energy saving products Archive

Saving Energy is Easier With New Energy Saving Products

By
Sandi Feris
Published: December 28, 2010Posted in: GeneralTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Now no one likes the idea of power that they are paying for simply going to waste in their home or business but the fact is that its pretty much unavoidable. Just the same what you may not realize is that there are areas in your home where power that you pay for is essentially leaking out. Areas where its being wasted for no good reason at all.

I’ll take your television set as a prime example because are you aware that it may be consuming a full 75% of the power it uses when it’s in fact turned off? You read that right because when you click the remote to turn it off, it remains in “standby mode”. It’s still gulping power, believe it or not!! So then what’s the solution?

So then how can you stop this needless waste? The answer is surprisingly cheap, and incredibly simple. They’re called standby savers and they function just like a normal TV remote with one difference and that is that standby savers shut off the power “at its source”. So the power is cut completely to the TV or home appliance, cutting off the waste.

The second item on the list of new energy saving wonder devices, is called the energy monitor, and how its functions is just too simple. What it does, is measure electricity usage at your power box and then transmit that information back inside your home to a small portable unit with a display screen on it. It simply allows you to see how much power you are using.

So then how do they save you money? Well would you believe the folks who buy and use these $75 devices report a savings of some 25% on average their first month? You see, once you are able to accurately track the amount, and value of your power usage, you can then account for it far more accurately. It’s just that simple.

Have you ever stopped to consider that you are paying to keep forty gallons of water piping hot 365 days a year with your standard water heater. Just think how much energy that takes up but the fact is that you do need hot water and there is just no getting around that fact. Even so is there some way that you can ease this constant financial burden?

You need to buy and use a water heater blanket and not a cheap one either. Buy a nice thick one and if that isn’t enough then buy two, and really wrap the thing up nice, and cozy. Or; better yet, you may want to look into installing a state of the art “tankless” water heater that heats the water as it’s being used.

Energy saving light bulbs have been available for decades now and it’s certainly no secret that they they pay for themselves in savings. So then why are so many people still not using them? For one thing, most folks simply fail to realize how many light bulbs they have in their homes, and secondly they also don’t realize how cheap they are to buy now.

Learn more about home energy saving tips. Stop by Sandi Feris’s site where you can find out all about tankless water heater and what it can do for you.

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What To Consider When Buying Used Solar Panels

By
Susan E Freemont
Published: July 3, 2010Posted in: GeneralTags: , , , , , ,

Many homeowners are already making great efforts to lower their carbon footprint and their energy bills. They are installing everything from tankless water heaters and compact flourescent light bulbs to low-flow water fixtures and energy-efficient AC units.

Solar electric panels are another great option for homeowners who want to reduce their energy bills while making their homes more Eco-friendly. The price of new solar electric panels has dropped about 40 percent over the last year and prices are still slowly on the decline. But even now prices for solar electric panels are a big financial investment for many homeowners.

There is another option for homeowners who want the benefits of having solar electric panels without paying the high price. Today, you can find many used solar panels on the market that are affordable for any home.

Like buying anything used there are a few things that you need to look out for to make sure that you are still getting a quality product that performs well. First of all, check closely to see if any of the glass is cracked and have the panels checked to see if the condensers are damaged. Some of the most common problems with used solar panels are damaged connections, cracked glass, and condensation build up under the glass. Another common problem that many used solar panels have is also related to the connections. Sometimes there are loose connections in the actual solar cells.

Before buying used solar panels also be sure to test them out. You can test the power output by setting your voltmeter to DC volts. You then measure across the negative and positive terminals of the solar panel. You can find information online about the proper voltage to look for with different sized and powered solar panels.

It is not a good idea to buy solar panels with lots of damages unless you are willing to pay to have them fixed. Also, keep in mind that there are some common name brands that sell decent used solar panels.

Learn more about Arizona solar electric. Stop by Susan E Freemont’s site where you can find out all about solar companies in Phoenix and what they can do for you.

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Solar Electric Panels: Two Things You Must Know Before Buying

By
Susan E Freemont
Published: June 29, 2010Posted in: GeneralTags: , , , , , ,

There are a number of ways to make your home much more energy efficient. Homeowners can invest in new appliances, water fixtures, tankless heaters, and even something as small as new light bulbs. But there is one environmentally friendly product that many homeowners have not researched, and that is solar electric panels.

Solar electric panels can be difficult to research. Instead of finding practical and helpful information, homeowners often find tons of technical jargon and staggering price information. Solar panels are still quite a financial investment for most homeowners, and depending on the size of the home and how much energy the home uses it can take anywhere from 10 to 20 years for solar panels to pay themselves.

However, this hasn’t stopped many other homeowners from investing. If you choose the right product, they will last you up to 40 years or more and many companies offer warranties up to 25 years. Plus, your electricity bills will become a mere fraction of what they used to be. Many homeowners actually see their electric meter spin backwards after installing the panels.

When searching for solar panels for your home, there are two top things to ask for:

First, you need to know the solar module efficiency for each solar panel product that you look at. Make sure that you are given information for the solar module efficiency and not the individual cell efficiency, as it is preferable to know the efficiency of the entire working unit.

Secondly, you need to know the minimum warranted power of each product. There is a negative tolerance rating for each product which is a percentage that tells you how much power the product is guaranteed to use. As indicated by its name, the percentage should be subtracted from whatever wattage is displayed on the product box. It you have a 200 Watt panel with a negative tolerance rating of 10 percent, than the product is only guaranteed to have a power rating no lower 180 Watts (so its minimum warranted power is 180 Watts). This is a little tricky, but when it comes down it this only means that you could be paying for 200 Watt solar panels and really only get 180 Watt panels. Because of this you should buy panels with a negative tolerance rating of 5 percent or less if you want more value for your money.

To obtain this information and information about the solar module efficiency, you can simply ask the salesperson to print you out a copy of the factory specification sheet. They should not be hesitant to do this, and if they are it is advised that you shop else where.

Learn more about Arizona Solar Electric. Stop by Susan E Freemont’s site where you can find out all about solar companies in Phoenix and what they can do for you.

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