save electricity 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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Things To Know To Save Electricity

By
Johnathon Sweet
Published: October 24, 2010Posted in: Solar PanelsTags: , , , , , ,

To be able to save money with your electricity, you can go and search around the house or apartment for some things that you can do before the cold seasons arrive. Keep in mind that in the present financial predicament that we are in, it would always be wise to save in every aspect of our lives.

Call and ask the provider of electric and energy to you house and know if the rate can be lowered. Making a phone call will do many things. If it works with credit cards, sometimes it might also work for electric bills.

If you are in state with an energy that is deregulated, call some service provider and inquire for services that can make you save money. In New York, switching to ambit energy made me enjoy using energy like others do but having smaller bills. You can contact providers and see the possibility of saving money. Spending half an hour at the phone will save you money, especially in the longer run.

Now back to your house. You should look in both doors in the front and back and other doors that lead in and out. Do you notice any gapes and feel some breeze? You should check the in and out airflow, and be sure that it gets fixed.

When you are living at an old house and the floors are made out of wood, it is advised that you seal it from beneath of the house. This may cause a difficult job but you will know that it worth doing it. In addition, it is always smart to make small leaps today that will give us huge benefits in the long run.

Some pictures taken from your camera or maybe through your camera phone can be shown to the local hardware store. By asking for advice, you will get some information from the experts that will help you be on the right track to be able to save money!

Jon Anderson blogs about ecology. To enjoy added in regards to side projects he is in the middle of, have a look at New Jersey solar installers and solar installation NJ.

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How To Reduce Energy Bills By Changing Simple Light Bulbs

By
Terry O'Reilly
Published: June 25, 2010Posted in: Green EnergyTags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

You’ve heard it many times before, probably to the point of hating the phrase, but the truth is that you can save yourself a substantial chunk of change each month by switching out your incandescent and halogen bulbs for a more efficient option. If you are doubting the real world saving that you can expect from using energy efficient lighting, this simple calculation will help you to figure it out very accurately.

To calculate the cost of running your present halogen or incandescent bulbs all you need is the wattage of the bulbs, the price you’re paying per kilowatt hour (found on your power bill), and a calculator. Now I’ll walk you through an example.

(Note: Kwh means Kilowatt hours.)

Watts x hours in use per day = total watts used per day.

Watts used each day divided by 1000 = Kwh used each day.

Kwh per day x 30 = Kwh per month.

Kwh/month x cost/Kwh = cost per month.

Employing this method we can easily figure out the cost of running a 100 watt incandescent or halogen light bulb. A bulb like that in your sewing room might well be on for 10 hours per day. (No, that’s not an overstatement. Lots of lights run more than an average of 10 hours per day, especially in winter.). As a for instance, we’ll use twelve cents per kilowatt hour as your electricity cost, though this might be a low estimate depending where you live. Check your electric bill to see what your actual cost is per kilowatt hour.

10 hours run time for a 100 watt bulb = 1000 watts per day.

1000 watts used each day = 1 Kwh daily.

1 Kwh per day x 30 days = 30 Kwh per month.

30 Kwh x 12 cents/Kwh = $3.60 per month. That’s how much it costs to run a single 100 watt bulb.

To discover how much a compact fluorescent bulb would save, we follow the same steps. A 23 watt compact fluorescent will usually replace an incandescent bulb of 100 watts; if you are used to halogen bulbs you may want to use a somewhat higher wattage, such as 25 or 27.

10 hours times 23 watts = 230 watts daily.

Divided by 1000 = total of 0.23 Kwh per day.

30 days multiplied by 0.23 Kwh = total of 6.9 Kwh.

6.9 Kwh x $.12 = $.83 per month. That’s a reduction of $2.77 (or 77%) in one month for one bulb.

Swapping 10 halogen or incandescent 100 watt bulbs for compact fluorescents would put $27.70 back in your wallet each month.

To figure out exactly how much you would save by replacing all your bulbs with compact fluorescents, simply use the same calculation, matching the wattage of your present bulbs with their energy efficient equivalent. Since you can now find these bulbs in a wide array of sizes and styles, with numerous bases for various fixtures, it’s not hard to make this change. Also, a lot of compact fluorescent bulbs are now available in versions that are compatible with a dimmer switch, and you can replace your outdoor bulbs as well because they come in heavy duty styles.

The initial cost of a compact fluorescent bulb will be higher, yes. The added cost will not eat up your savings, though; apart from the decreased power costs, compact fluorescent bulbs will typically have a much greater lifespan than halogen or incandescent bulbs. A gradual change to energy efficient lighting, by changing a small number of bulbs each month, will help to distribute the extra cost of these lights; the reduction in your electrical cost will pay for the bulbs during the first two months.

You’ll want to retain your receipts for the compact fluorescent bulbs because they are typically covered by a long term warranty. To make sure you can claim a replacement bulb on the guarantee if necessary, jot down a note on the packaging or the receipt indicating which bulbs were put into each fixture.

Using energy efficient light bulbs can certainly save you a nice chunk of change, and you can visit the Energy Resources Journal for more energy saving strategies to cut power bills even more.

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Solar Energy Systems: Cut Your Electric Costs Now

By
Chris Ulrich
Published: November 5, 2009Posted in: GeneralTags: , , , ,

Oil prices are rising again, and electricity prices will surely follow. Over the last 15 years, the solar power industry has made tremendous strides in producing solar energy.

As the cost of power rising and the price of solar energy systems falling, now is the time to educate yourself about solar power.

Is Solar Power Truly Affordable?

Yes, due in large part to government incentives. The state, federal and local governments are now giving large refunds to house owners. Depending upon where you live, you may be rebated 35% – 65% of the cost of your solar energy system. With financing available through many solar power companies (as well as house equity loans) you can potentially reduce monthly utility bills by more than the system costs.

Will the Utilities Buy Extra Electricity from Me?

Yes, the power companies will “buy” your excess power as it is produced. If your solar energy system produces more electricity than your home is consuming at that moment, the surplus electric feeds back into the power grid, and your power meter will actually rotate backwards! If you are away from your home, and leave as many electric items turned off as possible, the extra electricity can automatically flow back earning you money.

Are Professional Installers Available for Solar Power Systems?

Absolutely. In fact, because you are integrating with the electric system of your house, it is strongly suggested that an experienced licensed electrician install the system for you. Most solar energy installation companies have electricians to handle this.

What is Required to Get a Solar Power System?

In general, you should have a home with exposure to the south, southeast or southwest. You will want it as unobstructed as possible. Having your home in the southern United States has advantages, but home owners to the north also do extremely well with solar energy. Before you buy, most reputable solar energy companies send an engineer to inspect your home, property and landscape to determine whether solar energy will work and what sort of savings you can see.

Is Solar Energy Really Good for the Environment?

Yes. While power is does not produce polution, the coal required to produce the electricity is not. By using the energy of the sun, you are actually able to generate your own electricity with no impact on the environment. This reduces pollutants in the air, reduces our demand on foreign oil, and helps to lower the overall cost structure of power in this country.

Does the Government Really Support Solar Energy?

Yes. There are local, state and federal programs designed to encourage house owners to switch to solar energy (as well as other green energies). Our government is aware that the fossil fuels will not last forever, and our dependency on them is bad for our nation as well as our ecology. By offering incentives for people to convert to solar power, the government is making an investment in you, to help reduce the energy crisis. In the coming years, millions can switch to solar energy, significantly reducing tax our dependency on foreign oil.

What Does a Typical Solar Power System Cost?

This varies based on the amount of energy you want to produce. Obviously the bigger the system, the greater amount of electricity you can produce. Solar Power Systems can range from $10,000-$30,000 or more depending upon your needs. If a system costs $20,000 and the government pays 65%, the cost to you is $7,000. depending on how you finance it, this may cost you approximately $50-$75 per month. Most will save more than this in their first month on their electric bill. The exact savings will be based upon the price of the system, any tax incentives, and the amount you pay today for electricity.

For more information, we encourage you to see our website at http://WWW.SaveWithSolar.org

By Chris Ulrich. SaveWithSolar.org shares great information about solar energy and ways to save with solar power. Get free information, including quotes on the solar power incentives available in your geography!

categories: solar power,solar energy,solar energy system,save electricity,home improvement

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