Archive for April, 2009

Now the tax credits and resale value for your home provide amazing benefits. Solar power generation has some advantages and also some drawbacks, but the benefits far outweigh any downsides. It is possible to outfit a home completely to use solar power, and this can make your home extremely friendly to the environment. To get the same benefit of power output per month on average in the North East. In Alaska it would be somewhere in the 250,000 dollar range for the same benefit. But remember how far Alaska is from the equator. These prices as well as the Tax Credits will be different from state to state as well as the new federal tax credit and benefits will vary depending on where you live obviously with renewable energy generation with wind and solar technology.

Although ready made home solar power systems are available in the market, however the cost of these is very high and it is in the range of few thousand dollars. Instead of using a ready made system, you can build your own home solar power systems for less than $200. But in the long run home solar power systems are quite cost effective. The two main reasons for installing a home solar power system are, of course, (1) lower utility bills, but close on its heels is the fact that (2) solar power is environmentally friendly. Home solar power systems are also considered essential to meet your energy requirements as they are promoted by the government agencies. What about point (3) If you developed a renewable energy system (solar or wind) efficient enough that it produces a surplus of energy that the power company will purchase it from you; “Ding”. Building one yourself could seem priceless if you created a working asset that produces for your benefit.

For information on Ohio’s grant program or any other you will need to go your state’s .gov website. Taking advantage of the federal income tax credit and applying for state grants can reduce the projected cost to about 14 cents per kilowatt hour, still a few cents higher than buying the same power from Duke.

Ok maybe you might not want to jump right in then let me steer you in the right direction on a small and very inexpensive scale. Then you can make your decisions from there obviously. Don’t take my word for it. Check out your local,state, and federal websites to see if you can find the details of everything that is involved on the tax credit with your house and solar or wind generators. Doing it yourself, and at your own pace is a good way to proceed. But if you know an licensed electrician that can help, fantastic benefit for you. But what if I told you there was a way like I mentioned above that there information out there that can let you build a solar panel or windmill turbine for under $200.00, homemade by you.

Good Luck on your search and take full advantage of this especially anyone that lives in the southern United States. Everyone of you lucky people living in Florida, Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, etc… You are the one with the highest Air Conditioning bills during the summer. I used to live in Florida so I know. You need to do this. It is a win win situation. You tell me an easier way to installing something permanently into your home that someone could possibly pay you to provide a surplus of energy. Think about it. Do your research.

Contact a state office or check out your state’s website (.gov) and find out the tax credits that are available. You Tax Office will obviously know these numbers as well the C.P.A.s. Good Luck.

With all the improvements in green energy technology, it is now simpler than ever to begin adapting your house into a green energy home. A renewable energy home makes use of renewable sources to supply hot water, power, heating and security.

There are a variety of methods to making your house a green energy home. The first is solar power. In your home you could put in a solar heating system to heat and store water for use, and put in photovoltaic solar panels to convert the sun’s rays into power. If you bought and had these systems put in by a specialist they could be rather expensive. However, there are numerous resources and guides on the market to produce your own solar panel and hot water systems that are much more affordable.

If your house is still being built, a good way to turn it into a solar power house is to employ passive solar technology during construction. If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, this means making use of the south-facing sides of your house for heating and cooling. By putting in many light-efficient windows and heat regulating bricks on the south-facing side, these passive solar techniques help make your house into a green energy home.

Another method is making use of a windmill on your property. Windmills are driven by the wind to generate power and even pump water from an outside source. Wind turbines can be fixed on your rooftop or in your yard to produce clean electric power. Like solar panels, domestic windmills can be bought and installed commercially, but that costs a lot of money. So, in recent times a wide selection of affordable sets have been made put on the market for people to make their own wind turbines and install their own renewable energy home plans.

Another way to add effectiveness to your home is to utilize a nearby stream and produce hydro-electric power. This is a fantastic pollution-free alternative that requires low maintenance and works as long as the stream is running.

The ultimate green power home combines all of these renewable energy sources. By utilizing the power of the wind, water and sun to produce electricity you would enjoy not only massive savings and potential profits from your power consumption, but also largely reduces your carbon footprint. By combining solar heating systems and passive solar architecture into your energy efficient home, your need for power from traditional sources (fossil fuels) would cut down considerably and you would be living the renewable energy dream.

What’s nice is a green energy home does not require any more maintenance than conventional houses. Solar technologies need little maintenance and wind and water generators need only occasional oiling for optimal capability There is no better time than now to start your renewable energy project and live a cleaner life off the grid.

In today’s environmentally conscious world, everyone wants to do their part for a more sustainable future. But it’s hard to know what you can do to limit your impact on the planet. One of the easiest and most eco-friendly choices is to install an energy-efficient heating and cooling system in your home for dramatically reduced energy usage. And, as if that wasn’t enough, the lower energy consumption of these heating systems will also help you save big bucks on your bills! In fact, some Energy Star rated HVAC systems can save you up to 30% on heating and cooling.

Solar Heating Systems

Solar heating systems are a great hot water heating solution that’s eco-friendly and has extremely low operating costs. These systems can provide up to 80% of your home’s hot water for major energy cost savings. Used to heat hot water, pools, and water for radiant heating, solar heating systems harness the free energy of the sun. And, although solar hot water heating can be expensive to install, it usually pays for itself in less than five years (in reduced energy bills and government incentives). Once the equipment is paid off, you have almost zero operating costs.

Hybrid Heat Pumps

Hybrid heat pumps are efficient combinations of gas furnaces and traditional heat pumps; blending two energy-efficient systems allows this hybrid to get the best of both worlds! Heat pumps function quite efficiently during warm months, but at cold temperatures they typically lose their effectiveness. Hybrid heat pumps work like a hybrid vehicle, turning on the gas furnace when necessary to supplement the efficiency of the heat pump. Switching between the two heat (and cooling) sources allows the system to automatically adjust for optimal function.

Ground Source Heat Pumps (Geothermal Heating and Cooling)

Ground source heat pumps are among the most efficient heating and cooling options on the market today. They’re eco-friendly as well as inexpensive. This specialized type of heat pump utilizes the relatively constant temperature of ground to heat your home in winter and cool it in summer. A loop of piping is installed in the ground near or under your house, and liquid (antifreeze or water) flowing through the loop heats or cools your home depending on the season. In summer, the soil is relatively cool, so it chills the liquid, which in turn cools your home; in winter, the soil is warmer, heating the liquid. Ground source heat pumps are a completely safe method of heating and cooling your home with a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. They can even reduce your home heating costs by up to 70%!

Radiant Floor Heating

Radiant heating is another environmentally-friendly heating solution that has gained popularity in recent years. Radiant heat functions by circulating heated water through pex tubing in your flooring. This warms the floor and radiates heat throughout your space as the warmth from the flooring rises. Because the tubing must be installed under the flooring, radiant floor heating is recommended for new construction or during major remodels. However, despite the expense and hassle of installation, many homeowners love the energy-efficiency and great tactile experience of radiant heating. Just imagine walking across a toasty-warm floor instead of icy cold tile! Radiant heat can be used as a whole house heating system or installed in individual rooms (commonly kitchens and bathrooms).

Most of us know what green energy is by now. Basically, it’s the new environmental catch phrase that encompasses all possible alternative energy sources such as wind or solar power instead of using fossil fuels like oil or coal. With the strides being made in lowering the costs of using alternative power sources new careers are being invented and in high demand for new college graduates specializing in these fields.

A few of the new green energy careers that are currently available today are:

* Wind Technician I, II, or III – This position is performing preventative maintenance and repair on the big windmills you see on windfarms. A good job for someone who likes working outdoors and has a mechanical background.
* Renewable Energy Analyst – Basically, analyzing and procuring renewable energy systems for large companies and ensuring they are profitable and feasible to work.
* Director of Engineering, Solar Division – This job entails working with companies to develop solar power technology and make it more efficient fro public use.
* Clean Air/Clean Energy Specialist – Working with individual local communities/governments to reduce air pollution and promote clean energy solutions in the local area.
* PV Systems Designer – This job is responsible for the the design, and making of photovoltaic cells that are used in solar panels.
* Renewable Energy Consultant – A consultant who advises other companies on how to best use alternative energy sources to their best advantage.

There are many other types of careers that are being created by these new technologies and they are growing every day. The best way to get a green energy job is to have at least a 4 year college degree concentrating in some type of engineering that can be applied to green energy fields.

Thousands of organizations and businesses are going the extra mile and spending the extra dollar to buy utility-scale energy from renewable resources. So much so that the United States E.P.A. (Environmental Protection Agency) compiles a quarterly list of the top green power companies from their Green Power Partnership program which came out in July 2008.

Some businesses take diminutive steps towards a green campaign, but these companies are proving their allegiance to a greener environment by voluntarily spending millions of dollars on clean energy.

1. Intel purchased 1.3 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in January 2008. This compensates for 47 percent of the companies overall energy use.
2. PepsiCo purchased 1.1 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in 2007, the equivalent of powering 90,000 homes for an entire year. This accounts for 100 percent of their annual energy use. PepsiCo was named Green Power Partner of the Year in 2007 by the E.P.A.
3. U.S. Air Force has already purchased 9 million kilowatt hours of electricity this year as of July 2008. They have invested in a number of biogas, biomass, geothermal, solar and wind energy providers.
4. Wells Fargo has purchased 5.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity from wind energy providers thus far in 2008. They are also a Green Power Partner of the Year in 2007. More than green energy, Wells Fargo has made a number of other commitments to their green campaign including LEED certifying their buildings and offering online account statements.
5. Whole Foods Market, the past two years has purchased enough green energy to compensate for 100 percent of their energy use, totalling to over 5 million kilowatt hours annually. The company is also investing in multiple other efforts to reduce their carbon footprint on the environment.

Other organizations ranking high on the E.P.A.’s list are Starbucks, Johnson & Johnson and the University of Pennsylvania