immediately see the money-saving advantages of spray foam insulation, as it costs more than traditional batt insulation. However, they will soon find that spray foam insulation results in such a tight air barrier that other weathering tasks, like caulking and weather stripping, are not necessary. As a result, fewer contractors are needed, and overall the materials cost tends to be lower. [1] Plus, once you’ve installed spray foam insulation in your home, you can expect to see immediate results in the form of monthly savings. This is one home improvement you will likely be wondering why you didn’t do sooner!

Photo Source: betterfoammachine.com

Further, spray foam insulation offers a great many benefits beyond that of cost savings. Spray foam insulation works to keep moisture from attacking your home. This is significant because moisture can lead to very problematic issues such as mold. Mold, of course, can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare, as a serious case of mold can make a home unlivable. A step such as using spray foam insulation can serve to offer you a good deal of protection from such an event taking place. Additionally, since every crack is tightly sealed, this type of insulation also virtually prevents small insects from getting into your home. [2]

When used in conjunction with the expertise of your home improvement specialist, spray foam insulation can help you address different energy-loss trouble spots throughout your house. The great flexibility of this innovative product is something that you will become very excited about once you’ve seen it in action.

You have many options when it comes to making your home the energy-efficient and money-saving home of your dreams, but few have the potential of spray foam insulation. Talk to your home improvement professional about how you can make your home a more energy-efficient one with spray foam insulation.

Photo Source: prlog.org

Sources:
1. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11700
2. http://www.doityourself.com/stry/spray-foam-insulation-vs-cellulose-insulation-which-is-better#b

You might not be familiar with bubble wrap insulation, but it has many diverse uses and applications. This product may seem quite familiar, as it is essentially bubble wrap. But bubble wrap products that have been specifically designed to be insulation are definitely worth your consideration. As you will see in this article, bubble wrap insulation is more useful and complex than your first glance might indicate. This durable insulator has a surprising number of applications and uses throughout your home. Let’s take a look at how you can use bubble wrap insulation in your home improvement projects.

Photo Source: re-nest.com

Bubble Wrap is Flexible and Useful

Bubble wrap can be used almost anywhere in your home. At the top of the list of why bubble wrap insulation is an interesting alternative is that it is so flexible. This flexibility means that it can be wrapped around a wide variety of surfaces. For example, bubble wrap insulation stands as an effective and easy way to address such projects as insulating your water heater.

The fact is that if you are looking for a relatively low cost way to insulate areas of your home, like your crawl space or your basement, then bubble wrap insulation is certainly worth a look. In fact, bubble wrap insulation is so versatile that many people have used it for insulating windows in the winter. [1]

Photo Source: geopathfinder.com

Impressive Ease of Use

We all want our home improvement projects to be easy and fast and to yield results. Bubble wrap insulation is generally seen as being quite safe, as it is non-toxic and contains no fibers. This lack of fibers means that it can be handled easily and is often seen as a good alternative for those with chemical sensitivities.

Homeowners looking to add a little insulation to their home and who also want to handle the project themselves will likely be interested in bubble wrap insulation. It is very lightweight, so it is easy to transport and hold in place. In addition, bubble wrap insulation is easy to cut and place.

This Stuff is Quite Tough!

Once you’ve worked with bubble wrap insulation, you will quickly see that it is indeed quite tough. The facts are that bubble wrap insulation is very durable and has numerous other benefits as well, such as being resistant to mold growth. Any homeowner looking for a strong, lightweight, and easy-to-work-with insulation should consider bubble wrap. According to estimates, it will last about seven years. [2]

Photo Source: energyattic.com

Working with an Home Improvement Specialist

Not all bubble wrap insulation is of equal quality. This underscores the importance of working with a home improvement professional for your energy efficiency needs. Hiring a home improvement specialist, especially one who is knowledgeable regarding energy efficiency issues, is a great step toward saving money on your energy bills. A qualified home improvement specialist or energy auditor will be able to show you which bubble wrap insulation works best for your particular needs and home improvement projects.

Sources:
1. http://www.builditsolar.com/projects/conservation/bubblewrap.htm
2. http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/insulate-windows-bubble-wrap.html

You’ve likely thought on a few occasions that it would be nice if there were a few easy and inexpensive ways that you could cut down your energy bill. The good news is that there are indeed ways that you can save. Further, many of these ways that you can save on your energy bill are easy to implement. One such easy home-efficiency fix is installing insulated shades.

If you are like most people, you may not think about your shades in the context of saving money on your heating and cooling bills. However, the fact is that insulated shades can help you save a great deal of money over the course of a year. Insulated shades allow you to take steps on your own to get your energy bill under control. The Department of Energy has reported that people lose 25% of their home’s total energy for heating and cooling through windows. [1] With that fact in mind, let’s look at how insulated shades can assist you in saving year round.

Photo Source: northstarsolar.com

Keep the Cold Outside Where It Belongs!

Insulated shades can be installed as quickly as regular, non-insulated shades. In just a few moments, you can have insulated shades working to keep your home warmer in the winter. Insulated shades work well in the winter due to two different but important factors. First, insulated shades can help increase the R-value of your windows thanks to their insulation. The second way that insulated shades help you stay warm in the winter is they keep warmer inside air from escaping and cold air from outside from leaking in. Those living in cold climates or in areas where the nights can be particularly cold will appreciate this smart energy-saving tool. Also, it is important to open shades during the day to let in the solar energy; at night, be sure to close your shades. [2]

Photo Source: kaboodle.com

Keeps the Heat Outside in the Summer

Insulated shades don’t just yield impressive results in the winter. The fact is that they also can work to keep your home cool in the summer. Since insulated shades can block out sunlight, you will have less solar energy heating up your home. Secondly, insulated shades can also keep hot air outside and your air-conditioned air inside. Thus, if you have pesky drafts and cracks around your windows, you will instantly give your home an additional layer of important and money-saving protection!

Insulated Shades Mean Lots of Variety

Most of us want and need some type of shades for our windows. There is only a nominal increase in price to buy insulated shades over regular shades. Finding ways to save on your energy bill and do it on the cheap isn’t always that easy, but there are ways to quickly make a difference. Using insulated shades is an effective way for you to keep your home’s temperature well regulated year round.

Photo Source: innovativeopenings.com

Sources:
1. http://www.greenandsave.com/finishes/windows/window_treatments.html
2. http://www.energysavers.gov/pdfs/energy_savers.pdf
3. http://www.artwithanrvalue.com/

Do you have a crawl space? If so, you would be well advised to not forget about it, as it might just be helping money crawl out of your wallet and into the pockets of energy companies! That old crawl space is quite frequently completely forgotten by frustrated homeowners who are puzzled as they try to determine how they can cut down their energy bill costs.

A crawl space exists between the ground and bottom of some homes. It is often used instead of a basement, although there is little room for standing. [1] If your crawl space isn’t well insulated, it is quite possible that you are sending heated or cooled air right through it every single day of the year. Before you get frustrated with your heating and cooling bills, put insulating your crawl space on your home improvement list.

Photo Source: drenergysaver.com

Consult an Energy Auditor Regarding Your Crawl Space

There are many good reasons to work with an energy efficiency expert, such as an energy auditor. The fact that so many people forget about insulating their crawl space is a great example of why it makes sense to consult with experts even if you think you have all of your bases covered.

Small Energy-Efficiency Projects Can Add Up!

If you are like most homeowners, you are constantly on the lookout for ways to save money on your energy bills and money in general. Where your home is concerned, relatively small- and medium-sized projects, such as insulating your home’s crawl space, can have a dramatic impact on your home’s overall energy-efficiency profile.

Further, when you insulate your crawl space walls, you can keep pollutants and potential irritants from getting into your house. [1] There are other benefits as well that are outside of energy saving possibilities. For example, your home will likely become much quieter with new insulation, and it will become less likely that your pipes will freeze. [2]

Roll Insulation Versus Spray Foam Insulation

Rolls of insulation will work well for insulating your crawl space, as will spray foam insulation. Both have their advantages, but it is important to consider that crawl spaces usually earn their name in that there is usually not a lot of room, and standing can be quite difficult. Those looking for a fast and easy way to tackle insulating a crawl space will want to strongly consider using spray foam insulation due to its ease of use. Spray foam insulation is one way to make the process of insulating your crawl space seem a little less intimidating.

Photo Source: marauder.millersville.edu

Working with a Home Improvement Expert

Home improvement experts are usually the best people to handle a project of this kind. They have the considerable experience necessary to turn what could be a tricky DIY job into one that is far more manageable. Working with a home improvement expert when it comes time to insulate your crawl space is likely your best move.

Further, keep in mind that just because your crawl space technically has insulation doesn’t mean you can forget about it. Old insulation in your crawl space might not be doing its job, and that means you could be losing money every day. Just as old insulation throughout your home could be a problem in terms of your home’s heating and cooling efficiency, the same fact holds true for insulation in your crawl space. When you are thinking about insulation, it makes good sense to also give the crawl space a closer look.

Sources:
1. http://www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/insulation/fact%20sheets/crawlspace%20insulation%20technology.pdf
2. http://hes.lbl.gov/consumer/help-popup/content/~consumer~nebs~nebs-crawlspace

Make the Most of Your Home Improvement Budget

Now, as you can imagine, not all home improvement or energy efficiency projects fall into the categories of inexpensive or easy. Yet, there are great options that will allow you to make the most out of your home improvement and energy efficiency budget and do so quickly. However, spray foam insulation stands out as one of the single best energy-efficient choices that you can make for your home. According to estimates, it can lower your bill as much as 60%. [1]

Opting for Spray Foam Insulation

Why should you be excited about using spray foam insulation? In short, spray foam insulation is easy to use, cost effective, and offers a great deal of energy savings. Perhaps best of all is the fact that spray foam insulation allows you to insulate parts of your home that can be difficult to reach otherwise. Other positive aspects of spray foam insulation include the fact that it can keep dust and pollen out, and it is a permanent way to stop air and moisture from getting inside your home. [2] Additionally, spray foam insulation is non-toxic and usually has a lifetime guarantee. [3]

Photo Source: lowerelectricitybilltoday.com

Spray Foam Insulation Is an Easy Way to Insulate Your Attic

If your attic is currently in need of insulation, then you will be very glad you heard about spray foam insulation. Unlike other forms of insulation, spray foam insulation can be sprayed into place through hoses. This means that all those hard-to-reach places that you were worried would be difficult to reach may not be so hard to reach after all.

Spray Foam Insulation is Great for Saving You Time

Being able to quickly insulate your home allows for your home improvement projects to be less disruptive to your life, as they will take less time. The time that you will save by using spray foam insulation can be quite substantial and will likely leave you quite happy you chose this exciting insulation option.

A poorly insulated attic is just one of the ways that your heated air or air-conditioned air could be escaping and, in the process, costing you dearly every month. One great factor about spray foam insulation is that it can begin to save you money the day you install it. Few home improvement options can give you such a quick return on your investment.

While your specific costs savings are likely to vary, you can expect your savings to be considerable. The older your current insulation or the more numerous the cracks and gaps in your attic insulation, the more impressive your savings will be.

Sources:
1. http://www.lowerelectricbilltoday.com/home-insulation/spray-foam-insulation.html
2. http://www.sprayfoam.com/spps/ahpg.cfm?spgid=1
3. http://www.hgtvremodels.com/home-systems/spray-foam-improves-on-insulation/index.html

Wool Insulation is Inherently Green!

The fact that wool insulation is all natural makes it a very attractive option for those looking to take a green approach to insulation and home remodeling. The simple fact is that with wool insulation there is no need to worry about potential irritants making their way into your home’s air. While this isn’t necessarily a concern for many, those with allergies or sensitivities will find that wool insulation, much like blue jean insulation, has much to offer and is likely worth a look.

Another way that wool insulation is green is that it is renewable. Sheep, of course, can produce more wool in the future! As a result, this type of insulation is in no way depleting a natural resource. Plus, it takes about 10% less energy to produce this type of wool insulation compared to other forms. [1]

A third way that wool insulation is green is that it is potentially biodegradable. While most different types of insulation have their distinct benefits, they are not always biodegradable. However, in this regard, wool insulation stands out. It can also be easily recycled once it is no longer needed for insulation. [2]

Photo Source: eco-buildingproducts.com

But Does Wool Insulation Work as a Good Insulator?

Wool is a good insulator, and it has many additional good properties as well. In addition to being a green form of insulation, wool insulation is also durable, moisture resistant and resistant to mold. Mold can be a very serious problem for any homeowner. Therefore, the fact that wool is naturally mold resistant makes it a very interesting choice to conquer that potential issue.

Wool insulation shares a great deal in common with other forms of insulation. In experienced hands, wool insulation can be placed in almost any part of your home. It has an R-value that tends to range from 2 to 3.5. [3] In fact, wool insulation can be used in a remarkably similar fashion to other forms of insulation. This is one reason that environmentally conscious builders and homeowners looking to “go green” are finding wool insulation to be so appealing and full of potential.

Photo Source: sime2010.org

Is Installing Wool Insulation Easy?

Installing wool insulation is generally quite easy, as it can be installed just like more conventional alternatives. The methods employed to install wool insulation are very similar to those of other insulation, which means that using wool insulation should not result in a dramatic increase in labor costs.

Green Forms of Insulation Are Catching On

In short, wool insulation has a great deal going for it. If you are considering adding insulation to your home and you would like a green insulation alternative that is also very effective, then wool insulation is certainly worthy of your consideration. Green insulation options are beginning to really catch on, and this is in no small part due to the effectiveness of such options as blue jean insulation and wool insulation.

Sources:

1. http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/sheep-wool-insulation-comes-to-america.html
2. http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/2011/11/05/wool-insulation/
3. http://tech.blorge.com/structure:%20/2009/02/22/sheeps-wool-insulation-is-green/

ENERGY STAR Appliance Options

What is so great about ENERGY STAR appliances? In a word, everything!  ENERGY STAR appliances have been designed to use less energy. In fact, a home that uses all or predominantly ENERGY STAR appliances will be far more efficient than the average home. Of course, this means that you will use less energy in the process, and that means you will save more money year round.

In addition, there are many different ENERGY STAR appliances to choose from, ranging from kitchen appliances to even heating and cooling units. By switching to as many of these products as possible, you will save a bundle on energy and take a major leap toward getting the most possible out of your home insulation investment.

Photo Source: thedailygreen.com

LED Lighting is Every Homeowner’s Friend

LED lighting uses a mere fraction, generally somewhere around 5 percent, of the energy of traditional lighting. Further, the bulbs last 10 times longer than regular fluorescent lights. [1] This, of course, translates into massive savings over an annual basis.  According to researchers, if all light bulbs in the world were converted to LEDs for a period of 10 years, there would be massive global savings of more than $1.83 trillion, and carbon dioxide emissions would reduce by 10.68 gigatons. [2]

There is more good news where LED lighting is concerned. LED lighting is now far cheaper and easier to find than it used to be. It can be found in most major home improvement stores and can quickly be purchased online from major online retailers such as Amazon.

Photo Source: ccrane.com

Smart Lighting: What a Great Option!

Smart lighting is catching on because it makes so much sense and it’s easy to use. Smart lighting uses sensors to detect whether or not you are in a room. If the sensors don’t detect movement for a set number of minutes, the lights turn off. This means that when you leave the room and forget to turn off the lights, you will still be saving energy. [2] Combine this technology with LED lighting, and you will see the energy you consume for lighting drop very dramatically.

Incorporating these energy technologies as well as ENERGY STAR appliances will help you to make the most out of your home insulation investment. The crawl space insulation and attic insulation that you invested in, when combined with the advances and options discussed in this article, will save your wallet a good deal of grief!

Sources:
1. http://eartheasy.com/live_energyeff_lighting.htm
2. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081217074908.htm

Low-quality attic insulation can be a real problem for your monthly budget. If you have a poorly insulated attic, you are literally tossing money out of your roof! During the summer, you lose on your cooling bill, and during the winter, you lose on your heating bill. The bottom line is that, most of the year, you will lose money one way or another. Finding a way to keep this from happening is essential if you are to keep from spending too much on utility bills.

Attic insulation is nothing short of a fantastic way to make certain that you are not tossing money out of your roof every month. There are many different types of attic insulation, ranging from popular and widely used options, such as Fiberglas insulation, to eco-friendly options, such as wool insulation and blue jean insulation. There are even high-tech options, such as the space-age aerogel insulation, which is remarkably thin and lightweight. For attics with hard-to-reach spaces, you may also want to consider spray foam insulation, which expands to several times its size when sprayed.

Photo Source: ecofriend.com

Once you have the proper level of attic insulation in place, you will begin saving money that very day. Adding a solar-powered attic fan will further add to your energy savings in those hot summer months. You can likely find a fan that will fit on any type of roof. Depending on your roof, be sure to select one that uses either an integrated photovoltaic module or a remote module. [1]

Just as you wouldn’t want to wear a wool cap on a hot sunny day, the same can be said for the desire to keep your attic cool in the summer. Keeping hot air from building up in your attic is very important for keeping your summer cooling bill under control. A solar-powered fan can help keep your attic cool without any energy costs, and that makes it a true winner. Further, when you install a solar-powered fan, you will be eligible for a federal 30% tax credit.  This credit will apply to both the installation and equipment itself. [2]

Adding attic insulation and a solar-powered attic fan together is one of those ideas that may seem “small” at first glance, but there is nothing small about this approach. By looking for ways to maximize your home insulation throughout your home, you can save a tremendous amount of money.

Once you have your home properly insulated, all of your other energy saving measures will become more useful. Whether it’s ENERGY STAR appliances or adopting solar energy, home insulation serves as the energy-savings foundation upon which to build.

Sources:
1. http://www.fafcosolar.com/go-solar/solar-attic-fan1/
2. http://www.solar-attic-fan-info.com/solar-attic-fan-faqs.php

Your most prudent move is to start with the most practical of home improvements and then move on to home improvements that are of secondary importance. Sure, such a move may make you feel too “grown up,” but the bottom line is that properly prioritizing your home improvements will actually serve to give you more pleasure in the long run.

For example, adding home insulation means that your energy bills will be reduced. The money that you save can then be applied to any number of home improvement projects that you have in mind. Further, a home improvement, such as home insulation, also means that you can keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. This change can come with added benefits that might not be initially obvious.

A warmer home in the winter could mean that you stay healthier. [1] The best ways to fight off colds and flus in the cold and flu season is to eat high-quality foods, get plenty of sleep, avoid sick people when possible, and, of course, stay warm. Proper insulation in all of its forms, whether you choose to go with Fiberglas, spray foam, aerogel, or wool insulation, will serve to keep you warm in the winter. This might just mean fewer sick days!

Of course, it goes without saying that if you resist illness during the winter, this will mean fewer visits to the doctor and fewer days off from work. In short, a warmer home can save you money in a variety of different ways and not just in the form of energy bill savings.

Photo Source: getafreeestimate.net

Insulation can guard your health in other ways as well, such as improving your air quality by decreasing the risk of mold spores forming in your home. Certain types of insulation, like Fiberglas, are resistant to mold growth. [2] Spray foam insulation keeps out moisture, and so it also is an ideal insulation material for stopping the growth of mold and mildew. [3] The simple fact is that when you choose to invest in insulation, you are making an investment in both your health and in your budget.

Getting the most out of your insulation investment means seeking to make sure that every part of your home is well insulated. The more insulation gaps that there are in your home, the more money you will be losing. Additionally, your home will be less comfortable and healthy. You might not have considered the role that insulation can play in keeping you and your family healthy, but home insulation does, in fact, play a major role. The proper use of insulation can improve your health and your quality of life, and this will allow you to get the most out of your insulation investment.

Photo Source: greenandsave.com

Sources:
1. http://seniorliving.about.com/od/healthnutrition/a/stay_warm.htm
2. http://hpac.com/ventilation-iaq/preventing-mold-fiberglass-1209/
3. http://www.sprayfoam.com/spps/ahpg.cfm?spgid=1

Protect Your Home from Moisture with Spray Foam Insulation

Moisture is most definitely one of the main enemies of your home and your home’s longevity. The impact of moisture on your home can manifest itself in a wide range of ways. Often moisture does the most damage by making its way into small cracks and areas that are difficult to address with more traditional forms of insulation.

Spray foam insulation doesn’t just work to keep warm air in during the winter and cool air trapped during the summer. Spray foam insulation, because it can easily reach hard-to-reach places, can also help you keep moisture from seeping into your home.

Photo Source: soundproofinghome.net

Reduce Your Chances of Mold with Spray Foam Insulation

Where there is moisture, there is the potential for mold. If you have ever experienced a serious mold problem, you realize that it can be a very serious problem. In particular, a serious mold problem can translate into property damage, potential home devaluation, and even significant health problems.

Mold in your home can decrease the quality of your indoor air. Mold can in fact become so toxic that homes need considerable repair or are even unsalvageable. These serious situations can be circumvented thanks to spray foam insulation and a modest amount of preparation. This makes the value of spray foam insulation considerable, to say the least!

Healthy Indoor Air with Spray Foam Insulation

Healthy indoor air isn’t easy to put a price on, just as it is impossible to put a value on your own health. Considering that indoor air is usually several times more polluted than outdoor air, it is always in your best interest and the best interest of your family to keep your indoor air quality as good as possible. Spray foam insulation thus does far more than simply add insulation to your home for it can also reduce the risk of mold in your home as well.

Photo Source: blocktheheat.com

Does Spray Foam Insulation Work for Most Homes?

In short, yes! Spray foam insulation can work in most homes. It is easy to use, installs very quickly, and when done by professionals, yields fantastic results. Given the wide variety of health and financial benefits that spray foam insulation has to offer, isn’t it a good idea to explore it further? Talk to your home improvement expert today to learn all the ways that you and your home can benefit from this impressive home improvement product.

For quite some time, aerogel insulation was the stuff of researchers and research labs. However, in recent years, aerogel insulation has become more and more available to the general population and has made its way into a variety of products.

So What on Earth is Aerogel, Anyway?

Stating that aerogel is cool doesn’t really convey the impressiveness of this product and the scientific breakthrough behind it. Aerogel is a solid, but it is incredibly lightweight. Yet, at the same time, it is a remarkably effective and useful insulator. Aerogel may have the word “gel” in its name, but it is actually a solid, so you don’t have to worry about getting wet using it. In fact, it is made of 90% air. [1]

Today, aerogels are being used in a simply remarkable number of different ways, ranging from insulation and cold-weather gear to the electronics and computer industries. The future, in fact, looks very bright for this decidedly modern and unique material.

Photo Source: inhabitat.com

Dramatically Boost Your Home’s R-Value with Aerogel Insulation

Aerogel insulation can be used in almost any part of your home, including your floor, walls, and roof. Those looking for an insulation material with a high R-value will be impressed with what aerogel insulation has to offer, as aerogel insulation tops the charts! The simple fact is that aerogel insulation has an R-value that is several times higher than your typical Fiberglas insulation.

Aerogel insulation is also very thin and lightweight, which means that it can be used in interesting and novel ways. It has a lower bulk density than any other type of insulation material. [2] The full potential of aerogel insulation in the home is only beginning to become clear and evident.

Photo Source: popsci.com

Insulated Aerogel Strips Offer Flexibility

One interesting application of aerogel insulation in the home comes in the form of aerogel insulating strips, which can be placed in areas such as door frames and window frames. The impressive insulation ability of aerogel insulation means that you can get a very big return on your investment.

Expect Aerogel Insulation to Become a Standard in the Future

Aerogel insulation could, quite literally, be everywhere someday soon. Already we are seeing aerogel insulation in a wide assortment of products beyond insulation, such as water bottles, for example. [3] Those looking for a cutting-edge way to address the issue of increasing the energy efficiency of their homes will be intrigued by what aerogel insulation can offer. With all of the advantages added together, it becomes obvious that aerogel insulation will likely become a very popular insulation option in the near future.

Sources
1. http://3rings.designerpages.com/2010/02/19/aerogel-space-age-insulation/
2. http://inhabitat.com/exciting-advances-in-insulation-with-aerogel/
3. http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/02/26/laken-iso-70-aerogel.html

More than ever, people are looking for ways to save money in every area of their lives, and this trend, of course, holds true for saving money at home. As a result, interest in home improvements designed to make homes more energy efficient has never been higher. Spray foam insulation is one way that homeowners around the country (and around the world) are saving money on their energy costs.

The cost-to-benefit ratio for using spray foam insulation is so high that using it for your home is quite an appealing proposition. Spray foam insulation stands out, in part, due to the fact that it is so easy to use. Since spray foam insulation expands to 100 times its original volume when sprayed, it is not just easy to use, but can effectively reach all kinds of spots that were previously inaccessible. [1] Plus, spray foam provides twice the R-value per inch over commonly used batt insulation. [2]

Photo Source: lowerelectricbilltoday.com

The fact that spray foam insulation can be sprayed into hard-to-reach locations throughout your home is one of the reasons that savvy home-improvement specialists use it so frequently. After all, experienced specialists know that spray foam insulation can quickly reach difficult-to-access spots, such as crevices and corners of your attic. This explains part of the reason that spray foam insulation is so commonly used in attics.

The durability of spray foam insulation and the fact that it is non-toxic are two other reasons that home improvement specialists frequently turn to this versatile type of insulation.  Spray foam insulation is so durable that it will last for years, helping to make it an excellent option for budget-conscious homeowners interested in making money-saving home improvements.

Opting for spray foam insulation in your home is a smart move, as it allows you to insulate hard-to-reach places, such as your attic or crawl space, quickly and easily. If, in the past, you have been reluctant to install new insulation due to the fact that you thought the process was likely to be time consuming, then spray foam insulation will definitely appeal to you. Most people are quite surprised and even a little shocked by how quickly skilled professionals are able to insulate their homes using spray foam insulation. It could also be an afternoon DIY project if you have an area that is smaller than 200 square feet. [3]

Photo Source: certainteed.com

There certainly are many options when it comes to home improvements, and some make more sense than others. Any home improvement that allows you to make your home more energy efficient comes with a range of benefits. The practicality and overall benefits of adding insulation in any form to your home are significant and most definitely worth the time to explore.

Sources:
1. http://www.hgtvremodels.com/home-systems/spray-foam-improves-on-insulation/index.html
2. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11700
3. http://www.hgtvremodels.com/home-systems/spray-foam-improves-on-insulation/index.html

In recent years, there has been a good deal of chatter about green insulation, and you might be left asking, why? The reason that green insulation is becoming a hot topic is that it ties into two different and important topics. Increasingly, there is a drive to make homes more energy efficient due to the fact that energy costs continue to rise.

As countries such as China and India continue to industrialize and put demands on traditional energy sources, such as fossil fuels, countries around the world are realizing the great importance of using resources more wisely. Part of the process of using resources more wisely is energy efficiency. The second reason that green insulation is getting more attention is due to the fact that green insulation offers numerous environmental and health benefits that are attractive to both homeowners and homebuilders. Some people believe that chemicals in typical insulation can lead to asthma and even cancer. [1]

Photo Source: casasugar.com

What Makes Green Insulation Green?

Green insulation is seen as having less impact on the environment than more traditional insulation alternatives, such as Fiberglas insulation, for example. Less environmental impact can come in a variety of forms. One key difference is that green insulation is not made from fossil fuel sources or chemicals. Often green insulation is from recycled sources, such as blue jean insulation and cellulose insulation.

Green Insulation and Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality is something that more and more homeowners are becoming concerned about and are taking steps to improve. Green insulation is also seen as being healthier than traditional counterparts. This is, in part, due to the fact that green insulation uses either no chemicals or very minimal chemicals in its manufacturing. This lack of or low level of chemicals means that it has less impact on indoor air quality. Individuals with chemical sensitivities or allergies find this aspect of green insulation particularly appealing.

Photo Source: gogreenzine.com

Green Insulation is Renewable in Nature

It is also important to note that green insulation is renewable. Both wool insulation and blue jean insulation are renewable as they are made from wool and cotton respectively. Another option is cellulose insulation, which is made from recycled paper. [2] One major plus in favor of cellulose insulation is the fact that the chemicals holding it together are free of formaldehyde. [3] All three of these materials stand in stark contrast to fossil fuel and chemical-based insulation options.

Green Insulation Choices Are Effective and Easy to Install

Green insulation has much in common with its more traditional counterparts. In general, green insulation offers good R-values, which means that they are effective home insulators. Further, they are easy to work with and easy to install. Homeowners who like the idea of going green will be very excited to learn that there are many more options than just a decade ago. The fact that green insulation is healthy, renewable, and comes with less environmental impact is just icing on the insulation cake!

Sources:
1. http://inhabitat.com/lets-talk-about-insulation-baby/
2. http://www.casasugar.com/insulation-616009
3. http://www.motherearthnews.com/ask-our-expects/green-insulation.aspx

Sliding Doors are Great, But…

As great as sliding doors are and as attractive as a feature as they may be, there is one potential drawback. That drawback comes from the very thing that makes them great: their size. Large sliding doors mean lots of sunlight and lots of fresh air, but they also mean lots of potential energy loss as well. Combating this energy loss can seem a bit daunting.

Using an insulation kit on sliding doors is quite a job and can often be a difficult one. Yet, there is an easier way to tackle this issue of energy loss and increase your home’s energy-efficiency profile in the process. Insulated curtains might seem like “too easy” of a fix, but to be certain, insulated curtains do work quite well.

First of all, insulated curtains serve to block out cold air, in part because they are thick. This thickness can drastically reduce the cold air that makes its way into your home. Secondly, the insulated nature of the curtains means that they can help keep the warm air right where you want it. The simple change of properly installing insulated curtains can reduce your heat loss by as much as 25%. [1]

This is not to state that insulated curtains by themselves will make your energy bills plummet during the coldest of winter days. In order to see dramatic and long-lasting energy savings, additional important steps may be necessary. A focus on proper insulation throughout your home as well as other potential steps, such as solar electricity and a tankless water heater, for example, may be needed in order to see a stunning drop in your energy bills. Yet, smaller fixes and home improvements, such as using insulated curtains throughout your home and on your sliding doors, can provide a great return on a relatively modest investment.

It is also important to remember that insulated curtains can provide you year-round savings as well. In fact, insulated curtains are not just for those cold winter months, but they will help you in the summer, as you can use them to block out the sun’s light on those hot summer days. Other methods you may want to try to reduce energy loss from sliding glass doors include caulking, double-glazed inserts, and keeping the track clean. [2]

Photo Source: sweethomepanel.net

Sources:

1. http://www.energyefficientwindowcurtains.org/
2. http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/insulate-sliding-glass-doors.html

Insulation Plays an Important Role in Modern Life

Modern life, in part, necessitates protection from the elements, and that means protection from cold in the winter and heat in the summer. Air conditioning and heat wouldn’t be affordable for the vast majority of us if it weren’t for insulation in some form or another. Yet, despite the incredible importance that insulation plays in our lives, we often take it for granted and even fail to use it properly. The good news is that when used properly, insulation can save you a tremendous amount of money. Whether it’s in your home or in the products you use every day, insulation is vital.

Photo Source: greenandsave.com

Your Home Has Ample Insulation Opportunities

Virtually every home has ample insulation opportunities. The “big” ones include areas such as your roof and the interior of your walls. A poorly insulated attic can be a nightmare when it comes time to pay your monthly energy bills, but proper attic insulation can take some of the sting out of writing that check. Insulating your attic alone can reduce heating bills by 30%! [1]

Using Insulation in a Variety of Areas Around Your Home

Insulation can be found in other areas around your home as well. Insulation kits for windows and doors are popular for a reason; they work! Installing insulated drapes and shades are another easy and inexpensive way that you can find yourself beating back the cold. If you have ever experienced a nasty draft in the winter, then you can appreciate the idea of adding some insulation to the area around your windows and doors.

Insulation can even help make your life better in unexpected ways. For example, you can save money by insulating your basement as well as your water heater. When you add insulation to a water heater, you can reduce standby heat losses by 25%-45%. In fact, adding insulation to your water heater should pay for itself in only about 12 months! [2] These two steps can everyone money but are particularly helpful for those living in a cold climate.

Photo Source: bordnerinstall.com

Adding insulation to your home is easy even on the large scale. When you opt to work with an energy auditor, you will learn invaluable tips about what steps you can take to make your home a toasty and more comfortable one. One simple way to find an auditor is simply to ask your utility company if they can recommend one to you. [3]

So reach out to your home improvement specialist or energy auditor so you can learn more about the easy ways that you can take advantage of insulation. There are ways of insulating your home that will instantly save you money. Working with an energy auditor can quite literally pay off almost immediately.

Sources:

1. http://www.house-energy.com/insulation/attic-insulation.htm
2. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=13070
3. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_improvement_audits

While it may be difficult to think in such terms, the money that you let “fly” out the window due to energy efficiency mistakes could be spent in any number of ways that could benefit your family. It is important that you realize that an energy auditor will have a long list of ways that you can make your home more energy efficient throughout the entire year!

Do You Have a Hot or Cold Basement?

Having a basement that stays too hot or too cold is a bigger problem than it might initially seem. For example, if your basement is not temperate, then most people will not want to spend time in it. After all, who wants to spend a great deal of time in a basement that is freezing? What is effectively happening in this kind of situation is that you are losing out on a good deal of not only your home’s square footage, but also your home’s potential. The answer may be as simple and as affordable as adding new insulation.

Both basement walls and ceilings can be properly insulated for cost reductions. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the annual savings from basement wall insulation for a 1,500-square-foot home could range anywhere from $250-$390 depending on the city and also the R-value. [2]

Photo Source: basementideas.com

Don’t Let a Cold or Hot Basement Impact Your Resale Value!

Another problem with having a consistently cold or hot basement is that it can impact your home’s resale value. Not only will prospective homeowners see that your utilities bills are high, but they may also discover that your basement is less than appealing. During a survey from the National Association of Home Builders, researchers found that ever since 2000, customers have strongly preferred homes with basement living space. [3] A more livable basement can actually make life better in a variety of ways.

When it comes time to sell your home, you will be glad that you insulated your basement properly. In the meantime, you will also be glad you insulated your basement when you are paying your monthly bills.  High monthly energy bills can be handled by adding insulation where it is needed the most, such as insulation in attics and basements.

Photo Source: businessinsider.com

5 Good Reasons to Insulate Your Basement

1) Make the most of your square footage

2) Save money on your energy bills every month

3) A well insulated basement makes your home more attractive to potential homebuyers

4) You’ll enjoy your basement more as it will have greater functionality

5) You’ll use less energy, which is good for the planet

Deciding to insulate your basement is a decision you are unlikely to regret. Your monthly energy bills will drop, your basement will become more useful, and when it comes time to sell your home, you will be able to point to the fact that your home is more energy efficient as well!

Sources:

1. http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/insulation/basement-insulation-lowers-costs/
2. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11470
3. http://static.cnhi.zope.net/birmingham/metro/eagletribune/spring-home/_article0002.html

You might not be thinking too much about your attic, but there is no doubt that ignoring it isn’t the answer. The fact is that you probably lose money every month due to poor attic insulation. In fact, according to the Department of Energy, the average home in the United States loses 50%-70% of its energy to heating and cooling loads. [1] However, insulation is designed to keep cool air and hot air in your house. To find out if you need additional insulation, check to see if your current insulation only reaches the tops of the joints. If you can see the joints, this means that you likely need extra insulation. [2]

Plus, insulation saves you money every month because it can plug up leaky areas in your roof. You might not know it, but you likely have some spots in your roof that have gaps that allow cold air in during the winter and hot air in during the summer. This situation, of course, translates into a major hit to your wallet.

Photo Source: allatticinsulation.com

Insulation Can Get Your Energy Bills Under Control

By putting insulation in your attic, you can ensure that your heating and cooling bills will go down. While attic insulation is only one aspect of a well insulated home, it is definitely a key aspect and one that you must pay serious attention to if you want to keep your energy bills under control.

Roll Insulation and Spray Foam Insulation Options

Installing attic insulation is easy as well. Thanks to the fact that insulation comes in rolls that are easily cut, it is possible to handle insulation yourself. There are a variety of convenient and accessible online videos that will guide you through the process. [3] With that stated, however, you can be certain that a professional will do a far better job, miss less spots, and save you a good deal of hassle in the process.

Another excellent way of handling your attic insulation needs is to use spray foam insulation. If you know that you have a “leaky” attic, then you might want to look into spray foam insulation, as it can tackle those tough-to-reach spots that are hard to find and easy to overlook. If you feel that you have a particularly difficult attic to insulate due to odd angles and low ceilings, you will likely love just how effective and easy spray foam insulation is.

Photo Source: jmhomeowner.com

Whether you opt for rolls of insulation or go with spray foam insulation or another type of insulation, you will notice a difference almost immediately. This is part of why insulation is a great investment. Many home investments don’t show an instant return on your investment, but insulation is different in this regard. With proper insulation, it is possible for you to make a simple change to your home that will instantly lead to lower energy bills.

Considering all the great money saving reasons to use insulation, there is really no reason not to make this smart investment. By doing, so you can expect to see your energy bills drop almost immediately.

Photo Source: askthebuilder.com

Sources:

1. http://www.jea.com/about/pub/downloads/atticinsulationupgrade.pdf
2. http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/insulation/attic-insulation-savings/
3. http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,20051865,00.html

Insulating your home isn’t as easy as just tossing some insulation into your attic. To truly insulate your home, your approach needs to be more comprehensive. The end result will be that you reap more energy-efficiency benefits and also save a good deal of money in the process.

Photo Source: sips.org

Two Big Steps You Can Take Today

Thinking about all the different ways that heat and cool air can escape from your home is, in fact, one of the two best steps you can take towards making certain that your home is a well insulated home. The second step is to work with energy auditors and other home professionals who can help guide you as to what steps you need to take to get your home well insulated for both summertime and winter.

Your Home is Not Airtight

Your home is not an airtight structure like a thermos bottle, for example. Instead, your home is porous, as it has numerous windows, doors, as well as cracks, both large and small, that you don’t know about or can’t even see! This is an important point that you need to take into consideration when you are pondering what to do about insulating your home effectively. It also underscores the importance of working with a knowledgeable and experienced professional who can guide you every step of the way.

One popular test that a professional can perform for you is a blower door test. In this case, your door will be opened and a blower door frame will be installed and sealed in the opening. This test will let you know exactly how much air is blowing in and out of your home. [1]

The Challenge of Doors and Windows

Your doors and windows present a unique challenge, as they are designed to be opened and closed. This, of course, means that there is ample opportunity for air to both escape and come in. Further, since the area around your windows and doors are weaker than solid wall, you also have to be on the lookout for cracks as well. These cracks are not just unpleasant, but are also potentially quite costly! Taking steps to address this cracks, such as using caulking and using window and door treatments, is a pivotal step and one that will save you money.

Photo Source: fixthehome.com

Other Ways That Insulation Can Help You Save

Many of the ways that you can employ insulation to help you save money are not as obvious as addressing attic insulation or window/door insulation. Yet, there are effective other ways that you can use insulation to save costs. For example, basement insulation and insulated panels can work wonders for making your home a more efficient one. Environmentally friendly structured insulated panels can cut costs by up to 50%. [2] Simpler yet very effective measures like insulated curtains are another way that you can see big savings will minimal expense and effort.

Work with Energy Professionals to See Big Rewards

Ultimately, working with an energy auditor and other energy experts to make your home a better insulated home is money that is very well spent. With surprisingly little time, they can direct you in the steps you need to take. In short, the time and money you invest in this direction will quickly find its way back into your pocket and put a large smile on your face!

Sources:

1. http://www.healthyhouseinstitute.com/a_1178-is_your_house_airtight
2. http://www.sips.org/technical-information-2/faqs

1. Find as Many Air Leaks as Possible

In your day-to-day life, you probably don’t give air leaks throughout your home a great deal of thought. However, if you want to save money on your heating and cooling costs, you should. Air leaks mean you can lose hot air in the winter and cool air in the summer, and no one wants that! According to estimates, you can save an additional 5% to 30% each year if you repair air leaks. [1]

There are many places in your home that are great candidates for air leaks. Often, especially in the winter, finding these air leaks is easier, as you will feel the cold air rushing in. Baseboards, window frames, and cracks around your doors are areas that you might already know to check, but there are other areas that are more commonly overlooked. Fireplaces and window air conditioners can allow a great deal of air to escape. Electrical outlets and switch plates are also frequent offenders in this regard; replacing old parts and caulking when necessary can help you save a bundle.

Photo Source: energystar.gov

2. Install a High-Quality Heating and Cooling Unit

It is difficult to stress just how much money an old heating and cooling unit can cost you. Believe it or not, about half of your home’s current energy goes towards this purpose. [2] Working with an experienced professional and installing a new heating and cooling unit will help you save money every single day. Other steps that can make a difference include adding a programmable thermostat to your home and sealing off heating and cooling ducts.

Photo Source: wpseweranddrain.info

3. Insulate, Insulate, and Insulate Some More

Insulation is the homeowner’s friend, and there are many different approaches to insulating. Attic insulation is always a great place to start. Warm air rises, and keeping that warm air inside longer will keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Spray foam insulation is great for reaching difficult spots and for insulating leaky areas that are almost impossible to find on your own.

If you live in an older home, the fact is that when your house was originally insulated, energy costs were much lower. Your builder probably just installed the type of insulation that was recommended at that period in time, but it doesn’t mean that those choices are still suitable today. [3]

Photo Source: roofcoat.building.officelive.com

4. If Possible, Replace Your Old Doors and Windows

Replacing old doors and windows can be a pricey proposition, especially if you live in a larger home with many windows. Yet, this is an investment that might pay for itself very quickly. New ENERGY STAR windows, for example, can lower your energy bills by 7% to 15%. [4] After all, heating a large home can become quite an expensive proposition. If you do decide to go through the trouble and expense to replace windows and doors, it’s worth the extra money to invest in quality so that you can enjoy savings for years to come! Of course, you will also reduce your carbon footprint by reducing greenhouse gas from power plants. [5]

Photo Source: sheknows.com

5. Work with a Professional Energy Auditor

Wouldn’t it be great if there were someone out there who understood all the different ways that you could potentially save on your energy bill? As it turns out, this is exactly what energy auditors do, and they can point you in the right direction.

Energy conservation isn’t just socially responsible; it can also save you money and a good deal of headaches. There are many ways to save on energy in addition to those listed above. Consider alternative energy such as solar electricity and wind power, which can lead to tax credits for energy efficiency.

Sources

1. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/energy_audits/index.cfm/mytopic=11170
2. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_hvac
3. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/energy_audits/index.cfm/mytopic=11170
4. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showproductgroup&pgw_code=wi
5. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showproductgroup&pgw_code=wi

Did you know that from an energy-saving perspective, your appliances could be dangerous? The reason that this is the situation is that it is remarkably easy for most of us to just forget about our appliances. Appliances have a tendency to blend into the background rather easily. We begin to see them as “part of the wall,” and, as a result, we often forget to think about their implications on our monthly energy bills. Yet, the impact that old and inefficient appliances can have on energy bills is nothing short of huge!

As we will discuss in this article, some appliances are far worse than others. For example, an energy-inefficient blender that you use once a month is a far different issue than your refrigerator. This means that some appliances are far more important to replace than others. Deciding where and how to prioritize your own appliance upgrades will vary considerably based on your own unique situations, but the odds are excellent that you have some room for improvement.

Photo Source: reliablecleaningservices.com

Your Home Heating and Cooling Unit

Simply stated, if your home heating and cooling unit is on its “last legs,” you will want to consider upgrading and perhaps doing so in a hurry. You may even discover that this home improvement can even come with energy tax credits and ENERGY STAR rebates as well, meaning that upgrading to a newer model is rather attractive and compelling.

Your Refrigerator is Oh So Hungry

One appliance in your house that can be a pretty hungry (energy-hungry, that is) is your refrigerator. Keeping your food cool each hour of the day and every day of the year isn’t a cheap proposition, especially if you own an energy-inefficient model. A new refrigerator, especially an ENERGY STAR-rated one, can be impressively more efficient, and that means money in the bank. ENERGY STAR-rated refrigerators can use 20% less energy. Old refrigerator models can actually cost you up to $280 a year. [1]

When you are picking out a new refrigerator, you also might want to select one with the freezer on either the top or the bottom, as either will use less energy than a refrigerator with side-by-side doors. Also don’t end up selecting a refrigerator that is much larger than you need, or you will just end up wasting not only energy, but also space. [2]

Yes, Your Dishwasher May Be Taking You to the Cleaners

Sure, we all love clean dishes, but the simple fact is that your dishwasher may be taking you to the cleaners. An old dishwasher is an energy hog, but it can hit you in your wallet in another way as well: your water bill. Just one cycle in your dishwasher can use 6 gallons of water! [3] Your dishwasher might stand out as a unique “two for one” where extra expenditures are concerned.

Of course, there are many appliances that might be draining your resources, and each situation is different. Clearly, if you just replaced your old dishwasher, then this isn’t as much a priority for you as someone that owns a dishwasher from when Jimmy Carter was president. Other appliances in your home that you want to evaluate for their energy efficiency include water heaters, washers and dryers, and air conditioners.

With a little time and effort, you will be able to find the energy-efficiency home improvement options that make the most sense for you. So don’t just live with air conditioning problems or problems with your inefficient refrigerator, but instead see if there are ways you can replace them, as you will start saving on your energy bills immediately.

Sources:
1. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showproductgroup&pgw_code=rf
2. http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/home/appliances/refrigerators.html
3. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/01/built-in-dishwasher-vs-hand-washing-which-greener.php

Many Different Options for Saving Serious Money

Manufacturers have embraced the ENERGY STAR concept of engineering and designing products that will save you money on your energy bill. If you are unfamiliar with ENERGY STAR, what might come as a big surprise is the number of different types of appliances that have ENERGY STAR options. A variety of companies have made products that meet guidelines established by the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy. However, ENERGY STAR products can be purchased throughout the globe in countries including Australia, Japan, Canada, Taiwan, and New Zealand. [2]

Photo Source: 4us2be.com

Lower Your Energy Bill with Kitchen Appliances

One of the best places to start the process of lowering your energy bill is your kitchen. Your kitchen has some real energy “hogs” that may potentially be gobbling up your hard-earned money every month. Appliances such as refrigerators and dishwashers use up a great deal of energy. Of course, you can save some money on your dishwasher’s operating cost by running it at other than peak energy-usage times; however, your refrigerator runs all day long. An ENERGY STAR refrigerator is a must for anyone looking to save on his or her energy bills.

Photo Source: appliancist.com

ENERGY STAR and Your Home Entertainment

HDTV sets use a great deal of energy. The larger the set, the more this is the case. Opting for an ENERGY STAR HDTV will save you big over the course of a year, especially if you are a television junkie!

Just as opting for an ENERGY STAR HDTV will save you money every month, the same holds true for other home entertainment appliances, such as Blu-Ray players, DVD players, and audiovisual equipment of all kinds. These types of appliances can consume far more energy than one might suspect, so replacing them with ENERGY STAR options is a move you might want to consider.

Photo Source: sustainabilityninja.com

Heating and Cooling Your Home Isn’t Cheap

Heating and cooling your home isn’t a cheap proposition, but luckily there are ENERGY STAR heating and cooling options, ranging from heating and cooling units to furnaces and air conditioners. Replacing any of these heating and cooling options with a more modern, energy-efficient ENERGY STAR replacement is another way to save on your heating and cooling costs.

Photo Source: greenbuildingenergysavings.com

Explore Your Options

There are many options when it comes to finding ENERGY STAR appliances. The number of options actually helps to underscore all the different ways that you can potentially save every hour of the day. The fact that ENERGY STAR rebates exist only serves to greatly sweeten the deal as well. If you are interested in seeing what rebates and credits are available in your area, simply visit ENERGY STAR’s website and type in your zip code and the types of products you wish to buy. [3] Through exploring the different options at your disposal, you might just save a bundle!

Sources
1. http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/construction/green/energy-star.htm
2. http://climate.org/climatelab/energy_star
3. http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/construction/green/energy-star.htm

Skylights and Solar Tubes Can Help Reduce Your Bills

You don’t actually have to be using a solar energy product, such as home solar panels or solar electricity, to take advantage of solar energy. Home improvement ideas, such as adding skylights and solar tubes to your home, are passive ways that you can get more light into your home and, in the process, reduce the number of lights that you use in your home.

If you are unfamiliar with solar tubes, they are like tiny skylights that bring light into a given room. Often people opt for solar tubes over skylights if they have minimal roof space to work with. [1] You can even buy special versions that concentrate the light through the power of mirrors. [2] Solar tubes can be remarkably effective and even serve to help warm your home in the winter, just like skylights. Plus, studies have shown that natural light can benefit your health and boost your concentration. [3]

Photo Source: greenhousevt.blogspot.com

The Solar Water Heater: Saving Money Year Round

Wouldn’t it be nice to save money on every bath and shower that you took throughout the year? There are ways that you can do just that. One is to install an energy-efficient water heater; another is to install a low-flow showerhead. Perhaps the most exciting idea of all is to install a solar water heater.

Water heaters consume a good deal of energy, as heating water is an energy intensive process, but with a solar water heater, you are letting the sun heat your water for you. Is solar heating right for you? The answer is a strong “probably,” as solar heating can be a true cost saver. Keep in mind that you will have to invest some money in the beginning to buy and install the solar water heater, but over the long-term, you can save 50% to 70% of the energy you use for heating water. [4]

Photo Source: solarelectricpanels.com

Consider Partial Solar Energy

Often people think of solar as an “all or nothing” proposition, but there is no reason that you have to approach solar in this fashion. Home solar panels and solar energy could be used to partially power your home. This would mean that you don’t have to come up with all the money necessary to “go solar” at one time. In fact, you don’t even have to put the solar panels on your roof, as you could even put them on top of your garage.

Buy a Hybrid or Electric Car

If you opt for partial solar power, you could use those home solar panels to charge your hybrid or electric car. This would, of course, mean that you have no gas bill and are essentially driving your car for free (minus your car payments, repairs, and insurance, of course). Just imagine not having to ever waste time pumping gas, driving to the gas station, or waiting at the gas station. That sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

Sources
1. http://www.ecobroker.com/misc/articleview.aspx?articleid=46
2. http://inhabitat.com/solar-tube/
3. http://www.ecobroker.com/misc/articleview.aspx?articleid=46
4. http://www.aceee.org/consumer/water-heating

Solar Energy Stands Out as Protection Against Rising Energy Costs

Energy prices continue to rise every year, and nothing seems to be standing in the way of this painful reality. Home solar panels mean you can have considerable protection against rising energy costs. Just imagine for a moment if energy prices were to double or even triple. What would that do to your monthly budget? This concept might not seem possible until you stop to consider that not too long ago the idea of gas prices doubling or tripling seemed unrealistic, too. One of the single best arguments for solar energy-related home improvements, such as solar panels, solar water heaters, and solar heating, as well as other renewable energy options is that they offer protection against rising energy prices.

Photo Source: solarenergyfact.org

Some Considerations Before Going Solar

It is important to note that since the price of solar panels has dropped in recent years, you will not have to wait as long to see a return on your investment. Solar panels also have warranties and guarantees, and that means that if you shop smart, you won’t have to potentially pay to replace parts a few years down the line. Most solar panel systems for homes have different parts: solar panels, batteries, and power inverters. Ideally, you should get a warranty on all three. [1]

One agenda item that you should put on the top of your list is hiring a qualified and experienced contractor. The performance of your system will depend on the installation, the design of the system, and its components. Also it is important to make sure that there are no regulations, such as building codes, that would influence your ability to install solar energy. If you have a community association, subdivision, or homeowner’s association, be sure to contact them as soon as possible to discuss your plans. [2]

Photo Source: best-honest-reviews.com

The Risk of Grid Instability is on the Rise

Once upon a time, people didn’t think much about the stability of the power grid, but this issue is gathering more attention all the time. Virtually all experts agree that the power grid is old and in need of serious repair.  Moreover, the money to do the massive overhaul that is needed may simply not be there. The end result is that grid dependability issues may become more and more common. Needs for electricity in the U.S. are expected to increase. In fact, some estimate it might increase 40% in the next two decades. [3]

However, if you are primarily depending upon solar energy for your home, this will not be an issue for you and your family.  Thus solar energy stands out as a unique way to make sure that you have energy anytime you want it, day or night and year round!

Solar energy and home solar panels means that you can use energy when you wish. Depending upon the type of system and the scale of the system that you install, you could potentially have tremendous flexibility in your energy usage. You can also have this flexibility without the worry of what your energy bills will look like at the end of the month.

Photo Source: rechargenews.com

Sources:

1. http://www.myenergysolution.com/energy-savings-blog/energy-solutions/energy-production/solar-power/understanding-solar-panel-wa
2. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12490
3.  http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/magazine/17-04/gp_intro?currentPage=all

There are numerous reasons for embarking on the journey of making home improvements, ranging from simply improving your living space to improving your life, but few reasons are better than making home improvements to save money. In this article, we will look at some of the energy-efficiency home improvements that you can make and how they will impact the money you spend each month. As you will discover, these home improvements make so much sense that they are difficult to pass up.

Insulating Your Attic Can Make a Great Difference

There is no doubt there may be home improvements that you feel are more fun to do than improving the R-value of your home, but there are few that are more practical. Knowing that you’ve saved a good deal of money each month on your energy bill can bring you a great deal of satisfaction. You may or may not realize that 50% to 70% of the energy used in the average American home goes towards heating and cooling needs. [1]

Attic insulation will increase the energy efficiency of your home. You can limit the air movement from heated spaces to outdoors by using batts, blankets, foams, and loose fill. [1] If you already have insulation in your attic, why not consider moving to a higher R-value? [2] You can either handle this as a do-it-yourself project or hire a contractor for the job.

Photo Source: planetgreen.discovery.com

Upgrade Old Appliances and Electronics and See Your Energy Bills Drop

You might want to drive your refrigerator, dishwasher, or heating and cooling unit into the ground, but the facts are this might not be as good of an idea as it initially sounds. Old appliances and electronics are often not very energy efficient. Keep in mind that old appliances and electronics were manufactured when energy prices where much, much lower than they currently are. Technology has progressed considerably in recent years, meaning that newer appliances and electronics are usually much more efficient. Further, the manufacturers of newer appliances need to meet minimum standards of efficiency set by the government. [3]

Photo Source: valmg.com

Consider Your Renewable Energy and Alternative Energy Options

If you really want to get your energy bills down, way down, then it might be time to consider a type of home improvement that takes matters directly into your own hands. Solar electricity, wind power, solar heating, and home solar panels are all home improvements that can take serious pressure off of your wallet. Additional options, such as solar water heaters, also stand out as a step that can make a substantial difference. Best of all is the fact that that these home improvements will keep giving year after year.

Talk to the Experts

Getting your energy bills down and knowing what home improvement steps to take can seem pretty complex, but there are ways to demystify this process. One of the smartest steps to take is to talk to experts in the field. By doing so, you will begin to see the money flowing out of your house and into your wallet. Above all else, it is important to evaluate and explore your options and find out just how much money you can save.

Sources:

1. http://ornl.gov/sci/roofs%2bwalls/insulation/ins_01.html
2. http://www.microsoft-hohm.com/recommendation/add_attic_insulation.aspx
3. http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/fappl.asp

When you decide to work with an energy auditor, you are giving yourself a valuable new way to save money on your energy bills. For most people, an energy auditor stands as a first step towards impressive savings that will last for years or even decades. Your home is complex in that it has thousands of parts. This fact also means that there is ample room for lost energy. Unless you are an expert in the field, it may be difficult to always know where and how you are losing energy every day. This is where an energy auditor comes into play, as your auditor can instruct you about what home improvement steps you should consider.

Photo Source: sierraclubgreenhome.com

What Can You Expect from an Energy Auditor?

An energy auditor will come to your house armed with a variety of tools designed to help you lower your energy usage and, as a result, your energy bill. While there are many tools at an auditor’s disposal, it is important not to lose sight of the fact that an energy auditor is a walking treasure trove of ideas on how you can reduce your energy usage. As an energy auditor explores your home, he or she will find ways both large and small to make beneficial changes. It will be up to you to adopt these measures. But even if you don’t have the funds to take on all of an auditor’s suggestions, you will still gain this knowledge for future use.

Photo Source: csmonitor.com

An Infrared Camera Could Save You Thousands in the Coming Years

One of the major tools that energy auditors can use is an infrared camera to detect heat loss. An infrared camera can be far more effective than guess work in finding areas inside your home where energy is escaping. By detecting the heat differential, it is possible for an energy auditor to know what areas of your home need improvement. [1]

In fact, thanks to this powerful tool, it is possible to actually find leaks both large and small in your home that are allowing hot and cold air to escape. A few minutes spent with an energy auditor and a thermographic inspection could save you hundreds and even thousands of dollars over the coming years. In short, this idea could save you big, as a lot of thermal energy could be lost each and every day without you even knowing it.

Another test the energy auditor is likely to do is the blower door test. He or she will use a fan in one of the doorways of your house. The auditor simply turns on the fan and measures the flow out of the building to see how leaky your home is. [2]

So are you convinced that an energy auditor could be a good idea for you? The next logical question is: Where does one find a good auditor? You can call your local energy or gas company and ask them for recommendations. Also you can find auditors under “Energy” in the telephone book. Once you have found a candidate, check with them to make sure that they do the blower door test and thermographic inspections.

An energy auditor can take tools like the infrared camera and the information that it provides and generate excellent overall recommendations regarding how you should proceed. Knowing exactly where to make home improvements is half of the battle, and this is exactly where an energy auditor can help you the most. Additionally, your energy auditor will have numerous practical ideas about how you can increase your energy efficiency and your energy savings. These ideas will range from steps to improve your R-value to other suggestions regarding everything from appliances to tips on passively heating and cooling your home.

Sources:

1. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/energy_audits/index.cfm/mytopic=11200
2. http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/videos/home-energy-auditors/

Many of the ways that you can keep your home heating and cooling bills down are not complex and are, in fact, very straightforward and easy fixes. For example, you’ve probably already heard that adjusting your thermostat lower in the winter and higher in the summer will save you money, and there is no denying the truth of this statement. However, there are other ways to address your heating and cooling bill as well.

1. Smart Use of Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans stand out as an easy way to reduce your need for air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter. Where an air conditioner can use about 2,500 watts of energy, a ceiling fan only uses about 60 watts. Since heat rises, you can use a ceiling fan to circulate that warm air back down where it is needed. Consider adding a ceiling fan or two in the rooms where you spend the most of your time. [1]

2. Get Insulated

What is your current insulation situation? If your answer is “I don’t know,” then the odds are great for some home improvement in this regard. Even a small investment in attic insulation or spray foam insulation can help tremendously in keeping your heating and cooling bills under control.

3. Go Solar

If you want to protect yourself from ever-rising heating and cooling prices, you might want to take a look at solar energy. Home solar energy panels have dropped in price due to the fact that many factories in China have begun producing them. According to estimates, solar panels are now about 40% less expensive. [2]

Photo Source: solar-green-wind.com

4. Your Heating and Cooling Unit

If you have an old heating and cooling unit, it might be time to consider an upgrade. In the process of upgrading to a newer unit, you should expect to see considerable energy savings. If you are using an old and inefficient unit, then you are losing money every month. According to ENERGY STAR, if you switch to ENERGY STAR-qualified equipment, you can save $200 a year. [2]

Further, if you have central air conditioning, make sure that you do proper maintenance on your machine. It is important that the condenser until has clean coils. When debris gathers on your air conditioning, it can impact its efficiency. [3]

5. Check Out Your Windows

Leaky windows let cold air out in the summer and warm air out in the winter. Plus, your heating and cooling systems will have to work harder to maintain the temperature of your rooms. Break this vicious cycle by investing in new windows or properly seal your existing windows.

Sources:
1. http://articles.sfgate.com/2011-08-31/business/29947914_1_solarbuzz-solar-system-sun-light-power
2. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_hvac
3. http://www.coned.com/thepowerofgreen/tips/026.asp

People often have a somewhat fatalistic view of their energy bill and feel as though there is nothing they can do about it. However, this isn’t the case. No matter what your situation may be, there are ways large and small that you can reduce your energy needs and, in the process, save money every month. Those solutions range from the more basic to the more involved, and each option can potentially save you big money, especially over the course of your lifetime. Let’s look at a few ways you can really save.

Light Bulb Options

The current light bulb that you know and love has served us all well for quite some time, but that is not to state that the good old-fashioned, Thomas Edison-style light bulb is flawless.  Unfortunately, the bulb of our youth is an energy hog. In fact, most of the energy a light bulb uses actually goes to heat, and that costs you a bundle!

Newer light bulb options, such as compact fluorescent light bulbs and LED light bulbs, are far more efficient by comparison, and, in an additional bit of good news, they last longer as well. In fact, they can last 10 times longer than fluorescent lights. [1][2] In recent years, the price of LED light bulbs has dropped considerably, and even bigger price drops are expected soon.

Photo Source: engadget.com

Solar Water Heaters

Switching to compact fluorescent or LED light bulbs is an easy energy-saving fix that most people can do very easily. With a bit more effort and expense, it is possible to drastically reduce your energy needs by “going solar.” Of course, there are many different ways that you can accomplish “going solar.” One way is to opt for a solar water heater. Water heaters take a good deal of energy, and this is the case even with new ones. Older water heaters can be very inefficient and cost you dearly every month. A solar water heater can take the energy costs of a traditional water heater right off your bill!

You can conveniently estimate your potential cost savings for installing a solar water heater at the U.S. Department of Energy’s website. [3] As they point out, be sure to also calculate in the installation charge and cost for maintenance.

Photo Source: ucsusa.org

Home Solar Panels

Home solar panels are another great option for reducing your electricity bill. Solar panels are easier than ever to install, and the priced has dropped like a stone in the last couple of years. If you thought that you couldn’t “go solar,” you should revisit this issue and see if the numbers now work out in your favor.

Discuss Your Options with an Energy Auditor

There are many good options that you can explore for lowering your monthly energy bill. One good first step is to meet with an energy auditor who can look at your specific situation and needs and recommend ways that you can save. An experienced energy auditor will be able to tell you what steps you can take, both large and small, but the end result should be substantial savings.

Sources:

1. http://eartheasy.com/live_energyeff_lighting.htm
2. http://www.greendiary.com/entry/vibrabright-led-bulbs-offer-mercury-free-energy-efficient-lighting/
3. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=12910

The main reason that a ceiling fan is a way to save money throughout the year is that a ceiling fan keeps air circulating. Since warm air rises, a ceiling fan can even be used in the winter to more evenly distribute heat. In the summer, a ceiling fan can help distribute the cool air produced by your air conditioner or can be used to aid with cooling and circulating air. For best results, make sure the fan runs counterclockwise in the summer and clockwise in the winter. [1] Also proper installation is important, and ceiling fans should be properly mounted and never wobbly. [2]

Studies have shown that using ceiling fans and whole house fans can help you keep your energy bills down. One practical example of this fact is that often a ceiling fan will cool down a home during the summer just enough so that air conditioning isn’t needed. On days where it’s just a little too warm, a ceiling fan or two may be exactly what you need to keep your air conditioner off. Of course, that means saving money! However, remember to turn off your ceiling fans when you leave the room. Otherwise, they can end up using unnecessary energy. In fact, you might even end up losing money if you keep the fans running all of the time. [3]

Photo Source: hometools.onsugar.com

Using fans to keep air circulating in the summer also helps heat from building up in a given space, such as upper floors of homes and converted attic spaces. By simply keeping your fans on throughout the day, you may be able to reduce your need to run your air conditioner at peak usage times. This is significant in that utility companies charge more for electricity at peak usage times than they do at other times. Thus, any steps you can take to run your air conditioner later in the day, the better off you will be. This fact also underscores the importance of making home improvements designed to improve your home’s insulation. Attic insulation and spray foam insulation can be of immense value in this regard.

Ceiling fans are an easy way to keep your energy bill down, but it is also important to make sure you are doing all you can to keep your energy usage low in the first place. Through these means, your summertime cooling bill and wintertime heating bill will seem far less shocking and painful. New energy-efficient windows, tankless water heaters, solar energy water heater options, and home solar panels are all great ways to reduce your energy bills.  Combining these options with ceiling fans and proper home insulation can do wonders for reducing your monthly bill.

There are lots of good options when it comes to ceiling fans, and there is no reason that you have to buy expensive ones to get the job done. Many reasonably priced ceiling fans are on the market. With a little research, you can find one that will pay for itself in just a few years or even less depending upon your situation.

Photo Source: hometools.onsugar.com

Sources:
1. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=ceiling_fans.pr_ceiling_fans_usage
2. http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/ceiling-fan-energy-savings.html
3. http://www.advancedenergy.org/buildings/knowledge_library/heating_and_cooling/ceiling_fans.html

You might not immediately think of the skylight as being a form of alternative energy, but the fact is that it takes advantage of solar energy. A skylight is a cost-saving tool that may differ from solar electricity and home solar panels, but the benefits are undeniable. When you are making home improvements, skylights are definitely a change you should consider. They can also benefit a home’s curb appeal, making it more attractive to potential buyers when it comes time to sell. [1]

No Matter Where You Live, Skylights Have Something to Offer!

If you live in a cold climate that doesn’t receive a good deal of sunlight in the winter, you might be tempted to think that skylights are just not for you.  However, this isn’t the case. If you do in fact live in a cold climate that doesn’t receive much sunlight in the winter months, you likely need a skylight rather badly.

Doctors and medical experts know that we feel better when we see natural light. Receiving direct light exposure in the outdoors allows our bodies to manufacture vitamin D, which is necessary for our bone health, muscle health, and metabolism. Getting natural light indoors has been shown to boost the immune system and help regulate sleep cycles. [2] In short, a skylight placed in the right area can work wonders for brightening a space and perhaps even your mood as well!

Plus, skylights are perfect for certain rooms in your home where large windows simply wouldn’t be practical. For example, many people install skylights in their bathrooms for natural light and cost savings.

Photo Source: homeimprovementpages.com

Let the Sunlight In and Save!

Beyond potentially boosting your mood and your home’s resale value, there are other ways that a skylight can make sense for you. A skylight allows you to use fewer indoor electrical lights, and that change will save you money. Skylights also serve to allow more sunlight in than windows can on their own. This means that more solar energy and thermal energy will make its way into your home. Skylights have also been used increasingly for offices. According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program, they can reduce energy consumption by 75% to 80%. [3]

If you want to cut your winter heating bills down, then opening up your drapes and installing a skylight or two will certainly make a sizable difference in this regard. This fact is particularly true if you live in a climate that receives a great deal of sunlight in the winter; however, regardless of where you live, a skylight will help you save year round!

Those looking to save on both their electric bill and their winter heating bill will find much to love with skylights. When it comes to conserving energy, there is no denying that skylights play an important role.

Photo Source: 4seasonsroofingmi.com

Sources

1. http://www.handyamerican.com/articles-tips-imv-exterior-improvements.asp
2. http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=110
3. http://saveenergy.about.com/od/savingenergyattheoffice/qt/daylighting.htm

Outdoor Solar Lighting is Inexpensive and Effective

More than likely, you are already familiar with solar lighting options and have been seeing them for quite some time. Outdoor solar lighting is, in fact, very common, inexpensive, and quite useful. Solar lighting is an easy way to reduce your energy bill, and outdoor solar lighting lasts for a long time. Additionally, your lights will work when the power goes out, and very little overall maintenance will be necessary. [1]

So how do solar lights work? They contain a solar cell, which soaks up sunlight during the day and stores this solar power electricity in a rechargeable battery. [2] A photoresistor in the light then detects when it has gotten dark outside, and at that point, the LED begins providing light. It is important to make sure that solar lights get plenty of sun during the day.

Photo Source: lowes.com

Solar Flood Lights and Solar Pool Lights

Now, if you are thinking that the only outdoor solar lights available are the smaller pathway lights that you often see, then you’ll be happy to know that there are other options. For example, there are solar floodlights on the market that have also proven to be effective. Those who own a pool will also be happy to hear that solar pool lights are easy and inexpensive to purchase. This variety of options, of course, means that it is now possible to use a great deal of solar-powered lighting in your home and, in the process, reduce your electricity dependency from the power company.  Thus, the next time you are thinking about outdoor lighting, give outdoor solar lighting serious consideration.

Photo Source: siliconsolar.com

Other Useful Solar Lighting Options: Solar Tubes and Skylights

Not all solar lighting is for night-only use. By opting for installing skylights and solar tubes, you can bring more sunlight into your home. This, of course, means that you can use less energy and have light that is natural instead of artificial. Medical experts agree that natural light can serve to boost one’s mood and perhaps even one’s immune system as a result. In fact, studies have shown that natural light can improve learning, reduce mood disorders, and reduce cognitive issues among seniors. [3] This makes the addition of skylights and solar tubes an attractive option.

In addition to being useful and utilitarian, solar lighting options like skylights and solar tubes can serve to make a home more appealing. This positive design aspect concerning skylights and solar tubes would be easy to overlook, but it is a substantial benefit.

Adding skylights and solar tubes to your home is an relatively easy way to increase your home’s resale value and can save you money in a secondary way as well. Skylights and solar tubes can serve to increase your home’s temperature in the winter, and this factor will translate to reduced heating bills.

Photo Source: inhabitat.com

Home Solar Panels are Your Most Exciting Option

Ultimately, the use of solar electricity is the most effective use of solar lighting. After all, every time you turn on a light, you will know that you are saving money. Whether its solar energy, outdoor solar lighting, skylights, or solar tubes, there are many great ways to take advantage of what solar energy can offer.

Sources:
1. http://www.lowes.com/cd_the+latest+in+outdoor+lighting_1265745146_
2. http://www.solar-energy-at-home.com/outdoor_solar_lighting.html
3. http://www.hollandsentinel.com/brandedcontent/archive?articleID=8044570408&categoryid=217

If electricity and water were free, then you wouldn’t necessarily have to worry about that old dishwasher very much. However, this isn’t the case.  Water and electricity have become more costly every year. This gives us all even more reason to find ways to save on all of our energy needs. The simple fact is that you might not want to bother replacing your dishwasher, but an old dishwasher is likely playing a significant role in your energy bills.

Photo Source: oldhouse.blogsite.org

ENERGY STAR Dishwashers are Designed to Save You Money

All ENERGY STAR products are designed to use less energy, and that means less money flying out of your pocket. An ENERGY STAR dishwasher can serve to save you on electricity and water, meaning dual savings. This is one of the reasons that energy experts, such as energy auditors, often recommend replacing old dishwashers as soon as possible. According to ENERGY STAR, if you have a dishwasher that was made prior to 1994, it can waste more than 10 gallons of water per cycle. In that case, your old dishwasher is likely hiking up your utility bill an additional $40 per year. [1]

Photo Source: thedailygreen.com

Why Can Newer Dishwashers Save You Money?

Newer dishwashers can save you money because they have been engineered to use less water and energy. If you have an old dishwasher and have visited a friend or relative with a new one, you might have noticed that their dishwasher doesn’t take as long to complete a washing cycle as yours. That time represents money! The longer your dishwasher takes to clean dishes, the more energy it is using. Plus, new models have incorporated advancements like more efficient jets, better design, and improved water filtration. Another great feature on newer models is soil sensors that consistently test how dirty your dishes are throughout the cycle and adjust as necessary. [2]

The fact is that there are benefits to having a new dishwasher that transcend the electricity and water savings. Since a newer dishwasher can clean your dishes faster, that means not having to wait. Anyone who has ever had to delay a meal because his or her dishwasher was taking forever might want to consider replacing that old dishwasher immediately.

Photo Source: appliancist.com

The Pennies Do Add Up

The household energy and water hog that is an old dishwasher is an excellent example of how ignoring inefficient appliances can add up to energy and water bill headaches. There are big benefits to replacing your old appliances whether they are dishwashers, refrigerators, or even television sets. Often these appliances that we think of as “bought and paid off” are really nothing of the kind. This fact certainly holds true if they are costing you far more money than they should to operate.

Another alarming statistic that you might want to take into account is that about 80% of your dishwasher’s energy goes directly into heating the water. You are not only paying to run your dishwasher, but each time you clean a load of dishes, you are also paying to heat the water. [3] If you can’t buy a new dishwasher right now, at least try to run shorter cycles. Obviously, a shorter wash cycle will end up using less energy.

Photo Source: dreamstime.com

Talk to Your Energy Auditor and Other Experts

Discuss your energy-saving options with an energy auditor. As you will discover, he or she will have a variety of interesting suggestions. New appliances can be an investment not only in saving money, but also in your happiness. This simple fact alone makes considering new appliances a must. There are energy tax credits that might even apply to that new ENERGY STAR dishwasher or other home improvements you make.

Sources:

1. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showproductgroup&pgw_code=dw
2. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=dishwash.pr_advanced_tech
3. http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/home/appliances/dishwashers.html

As you will see, a little advanced planning and embarking in a different direction could come with considerable savings. With that goal in mind, let’s take a look at a few of the overlooked ways that you can save money starting today!

Alternative Energy to the Rescue

The energy prices that you pay today are tied mostly to the cost of oil, gas, and coal both domestically and around the world. As the demand for these energy resources rises, you can be sure that the price you pay for energy will increase, too. However, there are ways that you can address this issue even if you don’t know what energy will cost you next month.

Home solar panels are safe, easy to install, and have dropped considerably in price. Ask yourself this simple and basic question, “Are energy prices likely to go down considerably or at all in the next decade?” Of course the answer is, “no,” which makes alternative energy options for your home more than just a viable option; these options are also prudent.

Currently, there are very attractive federal tax credits for those who install solar energy systems. If you install a solar water heater or solar panels, you can deduct 30% of the cost of installation from your taxes. This current plan expires December 31, 2016. [1] Keep in mind that in order to get this credit, the solar panels must provide all of your home’s power needs. To find out more about these deductions, consult your accountant. You can also find out more about energy credits for homeowners by consulting the IRS website. [2]

Photo Source: inhabitat.com

Look for Points of Inefficiency

Finding points in your home where you have energy inefficiency issues is one of the first steps you should take in your quest to save money on energy. An energy auditor is a great help in this regard, but there are basic steps and questions that you can take as well.

Five Big Energy Questions to Ask Yourself

1) Are you wasting energy?

2) Do you have good attic insulation?

3) Have you investigated ENERGY STAR appliance options?

4) Do you have energy intensive appliances, such as old heating and cooling units?

5) Have you looked into replacing your old windows with energy-efficient windows and doors?

Stopping to ask yourself important energy-related questions is paramount in saving more energy and more money. Alternative energy options, such as home solar panels and wind power, are smart choices. Also take into account ways that you might be wasting energy on a daily basis.

You can receive more tax credits by making the types of changes suggested above. For example, it is possible to receive a tax credit for replacing doors, windows, and skylights with new ones that are ENERGY STAR qualified. When you install new insulation, you can receive a tax credit amount of up to 10% of the cost with a limit of $500. [3] These tax incentives make the savings that you will receive when you make energy-efficient changes even more pronounced.

Whether it’s dealing with air conditioner problems, adding attic insulation, investing in a wind turbine, installing a whole house fan, or investigating ENERGY STAR rebates, it is important to remember that you have a variety of options that can lead to serious savings. By embracing these options, you can have long-term energy savings that can go toward more productive projects and endeavors!

Photo Source: doors-sliding.com

Sources
1. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index
2. http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=154657,00.html
3. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index

Step One: Consider Your Solar Options

One of the quickest ways to get your energy bill down is to stop buying energy from the power company. After all, they can’t charge you if you’re not buying power from them! Solar energy additions, such as home solar panels and solar heating, have made considerable strides in the last decade. Solar electricity is now a completely viable option that is easy to use and easy to install. Moreover, the cost has dropped considerably in recent years, which means that the solar electricity option is available to more people than ever. If you really want to see your energy bills drop “through the floor,” then home solar panels and solar heating is the place to start!

If you are worried about the upfront costs for solar power, it is important to realize that the price will vary depending on the size and location of your home, the types of panels you purchase, and the size of the solar power system. Keep in mind that there are great federal and state incentives that can deflect some of the installation costs. [1]

Photo Source: solar.calfinder.com

Step Two: Opt for Energy-Efficient Appliances

If you decide not to go the solar route, it is important to realize that the less energy your appliances use, the less energy you have to worry about purchasing from the power company. Look for ENERGY STAR appliances to help you get pointed in the right direction. So how much will you actually save if you use ENERGY STAR appliances? If you were to switch all your appliances to ENERGY STAR models, you would save about $1,000 a year. [2] Obviously, with that kind of savings in mind, it is clear that these appliances would pay for themselves in very little time.

Photo Source: greenbuildingenergysavings.com

Step Three: Look at Your Heating and Cooling Situation

A good percentage of your energy bill likely comes in the form of heating and cooling issues. This means that if you are using an old heating and cooling unit, you are likely not getting the most out of your heating and cooling dollars. Replacing an old heating and cooling unit, air conditioner, or furnace will likely mean instant savings! Additionally, “small steps” such as using ceiling fans and other fans can also help to keep your bills low.

Step Four: Use a Programmable Thermostat

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if you set your thermostat back 10-15 degrees for about eight hours a day, you can save 10% on your bills. [3] If you are not using a programmable thermostat, you might just be letting a good deal of money slip through your fingers. A programmable thermostat allows you turn your heating and cooling system down or even off when you are away. You can set your thermostat to a lower temperature when you are sleeping or out of the home in the winter to save energy. Conversely, during the summer, simply allow your home to be warmer when you aren’t home.

Photo Source: energysavers.gov

Step Five: Work with an Energy Auditor

Energy auditors have made it their mission in life to find ways to help people save on their energy bills. They can point you in the right direction on a myriad of different topics including how attic insulation, solar electricity, wind power, and a host of other steps can assist you in saving money on energy. They can even find where warm and cool air might be escaping from your home. By using these five steps, you will be able to see real tangible savings on your energy budget.

Sources:

1. http://www.moneyedup.com/2011/01/how-much-does-it-cost-to-install-solar-panels/
2. http://blog.builddirect.com/how-much-do-you-save-with-energystar-appliances/
3. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12720

Start With the Basics

Some energy-saving ideas are ones that you likely already know, but that doesn’t mean they are not worth repeating. For example, do you remember to turn off the water when you are not using it? This is probably the clearest example of how you can instantly save on water. Another simple idea is to fill up the sink with water when you are washing dishes instead of just letting the water run. These steps are particularly important considering the stress on global water resources in general.

Photo Source: mainstreet.com

Assess the State of Your Lawn

Another basic point for saving on your water bill is to find the most efficient way possible to water your lawn or your plants. In fact, many people have found that they can make a difference on their bill by forgoing the traditional grass lawn in favor of plants that use very little water. Also shrubs and groundcovers are much easier to keep moist. Making these changes can allow you to save a small fortune on an annual basis. Further, these steps do a great deal to take pressure off of water resources.

Another change you can make is to adjust your sprinklers so that they are only watering your lawn. All too often, people lose water by letting it hit their house or the sidewalk. [1] Working with a lawn care specialist in this area can be a home improvement project that can help both your wallet and the planet at the exact same time!

Photo Source: lifehacker.com

Letting It “Just Flow” Might Not Be the Best Idea

Key areas of water usage in your home include your shower and bath, toilet, bathroom sink, kitchen sink, and washing machine. Fortunately, there are ways to save in all of these areas. For example, installing low-flow faucets in your kitchen, bathrooms, and shower will save you money and help the environment at the same time. These faucets not only reduce water flow, but they also add air into the water. [2]

Low-flow toilets that have different flush modes can help you save tremendously  throughout the year on your water bill. These toilets look like and function like your current toilet with the noted exception of delivering ample water savings. According to some estimates, low-flow faucets and toilets can save the average homeowner about $100 a year in utility costs. [3]

Photo Source: gogreenzine.com

Water Savings Thanks to Your Washer

Many of today’s newer washing machines have eco-friendly modes designed to save water and help save you on your water bill and electricity bill. These washers are well worth exploring and could take a sizable bite out of your water bill without compromising the cleanliness of your clothing in the least. For example, ENERGY STAR washers use about 50% less water and 37% less energy. [4]

Photo Source: fypower.org

Investigating Your Other Options

When it comes to home improvements, there are many different options that could help you save. Keep in mind that there are tax credits for energy efficiency and for other key home improvements as well. Investing in these water-saving options is a great step toward watching those monthly energy bills go down. While converting your grass lawn to a more environmentally friendly one might be a big project, it can yield years or even decades of savings. You can literally save hundreds of gallons of water or even more. Add up all of these ideas together, and you will no doubt use less water and enjoy considerably lower water bills in the process.

Sources:

1. http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php
2. http://ourgreenlifebiz.com/green-common-sense/save-water-and-money-by-installing-low-flow-faucets-2/
3. http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/the-lowdown-on-low-flow-toilets/index.html
4. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showproductgroup&pgw_code=cw

Buying new appliances might not be at the top of your list of ways that you want to spend an afternoon, but it might be necessary to do so. The simple fact is that if your washer and/or dryer are not performing up to your standards, then it might be time to invest in a quality replacement. With that stated, however, it is possible that there are some potential fixes that might help you “squeeze” a couple more years out of your current washer and/or dryer. But it makes sense to ask yourself whether or not is it worth it financially to keep your old washer and dryer another year.

Photo Source: lgwasherpedestal.com

Questions to Ponder Before Saying “Goodbye” to Your Washer and Dryer

Before you toss your old washer and dryer aside, there are some questions you do need to ask first.

1) How old is your washer and/or dryer?

2) Could your lint filter be clogged up?

3) Is your air duct blocked?

4) Did you originally buy an ENERGY STAR washer or dryer?

The four questions above are important in that they could indicate that you don’t need a new washer or dryer. If your washer and dryer are very old, then the odds are excellent that they are wasting both energy and water. New washers have washing modes that use less water. Plus, you may be able to find a model with an automatic dry cycle, which shuts off once your clothes are dry.

Checking to see if your lint filter or air duct is blocked is an easy way to increase the operating efficiency of your dryer. If you’ve seen a dramatic recent drop-off in performance, this could be the reason. Further, a dirty lint filter is a fire hazard as well. [1]

If you have purchased an ENERGY STAR washer or dryer recently, then the odds are great that your washer and dryer are energy efficient. However, if there does seem to be a problem, it might be time to have your washer or dryer evaluated by a professional. According to ENERGY STAR, if your dryer is more than 10 years old, simply replacing it can lower your utility bill by about $135 a year. [2]

Photo Source: blog.junk-king.com

Should You Replace Your Washer and/or Dryer If They Are Performing Well?

Even if you have a washer and/or dryer that are performing adequately, you might still want to consider replacing them. This could be the case if your washer or dryer is very old, as it is almost certainly increasing your energy and water bills. In this regard, it might actually pay to replace these old appliances. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, clothes washers use 350-500 watts, and clothes dryers use 1,800-5,000 watts. [3] According to these numbers, both of these appliances consume a great deal of your home’s total energy.

If a washer, dryer, or any other appliance in your house is old and highly inefficient, it is likely better financial sense to replace that appliance. Getting your monthly energy and water bills down could be as easy as replacing old and worn-out appliances. Keeping an old appliance that has outlived its usefulness isn’t in your best financial interest, especially over the long term.

Sources:
1. http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/home/appliances/dryers.html
2. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showproductgroup&pgw_code=cw
3. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/appliances/index.cfm/mytopic=10040

We are an authorized contractor of the Michigan Saves Home Mortgage Program, which allows homebuyers a way to finance the home and make energy efficient home improvements (such as air sealing, insulation, heating and cooling systems, and windows) as well as other home improvements or cosmetic upgrades (such as painting, roofing, siding, countertops, flooring or additions).  The Home Mortgage Program allows homebuyers to not only improve the cosmetic aspects or structure of the home, but it also creates an opportunity to make the home more comfortable while reducing monthly utility expenses with energy efficient home improvements.  Therefore, if you are looking to buy or refinance a home and are planning to make improvements or upgrades, then WellHome and the Michigan Saves Home Mortgage Program can help you.  Also, depending on the improvements, you may qualify for up to $2500* in utility rebates available through DTE Energy, in addition to the $500 federal and $150 state tax credits. 

Let WellHome and our team of certified advisors help you through the financing and improvement process.  To find out more about this program, click on the following link Home Mortgage Program or contact us directly taylor@wellhome.com or (313) 299-1304.  We look forward to helping you make your future house a home and your current home a WellHome. 

*The utility rebates are up to $2500 and to qualify the home must have DTE Energy/MichCon as the natural gas provider.

Homeowners interested in hosting an audit party can qualify for a FREE home energy audit.  An audit party consists of three or more friends, neighbors or non-household family members in attendance during the audit, which allows them the opportunity to see a blower door and infrared camera in use and to learn more about home performance, efficiency, comfort and building science.  For more information or to schedule an audit party, please contact us at (313) 299-1304 or taylor@wellhome.com.

Interested in Hosting a Workshop?

Realtors, homeowner associations and community centers interested in hosting a workshop can contact us at taylor@wellhome.com or (313) 299-1304 to obtain more information or to schedule a workshop.

Do you really, really love your gadgets? The odds are that if you are like most people, you probably really do adore your gadgets and feel naked without them! However, what many of us might not realize is that our gadgets love something, too… and that is energy. In fact, our gadgets love to soak up a great deal of energy, and they are not one bit shy about doing so. Some gadgets are larger offenders than others. In this article, we will look at some of the gadgets that could be costing you dearly.

Photo Source: video-game9.blogspot.com

Gadget 1: Home A/V Unit

Having a home theater system can be a remarkable amount of fun, but it can also be a remarkably expensive prospect as well. The modern A/V unit allows you to enjoy great sound for all of your home entertainment options and can even be used to improve the quality of your picture. Yet, all of these improvements come at a cost. All you need to do is put your hand on most units to realize that they are actually quite warm. You can also buy a wattmeter, which will tell you which of your home theater components are using up the most energy.

Look for options that are designed to use less electricity, and remember to keep your home entertainment equipment turned off when you are not using it. Try to figure out how to arrange your system so that you can switch of individual home-theater devices. Many home entertainment lovers choose an HDMI switch or plug AV gear that they use less frequently into a different power strip. [1]

Photo Source: hometheatersetup.org

Gadget 2: Video Game System

Some video game systems consume what can only be called a shocking amount of energy. The good news is that updated models of favorites such as the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 use less energy than earlier models. Some gaming units simply use less energy. For example, the Nintendo Wii uses significantly less power than the PlayStation or Xbox. [2]

However, with that stated, you need to remember to keep these units off when they are not in use. It’s easy to leave a video game system on for later play, but doing so comes at a price.

Photo Source: bigshinyrobot.com

Gadget 3: Computer

Computers can use a great deal of energy. This can be particularly true if you are using gaming computers, for example, or other high-end performance computers, such as those designed for editing and other high-end purposes. Don’t forget that it isn’t just your computer that is using power; your monitor zaps up energy as well.

The U.S. Department of Energy suggests that you turn off your monitor if you aren’t going to use it for 20 minutes or more. They also recommend that you turn off both your monitor and computer if you aren’t going to use them for two hours or more. [3] Look for computers and monitors that come with sleep mode. They will automatically power down when you are away from the computer. Investing the time to find a computer that uses less energy is a move you will not likely regret!

Photo Source: geekwithlaptop.com

Gadget 4: HDTV or High-Def Projector

Your HDTV likely uses a great deal of energy especially if you are not using an ENERGY STAR model. Having a home projector can be a lot of fun, but even small projectors can use a good deal of energy. Projectors have a tendency to get hot and this is, of course, a strong indicator that they are using a lot of energy. Again, projectors are great fun, but that fun isn’t free.

Photo Source: letsgodigital.com

So What Can You Do?

One good way to reduce your energy bill on all of these gadgets is to opt for home solar panels and solar electricity. This step can take some of the “bite” out of being a gadget junkie and allow you to enjoy your gadgets without having to worry so much about the costs.

Sources:
1. http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/digital/home-theater/4332705
2. http://www.nrdc.org/energy/consoles/files/fconsoles.pdf
3. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/appliances/index.cfm/mytopic=10070

Start with the Basics

Before diving in too deep to renewable energy, it is important that we begin with the basics. In short, taking the time to perform a home energy audit with an energy auditor is a great idea. After all, making your home more energy efficient is simply a winning proposition. Steps taken by the auditor include a blower door test and a thermographic scan. [1] Infrared cameras will tell the auditor about where insulation is missing and also where insulation is missing. [2]

An energy auditor can also give you invaluable information about what steps you can take regarding renewable energy. He or she will know what renewable energy is on the market in your area. To learn more about how this process works, check out this video from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Photo Source: timesunion.com

What You Should Expect from Your Renewable Energy Options

First and foremost, you want your renewable energy to be easy and to seamlessly integrate into your life. This means that the renewable energy that you consider should ideally be widely available, easy to install, and simple to use and maintain.

Much of what ultimately will work for you the best depends on your own situation and even your own geography. This fact underscores why it is so important to work with knowledgeable professionals that can direct you as to what renewable energy options suit you the best. For example, if you have access to a river in your own backyard, you might actually find that the hydroelectric option works best for you. Likewise, if you live in an area that is very windy year round, you might discover that a wind turbine is a fantastic option.

Photo Source: windpowerauthority.com

Solar Energy Often a Very Good Option

In many situations, solar energy, as exemplified by solar panels and solar water heaters, makes good sense. This is, of course, particularly true for those living in areas that receive a good deal of sunshine year round, such as in Arizona, Florida, or Colorado.

States that are ideal for solar energy also should already have a significant amount of business being generated from solar energy options and a low cost for installation. [3] Homeowners living in areas where the sun is out, bright, and shining most of the year will really want to give solar a good, long look. Regardless of where you are living, however, solar is likely a good option for you. After all, you are virtually guaranteed at least some sun every day of the year.

It is possible to pick some renewable energy options for your home and remain on the grid. There is no rule that states that you must immediately make a complete switch to renewable energy. There are certainly advantages to switching to renewables. Yet, starting small with a solar water heater or a few solar panels is also an option as well. More than ever, there are many different ways to approach the issue of renewable energy and reducing your own monthly energy bill.

Photo Source: seekyt.com

Sources

1. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/energy_audits/index.cfm/mytopic=11180
2. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/energy_audits/index.cfm/mytopic=11160
3. http://www.solarworksforamerica.org/general/top-states-for-solar-power-best-11-for-solar-energy-deployment-according-to-osdi.html

Why Would You Opt for Solar Panels?

Many people don’t understand why they should consider solar panels, but the reasons are actually quite numerous. Choosing to outfit your home with solar panels means that you can dramatically reduce your energy bill or even eliminate it entirely. Usually this fact is enough to get most people’s attention.

Opting for solar energy also means that you don’t have to worry about problems with energy supply, such as brownouts or outages during storms or other weather conditions. If you are using solar energy, your home is simply not impacted by such factors.

Photo Source: gallery.hd.org

Of course, when you go solar, you are also doing something positive for the environment because it helps to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. [1] If you are wondering about the greenhouse gas emissions that your household generates, the Environmental Protection Agency offers a “household emissions calculator” that is accessible through this link.

In recent years, the number of companies manufacturing solar panels and the number of companies working to install them have increased dramatically. Finding a company to install your solar panels is easier than ever in most areas of the country.

Easy Installation

“Going solar” isn’t difficult. In fact, it’s really no different than many other home improvement projects. Solar panels can be mounted in many different locations around your home but most often are placed on the roof. Roof-mounted solar panels are usually placed on the roof with mounts. These mounting techniques are quite good and stand up to typical weather extremely well. The mounts can be made of aluminum, angle iron, stainless steel, or even wood. [2]

Photo Source: solar.calfinder.com

Big Price Drops

In the last few years, the price of solar panels and thus solar energy has dropped a great deal. Today, choosing solar energy for your home is cheaper than ever, and considering the ample and diverse benefits of choosing solar, the idea just makes a great deal of sense.

Not only does the price of energy climb every year, but experts expect this trend to continue for the foreseeable future. Since 2000, the price of electricity has gone up approximately 2.5% per year. [3] This is higher than even the rate of inflation! An investment today in solar energy will not just save you money in the short run, but will, in fact, save you money over the long haul as well. When you choose solar, you can expect savings for years, if not decades. This is a powerful argument in favor of choosing sun power for your home.

Photo Source: lazyenvironmentalist.com

5 Reasons Why Solar Panels Are a Potential Great Fit for Your Home

1) Solar panels can start saving you money today.

2) With solar panels, you don’t have to worry about brownouts and other problems with the power grid.

3) There are more solar options than ever to choose from.

4) “Going solar” has never been easier as solar panels are easy to install.

5) There have been major price drops in solar energy in recent years.

Sources

1. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/fq/emissions.html
2. http://www.altestore.com/howto/solar-electric-power/installation/how-to-for-solar-panel-mounting/a63/
3. http://www.entergy.com/global/documents/utility/industry/eei_rising_electricity_costs.pdf

Just as your home is complicated, learning how to save money on your energy costs can also be confusing. For most people, heating and cooling the home stands out as major energy expense and a major monthly bill. While there are many ways to reduce your energy costs, addressing your home’s heating and cooling unit is a very smart place to begin any exploration of what you need to do to reduce your home energy bill. Steps such as adding attic insulation and other home improvements can, of course, make a big difference. However, if you leave an old and inefficient heating and cooling unit in place, you still will more than likely not see the kind of cost savings you desire.

Photo Source: mesquiteheatingandair.com

Talk to an Energy Expert Regarding Your Heating and Cooling Unit

You may not know if you need to replace your heating and cooling unit. If this is the case, you should meet with an energy expert who can tell you more about it. The odds are that, if you have an old unit and your energy bills are high, your heating and cooling unit is probably a part of the problem. New units are simply more efficient and will serve you better. If you want to bring your monthly energy bills way down, this is one important place to look. The fact is that 55% of energy use in a typical U.S. home goes towards heating and cooling. [1]

Photo Source: franklinsquareemergencyplumbingandheating.info

Is a New Heating and Cooling Unit Worth It?

If your home’s heating and cooling unit is only a couple of years old, and you bought a quality unit, then the odds are that you have a few years before you need a replacement. With that stated, however, if you discover that your energy bills are “through the roof,” then you may need a more efficient heating and cooling unit. Further, you may find that you have energy efficiency issues, such as the need for more attic insulation, or that your home has humidity or dust issues. Also, if your systems are very noisy, that could be an indicator that there is an issue with the coils and replacement is necessary. [1]

If you have excessively high bills, there are also other issues that could be at work. For example, many older systems are larger than they should be, and, as a result, are far less efficient. Another common issue people find is that their rooms are either too hot or too cold. Working with a trained professional will help you make progress towards energy efficiency.

It is also good to know that the size of your new unit is important and can determine how well it works for you. Unfortunately, even if you hire a contractor to size and install your new system, that doesn’t guarantee that it will be done correctly. According to a recent survey, more than 50% of HVAC contractors incorrectly size heating and cooling systems. When a system is not the proper size, it can end up costing more or even breaking down. A knowledgeable contractor will meticulously measure your room and figure out the R-value. Through this means, he or she will determine the best system type and size for your home.

Photo Source: pro-techheatingandcooling.com

ENERGY STAR is Most Definitely Your Friend

It is difficult to overstate how much more efficient a modern heating and cooling unit is when contrasted to a model that is years or even decades old. All technology progresses, and the same rule is true for heating and cooling units. Today’s ENERGY STAR-rated heating and cooling units are designed to save you money and reduce your energy consumption. Investing the time to look for an ENERGY STAR heating and cooling unit is time well spent. Installing an ENERGY STAR unit will begin to save you money the day it is installed.

There are many options when it comes to home improvements, but few stand to save you as much money as upgrading your old heating and cooling unit. Working with knowledgeable professionals will allow you to find ways to not just make the best decision regarding your heating and cooling unit, but will also help you make numerous home improvements that will lower your monthly bill.

Photo Source: energystar.gov

Sources:

1. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_checklist_consumers
2. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12300
3. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12340

When you see the logo, it means that the item in question has been deemed to be more energy efficient than other products.  How much more efficient? On average, an ENERGY STAR product is somewhere in the area of 20% or higher in terms of energy efficiency than what is required by law.

However, the rate of energy efficiency will vary from one type of product to the next. For example, an ENERGY STAR clothes washer will be about 37% more efficient, [1] whereas an ENERGY STAR-rated dehumidifier will be about 15% more efficient than non-qualified models. [2]

There is a surprising array of products that have ENERGY STAR options. Computers and kitchen appliances often carry the logo, but there are others as well. Home electronics and heating and cooling systems can also fall under this umbrella. Below is a list of some of the different consumer products that are ENERGY STAR certified.

Photo Source: energystar.gov

ENERGY STAR Products

1) Air conditioners

2) Refrigerators

3) Television sets

4) Cordless phones

5) Dishwashers

6) Heating and cooling units

7) Home electronics

Computers

9) Computer peripherals such as printers and external hard-drives

10) Home lighting [3]

Replacing Your Energy-Intensive Products with ENERGY STAR Options

As you can see, most of the products that you use in the home do have ENERGY STAR options, and that is very good news for anyone looking to save money on his or her monthly energy bill. Of course, it is not practical to instantly switch over and buy all ENERGY STAR products and toss out your old products. Instead, a long-term view is recommended. This means that, whenever you are buying a new product, you can switch to the ENERGY STAR alternative. In time, the energy savings will really start to mount. This concept is especially prudent in light of the fact that energy prices are expected to continue rising, perhaps indefinitely.  As a result, opting for ENERGY STAR products today could save you thousands in the long run.

Some products use up more energy than others. Air conditioners, heating units, refrigerators and computers get used a great deal and are all major energy hogs. [4] Replacing these home products with ENERGY STAR options will make a significant difference in your monthly expenditures.

Photo Source: buyheatpumps.info

Energy Star Rebates

Did you know that you could get a rebate for purchasing ENERGY STAR products? Some companies offer substantial rebates for qualified appliances and electronics, and most large retailers can give you more information about whether or not a product in question qualifies for such a rebate. If it does, the process of getting that rebate is very simple and straightforward. Additionally, the U.S. government has a great website designed to help consumers find ENERGY STAR rebates; just check out this link to learn more.

Considering the money that you could potentially save, it makes good sense to explore all of your ENERGY STAR options. Transitioning over to ENERGY STAR products is an easy way to save money on your energy bill for years to come.

Sources:

1. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showproductgroup&pgw_code=cw
2. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showproductgroup&pgw_code=de
3. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_find_es_products
4. http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/question272.htm

Bold steps to reduce the cost of energy may come someday, but no homeowner looking to save on his or her energy bill can wait for low-cost energy to simply be offered. This means that taking matters into your own hands is the place to begin. While major projects like switching to solar energy is one way to deal with ever increasing energy prices, there are also valuable smaller projects that homeowners can take on that will have a big impact on their monthly energy bill. One such project is dealing with that old water heater.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a typical household in the United States uses between 15% and 30% of the home’s total energy. [1] The good news is that you can save money every month simply by changing your current water heater. If you’ve recently purchased a high-efficiency water heater, you probably don’t have as much to worry about as someone who has been using the same water heater for years and years.

An old water heater, especially one that is in bad shape, is costing you money. Newer models were designed to conserve more energy than older water heater options, and this is a fact that you shouldn’t lose sight of when considering this topic. If you want to take a step toward getting your heating bill down, then your water heater might be a great place to begin.

Why is your water heater such an energy issue? Besides the potential problem of being old, there is the issue that water heaters can be “energy hogs.” This is due to the fact that it takes a lot of energy to heat up water, especially if you want to heat it up enough for a good, long shower or bath. Moreover, keeping that water hot for extended periods of time isn’t easy and comes with a high price tag.

Photo Source: rooterexpressnow.com

For a moment, forget all about your water heater, and instead think of boiling a cup of tea on your stove. Imagine that you don’t want to drink the tea instantly, but you want to keep the water hot so that you can have hot water whenever you like. Obviously this type of situation would ultimately use up a great deal of energy. The same type of scenario applies to most water heaters. This is why many people looking to save money on their heating bill opt for tankless water heaters.

With a tankless water heater, the water passes through an exchange coil and is heated when you need it. The end result is that you don’t have to worry about keeping the water warm all the time, and this can save you money. According to “Consumer Reports,” tankless water heaters are about 22% more energy efficient than most gas-fired storage-tank models. [2]

Getting the most out of your water heater is just one way that you can save on your energy bill. By working with energy-efficiency professionals, you can be sure that you will find other, similar ways to save.

Photo Source: moreheaters.com

Sources

1.  http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/10/pure-waste-challenge-tankless-hot-water.php
2. <http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/heating-cooling-and-air/water-heaters/tankless-water-heaters/overview/tankless-water-heaters-ov.htm

Luckily, there are simple ways that you can beat the heat come summertime.  Considering the fact that energy bills are consistently rising every year, finding ways to cool off your home without hurting your pocketbook, of course, makes tremendous sense. In this article, we will look at what steps you can take to make sure your home feels nice and cool and less like an oven. Some of the ideas may surprise you, but all of the tips in this article can contribute to keeping both your days and nights a bit cooler.

Photo Source: bestinvestmentsidingandwindows.com

Step One – Consider What’s in Your Attic

Often the issue of heating and cooling begins in the attic. If your attic isn’t well insulated, then you are going to have difficulty both heating and cooling your home. Steps such as attic insulation and spray foam insulation are easy and relatively inexpensive ways to keep those energy bills low.

Another great idea is to add a radiant barrier system, which allows your roof to radiate heat generated by the sun directly to your insulation. The barrier is made of a material that can reflect the heat. As the insulation absorbs the heat, your air conditioning can run more effectively. [1]

Photo Source: krisallendaily.com

Step Two – Take Care of Old Windows and Doors

Just as cool air can escape out of a leaky attic, the same holds true for your old windows and doors. The end result can be a very hot house and a high energy bill. Fortunately, properly caulking your old windows or replacing them outright can make an impressive and long-lasting difference. In other words, a little bit of caulking in the right spots could save serious cash throughout the year and help keep your home cooler in the summer.

Photo Source: theeastsiderlahomehistory.blogspot.com

Step Three – It’s Time to Get Breezy

A whole house fan, ceiling fans, and other strategically placed fans can be very effective in keeping your home cool. One great idea is to open up your doors and windows late at night and pull in cool night air through your windows and doors. A couple of hours of night air being pulled into your home can dramatically cool your home well into the afternoon and help keep your energy usage for cooling at a minimum during peak hours when electricity is the most expensive. [2] Best of all, fans are inexpensive. Using the fact that it’s cooler at night to your advantage is just plain smart.

Photo Source: southernliving.com

Step Four – Protect Your Windows

There are many ways to block the sun from coming through your windows in the summertime and heating up your home. Drapes and blinds are good ideas, but they can’t match outdoor sunscreens designed to keep the sun from making its way through your windows. You might feel that these additions are a bit pricey until you realize how much cooler they can keep your home during a hot and sunny day.

One very reasonably priced way to keep the sun from heating up your home on a hot day is window film. This film is relatively inexpensive and can be tricky to apply, but the end result can be a significant reduction in the amount of thermal energy entering your home. Even though this film looks like a very simplistic product, it can control the infiltration of UV rays. This has a side benefit of protecting your fabrics and carpets so they do not fade as quickly over time. [2]

If you are using air conditioning, remember to keep the temperature higher than 78 degrees if you don’t want your energy bill to add up excessively. [3] Also look for ENERGY STAR air conditioning systems to further keep down the overall energy usage in your home.

Photo Source: tintmn.com

Sources:

1. http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/consumer/buildings/homes/faq.htm
2. http://www.askthebuilder.com/267_window_film_-_it_works_well.shtml
3. http://www.psc.state.fl.us/publications/electricgas/20summer.aspx’

The Tankless Water Heater Option

There are many different options when it comes to hot water heaters. One of the best options is the tankless water heater as it offers some tremendous benefits. At the very top of the list is the fact that a tankless water heater gives you instant hot water as soon as you need it. Imagine never running out of hot water. This substantial benefit will at first seem like a luxury. In time, it will likely leave most people wondering what they ever did without a tankless water heater in the first place.

Having a continuous flow of hot water whenever you want it is something that most people get accustomed to with surprising speed. Plus, a tankless water heater can cut costs on a water-heating bill by 10% to 20%. [2] You can use it for all the hot water in your home or just for part of the water.

Photo Source: thedailygreen.com

No Water Tank Means Potential Energy Savings

While the luxury benefit of a tankless water heater is clear, there is also a considerable potential energy savings as well. A tankless water heater doesn’t work to keep water heated in its tank. As the name indicates, a tankless water heater has no tank. This means that there is no “standby heat loss,” which takes place when water simply sits around in the tank. [1] Instead when hot water is needed, water runs across a heated exchanger coil and instantly heats the water. No tank means no wasted energy and no waiting for hot water either.

Photo Source: treehugger.com

Save Money in More Than One Way

You might be surprised to learn that you can even receive a tax credit for installing a tankless water heater. So if you do decide to install a tankless water heater, it is certainly worth the time to investigate this tax credit, as you can save both energy and money. In order to qualify, the model must have an efficiency rating of at least 82%. [3] If you meet this criterion, a tankless water heater can save you both on your energy bill every month and also come tax time.

The benefits of a tankless water heater are such that most people will want to consider this option, especially if its time to replace an older and inefficient water heater. Luckily, with this great option, you can have all the hot water you need and maybe save some money at the same time. With all of these benefits, it is no wonder that so many people are so interested in tankless water heaters.

Photo Source: kwikhvac.com

Sources:

1. http://homerepair.about.com/od/plumbingrepair/ss/tankless_hwh_2.htm
2. http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/home/appliances/waterheaters.html
3. http://oregon.gov/energy/cons/res/tax/waterheaters.shtml

If you are like most people, you are probably pretty excited by the idea of saving a little money every month on your energy bill. There are many ways that you can approach doing just that. For this reason, it is a prudent move to consult professionals, such as energy auditors, regarding how you can save money on your home energy bill.

Often there are simple and relatively inexpensive steps that you can take to make sure that you begin saving money and continue to do so every month. In this article, we will look at one of the more important areas where you may need to turn your attention: your attic and the state of your attic insulation.

Photo Source: Planetgreen.discovery.com

Do You Want to Know What is Really Scary in Your Attic?

For many, the attic is a place that we don’t really think about too much. Often portrayed as a creepy place in movies and television, many of us want to avoid our attics. But the simple fact is that what might really be hidden in your attic is money! As it turns out, spending a little time and money in your attic might be able to save you a bundle of cash.

Attic Insulation Can Tackle Those Summer Heat Waves and Winter Freezes

Keeping your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter can be expensive. This fact is especially true during heat waves and cold snaps. Luckily, there are savvy steps you can take to keep your home’s internal temperature well regulated.

Having insulation with a high R-value in your attic can save you money. Simply stated, insulation in your attic acts much like a hat on your head when it is cold. A hat can keep heat from escaping your body, and insulation can keep heat from escaping through your roof. [1] Likewise, attic insulation can keep cool air from escaping as well. In short, if you want to save on your heating and cooling bills, you will want to give some careful attention to your attic insulation.

Photo Source: daviddarling.info

Different Options for Insulating Your Attic

There are many ways that you can add more insulation to your attic. One way is to use Fiberglas insulation that is rolled out and cut into place. This common approach can work very well. Another approach to insulation is in the form of spray foam insulation. It has a myriad of benefits, ranging from being able to reach spots that traditional insulation may miss to helping protect your home from mold. Plus, spray foam insulation is non-toxic, so you won’t have to worry about breathing in hazardous chemicals. [2] The bottom line is that proper insulation is simply a must for keeping your money where it belongs…in your pocket!

Photo Source: airtodayac.com

The Importance of Working with Professionals

Experts in home energy efficiency and insulation will know exactly what steps you need to take in order to make your home more energy efficient. The process of making your attic more energy efficient isn’t as simple as “rolling out some insulation.” There is no doubt this is better than doing nothing at all, but it is far from the optimal money-saving benefits that you will get working with an experienced and knowledgeable professional.

Photo Source: nachi.org

Sources:

1. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt085.shtm
2. http://www.hgtvremodels.com/home-systems/spray-foam-improves-on-insulation/index.html

Have you ever wondered how our energy bills in the United States compare to those around the world? The infographic below will give you a better understanding of what the price of energy is around the world.

When it comes to keeping your home’s temperature well regulated and doing so at a reasonable cost, there are many variables and paths towards success. Installing a high-efficiency heating and cooling system or maintaining your current system are both useful. Another option for saving money on your home’s heating and cooling costs is to install new windows or properly caulk your existing windows where they need it. Both of these options are very important and will put money back into your pocket. However, don’t forget also to look up! That’s right, look up towards your roof. The fact is that your cooling dollars might be escaping right out of your roof.

Photo Source: certainteed.com

If you have not properly insulated your home or your roof, then you are losing money every month on your energy bill. Often “out of sight” is truly “out of mind,” and this can be the case for many where the roof and insulation are concerned. Proper insulation takes on many forms, and there are many different ways to make sure that your home is properly insulated. However, one of the most flexible ways of dealing with insulating your roof and other parts of your home is to opt for spray foam insulation.

Spray foam insulation has several key benefits. First, spray foam insulation can be used to fill air gaps in a building. Most homes have areas where there is not enough insulation, and spray foam insulation serves as an easy way to address this problem. Secondly, spray foam insulation can be put into wall cavities, meaning that it can fill air gaps that you are not even able to see with the naked eye. Third, studies have shown that using spray foam insulation can dramatically reduce the typical home’s energy bill, as it reduces energy loss. According to some estimates, you can see a cost reduction of up to 40%. [1]

Spray foam insulation has also been shown to reduce noise and even helps reduce the growth of mold. Alternatively, other options like Fiberglas and cellulose can actually trap moisture and lead to issues like mold. [2] Thus, there are potential health benefits to be had as well from opting for spray foam insulation. Mold is a very serious issue that can have profound medical consequences. In fact, if a mold problem becomes very serious, a home can be left uninhabitable. Spray foam insulation stands as an easy way to safeguard against this.

Photo Source: re-nest.com

If you are still wondering about how well spray foam insulation works, consider the following. NASA actually uses spray foam to insulate the external tank on the space shuttle. They chose this type of insulation because it was durable enough to withstand the elements and extremely high temperatures and humidity levels. If spray foam insulation is durable enough to withstand conditions necessary to launch a space shuttle, it should be considered for your next home improvement project. [3]

Sources

1. http://ecoliving.scotiabank.com/articles/when-to-use-spray-foam-insulation
2. http://ecoliving.scotiabank.com/articles/when-to-use-spray-foam-insulation
3. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/pdf/114022main_tps_fs.pdf

Making That “All Important” List

The best place to begin any home improvement mission is to make a list of what absolutely must be addressed. For example, if you have a leaking roof or have noticed “an odd sulfuric smell” in your house, such issues need to be attended to immediately. They can not only damage the value of your home, but can also poise potential health risks as well.

Leaky roofs can lead to mold that can become a serious health hazard and a gas leak can, of course, be lethal. [1] Starting your home improvement mission by first evaluating your home for potential hazardous situations is your first place to begin. In other words, if your home has obvious pressing issues, don’t skip those problems and remodel your kitchen instead!

Photo Source: apartmenttherapy.com

You May Be Pouring Money Out of Your Doors, Windows, and Roof

Wouldn’t it be great if your home improvements could immediately translate into savings? The good news is that you can do just that! One way to orient your thinking about home improvements is that they ultimately should save you money.

Working with a well-trained energy auditor can be immensely valuable and definitely worth your time. An energy auditor can carefully evaluate your home and tell you were you are literally letting energy fly out the window. Energy auditors come armed with a variety of tools at their disposal that will give them a complete picture of what you can do to save money every month on your energy costs. Plus, a professional energy auditor will have access to special equipment like blower doors, furnace efficiency meters, and surface thermometers. [2]

Pay Careful Attention to Your Heating and Cooling Unit

An efficient and properly maintained heating and cooling unit can help you save a bundle. Replacing an inefficient unit can pay for itself much quicker than you might imagine. According to ENERGY STAR, simply making that change can save you about $200 a year, so consider choosing such equipment for your heating and cooling needs. [3] Also to boost energy efficiency, make sure that your heating and cooling ducts are well sealed and insulated.

Generally, no matter what home improvement challenges you tackle, it makes sense to work with professionals. By spending the extra money to work with a pro, you will be ensuring quality work that will stand the test of time.

You may have many home improvement options in mind. However, the changes that save you money are the ones that you might want to consider first. After all, the money that you save by making savvy home improvements can be used for other home improvement projects that you may have in mind. Besides we all want to lower our monthly bills while increasing the resale value of our homes. Opting for home improvements that make your home more energy efficient can do just that!

Photo Source: drenergysavercny.com

Sources:

1. http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-safety/tips/gas-leak-home.htm
2. http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/solar-information/should-i-hire-a-home-energy-auditor/
3. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_hvac

Alternative uses of green energy, with their innovative solar capture systems and futuristic prototypes, have sprung up in recent years. This is thanks in part to broader access to the tools used to generate green energy. Solar panels now come in a broad array of shapes, sizes, and even pictures. Just a few years ago, the United Nations Energy Programme estimated that $204 billion worldwide had been invested into sustainable energy sources. [1] With that money, the world set to work developing some amazing new ways to recapture energy.

As energy innovation becomes more popular, partnerships of designers, investors, and inventors have reworked our conceptions of energy efficiency. Their designs thrive on bright, fun architecture, close-knit communities, and fun pastimes. Each of these innovations uses the first two pillars of sustainable energy: they use less energy and use renewable energy.

These companies prove that value of that third statement about sustainable energy: by using energy in surprising ways, these teams have brought their energy efficient innovations into the public eye and made Eco-conscious activities popular for dancers, architects, and residents across the world. It helps that their products are fun, approachable, and save the environment.

Here are some of the most recent innovations in sustainable energy from around the world:

Honeycombed Architecture from France and Dubai

This picture is an artist’s rendition of the flat tower, a solution for developing additional housing in densely populated areas. It won second place in the 2011 eVolo Skyscraper competition. It’s not a skyscraper in any traditional sense: the tower, designed by Yoann Mescan, Paul-Eric Schirr-Bonnans, and Xavier Schirr-Bonnans, is designed to sit above a crowded city. Its surface is covered in solar panels to generate the city’s energy, and the honeycombed holes in its surface are designed to allow sunlight to reach parks, homes, and businesses that sit below it. [2] It was designed for Rennes, France, a densely populated city that was interested in providing for its citizens without distorting its skyline.

Photo Source: alternative-energy-news.info

For another look at energy efficient architecture, check out Dubai’s O-14 tower. Its honeycombed exoskeleton looks surprisingly similar to that of France’s flat tower, but the tower is built up instead of out. [3] This building was designed by RUR Architecture and the white column serves a dual purpose of limiting heat gain and acting as a passive cooling system for what heat does get through.

Photo Source: Inhabitat.com

Bringing Communities Together in Shanghai and Australia

Designed by Taranta Creations, the pavilions were originally usable artwork. Now they serve as gathering places that bring the community together. These pavilions are leftovers of the 2010 World Expo, which took place in Shanghai last year. While most of the park was torn down after the expo, local residents found a way to use these energy-efficient pavilions year-round. They stayed. Each pavilion serves a group of residents with different interests, and they are used as gathering points for people with interests that range from exercise to board games. The poles that jut out from the top of each of these pavilions collect energy to use to power the lighting system, so that residents can use them in the evening as well as the daytime. [4]

Photo Source:inhabitat.com

At the same time that Shanghai was using energy efficient structures to bring communities with shared interests together in their city, GE’s Ecomagination team and Garbis Simonian, the founder of Industrial Ecology, were wondering whether energy efficiency could be used to build a business community. The project is currently a proposal that is slated for development in the Hunter Region of Australia. In the same vein as Taranta Creations envisioned eco-conscious art as a way to bring communities together, Simonian and GE’s Ecomagination investigated what would happen if businesses with a common interest in sustainability were grouped together – an enclave of sustainability, as it were. By turning trash into reusable materials, the 40 acre Eco-park will create about 500 jobs and reduce the cost of sustainability for the businesses that use the park. [5] Corporate sustainability just got a lot more affordable.

Photo Source: ecomagination.com

Powering Healthy Lifestyles in Denmark and London

Using energy efficient technology to improve people’s health, along with experiments in nanotechnology and biogasification, is thought of as new and innovative. Some countries are using old-school energy efficiency to power businesses while improving their customers’ health.

One example of a company using the original energy efficient transportation choice – along with some enterprising incentives – is the Crown Plaza Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark. The hotel is trading approximately 15 minutes of bicycling, or 10 watts of energy, for a $36 meal voucher. The hotel provides bicycles attached to a generator for use by its guests, and brings down its electric bill by using the power created when when people exercise on the bikes. The energy savings are passed on to hotel guests through the meal vouchers. [6]

Photo Source: smashinglists.com

Denmark is not the only country using exercise to power their businesses. Bar Surya, a nightclub in London, outfitted their dance floor with springs attached to batteries. As people in the club dance, the energy from their footsteps is absorbed and used to power the music and lights in the club through the springs and their attached batteries. [7] Bar Surya is one of an increasing number of Eco-conscious nightclubs, but one of the first in the United Kingdom. Dancers will reduce energy use from that of a traditional nightclub by over 60%. [8]

Sources:

1. http://sefi.unep.org/
2. http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/flat-tower-innovative-architectural-solution/
3. http://inhabitat.com/o-14s-lace-like-exoskeleton-opens-in-dubai/
4. http://inhabitat.com/wind-powered-pavilions-in-shanghai-are-super-fun-candy-coated-play-houses/
5. http://www.ecomagination.com/australia-enjoys-a-day-at-the-park
6. http://www.smashinglists.com/11-innovative-and-interesting-ways-to-generate-power/
7. http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=5358214&page=1
8. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/20/green-nightclubs-harness_n_108266.html

The “greening” of schools happens on many levels, from changing light bulbs to more energy-efficient models to becoming LEED certified. Here are some of the ways schools can become more energy efficient: [1]

1. Cooling coils: Looped tubing under the soil of schools can be filled with glycol as a heating and cooling system. Because soil stays cool, when the liquid enters the building, it takes less energy to turn into cool air.
2. Lighting: There is  a variety of options for more energy-efficient lighting, including light bulbs that use less energy and last longer, as well as solar power.
3. Geothermal heat pumps: Heating a school can cost more than school supplies, and geothermal heating systems can save as much as 30% to 60% of energy costs.
4. Wind energy: While not every school is positioned to take advantage of wind power, those that can have the opportunity to reduce energy costs by harnessing nature’s power.
5. Education: Schools are learning the power that green education has; by educating students on how they can waste less energy by turning off lights and electronics, both the schools and students’ homes can benefit from reduced power consumption.

Galaxy Goes for Platinum

Florida is about to get its greenest school yet in 2012 when Galaxy Elementary School opens its doors to students. After Palm Beach County’s school board mandated that all schools in its district must be LEED green certified silver, the new school in Boynton Beach decided it would be the greenest of all, aiming for platinum certification. [2]

Features like a green roof, 5.2-acre hiking trail, solar power, and energy created from windmills will, in addition to conserving energy, be used as teaching tools to instruct students on how green energy works. Hydroponic and organic teaching gardens, as well as a gopher tortoise preserve, [3] will make the school unlike any other.

Photo Source: galaxygreen.org

Energy Star Schools in Kentucky

Kentucky recently celebrated “greenifying” its 100th school. It has been First Lady Jane Beshear’s goal to bring energy efficiency to the state, and in getting 100 schools in Kentucky ENERGY STAR certified, she is even closer to that goal.

Each school has a “Green Team,” consisting of teachers, students, and staff who work together to teach the school and the community about saving energy. [4] Their education efforts have helped conserve 120,000 kWh of power in the past year (equal to about $20,000 in cost savings).

Crestwood Elementary School, located in the city of Crestwood, was the first to receive an ENERGY STAR ranking of 100 in the state.

Photo Source: oldham.k12.ky.us

California School Profiting Off Solar Energy

The Lodi Unified School District in Stockton, Calif., has turned renewable energy into revenue. After implementing a $10-million solar panel installation project on several of its schools, the district is now producing around 2 megawatts of power, which provides a surplus that it sells back to California’s power grid. [5] Estimates of the revenue produced by the solar panels, which are built into car ports, is approximately $180,000 annually.

This photo is an aerial view of one of the schools with solar panels installed.

Photo Source: cei.com

Iowa Students Save School Money

It’s not always administrators and teachers who incite change at schools. A group of students at Iowa’s West Branch High School realized their school was wasting both money and energy and wanted to do something about it. They formed the Total Energy Action Management (TEAM) group and met with local energy experts, who determined that the school could save $10,000 annually by making some conservation efforts.

Once the TEAM helped the school implement changes like adding solar paneling to a gym building, the students tackled local small businesses to encourage them to become more energy efficient. For its efforts, the group of students won a $10,000 Lexus Eco Challenge Air/Climate regional contest, which it used for college scholarships for its members, as well as to create a loan fund that helps local businesses upgrade their fluorescent lights to more eco-friendly models.

Creating Future Energy Superheroes

Washington, D.C.’s, School Without Walls, located within George Washington University, [6] is taking great strides to educate its students about energy consumption and conservation. In partnering with the nonprofit Alliance to Save Energy, the school has the unique opportunity of providing a green education to its students. Not only are teachers educating students about how they can reduce energy use at home and school, they are also introducing them to possible career paths in environmental and sustainability fields.

The efforts are part of larger initiatives through Green Schools, whose goal it is to help schools conserve energy, allowing the schools to save money and spend it elsewhere where it is needed.

Sources:

1. http://barbara-pytel.suite101.com/energy-efficient-schools-a17809
2. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-06-07/news/fl-bbf-galaxy-0608-20110607_1_boynton-school-efficient-school-new-schools
3. http://galaxygreen.org/
4. http://www.kftc.org/blog/archive/2011/09/21/kentucky-celebrates-more-than-100-energy-star-schools
5. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100927/a_news/9270313
6. http://www.swwhs.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=13

Can energy-efficient windows save you money? You bet! Saving money on home cooling and heating costs has a multitude of components. Oftentimes people focus attention on such important elements as the efficiency of their appliances and making sure that their home has a high r-value. However, they may overlook one of the biggest and most costly issues of them all. This energy drain comes in the form of windows.

Old windows, even ones that are in good condition, are usually no match for their modern counterparts that are designed to be far more efficient. If you are looking to cut your energy cost and make your home more efficient, then it is impossible not to consider the state of your windows. Old windows can leak a tremendous amount of the hot or cool air that you want to keep indoors, and with that leakage goes your hard-earned money.

Low-efficiency windows do a great job highlighting the importance of thinking about all the different elements that go into having an energy-efficient home. Poorly insulated or constructed windows quite literally allow money in the form of your heating and cooling costs go “out the window!” Thankfully, there are ways around this problem.

Photo Source: life123.com

Taking the steps necessary to make your home a more efficient one is the fastest way to get your energy bill down and, in the process, reduce your own carbon footprint. Replacing your old windows with new energy-efficient ones will let you get the most out of your heating and cooling systems and the most out of your energy dollars.

Considering the ever-increasing cost of heating and cooling your home, doesn’t it make sense to take a look at the state of your home’s windows? If your home’s windows are “ancient” or in horrible condition, then just imagine how new windows could cut down on those energy costs. When the price of energy was low, the argument for sticking with those old windows may have been more attractive, but now with energy costs expected to only go up every year, new energy-efficient windows may be seeming more and more like a must-have item. [1]

Energy-efficient windows can even potentially make you money. If the time comes to sell your home, the steps you take today to make it more energy efficient are likely to serve you well when you are looking to impress potential buyers. Most homebuyers will find an energy-efficient home to be a more attractive option than a home that is lacking any energy-efficient features. According to national statistics, homeowners will receive back about 71.6% of the price they spend to replace windows when the home is sold. [2] The buyer doesn’t have to do anything to see those savings roll in, as you’ve already done all the work for them!

New energy-efficient windows are not just money savers, but will also likely improve the look and the perceived value of your home. New energy-efficient windows will give back to you year after year in a variety of ways, and they will even put less wear and tear on your heating and cooling unit or units. There are many places where you can begin making your home more efficient, but energy-efficient windows are certainly a smart place to start.

Photo Source: ecofriend.com

Sources

1.  http://205.254.135.24/steo/
2.  https://www.progress-energy.com/company/media-room/news-archive/press-release.page?title=energy-efficient+products+can+save+money+and+increase+home+value+&pubdate=07-12-2011

Your water heater is costing you money every month, and there is just no way around this fact. It is no coincidence that when you buy a modern water heater, it comes with an estimate of how much it will cost to operate on an annual basis.

So why is it that your home water heater is a major player in the cost of your home energy bill? One reason is that it takes a good deal of energy to both heat and cool water. Combine this fact with an outdated and inefficient water heater, and you can have a real energy hog that can truly hit you in your pocketbook. According to estimates, 25% of your overall energy bill goes towards heating water. [1] There are, however, options to consider that can make a real difference in your monthly energy bill especially over the lifetime of your home.

Solar water heaters are getting a lot of attention these days as people look for more ways to reduce their energy bills. As the name clearly indicates, a solar water heater takes advantage of the fact that the sun is “on” during the day. Of course, there is more sun in the winter in some parts of the country and world than others, but this fact aside, it is possible to use the sun to heat your water and with very good results.

A solar water heater allows you to reduce your energy bill by letting the sun do the work for you. Best of all, solar water heaters are easier to install, integrate, and use than ever before. Anyone looking to reduce his or her energy bill will certainly want to consider adding a solar water heater to the home.

Should you immediately buy a solar water heater? The answer to this question, of course, depends on your particular situation. One of the greatest points in favor of a solar water heater is that, even if energy prices go up in the future, the price of your energy from the sun will remain the same. A family of four can typically save about 50%-85% of the customary charges for hot water on their bill. [2]

Photo Source: sunandclimate.com

If you recently purchased a new water heater, switching to a solar water heater may not be your best option. This is especially true if you opted for an energy-efficient model. However, if you have an older tank that has seen better days, then a solar water heater most definitely deserves to be at the top of your list when it comes time to replace your water heater. Also keep in mind that a typical water heater only lasts for approximately 13 years anyhow, so your current one might already be ready for replacement. [3]

Remember that an old and inefficient water heater is essentially costing you money. Due to its inefficiency, the price for not replacing your old water heater may be more substantial than you realize.

Sources:

1.  http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/home/appliances/waterheaters.html
2.  http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/consumer/solar_hot_water/homes/q_and_a/
3.  http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/home/appliances/waterheaters.html

 We look forward to working with you on your home and making your family a part of ours. 

 ~The WellHome Family~

Steve, Kent, Jay, Dave & Christine

Upcycling is the act of making an object or material more useful or better than it was in its original state. While “better” or “more useful” may be a bit subjective at times, upcycling creates for the eco-conscious person perhaps the greatest space for artistic license and creativity within sustainability. The best upcycling projects are not only good for the environment because they eliminate the need to throw something away and make something new, reducing carbon output. They also inspire others to find better use for things we already have and compel people to consider how much waste is produced by throwaway, consumerist lifestyles.

Upcycling combines elements of design, sustainability, and art. If you’d really like to get into the meaning and potential value to society of eliminating the concept of “waste,” check out the book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things [2] by William McDonough and Michael Braungart, who determined that recycling is actually “downcycling” and coined the term “upcycling.”

The following examples of upcycling range from resourcefully genius to eccentrically thought-provoking. We hope they’ll help you start to look at the objects in your world not just for what they are, but how you could reincarnate them into even better things.

Getting Started

If you’re a little bit innovative, you’ve probably – technically – “upcycled” an object at some point in your life. We know plenty of young women who have turned an old pair of jeans – maybe they got scruffy at the ends or the style is just out of date – into a miniskirt. (For instructions on that, click here.) 

Photo Source: frugalliving.about.com

Next, take it a step further: use the “leftover” legs and make a handy little handbag, as shown at Crafting a Green World. Once you start transforming old clothes into items you like even better, you’ll see many more options to explore. Learn how to make an old, casual T-shirt into a chic sundress at Dornob.com, a website for design ideas. 

Photo Source: raftingagreenworld.com

Here’s a video of upcycling guru Danny Seo trying to teach the virtues of this practice to some very cheeky ladies.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Like Danny’s CD-case-framed wall map, it can be simple to combine multiple old objects, giving them a new and better life together in upcycled décor. The possibilities for the union of decorating and upcycling are endless.

More Ideas

Have a little talent with a sewing machine? Make an incredibly durable wallet out of a bicycle inner tube. Jewelry is another common upcycling project, yielding a great conversation piece that lets you show off your design talents and your passion for sustainability. Consider making a bracelet out of an old keyboard. Once upcycling becomes a habit, having old, broken items to deal with stops being a chore and becomes a creativity boost.

Photo Source: craftbits.com

Have you procured a plastic bag collection under your sink? Learn how to fuse them into a laptop sleeve or protective case for another object. (This one’s a little more involved.) Walking around carrying an old bra may not be for everyone, but you can make great pouches or purses of varying sizes out of ladies’ undergarments – they’re often used around breast cancer awareness campaigns.

Here is a humorous video that teaches you how to make a laptop sleeve out of plastic bags.

Buy Upcycled Products

We strongly encourage you to try your hand at small upcycling projects. But if you really, really don’t know your way around a craft store, there are lots of folks who are experts at making old things new and better. Check out home goods for sale at the newly launched www.hipcyle.com [3]; Marmot offers clothing made from upcycled plastic; and the Clif Bar website sells a few upcycled totes. Lots of craftspeople who hawk their individualistic and handmade wares on Etsy.com engage in upcycling; find plenty of unique and high-quality items (or inspiration) there. The Colorado startup TRASHeBags not only has an online store of upcycled items, they pay people to send the kind of “trash” they need to make more of their products.

Photo Source: hipcycle.com

Organizations

One of the greatest benefits of upcycling is that it allows people to find new uses for certain materials that municipal recycling programs don’t take (in most places, there are a lot of “non-recyclable” throwaways). Though not common in the U.S. yet, in some countries, you can start or join an upcycling waste brigade through an organization like Terracycle and mobilize your community to send away upcycleable waste to people who can make good on it.

Until such efforts make it to the States, we trust you’ll find plenty of places in your life to start upcycling. The rewards are plentiful: Not only do you end up with objects that are even better and entirely yours, but the act of not replacing old things with new ones makes upcycling a delightful carbon-negative activity.

Photo Source: terracycle.net

Sources:

1. http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/reducewaste/define.htm#recycling
2. http://www.amazon.com/cradle-remaking-way-make-things/dp/0865475873
3. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hipcycle-creates-new-home-online-for-chic-affordable-upcycled-products-130281893.html

You don’t always have to spend money to save money. Here are 10 tips that can save you money in less than 10 minutes. They are easy things to do that don’t take very much effort, and the tips are free!

1. Turn Off the Lights

Have you ever left a room without turning off the lights? Most of us would probably answer yes, but there is no reason to leave the lights on when no one is using the room. It would be hard to come up with a quicker, easier way to reduce your energy use.

Photo Source: faithoncampus.com

2. Change Your Light Bulbs

Another one of the quickest and easiest ways to lower your energy bills is to change out those old light bulbs. Replacing old, inefficient incandescent bulbs with new compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) takes just a few quick turns, and the bulbs use only 25% of the energy that the old ones use. [1]

Photo Source: uechi.typepad.com

3. Take Shorter Showers

Lingering in the shower can be relaxing, but did you ever stop and think about how much energy it takes to purify, deliver, and heat the water that you are using? Even with a low-flow shower head, whenever you take a 10-minute shower, you use approximately 25 gallons of hot water each time. That’s over 9,000 gallons each year! If everyone in a household takes a shower, the water and energy used to heat it really add up. By convincing everyone to speed up their showering habits, you can save large amounts of water and energy.

Photo Source: acmeclimateaction.com

4. Unplug Your Electronic Devices

One of the markers of modernity is the ubiquity of home electronics. TVs, DVD players, stereos, and other appliances all contribute to household energy use. Portable personal electronic devices are everywhere, too, including our smartphones, mp3 players, laptops, and tablets. While these devices make our lives more comfortable and convenient, their energy use adds up. When you aren’t using them, turn them off.

All of the portable devices must be charged up before they are of any use to us. As you can imagine, charging the devices’ batteries uses energy, but did you know that the chargers use electricity, even if they are not actively charging the devices? The transformers that convert the electricity to DC continue to operate as long as they are plugged into the outlet. When you are not using them to charge your devices, unplug them. It only takes a second and, over time, the energy you save can add up.

Photo Source: hardwareinsight.com

5. Turn Down the Heat

It takes a lot of energy to heat your house in the winter. Leaving the heat at a constant 70° F throughout the entire day will make your energy bill rise quickly. When you are not going to be home, turn the thermostat down a few degrees to give your heater a break. At night, when you snuggle in under the covers, set the temperature a few degrees cooler than you would keep it during the day. By watching the thermostat, you can quickly and easily save energy and money.

Photo Source: allemergencyplumbingandheating.info

6. Shut Off the Water

One easy way to not waste energy is to make sure to always fully shut off faucets in the bathroom and in the kitchen. Leaving the hot water on, even if it is just a little drip, will cause your water heater to work overtime, something you will notice on your energy bill. Making sure to shut the faucets off does not take you any time – it only requires you to be conscientious…something that we can all do with a little effort.

Photo Source: renovationexperts.com

7. Watch Your Laundry Habits

Having washing machines at home is much more convenient than having to visit a laundromat. Being able to wash clothes at home can unnecessarily add to your energy bills, especially if you do not use the washer in an efficient manner. One of the most common inefficient uses of a washing machine is washing a load of clothes that is smaller than the washer could handle. The more times you run the washing machine, the more energy it will use, so by waiting until you have enough clothes to make a full load, you will save energy without any effort. Also, washing clothes in cold water whenever possible helps keep your energy bill down. All you have to do is change the dial. It’s that easy!

Photo Source: i.telegraph.co.uk

8. Wash Dishes Efficiently

Similar to washing clothes, using the dishwasher properly can help you save energy and money. The best way to get the most out of your dishwasher is to run it only when it is full. Instead of rinsing off your dishes with hot water before sticking them in the dishwasher, scrape the excess food off into the garbage or compost bin. Allow the dishes to air dry instead of using the heated drying feature.

Photo Source: inergysolutions.files.wordpress.com

9. Lower Your Water Heater Thermostat

One quick way to save money on energy is by turning down the thermostat on your water heater. Leaving the temperature set at a high 140° F can result in an needlessly high energy bill at the end of each month. Turn the temperature down to 120° F to reduce your energy bills. Don’t worry – the water will still be hot enough that you can enjoy your showers.

Photo Source: treehugger.com

10. Use the Microwave More Often

When you cook, use the microwave whenever possible. Microwaves are more efficient than ovens or stoves, especially when you are cooking something small or reheating leftovers. An added bonus is that microwaves usually cook more quickly, too. Less time plus less energy equals a lower energy bill.

Photo Source: google.com

Save Money – Fast!

Saving energy and money does not have to be difficult or time-consuming. Most of these tips are simple things that you can do very quickly and easily to make your lifestyle more energy efficient. In fact, you can implement most of them in less time than it took to read this article, so there’s no good excuse for not doing them. Go save some money!

Sources:

1. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.es_at_home_tips_renters10

Generating energy from trash is not a new concept, but it is one we thought was worth taking a look at. There are different types of trash-based bio-fuels, to learn about them and their pros and cons take a look below. Thank you to Grist.org for publishing this informative infographic.

Wind has been powering human activities since sailors set out to sea during the B.C. era and relied on air currents to help them reach their destinations. [1] But the modern wind energy industry didn’t take root until the ’80s when companies installed what are now considered modest-size turbines in California. Since its inception, the industry of converting wind power to electricity has seen shifts in price, expansion, and government regulation. Even so, the advantages of wind power and its strong growth potential mark it as a feasible alternative to fossil fuels; the U.S. Energy Department says wind can supply 15 times the world’s energy demand. [2] We’ll examine the industry’s progress over the last 20 years and study how these events gave the industry its potential to replace less sustainable sources of energy.

Photo Source: treehugger.com

The Basics of Wind Power

Most people do not realize that wind is a result of solar energy. The sun heats different parts of the earth at different times, and the discrepancies in the temperature compounded with the earth’s rotation, bodies of water, and uneven terrain cause such fluctuations in air currents. [3]

Even before wind was harnessed for electricity, it was a convenient and common source of power. Along with sailors, farmers relied on the air’s force to mill grain and pump water. [4] The alternative source was a tool for food production and transport long before sustainability was such a concern, and it revealed its potential early on.

The photo to the left shows that differential heating causes warmer, less dense air near the equator to rise, and cells of convection develop. These are called Hadley cells. At the surface, the cells generate winds.

Photo Source: serc.carleton.edu

Advantages and Disadvantages

Wind power has important advantages over fossil fuels: it is cost free and pollution free. It will also always exist. [5]

Wind farms are usually built in rural areas, and their establishment brings power without monopolizing the land of America’s primary agricultural sector. Farmers and ranchers may continue to cultivate land where wind farms exist because turbines don’t fully occupy it. [6]

The disadvantages are not minor either: Wind is not the most consistent or reliable energy source. It is less consistent than the sun and water in certain regions, and such an inconsistency is one of the field’s greatest challenges.

And because the best wind sites are created in rural areas, transmission lines must be created to connect the farms to the urban areas, where the energy demand is greater. These lines add to the cost and the environmental impact of the farms. [7]

Photo Source: t3.gstatic.com

A Fluctuating Industry

The first farms appeared during the early ’80s in California when some companies invested in 15,000 turbines east of San Francisco. Soon the farms appeared in other states and were sprouting up by the thousands within a few years. Sales rose from $21 million in 1981 to $748 million in 1985. [8] Enough turbines were built to power every home in San Francisco. [9]

But the industry hit road bumps over the next 10 years and would hit more even later. In the late ’80s and early ’90s, sales dropped as Reagan put an end to the alternative energy tax incentives that President Carter had drawn up. A dramatic fall in oil prices, a result of the energy crises during the ’70s, also offered more competition with the wind industry. [10]

Photo Source: treehugger.com

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 that came with a new tax credit for alternative sources gave the wind industry a boost, but it soon fell victim to another drop in the mid-’90s when the country’s electrical utility companies underwent restructuring and investors felt more cautious about investing in energy. There was a final growth period in 1998 when new tax and state-level incentives appeared, and the growth continued into the new millennium when oil prices began to rise. [11]

Photo Source: photos.state.gov

Other fluctuations occurred, but a strong period started in 2006, and expansion and sales strengthened without interruption until 2010. The recent drop in alternative energy may come as a surprise with the increased awareness on environmental damage, but the U.S. Energy Department says the decrease was simply aftermath of the global recession from a few years earlier. In 2010, 25% of America’s electric generation capacity additions were wind power derived. This contrasts with 42% in 2009 and 43% in 2008. [12] The drop in cost also powers the industry.

Over the past 20 years, the decrease in cost has also helped the industry gain popularity. The rate per kilowatt went from 25 cents in 1981 to the current approximate rate of 4 cents. [13] [14]

Photo Source: treehugger.com

On a Global Scale

Wind farms aren’t just gaining momentum in America but also have strong support in Asia and Europe. China’s wind power industry doubled last year and surpassed America for the second time as the country with the most installed wind-energy capacity. It also surpassed America in 2009. [15] Large percentages of electricity in Europe also incorporate wind: 20% of Denmark’s electricity, 13% in Spain, and 8% in Germany. Wind power makes up just 2.3% of the electricity in the U.S. [16] [17]

The photo to the left shows workers taking a meal break at a wind farm construction site in China.

Photo Source: planetark.org

The Future

Though the industry has vacillated in the wake of economic turmoil, wars, and on-again-off-again tax incentives, its future looks promising. In early September, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced a plan to invest $43 million in domestic wind shore projects. Forty-one projects across 20 states are already in the works. [18] The investment seems to be in conjunction with the Energy Department’s goal to have 20% of the United States’ power stem from wind energy by 2030. Though the goal is ambitious, especially considering the current 2.3% rate, the government investment along with the recovering economy pin it as a possibility.

The photo to the right is of Energy Secretary Steven Chu speaking with President Obama.

Photo Source: eere.energy.gov

Sources:

1. http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/02/sailboat-history-timeline.htm
2. http://www.ieee.org/portal/site/emergingtech/techindex.jsp?techId=260
3. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/wind_how.html
4. http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/energy_technologies/how-wind-energy-works.html
5. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/wind_ad.html
6. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/wind_ad.html
7. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/wind_ad.html
8. http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/kenetech-corporation-company-history.html
9. http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/energy_technologies/how-wind-energy-works.html
10. http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/imo3/petrod/since.htm
11. www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/pdfs/51783.pdf
12. www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/pdfs/51783.pdf
13. http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/energy_technologies/how-wind-energy-works.html
14. http://www.nstar.com/residential/customer_information/nstar_green/nstar_green.asp
15. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/06/us-china-wind-idustre73521e20110406
16. http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/03/21/207731/news-wind-power-surged-from-17-gw-to-194-gw-in-past-decade-google-takes-on-climate-science-deniers/
17. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110426151040.htm
18. http://energy.gov/articles/secretary-chu-unveils-41-new-offshore-wind-power-rd-projects

Europe: At the front of the pack

Not so long ago, Denmark was entirely dependent on oil for its energy, and well over 90% of it was imported. Following the oil crises of the 1970s, Denmark learned its lessons, transforming its energy markets and setting out to lead the way in renewable resources. Today, this small nation with a windy countryside manufactures up to 40% of the world’s wind turbine blades and technology, comfortably commanding its corner of the global wind-energy market. And while its economy has grown significantly in the past 20 years, Denmark’s overall energy consumption has not. Experts credit Denmark’s willingness to take the longview in its policy decisions rather than a reactionary, “penny-wise and pound-foolish” stance. [2] Furthermore, Danish legislators succeeded in earning the participation of its citizenry in renewable energy efforts, getting onboard with campaigns such as “carless Sundays” and asking businesses to turn off their lights and signage during closed hours. Current efforts to leverage other sources of energy include recycling factories’ heat waste as energy and using biomass. [3]

Photo Source: cgpgrey.com

Iceland’s electricity is entirely derived from renewable resources: 30% comes from geothermal processes, a technology the country took an important role in developing, and 70% from hydropower. Hydropower is more often criticized than other renewable energy sources for its potential to harm water supplies and past cases of negative social impacts. Regardless, Iceland has set an important example by capitalizing on its unique geological conditions to power the entire country and its significant needs for space heating with renewable resources. [4] Other Scandinavian countries are likewise conscientious about renewability. Notably, Sweden is on track to become entirely oil independent by the year 2020.

Various other European countries compete as leaders in renewable resource markets. In the UK, the Carbon Trust is working to harvest the power of waves in “ocean energy” by building the world’s largest “wave farm”; Ireland’s tidal power station opened in 2007 and was the world’s first. Germany is striving to become the first 100%-renewable industrial country; the nation imports solar energy from Italy, which comes from solar power plants in North Africa. [5]

Photo Source: aboutmyplanet.com

The sheer size of the U.S. is often cited as an impediment to switching to renewable resources on a large scale. However, the European Union has crossed borders to join efforts in interesting projects to study the most efficient and sustainable ways to harvest renewable energy. For example, the HyFLEET:CUTE project (CUTE stands for Clean Urban Transit for Europe) involves the collaboration of 31 governmental and nongovernmental partners to increase sustainability in transportation. The project involves developing and testing prototypes of hydrogen-powered buses; its end goal is to “lead Europe into the development of the Twenty Second Century hydrogen-based transport system of the future.” [6]

Photo Source: hy-ramp.eu

Developing Nations: Planting the seeds

Larger, more developed, and urban countries have much higher overall energy consumption, and their sustainability efforts will have greater impact in the near term. However, forward-thinking organizations are working to introduce renewable-resource technology and legislation in developing countries, with hopes that development won’t bring any of the energy-consumptions problems faced by countries like the U.S. and China.

The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEP) seeks to ensure that energy consumption is as sustainable and free of negative social impact as possible, from the ground up. This international nongovernmental organization runs projects such as training businesspeople and legislators in Khazakhstan on incorporating renewable resources into infrastructure. REEEP also works to catalyze policy reforms within the government of Chile, and sets up microfinance efforts to help villagers in Ghana create an industry around solar-powered cookstoves. In rural and developing areas, sustainable energy takes on extra significance, where indoor pollution from certain energy sources regularly causes deaths, and energy consumption often involves deforestation and the destruction of natural habitats. Some projects use Geographic Information Systems to encourage public and private investment in renewable resources. [7]

Many efforts in smaller, less industrialized countries have been fruitful; Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Nepal are powered with 100% hydropower. Although new to the field, India’s wind-power industry is the world’s fastest growing and has attracted important global investments. [8]

Photo Source: energy.rmrkz.com

The Next Generation

One approach is to begin with the younger generation, instilling the importance of renewable resources at a young age. An organization in Canada called Green Learning organizes contests within schools to encourage students to experiment with renewable resources, including discovering the best ways to harness them. In 2012, students will compete to create the best solar-powered oven. [9]

The U.S. stands to learn important lessons from all of these efforts, specifically in engaging its economy and population in longer-term strategies for renewability.

Photo Source: green-street.ca

Sources:

1. http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/09/5-top-countries-for-renewable-energy-investment/
2. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,203293,00.html#ixzz1z6unlnvp
3.  http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1883373-2,00.html
4. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/07/5-nations-plenty-green-power-5-nations-coal-dependent.php
5. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/04/germany-the-worlds-first-major-renewable-energy-economy
6. http://www.global-hydrogen-bus-platform.com/
7. http://www.reeep.org/
8. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/renew-wind-power-gets-201m-goldman-investment-2011-09-26?reflink=mw_news_stmp
9. http://www.re-energy.ca/solar-oven-challenge

Every day in cities across the United States, more and more people are choosing to skip the fast food restaurants and instead opt for dining at locally owned food trucks or carts. Conscious eaters know how much better the food can be when it is hot, fresh and cooked from scratch, and their options are increasing. In the past, the cuisine from the trucks was limited to tacos or hot dogs, but today, you can find everything from a basic pizza to high-end Korean fusion. In cities like New York, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, you can find food carts spread throughout the city.

Photo Source: newyorkstreetfood.com

In addition to offering great food, food trucks can also be better for the environment. You might wonder how a restaurant on wheels can be good for the environment, but it turns out that there are many ways. From reducing “food miles” to running on bio-diesel, the trucks are improving people’s diets and their environment at the same time.

Eat Local, Build the Local Economy

One of the features of the food cart culture is its interest in supporting local economies. Instead of being owned by a national chain, where profits would flow back to a distant corporate headquarters, most of the trucks are independently owned by members of the community where they are located, and the money spent on the carts stays in the local economy. These owners have an interest in supporting and maintaining the local economy, so it is no surprise that they try to buy local ingredients. The “Give Pizza a Chance” food cart in downtown Portland, Ore., for example, purchases all its meats, cheeses, and even flour for its pizza dough from local sources. [1]

In addition to being better for the local economy, when the food cart owners also purchase their ingredients locally, there is also an environmental benefit – reduced food miles. Less fossil fuel is burned in the transportation of the ingredients, reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that can occur if food is shipped in from thousands of miles away. It is a beneficial situation for both the economy and the environment.

GMonkey Mobile, an eco-friendly, vegetarian food cart that runs on bio-diesel, is an example of a cart that helps both the local economy and the environment. It sells “farm to street” food, using ingredients from the owners’ family farm in Connecticut. Customers know where their food comes from and can trust that they are doing good for the earth and the economy.

Photo Source: resources.zagat.com

Moving Food Around

You might find it hard to believe that a food truck that drives around town can be better for the environment than a restaurant with a fixed location. After all, when the truck drives around town looking for customers, it does burn fossil fuel. To some extent that is true. The food trucks do create emissions when they move from place to place. However, there are several reasons that the trucks can still be good for the environment.

First, the small size of the trucks makes them more environmentally friendly than a restaurant in a fixed location. There are natural constraints on the size of the trucks, so every inch of available space must be used efficiently in order to make the trucks’ kitchens function well. Larger restaurants have more space available to them, which could lead to an inefficient use of space and resources.

Photo Source: mjayphotoj.files.wordpress.com

Another reason that mobile food trucks are less damaging to the environment is that they attract a lot of foot traffic. By using services such as Twitter to announce their locations, the food trucks set up in locations that attract a lot of pedestrians. By seeking out locations where people can walk to them, the trucks reduce their customers’ need to drive, reducing the overall amount of emissions spent on the food economy.

Some truck owners, realizing that moving their trucks around does have an impact on the environment, have taken steps to minimize the emissions. It is common for the food trucks to run on bio-diesel made from used cooking oil. The oil was going to go to waste anyway, so by reusing it, the trucks lower their particulate emissions and do not waste the oil. Other carts are exploring alternative fuel sources, such as electricity or solar. On the Fly, a food cart in Washington, D.C., uses a zero-emission electric vehicle. [2]

Photo Source: dcfud.com

Some carts even take advantage of the sun to reduce their environmental impact. In New York City, a company called Sungevity has recently built a solar-powered popsicle cart, taking advantage of the summer sun to help people keep cool. [3]

Photo Source: inhabitat.com

Bringing Good Food to All Neighborhoods

One of the ways that food carts can help the health and environment is by delivering high-quality, cheap food into neighborhoods that do not have many options. The trucks are mobile, so they can set up quickly and cheaply in neighborhoods where a supermarket is not close by. Sometimes, food trucks are innovative in the way they promote healthy living and eating. The Go Healthy NY truck is bringing free fresh fruit into the various boroughs of New York to promote healthy eating and living. [4] This helps the environment by reducing the amount of travel people have to do to find good food. Promotions like this can also encourage healthier lifestyles, which will ultimately have a benefit for the environment and society in general.

Mogro (short for mobile grocer), based in New Mexico, is also improving access to healthier food in places that do not have it. The company has a fleet of mobile mini-supermarkets that set up in underserved neighborhoods. This type of mobile grocery store reduces the need to build large supermarkets that use huge quantities of electricity to operate and also attract large numbers of noise-making and CO2-emitting cars. [5]

Photo Source: inhabitat.com

Eco-Friendly Packaging

When people visit food carts, they often get the food to go, opting to go sit down at a nearby park to eat or to return to the office. To accommodate this, food vendors often use large amounts of packaging to wrap the food up. All of that packaging negatively affects the environment, often ending up in landfills. Some innovative food truck owners are combating this by offering 100% recyclable or compostable packaging for their takeaway food. [6]

Mobile Food, Better Environment

Across the country, the food truck revolution is bringing fresh, local, healthy, and delicious food to neighborhoods every day. Enterprising young chefs can open a truck and start cooking, without having to spend half their lives in someone else’s kitchens. The new food truck owners are also conscious about the environment, and they are implementing several ideas into their trucks to improve society and lessen the environmental impact of the food delivery system. By supporting food trucks, communities can support their local economies and have a positive impact on the environment around them.

Sources

1. http://givepizzaachance.com/real-food-better-world/
2. http://www.dcfud.com/tag/smartkart/
3. http://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-sungevity-ice-pop-truck-gives-out-free-organic-popsicles/
4. http://inhabitat.com/nyc/free-fruit-fridays-go-healthy-new-yorks-food-truck-offers-free-fresh-produce/
5. http://inhabitat.com/mogro-mobile-food-truck-fills-food-deserts-with-healthy-eats/
6. http://www.cloverfoodlab.com/?p=1532

The 2011 Green Shows provided a forum for showcasing designers who support sustainable design and fashion. The event brought together big-name designers and new fashion lines. It also added some unlikely partners in the fashion work: non-governmental organizations, social enterprises, and partnerships of local artisans around the world who support the principles of eco-friendly design. These designers, like Eco Fashion Week itself, are inspired by contemporary designers who are dedicated to supporting ethical, sustainable, and social principles in fashion. [1] The clothes shown by eco-conscious designers during Fashion Week are not just made from sustainable materials; they are made from materials that are sourced through fair trade and made by local artisans.

Photo Source: weeklyfashionupdates.blogspot.com

Though this year’s eco-conscious collections push the boundaries of environmental consciousness in fashion, their designers’ definition of sustainability goes back to the standard of a triple bottom line: social good and environmentally friendly choices combined with a focus on sustainable economic partnerships. The biggest change? Many of the designers of eco-conscious collections are supporting increased transparency and accountability for the sustainable choices they are making.

Some, like EDUN, were criticized last year for failing to live up to their goals for supporting local artisans. Transparency and accountability to their public helped them to double the percentage of materials made by local artisans within the year. The company goals and practices have been talked about as much as their models. Maybe this public focus on their sustainable practices has encouraged their innovation this year.

Below is a closer look at five eco-conscious designers and their partners.

Local Partnerships

Study NY and CPALI: Zero-waste Fashion

One of the standout pieces in Study NY’s collection is from a partnership with local artisans. CPALI is not a designer but an NGO that works with local farmers who have been economically displaced by deforestation in Madagascar. They retrain these farmers to develop strategies to sustain themselves independently. An example of their work showed up in this year’s New York Fashion Week. The skirt in the image below was made with the silk of 4,000 sustainably harvested cocoons by local farmers and artisans in Madagascar. [2]

Photo Source: Huffingtonpost.com

Sustainable Economies

EDUN: Encouraging fair trade with sub-Saharan Africa

Founded by U2′s Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson, EDUN is finding its way in the fashion world. The company was founded to support the economies of sub-Saharan African countries. Last year, 15% of their pieces were made there. This year, nearly 40% of their pieces were made in Kenya, Uganda, and Mali. Many have remarked on the more traditionally ethnic African look to this year’s line, and EDUN recently hired a Malian artist, Aboubakar Fofara, to design clothing using natural indigo-dye techniques. [3] EDUN was one of the few eco-friendly designers that experimented with bright colors this year, which made their clothing stand out.

Photo Source: inhabitat.com

Organic Materials

BODKIN: Materials are sourced with an eye toward social and environmental good

Bodkin, an eco-conscious fashion line, was founded by Eviana Hartman. Its goal is to bring fashion and sustainability together, rather than continuing the belief that they must be at odds with one another. Bodkin manufactures its clothing line in the U.S. and ensures that those who make Bodkin clothes are treated with respect and dignity. The designer also favors organic materials. This year’s collection focused on comfortable organic fabrics that blend an urban air with an eco-chic ethic. [4] The colors, like many of this year’s eco-conscious collections, tended to darker shades of brown, black, and gray.

Photo Source: bodkin.us

Reclaiming and Reusing Materials

DURO OWOLU: Inspired by immigrants

The 2012 line from UK designer Duro Owolu focused on reclaimed and reused fabric. The designer cited Jacques Henri Lartigues’ photography and West Indian immigrants, among them his mother, as the inspiration for the line. While many designers are focusing on designing with new organic or sustainably sourced fabrics, Duro Owolu uses vintage fabric to create an eclectic look. [5] The goal: increased awareness of the contrast between the elegant clothing and the practicalities of reality that immigrant women face. It is, the designer says, an homage to “beacons of optimism.”

Photo Source: inhabitat.com

Eco-Friendly Choices Every Day

ORGANIC BY JOHN PATRICK: Sustainable choices in every part of life

John Patrick, who founded the Organic line, is one of the original eco-conscious designers. The line is inspired by the women who came of age in the ’90s and who incorporate contemporary sustainability into their daily lives. Like these women, the choices about sustainability that Patrick makes focus on “transparency, labor conditions, or just the proportions themselves.” [6] With the latest collection, the Organic line has moved away from the standard organic fabrics and into experimentation with recycled neoprene and other technical fabrics.

Photo Source: vogue.com

Sources:

1. http://www.thegreenshows.com/designers.html
2. http://www.cpali.org
3. http://www.ecouterre.com/edun-offers-africa-with-an-edge-at-spring-2012-new-york-fashion-week/
4. www.bodkin.us/about.html
5. http://www.ecouterre.com/duro-olowu-spring-2012-line-delivers-optimism-through-adversity-at-new-york-fashion-week/
6. http://www.vogue.com/collections/resort-2012/organic-by-john-patrick/review/

Here are a few of the charities that are committed to making our world a better place.

1. Ecology Fund

The Ecology Fund has a unique take on protecting habitats. Rather than taking donations directly from individuals, anyone who registers on its website can “click to give.” The charity’s sponsors then donate money per click to protect land in a given project.

What it Does

The Ecology Fund has many endeavors going on simultaneously, including protecting the South American rain forest, reducing pollution, and protecting endangered species worldwide.

How it Has Helped

The organization is involved in the La Cruz Habitat Protection Project, which has planted trees in certain areas of Mexico that were previously deforested. The project planted 350,000 trees in 2011 alone and aims to conserve the forest eco-system, increase wildlife populations like the Monarch Butterfly, improve soil retention, and restore the quality of the watershed. [1]

Photo Source: ecologyfund.com

2. The Conservation Fund

Our  wildlands are rapidly depleting, thanks to our growing cities of industry and the chemicals and byproducts that come out of manufacturing. The Conservation Fund is finding the balance between environment and economy, and to date, has saved 7 million acres of land.

What it Does

The Conservation Fund doesn’t just protect natural habitats. It also preserves historic sites, like the scenes of Civil War battles, as well as working lands, where people depend on the land for food, work, and their cultural traditions.

How it Has Helped

Prairie chickens were once thriving in the Midwest, but are now all but extinct. The Conservation Fund has taken strides to protect its grassland habitat in Wisconsin, in an effort to bring back the population. [2]

Photo Source: conservationfund.org

3. Care2

Care2 also leverages sponsors’ donations for each time visitors click on a cause. The website provides information on the causes it aids, provides community forums, and manages petitions that users can share and have signed. The site uses the social power of the Internet to effect change globally.

What it Does

Care2 has a wide range of charitable causes it participates in, from global warming to human rights. Not only does it announce projects that visitors can participate in, but its website also hosts news and information about all the projects its members participate in.

How it Has Helped

Care2’s Oceana project has protected 49,089.6 acres of oceans through the efforts of  1,216,324 people. For each click a visitor gives, the site donates 100% of the donations to the Oceana project, which has saved sea turtles and aided in legislation to ban shark finning in the U.S. [3]

Photo Source: na.oceana.org

4. Recycling for Charities

The organization Recycling for Charities allows individuals to donate electronic goods like cell phones, cameras, and iPods, which are converted to a cash value and then donated to the charity of the donor’s choice. The charity refurbishes the electronics when possible, and responsibly handles the remaining electronic waste.

What it Does

Recycling for Charities provides valuable electronic products to charities that support people who could not otherwise afford them, as well as reduces electronic waste. By recycling these goods, the organization is reducing the number of toxins in our environment. Donors are invited to add their favorite charity to the donation list.

How it Has Helped

Recycling for Charities has donated to a variety of charities, including H.E.R.O. (Housing Education Reach Out) Foundation, a nonprofit devoted to educating homeowners about mortgage loans and preventing foreclosure. [4]

Photo Source: recyclingforcharities.com

5. Environmental Defense Fund

The Environmental Defense Fund strives to preserve oceans, climate, ecosystems, and health through education and donations. The organization works closely with legislation policies as well as provides consumers with education to help.

What it Does

The EDF has a unique approach in that it pairs up with scientists, doctors, and economists to find economically and environmentally viable solutions. Some of its projects include preventing overfishing for endangered species, reducing global warming, and preserving ecosystems from toxic chemicals.

How it Has Helped

New York City has more than 10,000 buildings that burn No. 4 and No. 6 heating oil, which do more harm than all the vehicles in the city. The pollution produced coats the city with toxic metals like nickel, which can cause asthma and aggravate lung disease. EDF has been instrumental in getting legislation passed in the city that will phase out No. 6 oil by 2015 and No. 4 by 2030. [5]

Photo Source: edf.org

These environmentally focused charities are bringing real change to our environment and our world through education, awareness, and action. But it’s only through the participation of individuals that these organizations can succeed.

Sources:

1. http://ecologyfund.com/ecology/_ecology.html
2. http://www.conservationfund.org/
3. http://www.care2.com
4. http://www.recyclingforcharities.com/about.php
5. http://www.edf.org/

In the past 20 years, the alternative energy industry has undergone incredible growth, particularly solar power. According to The Energy Report published by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, the solar market grew an average of 30% per year from 1993 to 2008 [1], and in 2009 the market grew 62% [2] and then 67% in 2010 with an even higher figure predicted for 2011. [3] Contributing factors of these rapidly rising rates include greater technological efficiency, turbulent oil prices, and a growing number of government incentives for alternative-energy-based businesses. Here’s an analysis of how the solar power industry has developed and expanded in the last 20 years – from the technology and the establishment of solar farms to the growing endorsement of national and local governments.

Photo Source: renewableenergyresource.net

Technology

The tools for harnessing the sun’s power were first designed way back in the ’50s by Bell Laboratories. At the time, the efficiency was poor and the equipment expensive: the company managed a 4% conversion rate. [4] Though this rendered the tools less than useful, the concept was a breakthrough for the era.

A desirable energy conversion rate and price tag for the equipment didn’t come until four decades later, when a 15% conversion rate was designed in the ’90s. In California, Pacific Gas & Electric installed the first photovoltaic system (a system that uses solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity [5]) in 1993, and this project marked the first distributed effort of solar power. Meanwhile, technical efficiency continued to improve as engineers were soon able to establish a 30% conversion in 1994, making it much more feasible as an alternative energy resource. [6]

The industry broke another barrier when First Solar, a solar power system manufacturer, emerged in 1999 and opened the world’s largest solar-power manufacturing plant in 2000. [7] Their engineers eventually conceived a manufacturing method that reduced costs, so that less than a dollar was needed to produce a watt. [8] The energy source was growing in popularity and decreasing in price to the extent that, in 2001, Home Depot offered solar power systems in a few San Diego branches. The chain expanded to more than 60 of its other American stores in 2002. [9] The solar power industry had officially reached out to the public domain.

Photo Source: solarteksolutions.com

Solar Farms

Solar farms, or wide expanses of solar panels that rotate to soak up as much of the sun’s energy as possible, have been thriving in the past 20 years. [10] Several can be found in Europe and North America, including some with the ability to power thousands of homes or even match the aesthetics of its surrounding landscape.

Spain has several beautiful and expansive farms, including the world’s largest. In Olmedilla, a farm built in 2008 uses 162,000 panels to produce 60 megawatts of electricity on a sunny day. It can power over 40,000 homes. [11] The photo on the right is of the solar plant in Olmedilla.

The Gemasolar Power Plant in southern Spain is the only solar farm that generates electricity at night. Its 2,650 panels can produce enough power for 25,000 homes. [12]

Last May, two farms that can also be viewed as works of art opened in Les Mees, France. [13] The farms generate a total of 18.2 megawatts and provide 9,000 families with electricity each year.

Several designs for future farms are also circulating. The largest concept known so far is the product of First Solar, which plans to build a 550-megawatt-producing farm in California’s San Luis Obipso County by 2014. The farm will be called Topaz Solar Farm. [14] First Solar is also collaborating with the Chinese government to build a farm in the Mongolian desert that could power 3 million homes. [15]

Other ambitious designs are underway in California, Nevada, and New Jersey. [16] [17] [18]

Photo Source: scientificamerican.com

Government Support

A major reason for the rapid growth of the solar industry is the participation, both legal support and tax-related, of the U.S. government. In 2005, the Energy Policy Act created a 30% rate for investment tax credit to solar projects. The credit was supposed to expire in 2008, but the government extended the deadline to 2016. [19] In addition, many states offer grants, rebates, and low-interest loans to residential and commercial buildings incorporating solar systems. [20]

The U.S. Department of Energy has also created a program, SunShot Initiative, to reduce the cost of solar power systems by 75% at the end of the decade. Another SunShot goal is to make solar power produce 15% to 18% of America’s electricity by 2030. [21]

Photo Source: bysolar.files.wordpress.com

The Future

Ray Kurzweil (pictured to the right) calls himself a futurist, meaning he believes he can make accurate predictions about the world’s technology and energy industries. [22] In the past, he predicted that a worldwide communications network would form in the 1990s and that a computer would beat a human in chess by 1998. Both came true.

Kurzweil believes solar power technology is improving so rapidly it will be able to supply 100% of the world’s energy in about 20 years. The increasing demand and the improved technology, along with the government endorsement, point to another successful prediction.

Photo Source: the9billion.com

Sources:

1. http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/energy/renewable/solar.php
2. http://www.ambassadorenergy.com/news-technology/us-solar-market-to-grow-tenfold-by-2014/
3. http://www.seia.org/cs/news_detail?pressrelease.id=1292
4. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pdfs/solar_timeline.pdf
5. http://photovoltaics.sustainablesources.com/
6. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/sunshot/timeline.html
7. http://www.firstsolar.com/en/about.php
8. http://www.facilitiesnet.com/powercommunication/article/new-study-documents-dropping-costs-of-solar-power-efficiency-of-large-pv-systems–10639
9. www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pdfs/solar_timeline.pdf
10. http://www.livescience.com/3115-energy-debates-solar-farms.html
11. http://www.bukisa.com/articles/309224_worlds-most-powerful-and-largest-power-plants
12. http://www.impactlab.net/2011/06/03/worlds-first-solar-power-plant-that-generates-electricity-at-night/
13. http://www.enfinitycorp.com/downloads/news-releases/growth-in-france
14. http://www.topazsolar.com/
15. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/09/business/energy-environment/09solar.html
16. http://cleantechnica.com/2011/09/21/new-kind-of-40-efficient-solar-farm-gets-90-million-doe-loan-guarantee-to-cogentrix/
17. http://theenergycollective.com/toddwoody/45281/feds-approve-first-solar-farm-goverment-land-nevada
18. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/23/realestate/commercial/23solar.html
19. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/22/business/energy-environment/22solar.html
20. http://www.dsireusa.org
21. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/sunshot/about.html
22. http://www.the9billion.com/2011/02/25/100-solar-energy-in-20-yrs-no-problem-says-futurist-ray-kurzweil/

Energy-efficient innovations are valuable commodities. In the past 25 years, industry competition for energy-efficient household appliances improved the efficiency of your refrigerator by a savings of 1,100 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per year. The reduced electricity used by 2001 or later refrigerators equates to a reduction of $80 per year from your electric bill. [1] An energy-efficient washing machine saves you approximately $135 per year. [2]

If you add in the $202 billion dollars that commercial businesses spend each year to power their organizations, it becomes clear that energy efficiency is popular for a reason. [3] Not only is it environmentally smart, it is financially prudent to consume less power.

Photo Source: thetomorrowcompany.com

So how does energy innovation take place? One example is the recent GE Ecomagination Challenge. The company committed over $200 million, partnering with startups and entrepreneurs who have big dreams for developing appliances and tools that sip power rather than suck power. The competition received approximately 300 ideas. [4] A dozen of these ideas were selected for partnerships with GE. Together, these entrepreneurs and the competition that supports them will develop additional ideas for redesigning the national power grid.

The above photo is an example of one of the ideas that came from the GE Ecomagination Challenge.

Photo Source: challenge.ecomagination.com

The benefit of these competitions is not just the cross-pollination of ideas. It is also the demand that energy-efficient ideas be rigorous enough to hold up when industry scientists examine them and responsible enough that energy-efficient products can compete on the market with more affordable alternatives. Because the cost of research and design work on energy-efficient appliances and infrastructure can be intensive, using competition funding and technical assistance to offset these demands opens the market to new entrepreneurs and inventors who bring with them new ideas.

The following competitions are a selection of current or annual contests open nationwide in the United States. The first two competitions are designed for college students, while the following two focus on elementary and high school students. Though many of these competitions are judged by a jury rather than by open voting, the competition sponsors have ensured that participating teams have the opportunity to provide additional information on their ideas and designs on the competition websites. The websites provide information both to prospective participants and to a general audience interested in energy efficiency.

Solar Decathlon

Sponsor: U.S. Department of Energy

Dates: September 23 – October 2, 2011

Imagine a home that was energy efficient and still cost effective to build. Developing innovative strategies to build these homes is the mission of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon competition. This competition is open to teams of college students, who work together to design and build homes that use clean-energy products. It takes participating teams two years to develop these homes, which are showcased during a week of exhibitions before juries select a winner. The houses from these competitions are used to showcase the best of clean-energy technology or are sold to finance future teams’ research and development efforts.

Find out more: http://www.solardecathlon.gov/

Photo Source: solardecathlon.gov

People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3)

Sponsor: Environmental Protection Agency

Date: spring 2012

Award: up to $90,000

The P3 competition encourages college students to develop new, sustainable solutions in a variety of areas, including agriculture, energy, and water. It’s a two-part competition. In the first round, prospective participants apply for up to $15,000 of funding to develop a project. In round two, participants develop their project and refine the design. The winning design is eligible for a cash award to bring the project into the marketplace.

Find out more: www.epa.gov/p3/fact_sheet.html

Photo Source: epa.gov

National Energy Education Development (NEED)

Sponsor: National Energy Education Development

Date: summer 2012

The National Energy Education Development project is a K-12 program that connects teachers and students across the nation with comprehensive energy education. The program is available for use in after-school clubs, science labs, and classroom instruction. NEED emphasizes leadership development and holds an annual award and recognition ceremony each summer. Schools using the NEED curriculum submit a portfolio of their activities and leadership for consideration.

Find out more: http://www.need.org/youth-awards

Photo Source: naseo.org

America’s Home Energy Education Challenge

Sponsors: National Science Teacher’s Association, U.S. Department of Energy, and Challenge.gov

Date: annual, ongoing

America’s Home Energy Education Challenge is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Science Teacher’s Association designed to bring enhanced energy-efficiency education into schools. School children grades 3 through 8 collect information on their current energy use and develop a plan to reduce it. Schools can partner with other organizations and submit their students’ plans for a chance to win more than $200,000.

Find out more: http://www.homeenergychallenge.org/

Photo Source: energy4me.org

To get information on additional competitions, including some with a regional or state-specific focus, you can visit the U.S. Department of Energy, where you will also find extensive educational resources.

Sources:

1. http://www.citizenpower.com/energyefficiency/saveenergychanges.html
2. http://interestingenergyfacts.blogspot.com/2010/05/energy-efficiency-facts.html
3. www.energystar.gov/ia/business/challenge/learn_more/fastfacts.pdf
4. http://challenge.ecomagination.com/ct/ct_a_view_blog.bix?c

There are many programs nationwide to assist homeowners in achieving increased levels of home energy efficiency. Programs regularly offer incentives and other types of assistance, like low-interest financing, to encourage energy-efficient behavior and increase the financial benefit of the improvements. To qualify for these programs, an energy audit conducted by a certified auditor may be required.

In and across Michigan, WellHome is a participating contractor in all of these great programs:

• Consumers Energy Home Performance with Energy Star Program – Up to $5,000 in rebates
• DTE Energy Residential Energy Efficiency Programs – Up to $2,500 in rebates
• Efficiency United Energy Efficiency Programs – Up to $3,050 in rebates
• Michigan Saves Home Energy Loan Program – Affordable, unsecured financing (7% interest)
• Better Buildings For Michigan – Neighborhood Sweep Energy Efficiency Programs throughout Michigan

To start off any project in one of these programs, WellHome will schedule and perform an energy audit for your home. During a WellHome energy audit, a certified Building Analyst will conduct several diagnostic tests designed to pinpoint the causes of uncomfortable rooms and spaces and energy-inefficient systems and appliances. These tests include a blower door test, which will measure the tightness of your home and find the areas of air leakage, an infrared camera test that highlights temperature variances and locates air drafts and under-insulated walls and surfaces, and a variety of safety tests including combustion safety and gas leak detection. The results of these tests and an analysis of your last 12 months of energy usage will be provided to you in an individualized report. Also, in addition to the report, your WellHome advisor will combine the results of the audit with their building science training to recommend improvements aimed at increasing the comfort level of your home while reducing its energy consumption.

Improvements in Michigan homes often include additional attic insulation, air sealing throughout the home’s exterior walls, upgrading a furnace or boiler, and energy-efficient windows. But whatever improvements we recommend for you and your family, please know that our WellHome advisors are there to walk you through how your project may benefit from program incentives and federal energy-efficiency tax credits.

Rates are 4.99% and 3.99% for ENERGY STAR and Advanced Performance products in the categories of stand-alone heating, cooling, windows, doors, insulation, and domestic hot water systems. (35% of the loan proceeds may be used for “non-energy” improvements.) Rates of 1.99% are available for home improvements or projects with air sealing and insulation done by a Building Performance Institute-certified contractor. Cash loans from $1,000 to $5,000 for up to a 10-year term are also available.

Approved Keystone HELP/AFC First Contractors must perform the work; there are no closing costs or prepayment penalties; and no home equity is required as the loans are unsecured. Offered by more than 1,800 approved contractors throughout Pennsylvania, Keystone HELP has offered affordable energy-efficiency financing options since 2006. To apply for a Keystone HELP loan, visit www.keystonehelp.com or www.patreasury.org. Interested residents may also call 1-877-282-9448 to ask questions or apply.

Metamaterials

Metamaterials are the superheroes of the materials world. Scientists combine materials (say gold and copper) in a particular way to get the benefit of each of the included materials’ properties. [1]

Metamaterials are being explored for a variety of uses, including invisibility cloaking. Because they guide light around an object instead of reflecting light, the object appears invisible. It’s no surprise that the military is highly interested in this technology.

That invisibility feature may have applicable uses in renewable energy as well. Scientists are harnessing the ability to bend light to get better transparency on solar-cell coatings, thereby improving the output of solar energy.

Photo Source: technologyreview.com

As solar panels get hit with light, they lose energy. That means that the amount of light a solar panel actually absorbs is currently about 40% of what it could be. By using an optical amplifier created with metamaterials, that absorption rate could be as high as 90%. [2]

But metamaterials have other uses as well. For consumers, their role in wireless power transmission is one of particular interest. Metamaterials can be used to create a lens that focuses an electromagnetic beam. When this lens is placed between two coils in an inductive charger, the result is the ability to charge a computer, cell phone, or other electronic device without being tethered to a wire. [3]

The power transfer efficiency of a slab made with these metamaterials parts beats any of the solar panel, RFID, or microwave charging technologies out there today.

Photo Source: technologyreview.com

Cutting the Cord

Metamaterials aren’t the only type of scientific endeavor seeking to reduce the number of cables and wires used with technology. The Network Enabled by Wavelength division multiplexing Highly Integrated Photonics, or NEW-HIP, aims to do away with the copper and multimode fiber cables currently used in aircraft.

NEW-HIP uses a single-mode fiber-optic network that carries both digital and analog signals. Up until now, analog and digital signals were carried separately via different channels. Uses are aimed primarily at military aircraft, as NEW-HIP reduces the weight of the equipment used inside the planes, withstands difficult environments, and can interconnect dozens of components to communicate amongst themselves. [4]

Photo Source: darpa.mil

Turning Heat into Electric Energy

Any time heat is used to create energy, there is a loss of energy in the process. But the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory discovered that adding 1% of cerium or ytterbium (both rare-earth elements) to a composition of thermoelectric materials (tellurium, antimony, germanium, and silver, or “TAGS”) increased conversion to electrical energy by 25%.

Thermoelectric materials have been around for 200 years, but never showed much efficiency in energy conversion. NASA has been using these materials for years, but they had never been useful for the consumer market…until now.

Because so many consumer products use cerium or ytterbium, such as cell phones, electronics, and car motors, there is large potential for using this new process to increase energy efficiency in everyday products. Some applications for this modified material include using an electric car’s exhaust to recharge its battery and recycling waste heat from refineries. [5]

Another electricity-harnessing material was discovered by researchers at Northwestern University by placing nanocrystals of strontium telluride into lead telluride. The resulting material creates electricity from heat-emitting sources like industrial processes, sunlight, and car exhaust systems.
Using this combination, scientists claim to be able to turn 14% of heat waste into electric energy, something that is unprecedented. [6]

Photo Source: sciencedaily.com

Hydrogen + Carbon Dioxide = Diesel?

As the hunt for better alternatives to gasoline for fueling vehicles continues, scientists at OPXBIO are turning hydrogen energy into fuel. After combining hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide gas, an added microorganism converts the two into a diesel molecule.

The result is a product that can be used as biodiesel or upgraded with a catalyst to create jet fuel or traditional diesel. [7]

Cheaper, More Efficient Televisions

Anyone who has shopped for a flat-screen television knows they don’t come cheap. That may soon change, thanks to DuPont. The company has discovered a more efficient method for creating Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) displays. OLEDs use less power than LCDs and can provide a better picture with faster response times and high-contrast ratios.
The cost of manufacturing OLED displays has caused the high prices at the stores, but DuPont has cornered the market on fabricating these materials quickly and affordably, which should cause the entire television market to be more affordable for consumers. [8]

Photo Source: oled-display.net

Sources:

1. http://science.howstuffworks.com/invisible-tank1.htm
2. http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/25199/
3. http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/26392/
4. http://www.darpa.mil/newsevents/releases/2011/2011/01/13_new-hip_program_advances_avionics_networks.aspx
5. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110215164336.htm
6. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110118143228.htm
7. http://www.nrel.gov/news/features/feature_detail.cfm/feature_id=1588
8. http://www.oled-display.net/dupont-announcing-breakthrough-for-cost-effectively-printed-oled-tv/

Although you might not think about football as a sport that promotes its environmental credentials, you might be surprised to hear that there are a number of ways that football and its fans are becoming less impactful on the earth and its ecosystems. From stadium recycling initiatives to highly efficient flat-screen televisions, there are many ways that football season is as green as ever. Here is a look at some of those ways, including a few tips on how you can make your football experiences greener.

Green Stadiums

University of North Texas

Whenever 30,000-100,000 people gather in one place, there are bound to be environmental impacts. All of those people consume lots of food, thereby using a lot of packaging and energy to prepare it, and fans also need restroom facilities to make their time at the stadium enjoyable. For cities with a professional or college team, this happens each weekend as fans converge from all over to watch their favorite gridiron gladiators compete on the field of battle.

One way that football is going green is with stadiums that are built to lower their environmental impact. In Texas, for example, where football is as much a weekend ritual as going to church, the University of North Texas (UNT) has recently completed a new $78-million stadium for its football team. The stadium, known as the “Mean Green” stadium, “blends sustainability with the comfort and big-event experience,” making the venue perfect for the UNT fans who come to support their Eagle teams. In order to make the stadium live up to its nickname, all of the materials used in the stadium came from less than 500 miles away, and builders used a non-toxic paint to protect the stadium from the weather. In addition, the university will soon be installing three 150-foot wind turbines to provide electricity for the university’s power grid. [1]

Photo Source: blogs.dallasobserver.com

Competing for the Environment

In the college football ranks, universities compete on the field, and now they compete on who can be the greenest. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a program called the “Game Day Challenge” that tallies the impact of environmental measures that a football program implements at its stadium. Seventy-seven schools participated in the program last year, and through efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle, the schools diverted 500,000 pounds of waste that would have gone into landfills. Ithaca College and the University of Tennessee at Martin were the 2010 “waste minimization champions.” The University of Central Oklahoma was the best school at reducing CO2 emissions. [2] [3] Challenge participants also prevented the release of over 900 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. While the competition is not as exciting as the football competition, it is probably more important for the long-term health of the planet.

Photo Source: a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net

Getting to the Stadium

With so many thousands of people descending upon one location for each game, there is a tremendous amount of energy and fuel used to power all the vehicles used to get fans to the stadium. One way to reduce fuel use is by making sure to share rides whenever possible. Where possible, taking public transportation to the game lessens the environmental impact of going to the game.

Photo Source: flikr.com

Green Tailgating

On game day, in the run up to game time, football fans often gather outside the stadium for barbecues, beer, and great food. Tailgating is a way for fans to build camaraderie and get warmed up for the upcoming game. Some of the tailgate parties are very elaborate affairs, and fans bring their motor homes, grills, tables, chairs, and lots of food and drink to celebrate getting together. All of these good times can produce lots of trash. Bringing reusable cups and plates to the party is a sure way to reduce the amount of waste going to the landfills. Making sure to recycle all of the aluminum cans you empty while waiting for the game is another way to reduce your environmental impact.

Photo Source: blogs.houstonpress.com

Green Snacking

When you watch a game, whether from the comfort of your own home or along with 70,000 of your closest friends, one of the things that you are likely to do is eat something. With games often lasting three or four hours, you are bound to get hungry. In order to reduce the environmental impact of those game time snacks, try cutting out as much as meat and processed foods as possible. Eating too much meat and processed foods can lead to weight gain and other health problems. These types of foods also require a lot of energy to produce and process. Reducing your consumption or cutting some of them out of your football diet entirely will provide the double benefit of making you more healthy and your game-watching more eco-friendly. Try substituting with fresh fruits, nuts, and/or vegetables, which are better for you and require less energy to prepare.

Photo Source: media.redding.com

Watching Football at Home Can Be Green

Even though nothing beats watching a game from the 50-yard line with 80,000 other fans, today’s HDTV technology and surround-sound stereo entertainment systems make watching the game at home almost as fun. Some people are such big fans that they want to watch more than one game at once, so they buy two or more televisions for their game rooms. These televisions can use quite a bit of electricity (especially if they are large), so it is important to look for the most energy-efficient models available. TVs that have received the ENERGY STAR rating are on average 40% more efficient than a standard television. [4]

Photo Source: retailleverage.com

If you want to watch two games but do not want to buy two televisions, a service like ESPN on Xbox LIVE will allow you to watch two games on the same screen at the same time. You can have your games and watch them, too! [5]

Green Fans

It is said that there are only two things certain in life – death and taxes. For many people, the return of football season is a close third. Fans wait all year for their favorite teams to return to action, and when the season arrives, they pull out all the stops to make it as enjoyable as possible. Fall football is a tradition that is becoming increasingly more environmentally conscious, too, so whether your favorite team is in first place or last, you can extend the energy of the summer and have a lot of good green fun.

Sources:

1. http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/08/05/3272719/unt-shows-off-new-environmentally.html
2. http://doyourpart.com/eco-news/which-college-football-stadium-is-most-eco-friendly/
3. http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/partnerships/wastewise/challenge/gameday/results.htm
4. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showproductgroup&pgw_code=tv
5. http://kotaku.com/5834349/watch-two-sports-games-at-once-on-xbox-live-with-espn-overhaul

In most homes, some of the biggest comfort and efficiency concerns are caused by air entering or exiting the house through attic penetrations causing a loss of conditioned air.   In winter for example, as the house warms up, air rises and leaks out around electrical holes, pipe penetrations, and around wall top plates.  To compound this loss of warm air, the attic floor is often lacking in proper insulation levels allowing the heat loss to continue into the attic.  The lost air has to be replaced somewhere, so gaps around foundation walls, windows, doors, electrical outlets and floor overhangs allow infiltration of cold air.  This newly introduced cold air causes the furnace to work harder to warm up to a comfortable temperature.

Photo Source: ehow.com

Find the air leaks is one of the most enjoyable parts of my job.   I love having that “A HA!” moment in a house.  Earlier this summer I visited a beautiful, 10 year old home that the owner had paid a home performance contractor to not only energy seal and insulate but also address the extremely hot master bedroom over the garage.  The work was completed with most of the focus in the attic.  All attic top plates, pipe penetrations and vertical cathedral walls had been air sealed and insulated very well.  The day I visited the home, it was 95 degrees outside, but 90 degrees in the second floor bedroom and 75 degrees on the first floor.  Needless to say, the owner had no idea why the bedroom could be so hot after having R-49 insulation installed.

In my evaluation of his concern, I pulled all the nails out holding the heat supply boot to the subfloor so I could see the insulation level below the floor.  The builder had installed the R-30 insulation in the garage ceiling and not bothered pushing it up tight to the bedroom floor above.  The “A HA!” came as I realized that three exterior walls of the bedroom were 4 feet inside of the garage perimeter (see picture).  A small 5’ area of vented roof surrounded the bedroom walls.  The soffit vents in the eaves of attic allowed exterior air to feed the attic space (as it was intended), but also allowed a cross draft to occur under the floor and above the insulation below.

To fix the issue, the carpet in the bedroom was rolled up and a one foot wide cut was made around the perimeter of the room through the subfloor.  The WellHome install crew then blocked every joist space below the exterior wall stopping communication of air between the attic space and below the floor.  After that sealing was complete, we used the same cuts in the floor to install 10” of dense packed cellulose below the subfloor. The fix was handled in a day, and to date there is a 3 degree difference between first floor thermostat and upstairs bedroom.  The homeowner was so happy that they gave the old window air conditioner to the neighbor next door with the same issue…and also a WellHome business card.

In short, even when houses are insulated to recommended levels, comfort concerns and energy loss can exist.  To prevent this from happening, insulation must be installed without gaps and in contact with the finished surfaces that it is protecting.  In addition, all exterior air infiltration must be stopped thereby enabling the insulation to perform at its maximum R-value.  The proper diagnosis and subsequent installation of those measures will result in a more comfortable and efficient home.

Electric Vehicles are serious competitors. Until recently, small startups like Tesla Motors, Fisker, and Smart have enjoyed most of the attention in the electric car market. With Chrysler, Ford, and Toyota now making electric vehicles for release in 2011 or 2012, the electric car market has significantly more competitors than it did a few years ago. [1]

So what is an electric car, and how does it differ from a hybrid vehicle? Since electric vehicles have been limited to residential areas due to the low speed of the older models, they have not been as visible as their hybrid cousins. Hybrids run on a combination of a battery and gasoline. Electric vehicles, on the other hand, run on battery alone. They are charged when they are plugged into a power station, which rejuvenates the battery and puts the car – but not the pollution – back on the road. [2] The new generation of electric vehicles is high-speed and freeway-friendly and needs less frequent charging than the older models.

Photo Source: freeenergytruth.blogspot.com

Worldwide Use

The popularity of electric vehicles around the world has grown nearly as quickly as high gas prices over the past few years. Other benefits of electric vehicles are the convenience in city environments, where tight spots and dense traffic make parking difficult and high speeds uncommon. Europe is forecast to have more electric cars by 2020 than the United States will. [3] Denmark and Finland have both gotten into the market for electric cars recently. Three big names in European markets are Better Place, Renault, and Volkswagen.

Another big market for electric cars is Asia, where Chinese inventors and investors have put cars like the Coda on the road. Their goals for electric vehicles start with a five-year plan for 100 million electric-charging stations in China by 2015. India also has prototypes of electric vehicles that may be on the road in the next few years.

U.S. Use and Rebates

In the U.S., electric vehicles have been developed with additional speed, making them competitors for freeway driving. The additional battery life has added to the cars’ popularity. It is estimated that the U.S. will have 1.5 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015. [3] Electric vehicles have a higher purchase price than gasoline cars, but the electric power source eliminates the need for expensive fuel to power them. The federal government and many state governments are helping out as well, offering rebates from $2,500 for electric vehicles made in Tennessee to $7,500 from the federal government. [4]

Photo Source: Inhabitat.com

Sustainable Cars Need Sustainable Power Sources

Electric vehicles store their power in the car batteries rather than using gasoline as a direct power source. Less use of fossil fuel translates into a more sustainable vehicle. [5] It’s important to remember that, while electric vehicles reduce the levels of greenhouse gas, smog, and pollution in the air, they are not a silver bullet for sustainability. In order to be truly sustainable, the power networks that electric cars depend on for recharging will need to be built from renewable or clean power sources as well. If you have or are thinking about getting an electric vehicle, check into your local power sources to determine how much that electric vehicle will really reduce pollution.

Photo Source: inhabitat.com

Next Year’s Electric Vehicles

Many of the electric vehicles being marketed in the U.S. in the next few years are family-friendly mid-size vehicles or small SUVs. As the price of buying an electric vehicle has gone down and gas prices have gone up, mid-size sedans have become a viable market for electric cars. Here are four of next year’s top contenders.

Chevrolet Volt

Performance: The Chevrolet Volt, made by General Motors, is a plug-in hybrid. It has 40 miles of electric range and 500 miles per gasoline fill-up. Its top speed is 100 mph. The first versions of this car were sold in December 2010 to a limited audience in seven areas of the country. [6]

Price: $41,000

Nissan Leaf

Performance: The Nissan Leaf is a pure electric car powered by a lithium ion battery pack and an electric motor. Its range is 60 to 110 miles. The Leaf was available starting in December 2010, again to a limited audience in five states. [7]

Price: $32,780

Coda Sedan

Performance: The Coda went through extensive upgrades for U.S. roads. It’s powered by a lithium-iron phosphate battery and has a top speed of 80 mph. Its range is 90 to 120 miles before it needs to be recharged. [8]

Price: $44,900

Toyota RAV4 EV

Performance: The Toyota RAV4 was produced with an electric vehicle option for several years. Now it’s back thanks to a partnership between Toyota and Tesla motors. The new RAV4 EV should be on the market in early 2012. Like the old RAV4 EV, it will maintain its over-100-mile range and be freeway friendly. [9]

Price: Unannounced

Mid-size cars aren’t the only vehicles on the market right now. Electric vehicles have made significant advances in both small cars like the Smart Electric Drive and the Think City car. These vehicles are designed to maneuver in tight spaces and seat two people. They have a limited driving range but are excellent choices for city driving.

The other contenders in the electric vehicle market are sports cars like the Fisker Karma and the Tesla Roadster. With more demand and manufacturing capacity, the prices on these sports cars has dropped. With only two seats, their market share looks similar to that of the small electric vehicles. However, they have more acceleration and can handle higher speeds than cars in the small market.

Over the next few years, electric vehicles will appeal to larger markets and begin to differentiate their products for these markets. The cars listed above will be on the market by 2012. Their early entrance to the market may make them viable contenders for leading the electric vehicle movement.

Sources:

1. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=12178
2. http://www.avinc.com/glossary/electrical_vehicle_ev_charging
3. http://www.cleanfleetreport.com/clean-fleet-articles/top-electric-cars-2010/
4. http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/new-electric-cars-460210#fbIndex1
5. http://www.nrdc.org/energy/plugin.pdf
6. http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20010760-54.html?tag=toptechcontentwrap;editorpicks
7. http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20010760-54.html?tag=toptechcontentwrap;editorpicks
8. http://www.thecarconnection.com/cars/nissan_leaf
9. http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/25/first-genuine-chevy-volt-integration-vehilce-to-be-completed-by-june-1-2009/

These projects are powered by solar panels reminiscent of those used in homes and schools to reduce energy costs. Unlike stationary solar panels, these panels are designed with integration in mind. While the models and prototypes have a distinctively futuristic look, proponents argue that, as gasoline prices increase, these solar-powered vehicles and roadways will become increasingly common for commuters and valuable to transportation departments.

However, solar vehicles today face the same challenges faced by hybrid and electric vehicles not long ago. Because they are not widespread, they are expensive to manufacture and difficult for consumers to obtain. High purchase prices are potentially alienating to consumers, and the sleek, futuristic design has not yet been adapted into the family-friendly mid-size cars that are popular today, like the Prius and the Volt. Despite these initial obstacles, entrepreneurs and inventors continue to develop prototypes for sustainable transportation options. They are grappling with the same problems that Toyota and Chevrolet were challenged by years ago and have developed solutions that are usually innovative, sometimes outlandish, and always challenging to our notions of transportation.

Photo Source: Toyota.com

Innovations in Solar Cars

Modern hybrid cars rely on a combination of battery and gasoline to run, and electric cars need to be charged regularly. Some manufacturers have begun converting these cars to solar power and designing new prototypes, like the Aurora Solaris 2050 Concept Car, that run completely on solar power. Developers argue that car-dependent areas can reduce their air pollution, noise pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions by supporting solar-powered vehicles like the Aurora Solaris. [1]

While the Aurora Solaris will not be on the road quite yet, some manufacturers like Toyota, the maker of the Prius, have enhanced their environmentally efficient vehicles offerings by creating conversion packs that allow drivers to use solar power instead of gas to fuel their cars. The Prius solar panels became an option on the third generation Prius in 2010. [2] Taking this a step further, Solar Electric Vehicles’ solar-powered rooftops enhance the standard Prius solar roofs and are estimated to increase the car’s efficiency by 29%. [3]

Photo Source: auroraconcept.wordpress.com

Roadway Design Innovations

Other designers have integrated solar power with sustainable transportation in even more innovative ways. The Sustainable Highway concept project tries to solve the same issues of decreasing greenhouse gases and improving air quality by changing the roads rather than the cars that drive on them. The Sustainable Highway concept is a lightweight, laminated glass canopy above the roadway that filters dust particles from the roadway before releasing air into the atmosphere. The canopy is also equipped with solar panels that produce clean energy and decrease carbon monoxide emissions. [4]

Photo Source: movares.com

There are also solar-powered transportation projects that re-envision the road as a giant energy grid rather than a transportation artery. Solar Roadways is a US-based startup that recently won $750,000 from the federal government to design parking lots made out of solar panels. [5] Founder Scott Brusaw’s first prototypes were based on the realization that many conventional solar projects had difficulty transporting power to the places that could use it. Roads, which go to most houses, stores, and public buildings, provided an excellent grid for moving solar power. Unfortunately, the conventional asphalt road also generates a heat island that exacerbates global warming. Brusaw re-imagined the road as a solar grid that collected heat and dispersed it to homes as energy instead of into the atmosphere as excess heat. The solar panels he developed to do this are insulated between glass sheets and are thick enough for cars to drive on. With LED lights built into the solar panel, Brusaw’s model is designed  to use excess solar power to generate traffic warnings and pedestrian crosswalks in LED lights on the street itself. [6]

Photo Source: Solarroadways.com

Benefits and Expenses

With gasoline prices in many areas of the U.S. creeping up to $4 per gallon, it is easy to see why these solar vehicles and roadways are becoming popular. The manufacturer of the solar rooftop additions for the Prius points out that the costs of the purchase and installation are recouped within the first few years of using a solar-powered Prius through the reduction in gasoline prices.

Other benefits of solar-powered vehicles and roadways are the decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and the potential for moving to an independent energy source rather than being reliant on international oil supplies. Solar-powered transportation also has the potential to spur technical innovation. Because there is no one company with a winning design for solar cars and roadways, the playing field is wide open for competitors who believe that they can develop more energy-efficient vehicles or use the roadways more innovatively.

However, many critics of solar-powered cars and roadways point to the expense of developing solar-powered transportation options. This expense is even more risky because the financial benefits of moving to solar power for transportation have not yet been proven. The solar rooftop pack for the Prius costs $2,000 to $4,000 per car, and a 12-by-12-foot solar panel from Solar Roadways is estimated to cost $7,000. As you might guess, the time estimate on recouping the cost of developing solar-powered roadways is significantly longer than the cost of outfitting a hybrid car with a solar rooftop.

In addition, some critics argue that transportation solutions that maintain our dependence on personal vehicles and roadways for travel are not innovative enough. [7] While modern roadways were innovative enough to be featured in a Chicago World Fair Exhibit in 1939, are they innovative enough to solve the transportation problems of 2011? The questions of innovation and cost will both need to be addressed by these sustainable transportation entrepreneurs if long-term sustainable solutions to energy dependence, greenhouse gas emissions, and air pollution are to be developed.

Photo Source: Wikipedia.org

Sources:

1. http://inhabitat.com/sun-powered-solaris-car-wins-mazdas-aurora-survivor-2050-competition/
2. http://thefutureofthings.com/pod/6252/2010-solar-roof-prius.html
3. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/05/solar_hybrid_ca.php
4. http://www.movares.com/innovations/sustainable+highway.htm
5. http://www.solarroadways.com/
6. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/08/solar-roadways-not-so-crazy-after-all.php
7. http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/09/21/dubious-green-schemes-the-solar-roadway/

Looking for a different way to save energy other than energy efficient appliances? If so, then you should definitely consider your landscaping. Read below to learn different ways that you can use your landscaping to help you save energy in your home.

But, before we list the artists, let’s examine the definition of “environmental art” or “eco-art.” You might think pieces in the field involve or depict natural elements. Or you could assume the art contains pointed commentary on how we treat or should treat the environment. Others might think works of this category have the sole purpose of providing some kind of insight on humans’ relationship with natural resources.

The online environmentally focused museum Green Museum offers this explicit definition [1]:

Eco-Art:

-Informs and interprets nature and its processes, or educates us about environmental problems

-Is concerned with environmental forces and materials, creating artworks affected or powered by wind, water, lightning, even earthquakes

-Re-envisions our relationship to nature, proposing new ways for us to co-exist with our environment

-Reclaims and remediates damaged environments, restoring ecosystems in artistic and often aesthetic ways

The definition addresses conception, theme, materials, education, and the involvement or improvement of natural resources. The various components of the term encompass everything from sculptures to architecture to performance pieces. Such an explicit and expansive definition provokes us to contemplate the complex boundary between the natural and the artificially constructed, the beautiful and the destructive, the earth’s elements and ourselves.

The Women

These five women are sculptors, architects, sound artists, installationists, and performance piece conceivers. But they all share the talent for toying with our perception of the earth and encourage us to pay greater attention and respect as we handle it. Take a look at these women who execute their unique, absurd, and gorgeous perspectives to address environmental issues.

1. Lita Albuquerque

Lita Albuquerque is primarily a sculptor and creator of massive installations, some of which have been established in the far, uninhabitable corners of the earth. She uses props to demarcate the position of stars directly above a specific site in her work. Other times, she makes patterns with vibrant powder over large expanses of land, including pyramid sites and fields. Her magnum opus might be the “Stellar Axis” series, in which she ventured to the North and South poles with a team of scientists and placed dozens of balloons to mark the position of stars directly above the site. As Earth rotated on its axis, “the displacement between the original positions of the stars and the spheres drew an invisible spiral of the earth’s spinning motion.” [2] [3]

Photo Source: litaalbuquerque.com

2. Sarah Hall

Hall’s medium is glass, and she has expanded her portfolio to include solar voltaic panels that power interior lighting and stay illuminated at night. The colorful and practical panels deck the facades of a college tower and an elementary school building. Stunning designs catch the eye along with the sun’s energy, leaving a mesmerizing effect while drawing attention to the potential of future alternative energy sources. [4]

Photo Source: sarahhallstudio.com

3. Aurora Robson

We couldn’t make an eco-artist list without including someone who uses reclaimed materials. And, though the idea isn’t original, Robson’s sculptures are completely absorbing. Her pieces are mostly made of discarded plastic bottles and other found items. They resemble planets in orbit or stars in the midst of explosion. You’ll admire the colors and composition at the same time that you’ll shudder at these reminders of the waste humans leave behind. [5]

Photo Source: aurorarobson.com

4. Eve S. Mosher

You might have heard of a chalkline drawn around lower Manhattan and Brooklyn during the summer of 2007. The line was over 70 miles long.

This was a piece from Eve S. Mosher, who drew the line at 10 feet above sea level. An uncomfortable amount of land, homes, and streets were on the far side of the line. [6] Mosher used the line to draw attention to climate change and alert the public of how much would truly be lost if the oceans continue to rise. Since HighWaterLine, she has launched other New York-based installations that analyze humans’ impact on the land. In 2009, she passed out bottles of blue pigment to participants in lower Manhattan. They were instructed to visit certain sites near the water and mark their journeys with the pigment. The project’s goals were to get people to study the paths they took and to enhance their connection to the water surrounding the island. Both HighWaterLine and Paths of Desire offer clear visual reminders of the rapidly changing landscape and push viewers to consider how they impact such a change. [7]

Photo Source: shadesofgreen.files.wordpress.com

5. Katie Paterson

Paterson makes sculptures, sounds, and installations that imitate rhythms and events in nature. For example, she programmed the outdoor lamps on Deal Pier in Kent, England, to flicker in sync with lightning strikes around the world, some from as far as the North Pole and North Africa. Paterson also set a record player with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons to the speed of the earth’s rotation – one revolution every 24 hours. The movement is so slow that it can’t be seen by the naked eye. Playing the entire record would take four years. These visual and aural pieces provide an intersection between human-generated and natural rhythms, creating an awareness of the world’s inherent workings. [8]

Photo Source: katiepaterson.org

Sources

1. http://greenmuseum.org/what_is_ea.php
2. http://litaalbuquerque.com/
3. http://litaalbuquerque.com/2006/10/stellar-axis-antarcticaantarctica2006/#1
4. http://www.sarahhallstudio.com/
5. http://aurorarobson.com/
6. http://www.highwaterline.org/
7. http://evemosher.com/
8. http://katiepaterson.org/

1. Bonham ISD High School – Ec0-Tractor

While solar-powered cars are considered a pie-in-the-sky idea by many, one group of high schoolers in Bonham, Texas, has done one better and created a fully functional solar-powered tractor. The E-Tractor was built by a group of teenagers as part of the school’s electronic vehicle program for the 2009/2010 school year. The chassis was donated by the nearby Ivanhoe Christmas Tree Farm, but the engine is a product of the students’ sweat and intellects. With its zero-emissions electrical drive, the tractor is intended to be used on a tractor driving certification and training course, and will save untold carbon expenditures over its lifetime. The battery pack is charged primarily by a solar array but can also be plugged in when the weather is less than agreeable.

Photo Source: flickr.com

2. William Yuan – 3D Solar Cell

A 12-year-old inventor has come up with a revolutionary new way of thinking about solar power: three dimensions. When the precocious William Yuan started mulling the problems with solar power, he came to a conclusion that nobody had before: Modern solar arrays only interact with the sun in one way, from one angle, because they’re two-dimensional panels. Excited about his idea, he devised and rigged up a new model for a panel for testing – and was amazed at the results.

“This solar cell can’t be generating this much electricity; it can’t be absorbing this much extra light,” he recalled thinking. “I started to realize I was actually onto something.” If his calculations are correct, the 3D solar cell absorbs up to nine times as much sunlight as typical panels. This lets it absorb 10% more energy, even on cloudy days, making solar a real option even for the famously rainy Pacific Northwest. Yuan’s work earned him a Davidson Fellow award, which normally goes to a graduate student, and a $25,000 scholarship. [1]

3. Javier Fernandez-Han – Algae-Powered Energy System

To say the VERSATILE system developed by 15-year-old Texan Javier Fernandez-Han is algae-powered is actually selling it a bit short. This highly advanced, integrated system incorporates a number of innovative energy technologies to make a clean and efficient power source. The main fuel for the system is animal waste, converted by algae into usable energy. A special “Play Pump,” which harnesses the energy of children playing to produce electricity, is also incorporated into the design and would provide secondary energy to power small devices like LED lights and cell phone chargers. Several clean, methane-burning stoves provide ample BTUs for cooking, while the carbon gas waste from the stove is rerouted to the algae tank, supplying them with the essential elements of photosynthesis.

Though untested, the entire design is very neat, and to call Fernandez-Han’s invention impressive would be another understatement. Its design intent is to provide rural communities in developing countries with a cheap, clean and efficient energy source, but the system could be adapted for home use and cost as little as $200. [2]

Photo Source: inhabitat.com

4. Malin Karki – Hair-Based Solar

Another teen looking to provide inexpensive electricity to developing nations is Nepalese 18-year-old Malin Karki. A long-time (relatively speaking, of course) devotee of renewable energy, Karki had done previous work on a hydro-power project. When it became too expensive to be feasible, he switched over to solar. Drawing inspiration from the works of Stephen Hawking, in which a method for extracting static electricity from human hair was detailed, Karki wondered if the melanin in hair would make it a good replacement for silicon in solar panels.

It turns out he was right. Human hair is a naturally light-absorbing substance as well as a natural conductor. By stringing hair along the diodes in a solar structure, Kari was able to build a prototype that generated enough power to charge a cell phone anywhere in the world. The panel is just 15 inches square, making it portable as well as powerful, and, best of all, its key component, hair, is easy and cheap for the owner to replace. The cost advantages over silicon-based cells are obvious. In Nepal, the price of human hair is just $0.50 per kilo. [3]

Photo Source: inhabitat.com

5. Jared Mann – Bubble-Wrap Fridge Insulator

Sometimes inexpensive materials can yield huge energy savings. That’s the lesson that Jared Mann taught us when he devised an energy saving tool that uses nothing but bubble wrap. “I wanted to come up with something that helped an average house, something that saved energy,” Jared said. “So, I did some research and I found that the refrigerator is the number one energy user for appliances in a normal house.”

One way of reducing refrigeration costs is to shrink the area that needs to be cooled. To accomplish this, 13-year-old Jared filled empty space in the fridge with roles of bubble wrap. This technique alone would save the average household 10% on refrigeration costs. Jared found that if he used a second layer of bubble wrap to form a curtain between the door and the shelves, the energy savings shot up even further, to a total of 20% to 25% with both devices in place. Best of all, the entire cost of the invention, including the kilowatt meter to measure results, is just $20. [4]

Photo Source: roanoke.com

6. Aaron Goldin – Ocean Energy

The motion of the ocean is a powerful force, one that could revolutionize our energy system if tapped. Aaron Goldin of Dieguito High School Academy in Encinitas, Calif., has earned himself a hefty prize for figuring out how to do just that. The 18-year-old was awarded a $100,000 scholarship for his idea, which uses gyroscopic technology to harness the power of ocean waves to produce electricity.

“He has taken an innovative application of gyroscopic principles and turned it into a reality, demonstrating great independence and originality,” said judge Richard Miles, a professor at Princeton University’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. “With further development, his concept may be scalable to large off-shore power generation as a replacement for fossil-fuel power plants.” The technology, which began as a collection of spare parts from an answering machine, is also being adapted to produce hydrogen, which may one day be used to power cars and homes. [5]

Photo Source: spectrum.ieee.org

7. Daniel Burd – Naturally Degrading Plastic

Canadian teen Daniel Burd has come up with a potential solution to a mounting problem: plastic bags piling up at land fills. His idea, which he successfully tested, was to use microorganisms to naturally break down the plastic. “We know that after 40 to 100,000 years, the plastic bags will be degraded naturally. Some type of microbe must be responsible for this. So the first step was to isolate this microbe, and that’s what I did,” said Burd.

His experiments identified two microorganisms that eat the plastic bags. Armed with this knowledge, the 17-year-old high school student was able to develop a mixture that included certain percentages of each of the organisms, specially tailored to chomp away at the trash. By placing the microorganisms and the plastic in a nutrient-rich container, perfectly suited for the microorganisms to thrive, he was able to rapidly break down the materials at an amazing rate. “In the end, I was able to find that, after six weeks incubation, 43% of my plastic bag is degraded.” A far cry from 40,000 years… [6]

Photo Source: mnn.com

8. Aidan Dwyer – Fibonacci-Sequence Solar Panels

Any fan of The Da Vinci Code or mathematics in general is likely familiar with the Fibonacci sequence – 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 – in which each subsequent number is the sum of the previous two. Nature also displays these numbers in various forms, such as in the leaves on trees, and 13-year-old Long Island resident Aidan Dwyer was inspired to explore the sequence and its applications when gazing at trees on a hike. “I knew that branches and leaves collected sunlight for photosynthesis, so my next experiments investigated if the Fibonacci pattern helped.”

Seeking a better way to harness solar power, his experiments led to a stand constructed much like a tree and featuring small solar panels in the Fibonacci pattern. Compared to a regular flat-panel collector, the prototype was much more effective. “The tree design takes up less room than flat-panel arrays and works in spots that don’t have a full southern view. It collects more sunlight in winter. Shade and bad weather like snow don’t hurt it because the panels are not flat.”

For his findings, Dwyer was named a Young Naturalist Award winner by the American Museum of Natural History and has earned a provisional U.S. patent. Reportedly, there are various parties interested in developing his design further for commercial use – so stay tuned for more developments from this young Einstein. [7]

Photo Source: treehugger.com

9. Thiago Olson – Homemade Nuclear Reactor

When it comes to emissions, it’s hard to find a source of energy greener than nuclear fusion, the energy source that makes the sun so hot and bright. Scientists all over the world are aiming to build fusion reactors to provide massive amounts of energy, free of fossil fuels. Thiago Olson built one in his garage.

The reactor is small – it provides just enough power to heat a cup of coffee – but it is a genuine fusion reactor. It took the 15-year-old a year of research and another year of building to create the reactor. He was limited to a budget of $3,500 and worked almost entirely independently. He scoured the web for inexpensive parts and, when all else failed, relied on the advice of the online community of fellow “fusioneers,” and in the end built a real, working reactor. It takes 45,000 volts just to start the process, and it yields a humble output of power, so this reactor won’t make Olson’s town, or even his house, energy independent, but it is an impressive feat nonetheless. [8]

10. Elizabeth Rintels – The Water Watcher

Every little bit counts. That’s what Elizabeth Rintels’ Water Watcher helps to remind us of. The simple concept of a device that tracks water use was enough to win the 12-year-old $10,000 in “By Kids For Kids Going Green Challenge.” The Water Watcher attaches to any faucet or shower nozzle and measures the water that comes out of it. Each time a half gallon of water is used, the Water Watcher informs the user by beeping.

Rintels got the idea after learning that, if she shortened her showers by just one minute, she would save about 1,000 gallons of water a year. The Water Watcher would help her, or anyone else, do exactly that by issuing a friendly reminder. In addition to the cash prize, Rintels also got the opportunity to shadow one of the “eco experts” from Leonardo DiCaprio’s 11th hour website. [9]

Photo Source: news.cnet.com

Sources:

1. http://www.komonews.com/news/local/28433409.html
2. http://www.slideshare.net/youthventure/versatile-system
3. http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/09/09/nepalese-teen-invents-cheap-solar-panel-using-human-hair/
4. http://ourvalley.org/christiansburg-teen-shows-bubble-wrap-inventiveness/
5. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6666008/
6. http://www.reuters.com/article/idusn0535499620080605
7. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/08/13-year-old-makes-solar-breakthrough-with-fibonacci-sequence.php
8. http://www.popsci.com/diy/article/2007-03/popsci-videoteen-builds-basement-nuclear-reactor
9. http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10017954-1.html

National power generators have taken different paths in responding to the wind farm controversy. In Denmark, long a role model for wind power, the state-owned power company Dong Energy has been quietly moving away from onshore wind farms. [1] Other counties, like the United States, have been moving to offshore wind farms in the belief that they will be less controversial. Cape Wind was meant to be the first offshore wind farm in the U.S. Winning that distinction looks less likely now. After a decade-long battle over construction permits, the Cape Wind facility has fallen behind a 12-megawatt project off the coast of Galveston, Texas. [2] And, out in California, a model wind farm has sprung up with short, closely packed poles: the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine, or VAWT, a model project of John Dabiri at CalTech. “In effect,” says Dr. Dabiri of the rationale for his VAWT farm, “modern wind farms are the equivalent of ‘sloppy eaters.’ To compensate, they’re built taller and larger to access better winds.” [3]

Even so, the sloppy eating habits of the stereotypical wind farms – those tall, widely spaced turbines in rural areas across the flatlands of the United States, Europe, and Asia – produce up to 800 megawatts of power per farm. To put that in perspective, a 29-megawatt farm in the Tennessee Valley produces enough power to run 3,780 homes, which means that the biggest farms could theoretically power a city. [4]

Photo Source: sciencedaily.com

Five Considerations For New Wind Farm Design

1. Environmental Impact

Does the area produce enough wind to host a farm? If so, is it close enough to a road or delivery line to allow the farmer to sell power back to a power company efficiently? Wind farms can deliver a great deal of energy, but that power needs to go back to a power grid to be delivered to its end users. A major obstacle for onshore wind farms is that wind farms that are closer to roads and population centers are more economically viable – but not particularly attractive.

Photo Source: renewableenergyworld.com

2. Financial Benefits

How costly is it to build the farm? Does land have to be purchased, or are local landowners willing to participate in the wind farm via a share of profits or another benefit? Many potential wind farmers also need to consider the cost of figuring out if the site is right for a wind farm, which can involve consultations with local officials, meetings with the community, and assistance from engineers or wind design professionals. To assist them in making their case, national associations like AWEA (American Wind Energy Association) have used testimony from small farmers leasing their land to large wind farms about how their farms have improved profitability with the wind farm lease.

Photo Source: careersinwind.com

3. Municipal Considerations

A wind farm can have an impact on the environment but also on the community. Some communities – and their governments – would be happy to access more affordable, sustainable power sources. Other communities may be worried about health and aesthetic impacts, or the impact on other community industries. The Canadian Wind Energy Association encourages all potential wind farmers to take the time to involve government and community residents to ensure that the project is supported. [5]

Photo Source: brighterenergy.org

4. Construction

Wind turbine components are preassembled at a factory and then shipped to the farm where assembly will take place. If a company has decided that a wind farm is environmentally and financially feasible, the next step will be determining the type of turbine the company wants to use, who they will purchase their turbine from, and how to get it assembled at the farm.

Photo Source: siemens.com

5. Operation and Maintenance

The work does not stop once the turbines are in place, although maintenance can be a less time-consuming process than permitting for a wind farm. A turbine can be damaged or need ongoing maintenance. There are also the costs of making sure that the farm is able to deliver power to the people buying it from the farm. This often takes the form of a partnership with a local power company that is willing to branch out into wind power.

Why Design a New Type of Wind Farm?

Unfortunately, getting an onshore wind farm built is not particularly easy, and the benefits are not as clear cut as many people would like to believe. The standard design process for a wind farm begins with the feasibility study: Using wind farm design tools to model how much energy could be produced, engineers and property owners decide where to put wind turbines. A feasibility study allows individuals to look at the pros and cons of environmental, municipal, and financial components of the potential wind farm. If you’re located in Europe, renewableUK, formerly the British Wind Energy Association, gives potential wind farmers detailed instructions on each step, including calculating the wind speed of their potential farm (http://www.bwea.com/noabl/index.html).

If an area has enough wind, a way to capture that wind and deliver it back to the power grid for use, and a landowner interested in participating in the project, the next step is to get the permits to build a wind farm. This is where the wind farm process usually breaks down. An example of this is the Cape Wind project, which spent more than a decade seeking construction permits even though it is located offshore. [6]

Photo Source: themoderngreen.com

The chief complaints against wind farms are the low-frequency noise produced by the turbines and the generally unattractive nature of the turbines themselves. Not everybody wants to wake up to a landscape of metal poles, for example. There is also some concern that the height of the turbines can interfere with radar in the area, so part of the permitting process is usually an environmental impact review (EIR) to determine the actual impact on the environment.

All of these are valid concerns and are the reason for the new generation of wind farm design. These new designs occur in one of two ways: In the first scenario, the traditional wind turbine is just moved to a location where it will cause less interference with daily activity. It becomes an offshore wind farm. In the second scenario, scientists like John Dabiri are redesigning the turbines themselves. That image of the VAWT farm? Rebelling against turbine designs that force people to build wide wind farms, the VAWT wind turbines are designed to be efficient eaters.

With multiple designs and potential spaces to choose from, the terms of the wind farm debate are changing. No longer is the main issue to build or maintain open space: The issue is where, how, and to what degree we choose to harness wind to power our world.

Sources:

1. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/denmark/7996606/an-ill-wind-blows-for-denmarks-green-energy-revolution.html
2. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/08/first-us-offshore-wind-farm-texas.php
3. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110713131644.htm
4. http://www.canwea.ca/farms/planning_e.php
5. http://www.tva.gov/greenpowerswitch/wind_faq.htm
6. http://www.canwea.ca/farms/planning_e.php

Most of us know where we stand when it comes to energy efficiency, but have you ever wondered where the rest of the world stands? We thought it would be interesting to highlight some fascinating statistics about countries all over the world and where they stand on energy efficiency issues.

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KNB55.png"><br /><small><a href="http://www.wellhome.com">Home Energy Audits </a> <a href="http://www.wellhome.com">Wellhome.com</a></small>

Background

The competition’s spokesperson is John Corbett, best known as Aidan from the television series Sex and the City. In closed-caption videos on the competition’s site, Corbett tells us that commercial buildings in the U.S. account for almost 20% of the nation’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions for a cost of about $100 billion per year. Up to one third of that energy use is waste. Competitors are encouraged to involve their communities, raise awareness, and inspire the public to save energy where people “work, play, and learn.”

Photo Source: homestaract.org

The Competition

The 13 categories are bank/financial institutions, courthouses, hospitals, hotels, houses of worship, K-12 schools, medical offices, offices, residence halls/dorms, retail stores, warehouses, and other. Each of the 245 buildings has a team working to reduce energy waste, and the buildings are judged by their percentage decrease in energy usage. Energy usage itself is in measured in EUIs, or “energy use intensity,” a unit that defines a building’s energy use as its total energy use over one year divided by its total floorspace.

The competitors have seen great results by upgrading to more energy-efficient lighting and appliances when it’s timely to do so, and by programming computers and thermostats to consume less energy when not in use. Many also recommend involving friends and family in your efforts and setting attainable goals to keep up the momentum.

The photo above is of the St. Marks Medical Center in Texas, one of the competitors in this year’s competition.

Photo Source: smmctx.org

Midpoint Top Competitors

The winner will be announced on Nov. 2, and the website is currently displaying the competition’s midpoint top competitors.

Colorado’s Governor’s Energy Office is supporting the Coal Ridge High School in New Castle, Colo., in its efforts. The school district created the “Energy Center,” a website dedicated to engaging and empowering people to save energy. The site proves advice, publicizes building “scores,” and highlights those who are doing great things to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The team stresses the importance of their mission in relationship with their community: “Living in the heart of the coal mining, gas drilling, and oil shale mining region, the high school energy team understands the importance of developing and conserving our natural resources.”

Dr. P Philips Hospital in Central Florida, one of 10 hospitals in the competition, notes that every dollar it saves in energy costs translates to 20 in the long run. The hospital is collaborating with ecoPreserve, a consultancy that helps organizations become more sustainable with upgrades and behavioral changes. The hospital has completed a full building lighting upgrade; installed “smart fixtures” such as motion detectors that shut off lights when a room is unoccupied, heat-reducing window films, and new cooling methods; and uses an energy dashboard to monitor usage across high-energy-consumption areas, like surgery centers.

An Office Depot in Plano, Texas, has reduced energy usage by 17%, which translates to savings of $7,000 so far. A US Courthouse in Hammond, Ind., has heavily involved personnel with multiple sustainability-training sessions and reduced usage by 14% – for this building, that accounts for a whopping $78,000 dollars in energy savings.

Large cuts haven’t taken place across the board, however. The frontrunner in the hotel category, The Colonnade Hotel in Boston, has achieved less than a 2% reduction; but, with rising energy costs, the hotel is spending almost $23,000 more in energy costs over last year. The Woodbridge Dorm at Columbia University in New York City has seen an energy usage increase by 37% over last year (they’re not a frontrunner).

Photo Sources: garfield-re2.coalridge.schoolfusion.us, westorlandonews.com

Creative Techniques

At the Sears Grand in Cape Girardeau, Mo., they’re incentivizing staff to get in on the competition. Keeping the door closed during warmer months reduces cooling costs, so each time an associate closes an open inside foyer door that’s been left open, he or she earns a point. At week’s end, the person with the most points receives a free pizza.

The Hawaii State Capitol Building (pictured on the right) is using human resources to enact mostly behavioral changes to gain an edge. They’re raising awareness by using signage and going door to door to spread the word about how to conserve energy. The O-Hill Dining Hall at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va., is composting much of their food waste and has added aerated and low-usage water systems to increase sustainability. A Subaru dealership in Hanover, Mass., is incorporating seasonal changes, the times of sunrise and sunset, and areas are that are low usage to program slight but across-the-board lighting adjustments that are making a big difference.

Brush Creek Elementary School in Eagle County, Colo., began an “Energy Club” around the competition, inviting kids to learn about and explain energy consumption and brainstorm ways to cut usage.

Photo Source: enigin.com

Spread the Word

The buildings’ teams are encouraged to spread the word about energy conservation by sharing creative ways to save energy and publicize their own results. Learn about each building’s efforts on the competition page, on the competition’s Facebook page, and by using the Twitter hashtag #ESNBC.

1. Street Lights

In the United States, streetlights use as much electricity as 1.4 million homes and create as many greenhouse gases as 2 million cars each year. [1] It’s no wonder engineers are looking for other ways to light the nation’s streets. And they’ve found one solution in solar.

Solar street lights absorb the sun’s heat during the day and then switch on using that energy at night. They’re saving cities hundreds of thousands of dollars but are expensive to install, so adoption is slow.

Some are purely solar based, while others, like in Texas, are hybrids of solar and wind power. [2] They’re a lot smarter than traditional street lights, with capabilities to report to a weather system about wind speed and direction, humidity, temperature, and more.

Photo Source: teex.com

2. Art

Solar energy isn’t just for utilitarian purposes. Artists are finding ways to use the sun’s energy to create kinetic sculptures that are decorating city streets. The art serves two purposes: to delight the eye and educate passersby on the capabilities of solar energy.

Artists like Sarah Hall are finding plenty of customers for their solar projects. From museums to parks, solar art is not only decorating public spaces but also helping provide energy that offsets the use of traditional energy. [3]

The Bakken Museum in Minneapolis is teaching children and families about solar energy through its Green Energy Art Garden. [4] The museum commissioned artists and engineers to create interactive art that uses solar, wind, and water energy. Visitors can play with the installations and learn about the energy used to create them.

Photo Source: thebakken.com

3. Gondolas

In Colorado, the gondola is a major form of transport in winter months. Every year, more than 2 million passengers ride the gondola between Telluride and the town of Mountain Village. [5] The Green Gondola Campaign aims to take the existing electric gondolas and convert them to use solar energy, reducing the power used by 20%.

The solar panels will be installed on nearby mountains and will produce more than 450,000 KWh of energy annually. Donations are currently being taken to fund the project.

Photo Source: inhabitat.com

4. Spacecraft

The plan is that the 22-pound solar sailcraft will hit the 50-million-ton asteroid and smash it apart, thus saving the planet. [6] Whether it works or not, solar is an interesting addition to the aeronautical equation.

Photo Source: mychinaviews.com

5. Ships

The next time you take a cruise, it very well could be on a solar-powered vessel. In 2011, Planet Solar launched the first solar boat expedition around the world with its TÛRANOR vessel. The ship name was taken from The Lord of the Rings trilogy and means “the power of the sun” and “victory.” [7] The ship is charted to sail along the equator, where the sun is at its maximum, and make stops throughout the Atlantic Ocean, Panama Canal, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Suez Canal, and then back to its origin in the Mediterranean Sea. The 31-meter boat can accommodate up to 40 people and was built in just 14 months. The goal of the designers was to create a silent, pollution-free vessel operated solely by solar energy.

While the TÛRANOR is the largest solar-powered vessel on the seas, there are other solar-energy-based ships sailing international waters. Even ships with partial solar power can drastically reduce the amount of fossil fuels used, which can often pollute waters, killing fish and other sealife.

Photo Source: planetsoar.com

6. Solar Roadways

In cities that see harsh winters, hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent on snow plows and equipment to clear the roads of snow and ice so that cars can travel. Solar roadways may make the snow plow a thing of the past. In the same way that the heat from buildings can melt snow and ice on sidewalks, solar panels installed in roads can produce energy to melt snow on roadways.

The use of these panels could apply to homes as well, as many homeowners find themselves shoveling snow during hard winter months. Using solar panels in roadways would cost three times as much as asphalt, but, like with any solar project, costs can be recouped over time. [8]

Sources:
1. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-08-26-cities-turn-off-streetlights_n.htm
2. http://www.teex.com/teex.cfm?pageid=teexresc&area=teex&storyid=1086&templateid=23
3. http://sarahhallstudio.com/artgeneratesamps.com/portfolio/concepts.html
4. http://www.thebakken.org/green-energy-art-garden-2/
5. http://greengondola.org/index.htm
6.http://inhabitat.com/chinese-researchers-plan-to-use-a-solar-sail-to-save-earth-from-asteroid-
collision/
7.http://www.planetsolar.org/expedition.html
8. http://green.tmcnet.com/channels/solar-power/articles/208907-put-snow-tires-away-solar-roadways-will-be.htm

When buying groceries, it’s easy to look for advertisements for buying local like the one above. But fast food and dining out has long been linked to feel-good, convenient, and quick options. Dining out occupies a different category than a home-cooked meal does. Its benefits range from a more time-efficient food option for busy people to the opportunity to enjoy food that would be difficult for most of us to prepare at home to the sheer pleasure of socializing with friends over a good meal.

How can you make sustainable choices when you’re limited to the selections on the menu? The Green Restaurant Assocation, along with the Green Seal Certification, have been taking steps in recent years to help restaurants and their customers recognize the impact that their dining decisions have on the environment and develop sustainable solutions to make dining out a fun, environmentally neutral option for all. [2] Below are the top five tips for making dining out more sustainable, compiled from restaurant associations and consumer advocacy and education programs.

Photo Source: nebsusag.org

1. Educate Yourself

The first place to start is to educate yourself about about what your food choices mean for yourself and the environment. In fact, the Green Restaurant Association (GRA) believes that education is such an essential part of sustainable dining habits that they’ve put together this video on why the GRA has a sustainable restaurant education center for restaurant owners and consumers:

For some people, sustainability means that a restaurant uses local ingredients. Others might specify that they are looking for restaurants that use organically grown ingredients. However, there are other elements of sustainability, such as how much water it takes to produce a meal, the energy efficiency of the appliances used to cook the meal, or the amount of waste that is thrown away for each meal that is produced. For instance, the average restaurant produces a pound and a half of trash when preparing each meal. [3] Restaurants will frequently focus on one or more elements of sustainability, but rarely are they able to be entirely environmentally neutral.

2. Check for a Seal of Approval

There is substantial information available on sustainable dining practices, but this information may not be easy to use when evaluating potential restaurants. Some restaurants will become certified by the Green Seal Certification, the Green Restaurant Association Certification that put together the video above, or one of the more regional certifications like the Green Chicago Restaurant Co-Op. [2] [3] [4] This means that you can use one of these websites’ restaurant finders to locate restaurants across the world that are certified green. You can check with individual restaurants to ensure that they are green certified by looking for a logo on the window or door or asking the restaurant staff.

Some of the specific categories that these certification agencies check for and offer assistance on include:

-Water efficiency
-Waste reduction
-Sustainable food
-Sustainable buildings
-Energy
-Recycling and disposables
-Pollution

Photo Source: ctsustainabletable.breeshirvell.com

3. Ask!

Restaurant customers wield their power with their wallets, so make sure that you ask for the sustainable items you want. The Blue Ocean Institute has seafood guides available to help diners identify fish that is likely to be high in mercury or that is unsustainably sourced or farmed. When buying meats, look for meat that is identified as local and grown on small farms – it will be fresher, and smaller farms mean smaller footprints. Vegetables and fruits can be similarly sourced from small, local farms, which has the added benefit of supporting local economies while decreasing the chance that your food has traveled more miles than you have.

The act of asking is powerful. Although restaurants may not have precisely the products or sourcing methods you are looking for, asking lets them know that sustainability is important to their customers, which means that it needs to be important to them.

Photo Source: cleancuisineandmore.com

4. Drink Sustainably

Many restaurants offer their customers water as a matter of courtesy. However, if you are unlikely to drink the water because you are ordering another beverage or are simply not thirsty, it is perfectly acceptable to turn it down. A single glass takes two cups of water: one to fill it, another to wash it. If you are not planning on drinking that water, turn it down. If one in four people who went out to eat did that, we would save more than 26 million gallons of water. [5]

If you go to coffee shops, you can get reusable hot and cold drink cups. Coffee shops like Starbucks are used to seeing people bring their own cups in, and many coffee shops will offer an incentive to encourage people to use reusable cups.

Photo Source: easy-green-living.org

5. Make a Suggestion

Densie Webb’s Tips for Eating Green mentions the increasingly useful practice of leaving a comment or resource card at local restaurants to encourage them to think about their sustainability habits. [6] If the restaurant provides a comment card, guests can write in the URL of a green website to get them more information quickly or can simply make a note that they hope that this restaurant will consider adopting more green practices. If you eat out a lot, it may be worth preprinting several comment card templates with the name of the resource you believe would be useful to them. Many Green Business Associations provide template cards you can use for this purpose.

Sources:

1. http://www.restaurant.org/pressroom/pressrelease.cfm?ID=1537
2. http://www.dinegreen.com/
3. http://ecoknowledge.neerg.com/2011/07/31/7-ways-to-green-your-dining-out/
4. http://www.greenseal.com/
5. http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10902&itemid=3603]
6. http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/072710p46.shtml

Sources:

http://www.ehow.com/about_5206554_halogen-bulb-lifespan.html

http://p2pays.org/ref/26/25978.pdf

http://www.energystar.gov/ia/products/downloads/CFL_PRG.pdf

http://erasecarbonfootpringt.com/treeoffset.html

http://www.snopes.com/science/lightbulb.asp

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bledison.htm

When you look at your house, do you think to yourself that it could use a little facelift? One truth about owning a home is that there is always something you can work on to improve it. While home improvements can be exciting, they can also be a great opportunity to make your house more efficient and sustainable. Being green might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but there are many ways to make your next remodeling project more environmentally friendly, in addition to making your home a better place to live.

Photo Source: socketsite.com

Building a Deck

On warm summer evenings, it is nice to have a deck where you can sit and relax, watching the day end and night begin. A deck also makes a great place to sip lemonade or host barbecues with friends. If you are adding a deck to the house or replacing an old one, the biggest question is what type of material to use. It used to be that you only had one option for deck building materials – wood. The problem with using wood to build your deck is that you have to cut down trees to get the lumber. Building with wood can lead to deforestation, which is a major cause of climate change.

Fortunately, technology has improved, and these days you have options besides wood. One popular option that is more sustainable is to use a composite decking material produced by combining waste wood from used pallets or sawdust with recycled plastics. The plastic is heated up, and the wood dust is blended into it. The mixture is then pressed into forms that look like boards. Some even have embossed surfaces that look like natural wood grains. The composites are more durable than plain lumber and better for the environment, too. These composites keep tons of materials out of landfills (both waste wood and plastic), and no new trees have to be cut down to make them, unlike traditional wood decking materials. [1]

Photo Source: hgtvpro.com

Remodeling the Kitchen

The kitchen is the “heart of the home,” the place where people gather to cook and spend time with each other, so it is no surprise that remodeling kitchens is very popular. People want their kitchens to be welcoming and functional. One way to spruce up the kitchen is to replace the countertops, and there are several types of materials that you can use to improve the way your counters look without sacrificing your commitment to being green.

The first of these is recycled glass. Chunks of recycled glass are mixed with a cement or resin base and formed into a sheets that can be shaped to fit your counters. Making countertops out of glass keeps a significant amount of glass out of landfills. Glass countertops can be colored to match your kitchen décor and are very durable. Another green option for new countertops is bamboo. Bamboo grows more quickly than trees, so using bamboo in place of wood reduces the need to cut down precious forests.

Photo Source: recycled-glass-countertops.org

The kitchen is a big energy user, and, when you remodel it, you can make it more energy efficient by installing high-efficiency compact fluorescent lights. You can also make your kitchen more energy efficient by updating your appliances. Appliances that have received the ENERGY STAR® label are the most efficient on the market. New refrigerators use only 25% of the energy that models built in the 1970s used, so, if you are using an older model, upgrading can really make a difference in how much energy your kitchen uses. [2]

Photo Source: pipingploverenergy.com

Upgrading a Bathroom

When it is time to upgrade your bathroom, you want to make sure that the improvements are also good for the environment. Between the shower, the toilet, and the sink, the bathroom is one of the biggest water users in the house. If each person in a family of four spends an average of 10 minutes per day in the shower, switching from a 5-gpm shower head to a 1.5-gpm shower head can save over 50,000 gallons of water each year. Installing an aerator in the sink and a dual-flush toilet can also significantly reduce the amount of water your household uses. [3]

In addition to updating the water fixtures, you might also want to change the look and feel of your bathroom with new tile or countertops. For the bathroom, you have similar options as the kitchen. Crushed glass and bamboo are two popular materials that can give your bathroom a modern look without sacrificing sustainability.

Photo Source: blog.oyster.com

Replacing Old Floors

Whether you want to replace your old carpets or those aging hardwood floors, you have some eco-friendly options that are functional, too. If you need to replace your carpets, look for a natural fiber such as wool or seagrass instead of a petroleum-based fiber. To make the installation better for your home environment, install them on top of padding made from recycled cotton and use glues that have low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.

When replacing a hardwood floor, instead of replacing it with new hardwood boards, consider putting in a floor made of cork. Cork is more cushioned than a hardwood floor and is also very durable. The cork harvesting process does not kill the trees, so it is good for the environment. If cork is not the style you are looking for, you can also use bamboo, which is harder than most hardwoods and grows much more quickly, making it more sustainable.

If you decide that nothing but hardwood will do, consider installing a floor made from reclaimed wood. It will be slightly more expensive than using new wood, but your floor will not be responsible for more trees being cut down, a trade-off that is worth the cost.

Photo Source: duro-design.com

Painting

One of the simplest ways to make your house feel new again is to add a coat of paint or two. Changing the color of a room or painting the entire exterior of the house can completely change the character of your living space. When you paint, be sure to choose the right kinds of paints. Not all of them are created equal when it comes to safety and sustainability. Fortunately, it is much easier to find eco-friendly paints than it used to be.

In the past, paints often had high VOC emissions, but the federal government has required manufacturers to develop low-VOC paints that are safer to apply inside your house. There are also natural paints with bases made from eggs (tempera), clay – even milk – that can be used without having to worry about toxic emissions. [4]

Photo Source: telovation.com

Beautify and “Greenify” Your Home

Each of these projects is a major undertaking that can make your house a better place to live. When you update your house by using the latest technologies, you can improve your home and make it greener at the same time. Whether you replace the refrigerator in the kitchen with a more efficient one or you build a deck out of recycled wood products, you have many options to beautify and “greenify” your house. Your house will feel new once again, and you can be at ease knowing you made it better for the environment.

Sources

1. http://www.moistureshield.com/green/
2. http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/fappl.asp
3. http://www.wasauna.com/bathroom-design.html
4. http://greenlivingideas.com/2007/12/17/green-remodeling-with-eco-friendly-paint/

Air Quality

Fewer cars on the road means less air pollution, and that means bicycling is definitely connected to air quality. Wisconsin is a state that’s serious about making bicycling a priority for its citizens, in part to improve air quality. A recent study there showed that by reducing short car trips by 20%, they could achieve reductions in fine-particulate matter pollution and other air pollutants, which would have widespread benefits for the state.

In particular, they predicted a resultant annual decrease in asthma exacerbations by 100 cases; nonfatal myocardial infarctions and cardiovascular hospitalizations by 20 cases; chronic bronchitis by four cases; and a combined 5,000 cases of respiratory symptoms, hospital admissions, and emergency room visits. In total, this would garner the state annual savings of over $85 million. The same car trip reductions would also cut the loss of school days by 800, saving an additional $80,000 annually. [1]

Recognizing these benefits, the state has implemented some aggressive bike infrastructure investments. Even the road builders in Madison agree that building more bicycle infrastructure is good for the city, especially when it comes to air quality, congestion, and easing parking demands. [2] And perhaps that’s one of the reasons Wisconsin ranks #8 on Bicycling.com’s Best Bike Cities list. It also helps that the state added $5 million in funding for increased bicycle infrastructure for the 2009-2011 biennial budget. [3] Its  work has paid off; Madison now has three bikes for every car. [4]

Sitting at #6 in the top bike-friendly cities according to Bicycling.com, San Francisco has a mode share of just under 2%, and that’s having a sizable impact on its air quality as well, which is generally rated as “Good.” [5] The Air District (just one of many groups working on bike infrastructure) has awarded over $33 million in recent years for things like bike lockers at activity centers, bike racks on city streets, bicycle racks on transit buses, bicycle parking at BART and Caltrain stations, as well as the addition of hundreds of miles of bikeways. [6]

Photo Sources: Flickr.com

Human Health

Air quality isn’t the only boon of increasing the bike-to-car ratio. Cities across the country are realizing the health benefits of bicycling and finding ways to make their cities more friendly to cyclists. After all, cycling is safer than driving a car, and it can reduce health problems like heart disease, obesity, and high blood pressure. [7]

In a city where more than 60% of the downtown employees commute via public or alternative transportation including bicycling, Minneapolis, Minn., offers long, winding paths through lakes, parks, ponds, and past 200,000 trees. [4] With a bicycling mode share that’s more than 4%, it’s no wonder that this city ranks #1 on Bicycling.com’s top bike-friendly cities list. In fact, currently 4% of all work trips and 10% of all trips are now by bicycle within the city, with hopes to be on their way to achieving 30% or 40% in 10 years. [8]

Between Minneapolis and St. Paul, the bike infrastructure is extensive, including 84 miles of dedicated bike paths, 44 miles of designated street bike lanes (40 additional miles in the works), bike-carrying capacity on every public bus and train, and a law that requires all office buildings to provide bike storage. Minneapolis currently has more bike storage than any other city, with $250,000 of more storage planned, and has instituted a bike sharing program with 1,000 bikes at 75 locations across the city at a low cost of $60 annually.

One of the driving forces behind the push for more cyclists on Minneapolis streets is the Minneapolis Health Department, which has introduced a Bike Walk Workplace Intervention Program to encourage more employees to commute via bicycle. Most recently, they also put the wheels in motion to establish a Bike Walk Center in North Minneapolis to improve bicycling and walking infrastructure and create a culture that supports bicycling and walking for commuters and recreation alike.

Photo Sources: Flickr.com

What Makes a City’s Bike Program Cyclist-Friendly?

Certainly one of the most important things a city can do to encourage the use of bicycle infrastructure is to publish useful, easy-to-navigate online resources that are free to the public. The City of Madison, for instance, has an entire section of its website dedicated to cycling, called BikeMadison. The extensive site includes a wide variety of resources, including trip planning tools, printable and interactive maps, city transit linkages, smart rules for cycling, bike maintenance and safety tips, bike etiquette, and even a guide to cycling in the winter.

The San Fransisco Bicycle Coalition also has impressive resources for cyclists online. Its website has a list of current events (including free Urban Cycling Workshops), family biking guides, local bike laws 101, various maps and references, and tips for locating bike parking and lock-ups. Even more useful is the 511 Contra Costa Bike Mapper, which lets commuters find the safest and fastest routes to their destinations.

Another highly successful method for cities to encourage cycling is to institute programs that reward cyclists for giving up their cars and embracing cycling. In San Fransisco, for instance, employers can offer their employees $20/month tax-free for each month they commute primarily by bike. [9] Cyclists, therefore, receive double financial benefits since it costs less to ride a bike than drive a car. Another perk for cyclists: bike boxes. Painted at select intersections, these areas allow cyclists to stop at red lights in front of vehicles, giving them a head start once the light turns green while offering them extra visibility and safety.

If Europe and Asia are any indication, cycling is definitely the way of the future, not the way of the past. This is especially true if you want your city to embrace a sustainable, cost-effective way forward.

Sources

1. http://www.sage.wisc.edu/igert/download/bicycling_final_report.pdf
2. http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/article_17c218d7-7a74-5381-8ec3-1b8ccb83ea5e.html
3. http://www.bfw.org/advocacy/index.php?category_id=3949
4. http://www.realtor.com/home-finance/real-estate/general/top-greenest-cities-in-us.aspx
5. http://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/best-places-to-retire/california/san_francisco
6. http://www.baaqmd.gov/divisions/communications-and-outreach/spare-the-air/bicycles-and-air-quality.aspx
7. http://www.kfblaw.com/images/bicycle_accident.jpg
8. http://www.bicycling.com/news/featured-stories/1-bike-city-minneapolis
9. http://www.sfbike.org/?commute

Improvement incentives are available to customers that have a $99 energy audit completed by a Building Performance Institute (BPI) certified general contractor, such as WellHome. Customers can realize instant incentives for HVAC equipment, duct tightening, air sealing, insulation and shade screens. This program offers homeowners a win/win opportunity to improve the comfort and durability of their home and to save upwards of 40% on their energy usage, and to top it off; Tucson Electric Power pays a significant portion of the cost for these improvements! Incentives for up to $2,750 are available for homes with single heating and cooling systems and up $4,450 for homes with two heating and cooling systems. It all starts with the $99 energy audit.

Our Service Speaks For Itself!

Check Out a Local Tucson Home Owner’s Review Below!

From: Tucson, AZ

Branch: Tucson, AZ

Gender: Male

Service: Assessment with Improvement Package

Reason: To increase the energy efficiency of my home

“My review begins from the moment WellHome energy auditors Sam and Leigh came to our home. These professionals spent almost three hours inspecting our home, taking readings from each vent and crawling up in the attic. Then they delivered us a very comprehensive energy saving analysis report. We opted to have them seal up our ducts, insulate all (verticle surfaces), replace door weather stripping and blow insulation. The crew Ron, Drew and Craig arrived promptly at 6am as scheduled and worked non-stop on our home until 2pm. They were very polite, friendly and really acted like they cared about our home like it was there own. I am so happy with WellHome. They helped us save approximately 45% with home energy rebates making these energy upgrades affordable. I can’t stress enough how much respect I have for this company and its employees. I wish them long and growing success. I look forward to using them again in the future”

Beyond the simple carbon footprint calculator, there’s an array of online tools to help you stay green in ways big, small, and specific to your lifestyle. Use them for advice and ideas on how to offset or reduce your impact on the world’s precious resources. In fact, WellHome’s Energy Tool calculates the energy usage of your home, recommends improvements to reduce it, and, when available, connects you to a WellHome branch in your area. Here are a few of our other favorite tools for measuring and reducing your impact, both in and out of the home.

Energy Star

The more opinions, the better! Follow the familiar logo for efficient appliances to energystar.gov for an analysis of your household’s past year of energy consumption. This calibrated tool gives a detailed picture of changes to your household’s energy consumption, patterns, areas for improvement, and outlines a long-term plan to decrease your home’s carbon footprint.

Photo Source: Wikipedia.org

Lifestyle

You may notice that many online tools to help people stay green are associated with companies and organizations in the U.K., where sustainability regulations are stricter and public awareness is higher than in the U.S. Carbon Footprint Ltd is a U.K. company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations from tiny startups to large corporations reduce their carbon footprints. For the public, they offer a free tool for calculating your personal footprint that is quite comprehensive. Use the tabs along the top to enter information about your home energy bills, vehicle usage, and details regarding the flights you take (down to which airports you fly in and out of); it takes into account your diet, clothing purchases, and even use of financial services to give you a detailed personal estimate.

Photo Source: carbonfootprint.com

Small Actions, Big Results

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s tool is simple and straightforward, and it focuses on showing the significant, long-term effects of specific steps you can take to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. Once you calculate your effect on the environment with the EPA’s tool, you can use it to estimate how much you’ll save on energy bills when you change thermostat settings by specific degrees, use idle functions on electronics, replace light bulbs, and utilize drying racks instead of clothes dryers.

Photo Source: epa.gov

H20

The water used to sustain your lifestyle is another crucial aspect of your impact on the earth, though perhaps less easily measured. Beyond what you use to drink, cook, bathe, clean, etc., the production and transport of just about everything requires more water than you think: It can take more than seven gallons of water to bring you just one liter of bottled drinking water. [3] The environment section of National Geographic online asserts that the average American lifestyle is at the expense of 2,000 gallons of water – per day. Use their tool to see how you compare.

Photo Source: mylot.com

Shopping for Offsets

Once you’ve got a good handle on just how big your footprint is and what you can do to reduce it, it’s time to go shopping at carbonfund.org. Add items to your online cart that represent offsets for an individual, a medium-sized house, or a flight, and know that the emissions created by your actions will be reversed elsewhere. Donations are tax deductible and support carbon-reduction projects.

Photo Source: blissmo.com

International Business Meetings: The Carbon Monster

Large, international, and in-person business meetings put significant stress on the environment. MeetGreen, an American company that provides sustainability consulting, event management, and education services, hosts an online calculator that helps meeting organizers determine where in the world to meet that will harm the environment the least. Enter in the number of attendants who are coming from each corner of the globe, and the application will recommend the most mutually carbon-friendly location to meet.

Though not free, this tool from a company in the U.K. that offers some similar services is specifically developed to support professional event managers. It’s a great example of a highly specialized tool that helps people carry out the specific functions of living, working, and traveling with sustainability in mind. This tool shows compliance with regulations in the U.K.; look for similarly specialized tools relevant to your industry and region.

Photo Source: bestplacestomeetgreen.com

Keep Learning!

Continue learning how to stay green by keeping up with slate.com’s Green Lantern. The column answers reader questions that clarify the environmental impacts of actions, purchasing decisions, and lifestyles. The answers are sometimes surprising and always interesting; learn whether central air conditioning or window units are more efficient and how many miles you’d have to ride your new bike (in lieu of driving) to offset the carbon footprint of the bicycle’s manufacture.

1. http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/jan/31/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-country-data-co2
2. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080428120658.htm
3. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/pablo_calculate.php

Recycling your used tin cans, carpooling with your coworkers, and turning lights off when you leave the room: These are all great individual acts of green thinking that help to reduce your personal carbon footprint and minimize your impact on the planet. But sometimes being green can be a lonely business. And, while individual acts are extremely important and worthwhile, we can accomplish even more through green group initiatives. Community green initiatives are a great way for you to support an extended environmental movement and improve your social life at the same time. Not only do these crowd-sourced solutions to energy and environmental problems help to solve bigger problems, they also give you access to more green resources, make it simpler for you to live an eco-friendly life, and allow you to share ideas and knowledge with those down the street or around the corner. Take a look at these fun green group initiatives to see how you can get involved.

Green Social Initiatives

1. Car Sharing

If you’re in need of a vehicle but don’t like the idea of owning one of your own, you can either rent one or, better yet, join a car sharing program. Unlike a car rental agency that has you booking a vehicle in daily increments, a car sharing program lets you share a vehicle for shorter periods of time (though longer bookings are also possible). Though the format is different from club to club, here are some general characteristics that set car sharing apart from car rental options:

-You often sign up as a member; some clubs require a membership fee.

-Booking is generally self-service, usually online, 24/7.

-You can rent by the minute, hour, day, or week and rates include fuel, maintenance, and insurance.

-You pick up your vehicle from distributed locations rather than a central location. [1]

Car sharing is great for people who live in urban centers who want to avoid the costs of owning a car while doing something good for the planet. Resources are saved with shared vehicles and fuel costs minimized by distributed pick-up and drop-off locations. You can find car sharing organizations worldwide, and especially in the U.S., through CarSharing.net.

Photo Source: flickr.com

2. Book Clubs

Another great way to share is to join a book club. Instead of having an entire library of books you’ve only read once (if at all), join your local library or your community book-sharing group. Through these organizations, you can borrow books, trade and swap books, and donate used books so that others can enjoy them. This helps to reduce the number of trees harvested to print new books and extends the life of existing books as well. Plus, borrowing a book from nearby also reduces the miles it has to travel to get to you (compared to ordering a new book online, which must ship from a warehouse). And you never know whom you’ll meet down the green book-borrowing aisle. For an even greener book-sharing experience, try one that’s focused on eco-friendly living. These groups of book sharers exchange written resources that educate entire communities about the benefits of various environmental actions, such as reducing water consumption, energy use, and waste. [2]

Photo Source: flickr.com

3. Group Gardening

An age-old green activity, group gardening is a great way to work with your community to develop eco-friendly food-sourcing habits while enjoying time with neighbors and new friends. This can take many forms:

-Community gardens help those without yard space cultivate their own fruits, veggies, and flowers in a community setting.

-Community Support Agriculture (CSA) programs make it possible for individuals to buy directly from local farmers in exchange for guaranteed funding support (and sometimes sweat equity) regardless of the yield. This is great for farmers and provides local produce that travels less distance than supermarket foods.

-Guerrilla gardening is one of the new group gardening options. What is it? Gardening enthusiasts who take it upon themselves to plant flowers and other foliage in public spaces, such as along roadsides, in abandoned lots, under street lights, and so on. It’s a whimsical way to bring fresh, green life to otherwise neglected spaces and have fun with like-minded garden lovers. [3]

Regardless of which group gardening option you choose, you’ll be helping to green up neglected spaces, produce food locally and cheaply (and hopefully organically), reduce climate change, and make your neighborhood a more pleasant place in which to live.

Photo Source: flickr.com

4. Recycling

Ever cringed as you threw something away, wishing you had a way to recycle it? Well, you’re in luck! Today, there are numerous online recycling and swapping sites that allow you to creatively and sustainably reduce your waste with as little hassle as possible. Essentially, these group recycling programs provide a matchmaking service – they match people looking to get rid of stuff with people looking for resources. Through group recycling, you can swap, trade, or simply give away virtually anything these days. Consider these possible group swap options:

-Used building materials such as wood flooring, doors and windows, insulation, and paint

-Grocery bags, soda bottles, and glass containers

-Old electronics like computers, monitors, printers, and peripheral devices

-Vehicles and vehicle parts, bicycles and bicycle parts

-Furniture and appliances

-Clothing and shoes

-Holiday decorations, costumes, and home décor items

-Services [4]

Recycling in your community helps the environment in a number of important ways. First, it reduces the tons of waste going to your local landfill. Second, it saves valuable resources from being wasted. And, third, it prevents the expenditure of additional water and energy to create new products by putting old ones to use. Plus, it’s a whole lot of fun.

Photo Source: flickr.com

5. Plastic-Free Life?

Perhaps one of the most obvious signs of environmental degradation is the sight of a plastic bottle in the ditch or an old toothbrush that has washed onto shore. Plastics are ubiquitous in our lives. And, because they’re made from petroleum byproducts, are hard and often inefficient to recycle, and end up littering our planet, many humans are grouping together to ditch plastics altogether. [5] If you really want to challenge yourself to live more greenly, join a group that’s pledging to give up plastic for a month, and you’ll soon learn just how dependent you are on plastic. These groups provide practical solutions, moral support, and real targets to aim for if you’re interested in reducing your use of plastics. [6]

Photo Source: flickr.com

6. Conserving Water

Water is one of the most basic and necessary resources we have on the planet, but our water resources are fast disappearing. Threats to clean water include:

-Deforestation

-Overconsumption

-Toxic contamination from industry and residential chemical use

-Pollution from farms, sewars, and manufacturing

-Dams and other water diversions

-Privatization

Experts predict that wars of the future will be fought not over oil but over water resources. This is a serious issue that demands that we all take note and start to use less. This is especially true of Americans – we use 100 gallons of water per day, even though it is estimated that we only need 2.5 gallons of water daily to survive. [7] So, if you’re looking for a community organization that will encourage you to reduce your water consumption, why not find a watershed protection group in your local area, contact your water utility company for ideas on how to conserve, and make a pledge to significantly reduce the water you consume on a daily basis?

Photo Source: flickr.com

7. Bike Sharing

Just like car sharing, bike sharing is another way to reduce your monthly transportation costs while also limiting (or completely eliminating) your emissions. Bike sharing programs usually involve distributed bike pick-up and drop-off locations in urban centers. You simply amble up to the rental meter, plug in your cash or credit for a small fee, and ride away. When you’re done, drop the bike off at the same location or a different one (it usually doesn’t matter). No bike ownership costs, no maintenance hassles, and good exercise for you! There are bike sharing programs cropping up all over the world.

Photo Source: flickr.com

8. Community Bee Keeping

We love our sweets, and there’s nothing quite like fresh, locally produced honey. Bees are seriously important for our overall ecosystem, especially our food and flower crops. Bees pollinate a vast majority of our produce crops, and, without them, we’d likely have a severely limited diet. Sadly, however, bee populations worldwide are suffering from a variety of threats (scientists are having a hard time determining exactly which ones are to blame). Want to help? Why not join a community bee-keeping group? By doing so, you’ll meet other green-minded people eager to help preserve local bee populations while also producing delicious honey for you and your family at a low cost.

Photo Source: flickr.com

9. Community-Owned Renewable Energy

Another really exciting green group initiative option is to join a community-owned renewable energy project. Though you can form your own community wind farm or solar farm in whatever way suits your community best, most often, these green initiatives involve pooled money and pooled profits. Each member puts up a certain amount of financial capital and in return has a share in the clean-energy-generating equipment – and the profits to boot. Plus, by living in close proximity to the generating station, they also receive the benefit of renewable energy for their own homes as well.

Photo Source: flickr.com

10. Accountability

If you delve into any one of these issues – resource consumption, waste, water pollution, climate change – you’ll find that, at the core, there are issues of social and environmental justice. Generally people living in low-income communities are the ones who suffer the most when the environment is trashed. They suffer for higher levels of pollution, lower-quality food sources, less green space, and more. To tackle these broad and often intimidating issues, many communities are forming social justice groups to make a difference. These people work together to watch for social or environmental injustice and try to solve problems and stop perpetrators. They also help by making it easier for you to support businesses that are acting in the best interest of your community and the world at large. If you’re into big-picture thinking, joining one of these groups may be the thing for you. [8]

Photo Source: flickr.com