Whoever said that saving money would be out of fashion – because it never is, but this is certainly a topical subject today. We all hate receiving those monthly energy bills in the mail and will silently curse as we open them. Often we would make a mental note that we were going to turn off those lights when we went out of the room. Back then, though, it did not seem to be so urgent and we were somewhat poor at following through. If we fast forward to today, we seem to be living in a different world. Now we are looking for a whole array of different ways to save electricity, as we realise just how pressing this need is.

There was a time when only environmentalists and those known as “tree huggers” would seem to sense the true urgency of excess energy use and preach to us that we needed to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions or we would cause damage to the world we live in. We hear all kinds of reports on the news about how global warming is changing polar ice packs and that people in far-off countries are in danger of losing their ability to feed themselves, due to climate changes and weather pattern alterations. Closer to home, we hear that companies are going to be penalised for using too much energy and emitting carbon and imagine that these costs will be passed along to us as well.

Quite apart from the holistic considerations and our concern for Mother Nature, energy costs themselves have been going through the roof. Government attempts to regulate the industry have not been very successful and the whole infrastructure seems to be creaking and groaning under the strain. How much longer will the system be able to put up with spikes in energy use, as we rely on those old fossil fuels to provide the raw material? We all know the benefits of renewable energy, but we collectively have not moved forward fast enough to try and embrace them. Just think of the extraordinary ways in which we would be helping the environment if we were able to turn to wind, solar and other renewable sources for the majority of our energy.

Getting down to business, what can we do at home to help both ourselves and the environment? There are a number of options. For a start, we should always purchase highly efficient equipment for our kitchens and for our heating and air-conditioning needs. As an example, some refrigerators are available that consume only 100 kWh per year and these appliances are said to be four times more efficient than similar appliances found in the European Union. You may have to spend about five or maybe 10% more to actually buy the machine, but just think about how much energy you could save and how it would help to reduce your electricity bill. If you purchase new appliances, they will last for at least five years and the money that you pay upfront to purchase them will certainly be saved over that period of time. Remember that they will need less repairing as well and you won’t be as annoyed by that fan circling on whenever you are trying to sit down and watch the television!

Tags: environment, environmental sustainability, Renewable Energy, saving electricity, saving money

Crucial Tips For Saving Money In Our Present Economy

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Green residents get £15k grant

2:00pm Monday 26th July 2010

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A VILLAGE in Oxfordshire has been crowned ‘Britain’s most innovative green community’ after landing a £150,000 award to make it even more environmentally-friendly.

Tackley, near Kidlington, is one of 14 communities to have been given £150,000 by British Gas to boost energy-efficiency.

The money will be spent on solar panelling for Tackley’s community building and scores of green initiatives to help homes cut their energy costs.

The village is also hoping to land a further £100,000 prize, which will be awarded to the scheme which makes the most improvement by January. The cash will be spent on a local environmental project of its choice.

Chairwoman of the village hall Barbara Vaughan said members of the Tackley Village Green Streets group had worked hard to get the grant.

She said: “We applied for this grant last November and then, after we were shortlisted, three of us went to London to make the case for Tackley.

“It was something we really wanted to do because the energy costs of places like the village shop are horrendous.”

The energy bills for the shop are around £8,000 a year due to the fridges, air conditioning and other energy-hungry devices.

Mrs Vaughan added: “The hope is that this scheme will help show us how to cut down on that.”

In addition to the £150,000 granted by British Gas, 78 households have also signed up to monitor their energy usage.

Over the coming months, they will take regular readings from their gas and electricity meters.

They will then analyse the results and be shown how to make a difference to their bills.

Last week, villagers also held an awards evening, where all 78 households were eligible to win some big cash prizes.

Tina and Fred Cook won the top prize of £10,000 to be spent on work to their home.

Mrs Vaughan said: “I don’t think they’ve decided what to do, but it will be something along the lines of solar panelling.”

Another 18 homes received £3000 and everyone involved got a £50 web voucher to be spent on an energy-saving device such as an eco kettle.

Mrs Vaughan said: “And for all the electricity we create through renewable sources and feed back into the national grid, British Gas will be giving Tackley a payment that will be shared around the community.

“It means all the buildings that haven’t got an income, like the church, get a bit of the money from the national grid.

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Green residents get £15k grant

2:00pm Monday 26th July 2010

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A VILLAGE in Oxfordshire has been crowned ‘Britain’s most innovative green community’ after landing a £150,000 award to make it even more environmentally-friendly.

Tackley, near Kidlington, is one of 14 communities to have been given £150,000 by British Gas to boost energy-efficiency.

The money will be spent on solar panelling for Tackley’s community building and scores of green initiatives to help homes cut their energy costs.

The village is also hoping to land a further £100,000 prize, which will be awarded to the scheme which makes the most improvement by January. The cash will be spent on a local environmental project of its choice.

Chairwoman of the village hall Barbara Vaughan said members of the Tackley Village Green Streets group had worked hard to get the grant.

She said: “We applied for this grant last November and then, after we were shortlisted, three of us went to London to make the case for Tackley.

“It was something we really wanted to do because the energy costs of places like the village shop are horrendous.”

The energy bills for the shop are around £8,000 a year due to the fridges, air conditioning and other energy-hungry devices.

Mrs Vaughan added: “The hope is that this scheme will help show us how to cut down on that.”

In addition to the £150,000 granted by British Gas, 78 households have also signed up to monitor their energy usage.

Over the coming months, they will take regular readings from their gas and electricity meters.

They will then analyse the results and be shown how to make a difference to their bills.

Last week, villagers also held an awards evening, where all 78 households were eligible to win some big cash prizes.

Tina and Fred Cook won the top prize of £10,000 to be spent on work to their home.

Mrs Vaughan said: “I don’t think they’ve decided what to do, but it will be something along the lines of solar panelling.”

Another 18 homes received £3000 and everyone involved got a £50 web voucher to be spent on an energy-saving device such as an eco kettle.

Mrs Vaughan said: “And for all the electricity we create through renewable sources and feed back into the national grid, British Gas will be giving Tackley a payment that will be shared around the community.

“It means all the buildings that haven’t got an income, like the church, get a bit of the money from the national grid.

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<a href="http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/headlines/8291699.Green_residents_get___15k_grant/tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/headlines/8291699.Green_residents_get___15k_grant/Sun, 25 Jul 2010 17:27:18 GMT 00:00″>Green residents get £15k grant (From Oxford Mail)

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Every year, most of us spend a huge chunk of our paycheck on energy bills for our home. Whether it’s heating, cooling, or powering electrical devices, it makes a big dent. But by taking a little extra time and some small steps, you can decrease your energy use, reduce your bills and, of course, benefit the environment.

A simple way to cut your gas bill is by using less heat. While one degree may not seem like a lot, it can save you thousands of dollars through the year. Try using electric heaters or your fireplace instead of turning up the thermostat. You can also get a programmable thermostat or just remember to turn down the heat when you’re not in the house during the day.

Cutting your water bill is easy. While it might not seem that high, think of all the energy you’re using to heat the water you use. By cutting water, you’re slashing two bills at once. Here are some quick tips for saving lots of water.

• Don’t water your lawn. If the plants and grasses you’re using in your yard are appropriate for the area you live, you should never have to water your lawn. Research native grasses and plants and slowly transition your yard as you can.

• Turn off faucets. Many of us know to turn off the faucet when we’re brushing our teeth, but you can also do this as you shower. It takes a little extra thought, but saves a lot of water.

• Collect running water. When you let your water run so it will get warm or cold, collect it. You can use this later to water your plants, do your dishes, or brush your teeth.

The simplest step of all save money on your electric bill is to turn things off! It’s simple and easy and most of us forget to do it several times a day. If something is not in use, turn it off.

What’s even better than turning thing off? Unplugging them. Most appliances use up power even if they’re not on. You can unplug them, or put them on a power strip and turn it off when you’re not using everything.

You can’t live without lights and appliances all the time, but you can switch to types that are more energy efficient. Energy star appliances may be an investment in the first place, but you’ll save money in the long run. Even if you can’t afford the upgrade now, you can still make a dent in the electric bill by buying compact fluorescent light bulbs. They use less energy and last longer too.

A fantastic way to save money on energy bills is to cut how much you use by using alternative energy sources. It can take some investment of time and money to install solar panels or a device to harness wind, but when you see how much they save you, you’ll be happy you made the change.

Something else you might find interesting:

1. Types of Green Energy
2. How to Keep Warm Without Spending a Fortune
3. Solar Panels 101
4. Rain Harvesting – What is it and how does it work?
5. Wind Power What is it and How Does it Work?

How to Save Money on Your Home Energy Bills

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Greensboro, NC — There is a way

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Do Tankless Water Heaters Really Save Energy?

Tankless Water Heater Marketing Is Everywhere

If you have had a reason to think about water heaters lately you have probably heard a lot about tankless water heaters.  In the last couple of years the tankless water heater manufacturers have really stepped up their promotional campaigns and spent some big bucks building consumer awareness and interest in their products.   Tankless water heaters have been portrayed as providing huge energy savings and endless hot water.  How much of this is true?

Just The Facts, Ma’am

Today we are going to start cutting through some of the marketing hype and find out exactly how tankless water heaters stack up in the energy savings arena.  Just how efficient are they, anyway?

Electric Tankless Water Heaters

Now is a good time to go ahead and say that we will be discussing gas (or LP) tankless heaters.  Electric tankless heaters really make no sense  99% of the time.  They just don’t do the job in most cases and usually require extensive (and expensive) rewiring.  Electricity is really a fairly expensive way to heat water in most cases.

While we are on the subject of electric water heaters lets clear up one more thing.  Even though most electric tank type water heaters are rated with a higher efficiency factor than similar gas models, they are not usually an good choice to lower your energy bills.

It’s true that electric water heaters are technically more efficient, because there is no energy wasted up the flue pipe common to all gas water heaters.  The problem is that, at least for now in most places, the electricity required to operate a water heater costs more than either natural gas or LP.  So even though it takes less energy, the energy used costs more.  Enough said.

Gas Tankless Water Heaters

Let’s talk about the possible energy savings with gas tankless water heaters.  It is a fact that gas tankless water heaters are rated almost 50% more efficient than a standard tank type gas water heater.  The reason tankless heaters beat tank type in efficiency is because there is no energy used keeping a tank full of water hot.   The only time any energy is used is when hot water is actually being used.  As soon as the faucet is turned off the heater stops heating the water.   This is one of the big selling points for tankless water heaters.

It’s Not All Hype

So it’s not all hype, tankless water heaters really are more efficient, but the payback period that is often stated in marketing literature is probably based on the best case scenario.  In the real world, the more frequently hot water is used the smaller the gap in efficiency between tankless and tank type water heaters.  This is because there is less “non use” or “temperature maintenance” energy use as the frequency increases of “hot water usage events” (a fancy way of saying a hot water faucet was turned on).  

Basically, if you are using hot water any type of heater will be using energy. It takes the same amount of BTUs to heat a gallon of water in either type of water heater.  In plain English,  the more often you use hot water the less a tankless will save you on your gas bill.

Check Your Usage Pattern

So, are tankless water heaters really more more efficient?  The answer, strictly speaking is, yes.  How much more efficient depends on your individual usage pattern.  If you are thinking about going tankless you should probably pay attention to when and how often you use hot water now.  The more frequently you use hot water, the less money you will save in energy costs.

Copyright 2008 Bryan Stevens

www.eztankless.com Jim of EZTANKLESS explains the recent advancements in Gas fired tankless technology.

Do Tankless Water Heaters Really Save Energy?

Popularity: 2% [?]

I have a friend who just had his entire attic blanketed with aluminum radiant foil. The idea is to reflect heat back into his home this winter and reflect it out of his attic during the summer. The company that installed it put in writing that he will save at least 35% of his last year's energy bill. Who know about this?

what is the way of the future is photovoltaic electric panels, the energy co.s do not want you to know this but you can lock in the price of your electricity for,like 25 years(the expected and warranted life of the panels.)

Check out this guide http://www.allhomerepairsyourself.com/ho…

Does anyone use reflective technology to save money on energy bills?

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I already do. I take the bus to work instead of driving. I have a set back thermostat which turns the heat and A/C back when I'm at work and turns the heat down when I sleep. And I turn it down when I am away on business or vacation. I never fly private jets (like Al Gore does all the time). I now buy those fluorescent light bulbs. And my next home will have a high efficiency furnace.

I am all for saving money. I am against anyone telling my to reduce my use of ANYTHING I am willing to pay for.

If you could save money on your energy bills and help other do the same would you do it???

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With so much talk of green and clean energy these days, most people have at least thought about how they could use solar in their lives. The problem is that with a tough economy and bleak job market, most just don’t have the money to invest in solar. Here are 5 cheap and easy ways to start using solar power that won’t break the bank.

Thanks to rapid advancements in inverter technology, you can install a solar grid tie kit on your home for far less than ever before. It used to cost at least $10,000 to install a small system on a home. But today, with micro-inverters and 200W panels, homeowners can install a single panel and inverter for about $1,000 and start to reap the benefits of free energy from the sun.

Many homeowners are adding panels as their budget allows. The new technology lets you to add on to your system as you wish, without spending a fortune. You could start with a 230W system, add a panel every three months or as your finances allow, and have a 4,000W system that covers your entire power bill in a few years.

Now that solar has gone mainstream and is a viable investment, companies like SunRun have leasing programs to help homeowners get started in renewable energy. Here’s how it works:

• A local installer works with a solar financing company like SunRun to evaluate the suitability of your home for solar.
• If your situation is right, the financing company will pay the installer to put the panels on your home, usually at zero cost to you.
• The financing company owns and maintains the panels, and receives any rebates associated with the installation.
• You get charged a fixed, discounted rate for your electricity for the life of the lease, usually 20-25 years.
• You save money in the short term in the discounted and fixed rate, plus you won’t experience the sharp rate increases that are inevitable as carbon taxes and renewable subsidies become more prevalent.
• You can choose to purchase the system from the financing company and reduce your energy bills to nearly zero.

Best of all, you get the satisfaction of knowing that you are saving money AND helping the environment at the same time!

Many people forget that there are all kinds of uses for solar panels. Boats, RVs and even golf carts are great uses for solar. Solar panels generate direct current, or DC power, which is what most boats and RVs need anyway.  Adding a simple panel and charge controller to the system will keep the batteries charged, save the expense of charging those batteries, and allow you stay out longer and go farther.

In most cases, the panels will allow you get rid of the generator or shore power you relied on before. For folks in southern climates that use golf carts in lieu of traditional vehicles, a 200W solar golf cart kit means you can say goodbye to the power cord and hello to lower energy bills.  Starter kits can be as little as $100, with larger units over $1,000.

It wasn’t too long ago that the components in solar power systems were so complicated that an electrician to install them was a must.

That is not the case these days (and thank goodness for that!).  Simple ‘plug and play’ solar power kits now allow you to gather, store and use the sun’s energy easily. They work much the same way a computer does; you simply plug the panel into the control box (like you would a computer monitor), and then plug the control box into a battery (like you would plug the computer into the wall). Then, start plugging your stuff into the control box.

This is a great system for remote cabins, work sheds or garages. Often, people that live in hurricane country keep them for backup power when the inevitable outage comes. They’re great for campers and travelers that have added laptops, iPhones and stereos to their ‘can’t live without’ list when they’re in the back country. These kits can be had for as little as $300 and can be expanded for your future needs.

Unfortunately, solar lighting has gotten a bad rap by the proliferation of those poorly made solar garden lights. There are, believe it or not, high-quality solar lights out there that look terrific. Many communities are doing away with the gas lamps that appear on every front lawn because they are expensive to run and maintain. A nice solar lamp post light can replace the gas lamp, spruce up your yard, and cost less than $200 in most cases.

There are also tons of affordable options for heating and cooling your home with solar. Solar air heaters have recently become more popular, and they have the added benefit of using recycled cans in many cases. There are even solar air conditioners now, too. These use the sun to heat the medium in the cooling process, whereas traditional A/Cs use electricity.  These new solar A/C’s are about 50% more efficient than their traditional counterparts.

Solar doesn’t have to be out of reach. With a wide variety of applications and prices, solar power can help you save money and the planet.

Kriss Bergethon is a Solar Power expert and author from Colorado.  For more information, visit his site at Solar Kits.

Posted on July 22nd in Going Solar by Guest Author.

5 Easy Ways to Start Using Solar Power

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Washington – The U.S. Department of Energy today announced 15 research and deployment partnerships to help dramatically improve the energy efficiency of American homes. These highly-qualified, multidisciplinary teams will receive a total of up to $30 million for the initial eighteen months of the projects to deliver innovative energy efficiency strategies to the residential market and address barriers to bringing high-efficiency homes within reach for all Americans.

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