CEA Study Finds Homeowners Use Electronics to Reduce Home Energy Costs

According to a new study from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®, homeowners are factoring energy efficiency into purchase decisions of consumer electronics in an effort to reduce home energy costs. The study, Home Technologies and Energy Efficiency: A Look At Behaviors, Issues and Solutions, found increasing consumer interest in the energy efficiency benefits of consumer electronics products.

The study revealed that approximately one in 10 households conducted a home energy audit in the past two years alone. Of those who had undergone an audit, 61 percent replaced appliances or consumer electronic devices with more energy efficient models. Fifty-six percent of consumers show interest in "smart energy meters" that provide information on optimum times to run appliances for energy bill savings.

CEA also found that 57 percent of consumers believe an equal mix of behavioral changes and the use of new technology will help them conserve household energy. On average, consumers told CEA that they would need to see a 31 percent increase in their monthly home energy costs before they would seek out technology options to improve energy efficiency within the home.

One issue that needs to be addressed is low consumer awareness for terms used by the custom installation industry to describe home energy efficient technology. CEA found that, while consumers are highly aware of the EPA's ENERGY STAR® designation (84 percent), only 50 percent are aware of the term "smart home" and 38 percent are aware of "home automation". When given a sample of five major companies that sell smart home products or technologies, a little over a third of respondents are aware of those companies.

For more info on the study, check out the CEA press release.

Birds vs. Wind Farms

So here I was naive in my thinking that wind farms were a great addition to ways to create renewable energy. I mean sure wind farms are a fantastic way to help the planet, but in a way are they hurting it?

See, I had no idea the huge spinning turbines could interfere with flying birds and their migratory paths. I know common sense, but I failed to make that connection.

Well, a wind farm in Texas is trying to help our fellow winged creatures by installing new radar technology. Apparently the radars will shut off the turbines if animals are in danger of colliding into it. Pretty cool!

Check out the article, Using Radar to Protect Birds from Wind Farms, to learn more on this topic.

Plant a Tree with Green Mountain Energy

Green Mountain Energy is doing something very special to help the environment in light of Earth Day. With the launch of MyEarthDayAction.com, Green Mountain Energy will plant a tree in a forest restoration project in Florida for every "green action" chosen on the Web site. Real environmental awareness starts with developing good habits, so the list is a very helpful way for people to be more conscious of the decisions they make each day. The list includes resolutions for the community, home, office and even transportation. Head on over to MyEarthDayAction and choose your green resolution!

To view more details about this announcement, check out the Green Mountain Energy press release.

Green Myths

For the past week, my fellow bloggers and I did a countdown to Earth Day. We gave you 10 days worth of green eco-friendly tips. We covered all kinds of topics like taking an environmentally friendly vacation to buying green appliances.

And now we want to inform you about green myths. The more you know about being green, the better choices you will make that will impact the planet for the better. So check out the article, Top 5 Green Myths, that I found at HowStuffWorks.com.

Final Earth Day Tip: Green Fitness

Happy Earth Day, folks. Our countdown to Earth Day finally comes to a close with one final tip that's sure to get your green motor running.

We all know the obvious ways to go green. There are plenty of guides and tips available online that can help us reduce our electricity, find better appliances, or buy products that are more eco-friendly and recyclable. However, have you ever thought about how you can go green and be fit all at the same time?

There are many ways to incorporate green fitness into your daily work-out routine. From the kinds of shoes and clothes you buy, to planting trees for a more earthy and natural workout, there's something available for everyone. Here are some handy guides to get you started on the path to green exercise:

• Green Living Ideas has a comprehensive list on all kinds of things you can do to green up your work out, including commuting and even "green gyms".
• SparkPeople compiles a run down of the earth friendly work out gear you can purchase, including links where you can find what you need.
• Runner's World tackles the question of "how is a running shoe produced"? It's a fascinating look the behind the process of making the shoes we wear.
• Suite101 lists useful tips for anyone just getting started into the world of green, and takes a gander at some easy things we can all do to help the planet and get in better shape.

Enjoy Earth Day, and let's all do our part to be environmentally conscious. If you enjoyed this tip, please be sure to see some of our other Earth Day tips.

Tip 2: Vacationing with a Low Carbon Footprint

Is it possible to take a eco-friendly vacation? Sure thing! Planning a vacation that will keep your carbon footprint low may take a little time but it is well worth it.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning a green vacation.

• Tray a Staycation - Instead of venturing off to a new location, stay in your city and discover all it has to offer. You might be surprised at the hidden treasures and adventures you'll find right at home.
• Green Hotels - The Internet makes it simple to find hotels that have environmentally friendly practices such as recycling and renewable energy.
• Purchase Carbon Offsets - You can offset your carbon foot print by purchasing carbon offsets or green tags from your electric company. This will so help you to have an earth-conscience vacation.
• Ecotourism - Green vacations are totally in! It shouldn't be hard to find a travel company that specializes in eco-friendly traveling. In fact, check out this article at Howstuffworks.com to get you started.

Tip 4: Earth Day Electricity Specials!

While we've been offering some general tips to help you be more eco-friendly for Earth Day, individuals aren't the only ones getting involved in the green action. There are several companies participating as well, and they are offering some great deals and specials in order to help the environment, and keep some extra money in your wallet.

Each of these Texas electricity providers is offering a unique green special in honor of Earth Day. There are definitely some great options for anyone looking for electricity service.

Earth Day Special Promotions

• Bounce Energy is offering the Bounce Energy Blue Sky 100% renewable energy plan. Not only will the rate be at the lowest for the month of April, but you will also receive a $50 Home Depot gift card to help "green up" your home.

• First Choice Power has a new special that allows you to order a 100% renewable energy plan from April 15-30. They have a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation Rain Forest Rescue program and will make a donation to protect 2,500 square feet of Rain Forest on behalf of each new customer.

• Direct Energy is offering the Pure Wind Plan. Take advantage of this green plan by the end of April and receive a $50 Visa gift card.

Is it Time to Change Your Old Heating and Cooling Equipment?

If you could start saving up to 20 percent on your annual energy costs and use between 25 to 40 percent less energy today, would you? It might be as simple as investing in new heating and cooling equipment for your home.

As part of their "Make a Cool Change" initiative, ENERGY STAR® offers a handy checklist to see if it's time for your household to make a heating and/or cooling equipment change:

• Your heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old
• Your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old
• Your equipment needs frequent repairs and your bills are going up
• Some of your rooms are too hot or cold compare to the rest of your home
• No one is home for long periods of the day and you don’t have a programmable thermostat
• Your home has humidity problems
• Your home has excessive dust
• Your cooling system is noisy
• Your score on the ENERGY STAR Home Energy Yardstick is below five 

For more details, download the full "Is it time for a change?" checklist (PDF).

Solar Power Generated from Space

We’re all accustomed to the different types of renewable energy – wind, solar, hydro, geothermal. Leave it to the Californians to be the first in the U.S. to announce an out-of-this-world source of energy. California’s Pacific Gas & Electric has teamed up with Solaren Corp to harvest solar power from space starting in 2016. Solar panels fixated in orbit will capture the sun’s energy, transmit it via microwave beams to Earth where power grids would then send the converted energy to millions of homes.

This venture looks promising and the possibilities seem endless. However, I’m stuck on what would happen if an airplane, or heck a bird, flew between the beams. Poof! Bye-bye? Or what would happen if the solar panels in space were knocked even a wee bit off course? But I digress. This opportunity has captured the attention of NASA and the U.S. Defense Department and will undoubtedly generate much interest and extensive research from physicists and scientists worldwide.

For more info on how space-based solar power would function, visit the SciTech section of Fox News. For those more visually-oriented, check out this animation at Space.com.

Tip 5: Eco-Friendly Coffee and Tea Habits

For many of us, our days don’t start without a jolt of coffee or tea to shake off our morning drowsiness. Then we need another round mid-afternoon to counter the food coma effects. With the high consumption rate of these two essential beverages, a few adjustments in rituals could help the Earth. Since we’re going green with everything else, why not with our coffee and tea addictions?

• Pour the Sugar and Cream First - You can cut out the use of disposable coffee stirrers by pouring in the sugar and cream before the coffee. The heat from a fresh pot of coffee or tea will dissolve the sugar and the swirl of the pouring will mix the cream around.
• Grab a Mug - If you consume two servings of coffee or tea each workday, then that leads to 10 cups per week, 40 cups per month, and 520 cups per year that stack up in landfills across the nation. Usually, these disposable cups aren’t biodegradable either. Simple solution: use a mug for your caffeine fixes. 
• Turn Trash into Compost - Don’t discard your used coffee grinds and tea leaves. Instead, save them for your compost heap which in turn can be used to enrich your plants and balance the soil’s nitrogen balance. You can also throw in the coffee filters and tea bags as they break down quickly during composting. 
• Buy Organic - When perusing aisles overflowing with coffee and tea options, target the ones that are certified as organic. When you buy organic, you support Eco-friendly methods of cultivation and harvesting and protect workers from noxious chemicals.  

For more green tips, visit TreeHugger.