Energy Conservation Archives

A brand new survey commissioned by Green Mountain Energy Company and conducted by Harris Interactive^® conveys surprising results.

According to the Green Mountain survey, "88% of U.S. adults said they would be willing to make changes to be more environmentally friendly as long as it didn’t cost a lot of money; 83 percent would be willing to make changes if they were easy."

The survey also shows almost half of those Americans surveyed believe the leading cause of harmful emissions comes from automobiles, as well as 77 percent that were unwilling to change certain habits, such as riding a bike to work.

For more information and specifics on the survey, view the Green Mountain press release.

Tags: conservation, energy conservation, green company, green living, green mountain energy, green tips

It's no mystery that there is a ton of useful information floating through Internet space on how to cut energy costs at home. I've probably researched and read well over a 100 articles myself on being more eco-friendly, but I must say that sometimes I stumble across a great resource of information that I have to pass on to you right away.

Gwendolyn Bounds recently provided some fantastic tips with her Saving Energy on the Cheap article over at The Wall Street Journal. I'll often come across articles with what seems like sound money-saving advice on the surface, but then the author fails to offer additional details to help consumers actually enact these changes/suggestions. This is definitely not the case with Ms. Bound's article, which goes in great length to provide both specifics and a map to getting it done.

Items of note:

• Some interesting statistics from her own adventure in reducing energy consumption—"I saved about $86. Keeping that up, I'd be on target to save roughly $500 -- or nearly 40% of last year's electricity bills -- over the next 12 months."
  
• Practical advice is the best kind in my opinion, and her suggestion of increasing cold-water washing netted a 20% reduction in the cost of washing laundry.
• My favorite aspect of the article is that she provides links to specific products that will help you actually be energy efficient, not just hope that your electricity bills will magically disappear.
  

I highly recommend families and consumers interested in saving energy and cutting costs, without having to live in an igloo, check out the article and see for yourself how easy it can be to go green at home.

Saving Energy on the Cheap - Gwendolyn Bounds

Tags: cutting costs, energy conservation, energy saving, green living, green tips, home energy conservation

Even though the summer season is on its path out the door, soon to be replaced with Fall, the energy bills can still cause some damage. The cool weather is on its way (along with the newest batch of Oscar hopefuls in the box office) and eventually, the holidays. No matter what time of year it is, though, there's always a need to save money on the home utility bills.

Mother Earth News has put up an intensive article that looks at how home-owners can save both energy and money with some simple improvements to their homes. It includes several projects (some are do-it-yourselves and others require professional assistance) that will ultimately lower your energy bills and help you conserve power and water in order to help the environment.

While some if it may seem to be a bit over your head, there are even tips on what kinds of insulation to use and ways that you as a consumer can save warm water. I've read lots of these lists, and I must say that some of the suggestions were new to me. If you're like me, then you'll agree that it's nice to learn something new that can help you around the house. What's really nice is the way that the article simplifies these things to show that energy conservation isn't a huge burden, but rather, something that anyone can do.

To view this list and start saving money, visit Mother Earth News. Are there any measures that you currently take to conserve power? Do you find them to be a strain, or are they easier than you would have thought at first?


Tags: electricity, energy, energy conservation, energy saving, home improvement, home utilities

Inhabitat recently posted an article with some interesting news about the Lone Star State's plans concerning the future of wind energy. If you're unaware, Texas is already one of the primary forces moving forward in terms of wind energy, and it seems that the push is getting stronger every day.

According to the article, Texas has been given the green light to portion upwards of "$4.9 billion towards building new transmission lines to carry wind energy from rural areas into urban hubs like Dallas." This will help to make more efficient use of the current turbines that are already in operation. In addition, it will help "power more than 4 million homes."

To get informed about the "renewable energy superhighway", head over to Inhabitat to read more.

Tags: clean energy, green, green energy, renewable energy, wind power

As the summer rolls on, it seems that prices on gas and other items that we need to maintain our active lifestyles continue to roll on as well. With no immediate end in sight to some of the concerns about spending on energy and other commodities, it's nice to be informed about what is going on in the world of energy in order to stay on top of the game.

Earlier this week Amber over at EnergyBabble posted some intriguing thoughts about the discussion of Oil Vs. Alternative Energy in today's world. She definitely poses a lot of probing questions about the long term reliability of both energy sources, the rising costs of oil and other matters that I'm sure will hit home with a lot of consumers that are trying to keep some money in the pocket. Is more offshore drilling the answer? Or do we need something else?

To join in on the energy conversation, take a trip over to EnergyBabble.

Tags: alternative energy, energy, energy conservation, energy saving

Tired of getting those unwanted ads and envelopes in the mailbox? There's nothing worse than getting home from a long day of work, grabbing the mail and pulling out piles of applications, offers and all the other stuff that can be a pain to toss once you get inside the house.

Amber at Enviromojo recently posted some helpful tips on how to stop junk mail in its tracks. It's a great resource for those who are trying to be eco-friendly while still keeping the unwanted mail from piling up on the kitchen counter. Head on over to EnviroMojo if you'd like to learn more!

Tags: eco, eco-friendly, enviromojo, environment, green, green living

During the summer, especially in Texas, the heat can at times be unbearable. While the temperatures are so high, the air conditioner becomes a much welcome invention, making you comfortable inside of your home. The unwanted side effect of all of this is that your energy bills tend to skyrocket along with the heat, since the air conditioner is running like a bandit all day long.

Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take to make sure that you keep those costs low, especially while prices on everything else are rising at the moment. A new article on Homemakers talks about 10 tips that you can use around your home in order to save money for the summer. Likewise, Plenty Magazine posted an article about 5 ways to save on energy as well.

The articles cover things ranging from sealing up the cracks in your home to insulation and even opening your windows when it rains in order to generate a breeze that freshens the air inside. To find out more, check out Plenty Magazine for 5 tips on home cooling and Homemakers for 10 power saving tips.

Tags: cheap energy, electricity, energy conservation, energy saving, save energy

A recent article was posted on ZDNet about some of the "greenest" countries in the world at the moment, and what their ambitions are for the future in terms of green energy production. Currently, two of the most ambitious energy projects in production are located across the globe from one another, with Portugal being home to one. Interestingly enough, as of 2005, Sweden seems to have the renewable energy edge as far as Europe goes.

According to the article, in 2005 Sweden was using renewable energy sources for nearly 40 percent of its energy production, with a targeted goal of 49 percent by 2020. In addition, Latvia is relying on green sources for nearly 35 percent of its energy, with a goal of 42 percent by 2020.

The article also goes on to talk about New Zealand's oceanic energy project, where seabed turbines rely on tidal flow to produce electricity. It certainly makes you wonder what kind of exciting projects we'll see from the rest of the global community. If you're interested in the future of renewable energy, read more about these projects at ZDNet.
 
Tags: conservation, environment, global warming, green, green energy, green living

This week the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it was beginning an effort to help Americans save money through advice on cooling their homes during the summer. According to the EPA "Energy Star qualified programmable thermostats can save money on energy bills and help fight global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions". It seems that programmable thermostats that control the schedules of warming or cooling a house down can save consumers "about $180 a year on home energy bills".

Since up to half of our energy costs goes towards making ourselves more comfortable while inside (whether that's through trying to cool down or warm up), having a programmable thermostat can take away the hassle of constantly adjusting the temperature and also relieves some consumers might have about the headache of energy bills that wildly fluctuate.

In addition to saving through a programmable thermostat, the article also provides some helpful tips about how else you can save money in the home, including finding and sealing up unwanted air leaks in windows or doors that continue to raise our energy bill as they allow our heating or cooling to escape. To find out more about programmable thermostats and other methods of energy conservation, read more at the EPA.

Tags: electricity, energy, energy conservation, energy star, global warming, green, green energy, green living, green tips

For those of you interested in green projects, you might want to keep your eye on a site known as CityBucks.org. They have a campaign going on called "Save the Earth", where they aim to collect $10 from each city on the planet. The end goal is to show people that by going green, they can not only save money on their home electricity bill but also help the environment.

Another interesting feature, however, is the contest they are running to win a "green home makeover". Donations of $1 dollar or more enter you into the contest to win a makeover for your home that makes it eco-friendly and saves you money. The site seems to be in its early stages, but it could be something to keep an eye on for the future.

Visit CityBucks to learn more about saving money with green energy.

Tags: energy conservation, environment, green energy, green living, green tips

Rising energy prices is a frightening prospect for hard working families across the United States, and trying to strike a balance between energy efficiency, protecting the environment and managing the costs of energy in your home is a daunting task. In fact, it's quite common to feel overwhelmed by a wall of information surrounding energy costs and the fight against global climate change.

In the spirit of affordable earth-friendly (and wallet-friendly) practices, we've compiled a list of energy conservation resources and tips to help ease the stress and worry as the hotter summer months approach. Conserving energy and saving money can go hand-in-hand with the idea that families can participate in an eco-friendly America, and reduce wear and tear on your finances along the way.

Simple Conservation Tips at Home

Conserving at home is far simpler than you probably imagined. Your cleaning, eating and energy habits, really just everything you encounter and do on a "typical" day, all contribute to increasing both your impact on the ecosystem, but also the costs of operating a comfortable home.

With tips to cleaning with baking soda and water to changing out your traditional light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), there is a plethora of great ways to be energy conscious in your daily habits. Here are just a few:

• CFLs alone can use up to 75 percent less energy than traditional light bulbs - meaning simply by switching all your light bulbs in your house, you can save time and money.
• Look into purchasing a programmable thermostat. According to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Web site, installing and using these types of thermostats in your home can help you save as much as 10 percent a year on your heating and cooling bills.
• Examine your water heater's settings. Many water heaters' factory settings are higher than they need to be. Setting your water heater to 120°F will not only be hot enough to provide comfortable water, but also save you money in the long run. You can visit the EERE Web site for other water heater tips.
  
• Be energy conscious in your everyday life! Just remembering to shut off lights as you leave is one little thing you can do every day to conserve.

Here are some additional tips on going green at home from our green blog at EnviroMojo.com

Energy Efficient Appliances at Home

ENERGY STAR^® is a fantastic venture between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the DOE to help families save literally billions of dollars in annual energy costs. Look for the ENERGY STAR^® logo on your home appliances, with all approved appliances following strict energy efficiency standards set by the DOE and EPA. In 2007 alone, people across the country helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions equal to 27 million cars and save $16 billion with ENERGY STAR^® products.

For more information on energy efficient products, home improvement and more:

• ENERGY STAR^® Web site
• Green Guide to energy efficient appliances from GreenEnergyChoice.com.

Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

Many of the concerns over rising oil prices only increases the importance of renewable energy options to meet the growing demand for energy. The DOE has unveiled an ambitious goal to increase wind energy capacity to 20 percent by 2030, a phenomenal feet considering wind power accounts for 1 percent of our total energy capacity. The cost of renewable energy tends to be confusing information for families shopping for better electricity prices. In many states the costs of renewable energy are actually quite comparable to what you traditionally pay for non-renewable electricity.

For those of us in areas that do not have renewable energy options, Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) give you the ability to use your purchasing power to reduce the impact of daily energy consumption. Carbon dioxide accounts for 3/4 of global greenhouse gas emissions. A single REC represents one megawatt hour (MWh), or 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh), of renewable electricity generated and delivered somewhere on the power grid. So your purchasing power not only replaces power generated from fossil fuels with 100 percent pollution-free renewable energy, but allows you to play a part in encouraging the development of renewable energy resources. Sites like GreenEnergyChoice.com allow you to calculate how many RECs you would need to effectively counteract your household energy usage.

The Value of a Home Energy Audit

The savings a professional energy audit can provide are substantial. With the summer months and higher energy costs steadily approaching, an energy audit can greatly improve your home's energy efficiency, helping to pinpoint air and water leaks, insulation quality and ensure your cooling and heating systems are working efficiently and properly. A professional auditor will inspect the structure and foundation, roof, HVAC and mechanicals, plumbing, and interior and exteriors, providing detailed information on areas that are lacking in proper insulation and efficiency standards.

If you decide a professional energy audit is not for you, there are still some simple ways to perform an audit yourself and help reduce your energy waste.

For more information on energy audits:

• Home Audit Can Save You Money from ElectricityTexas.com
• Home Energy Audits from ENERGY STAR^®

Additional Home Energy Conservation Resources from WhiteFence:

• EnergyBabble - News, tips and resources on electricity, natural gas, green energy, conservation and more.
• EnviroMojo - Expressing our love for Mother Earth with green news, tips and resources for the environmentalist in us all.
• GreenEnergyChoice Green Guide - Renewable energy information and resources, as well as the ability to purchase green energy and RECs.
• What is Green Energy Lens at Squidoo - Our dedicated study to the green energy phenomenon.
• WhiteFence Green - Our combined efforts as a company to offset the carbon impact of our daily business practices, and offer you additional ways to go green and save money.

Outside Resources

• 20 Percent Wind Energy by 2030
• Energy Conservation Wiki
• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
• Texas State Energy Conservation Office
• Home Energy Conservation Tips - 10 Bright Ideas to Make Your Home Energy Efficient
• U.S. DOE - Your Home
• Do Something - Using the Power of the Internet to Help Young People Change the World
• Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005
• Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Continue reading "Your Guide to Home Energy Conservation" »

Tags: energy conservation, home energy conservation