Time To Save Energy Ill Show You How

It's easy to save energy.  There are dozens, maybe more, things you can do on your own that can save on your energy costs and permanently cut your utility bills.  Now is a great time to use some of these methods since the government is offering tax credits.

If you replace your windows or doors you may be eligible for a tax credit, if you buy energy efficient appliances you may be eligible for a tax credit, and even if you install your own home wind turbine you may be eligible for a tax credit.

While a tax credit is a great thing, it's only part of the story.  Any of these things will save you thousands of dollars or more, over the life of your home. 

If you're not in a position to do some of these fairly big ticket things now, don't worry, there are still plenty of smaller inexpensive changes you can make that will still allow you save save a lot of money on your utility bills, even though you may not qualify for the tax credit.

Here is a list of some of the easy things you can do to cut your utility bill:

1. Buy some caulk, some expanding foam, some insulated curtains or blinds, and a window kit, and close up those areas that leak.  It might be a window, a door, or even around the area where your utilities enter your house. 

By taking a few minutes to plug these leaks you'll make your home more comfortable this winter and save yourself money since all the warm air you've paid good money for isn't going right out the window.

2. Unplug any electronics that you don't use.  Many people don't realize that even if that t.v. or DVD player isn't on, it's still on 'stand-by' mode and it's still using electricity.  There's no point in paying for electricity for something you aren't even using.

You may not get rich making these changes but you will save energy and a little money. 





 

Alternative Energy - Is It A Realistic Way To Save Energy, And The Planet?

Now more than ever we are trying to find ways to save money and we are more concerned with the effect we have on our environment.  Between the meltdown of the economy and the desire to 'go green' we are looking at alternative energy with more interest than ever before.

There are many sources of renewable energy for you to use.  Most of them can be inexpensive to start up, though there will be some initial expense and it will take time, usually only a matter of months, to recoup your initial investment.

Two of the most common sources of renewable energy for home use are solar and wind.  Both can be set up fairly easily by you.

To generate power from the wind a wind turbine is what you would need.  These look like windmills and they come in all sizes, and even shapes.  The wind is turned into electricity and can be stored in a battery for later use. 

The downside is that in order to generate enough electricity for your home you would need a lot of turbines, and we are not at the point yet where we have a efficient means of storing and converting the energy. 

Solar energy is another great way to save some electricity costs.  These consist of panels on the roof, or wherever they will get a lot of sunlight, and they convert sunlight into electricity.  As is the case with turbines you will need a lot of panels to provide enough electricity to run your home.

Both of these sources of energy are real and viable for home use.  Don't expect to get completely off the grid just by putting up a turbine or two and some solar panels, but you can expect to save some money. 

As technology advances the storage and conversion methods will improve too  making these forms of alternative energy even more cost effective than they are today.