Energy Saving Ideas/Tips/News

Sci-Fi Meets Cleantech: Space Based Solar Energy Becomes a Reality

2009-05-08T12:23:00.005-04:00

Like something straight out of a science fiction novel, renewable energy company SolarEn plans to launch solar panel arrays into space to capture the rawest form of solar energy and send it back down to earth. Solar energy innovations have been brewing across the board the past couple of decades; but it’s recently been made known this week that solar technology company, SolarEn, has struck an

NRDC Launches Renewable Energy Site With Mapping Tool

2009-04-28T12:56:00.007-04:00

Today, NRDC is launching a new feature on our website (http://www.nrdc.org/renewables/) and I’d like to know what folks think of it. This new tool is designed to help regular people from farmers to politicians, financiers to reporters understand that renewables are here now and poised to become major players in our energy mix. This site will help you determine whether renewable energy systems

Wireless Electricity is Real and Can Change the World

2009-04-28T12:42:00.005-04:00

A revolution in the method of transmitting and receiving power is taking place, and the results as it pertains to the everyday consumer may not be far behind. In fact, some forms of the technology will be made available this year. Picture yourself never having to worry about recharging your phone, IPod or laptop as long as you were inside a wireless energy zone. That zone can be located in your

Energy Efficient Appliances and Electronics

2009-04-21T08:03:00.007-04:00

When shopping for appliances and electronics look for the Energy Guide and Energy Star Label. Here's the difference:Energy Star Label: When you see this label on appliances and electronics, strict energy saving guidelines have been met. These guidelines have been established by the US Department of Energy and the US Environmental Protection Agency.Energy Guide Label: This label provide very

Save Energy This Summer

2009-04-15T07:53:00.007-04:00

Below is a simple list of energy saving tips that cost little or nothing to start saving energy & money this summer.1) Water Heaters - Adjust the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees. Water heating accounts for up to 25% of your energy costs in the home.2) Air Conditioning Unit - Maintain your a/c unit with professional care. If you live in an area where you just survived the winter

How much energy could you get from solar or wind at your home or business?

2009-04-13T15:03:00.007-04:00

If you have ever wondered how much solar or wind generated power you could get at your home or business then you may be interested in the IMBY tool from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. IMBY is the short version for In My Back Yard. You can learn more about the IMBY tool here. Just type in your home or business address, choose solar or wind and you're on your way.

Tax Credits for Your Energy-Efficient Purchases

2009-04-13T14:57:00.003-04:00

As April 15th draws nearer, no doubt taxes are on your mind. You may be wondering whether the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (aka the "Recovery Act") will affect your taxes for 2008. While the IRS says that the tax provisions in the Recovery Act won't affect most people's 2008 tax returns, you may already be planning an energy-efficient purchase in 2009 that will be

Improving the Energy Efficiency of Existing Windows

2009-04-10T13:35:00.006-04:00

No one would dispute the undeniable beauty of soft, dappled light shining through a window in the early morning. Unless, of course, you happen to be one of the many Americans whose windows are letting in more than just light. Poorly fitted or sealed windows can be a major frustration during the winter months, letting in cold drafts that blur the lines between indoors and out. Unfortunately, this

Saving Energy Is a Lifestyle, Not a Diet

2009-04-09T12:36:00.003-04:00

This blog has been aimed at helping you save energy. We've offered ideas on ways to fit your home for the winter months, including checklists of tasks from the easy to the not-as-easy, and we've shown how saving energy saves you money. Some of the posts here are practical advice, while others are about the why behind this whole effort. So why are we doing this? There are a few

How can I make my home more energy efficient?

2009-04-08T08:49:00.042-04:00

There are various ways to make your home energy efficient. Some cost nothing and are self-reliant, such as unplugging items that don't need to be plugged in all the time and others mentioned throughout this blog. And many have a price, the price depends on how much your willing to invest.Solar energy, for example, is an excellent resource for using the suns energy to power your home. With solar

Stop Paying for Energy You Aren't Using

2009-04-08T08:33:00.004-04:00

Back in October, we heard a lot about "energy vampires." A very convenient holiday metaphor, to be sure, but you're probably not in the Halloween spirit in January. Nonetheless, you may be in the mood to reduce your energy costs, and standby power is something worth considering all year round. Standby power is the minimum power used when a product is plugged in. That doesn't necessarily mean the

Energy saving products- Where did they all come from?

2009-04-07T08:31:00.015-04:00

It can be confusing with all the "energy saving products" that seem to have crawled out the cracks since the announcement of Obama's new Energy Plan. The truth is many of the energy saving products have been available for years. It's just that consumers are becoming more "Green Energy, Renewable Energy" conscious (1) because of the economy - looking for ways to save money and, of course, high

How to Apply for Weatherization Assistance

2009-04-07T08:05:00.007-04:00

A few weeks ago, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that it was investing $8 billion into weatherization and state energy grants—$5 billion of which is going directly to the Weatherization Assistance Program. And why is that interesting? Well, the Weatherization Assistance Program provides low-income families with free-of-charge, energy efficient upgrades to their homes. A more efficient

Ask yourself: How Does Your Community Encourage Energy Savings?

2009-04-07T07:47:00.007-04:00

Many communities offer programs or events to encourage citizens to be energy conscious and environmentally friendly.How does your community encourage energy savings?Please share your thoughts!Share this blog with the people you know. There is a lot of helpful advice and news. Another great blog: Energy Savers Blog with the Department of Energy. If you have a favorite energy saving blog please let

ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

2009-04-06T17:23:00.002-04:00

The energy challenges our country faces are severe and have gone unaddressed for far too long. Our addiction to foreign oil doesn't just undermine our national security and wreak havoc on our environment -- it cripples our economy and strains the budgets of working families all across America. President Obama and Vice President Biden have a comprehensive plan to invest in alternative and

Renewables

2009-04-06T16:54:00.007-04:00

Renewable Energy Overview What is Renewable Energy? Renewable energy resources are virtually inexhaustible in duration but limited in the amount of energy that is available per unit of time. Renewable energy resources include biomass, hydropower, geothermal, solar, wind, ocean thermal, wave action, and tidal action. In 1850, about 90% of the energy consumed in the United States was from

New Google Earth Maps Show Where Renewable Energy Projects Can Be Built

2009-04-03T15:55:00.003-04:00

The maps, covering protected areas in 13 western states, are available for the public to view The National Audubon Society and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) have created maps --using Google Earth-- of restricted lands and sensitive wildlife areas in the western U.S., to help plan development projects by avoiding such areas. Two environmental groups have teamed up with Google in an

Junk Cars to be Used as a Renewable Energy Source?

2009-04-03T15:46:00.002-04:00

Cutting-edge, non-incineration advanced gasification technology will produce enough renewable electricity to power 21,000 homes and create a significantly large negative carbon footprint. The joint venture plans on producing enough renewable electricity to power 21,000 homes. Chinook Sciences, Ltd., the leading manufacturer and operator of advanced gasification technology, and European Metal

Does Daylight Saving Time Really Conserve Energy?

2009-04-01T11:59:00.005-04:00

First used during World War I, Daylight Saving Time was launched in an effort to conserve fuel by increasing the amount of daylight which would thereby reduce the need for artificial light. Although the theory that the less need for artificial light, the less energy to be used, does indeed sound good, does it really hold true? According to a 2008 Department of Energy report to Congress, Daylight

Consumer Energy Reports Survey: Consumers Willing to Buy Green Products, but only if Saving Money

2009-04-01T11:14:00.009-04:00

The recession is causing consumers to value saving money over saving the environment. Although worried about the economy, consumers are willing to buy energy-efficient products and services – but only if they see immediate savings, according to a national survey released today. The survey found that 71 percent of consumers cited saving money as a reason to buy energy-efficient products. Far

An Energy Saving Solution For Businesses

2009-03-30T16:45:00.009-04:00

Energy-saving solutions are available for businesses to help reduce the cost of electric each month. One solution is the Power Save 3200/3400, designed specifically for businesses since they experience a high amount of energy consumption on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis. Of course some businesses use more than others but all can reap the savings.Here are a few details about the Power Save

10 Simple Ways to Lower Your Electric Bill

2009-03-27T16:07:00.011-04:00

Life is so expensive. We must try to save every cent that we can in order to be able to get the things that we need. Sometimes that means waiting on the things we want. It always means trying to spend less to get more.Families have many expenses. There's food, gas, car insurance, homeowners and life insurance, household and personal need items, clothing, etc. This list goes on and on. The list

Electric Shock - 5 Steps to Manage It

2009-03-26T09:34:00.004-04:00

The first place your child pokes a finger as soon as he learns to crawl in an electric point. Electric shocks in and around the house are a common enough occurrence. A few basic precautions can prevent them.· All electric sockets within the reach of the child should be sealed with a tape. Easily removable plastic covers for the sockets are available in the market, use them.· It is desirable that

Energy Saving Device

2009-03-25T10:47:00.004-04:00

Saving energy is becoming more recognized because of rising energy costs. Since our cost for electricity is not getting any cheaper, we as consumers have to find alternatives. Because of this, companies are inventing ways for renewable energy.One of the ways is a device that easily installs next to your breaker panel and saves up to 25% monthly on electric bills. Not only is this a smart move to

Energy Saving Tips

2009-03-25T10:37:00.001-04:00