Archive for May, 2009

Save Money When Going Green

With the economy in the shape that it is in and with more and more people becoming concerned with shrinking resources, it is time for you to take a moment and see how going green can put more money back in your pocket!  There are many people out there who feel that going green is too much effort for too little reward, but the truth of the matter is that going green can be good for your wallet as well as being good for the earth!  Take a look at just a few methods that will allow you both be kinder to the environment and to save up a little bit of cash as well. One of the top ways that you can save money when you want to go green is to start taking public transport.  With more and more people working from home, think about whether you really need your car.  Take some time and really consider what your options are going to be for getting around without it.  A city with a good bus route, a ...

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Renewable Energy Rebates

When you come to think of it, renewable energy like solar photovoltaic cells, small wind turbines and fuel cells make perfect sense.  You have seen and heard of them for decades, you know that they are eco-friendly (no pollution, no fossil fuel use and no greenhouse gas emissions), and you are protected from the fluctuating costs and supply of main grid-supplied electricity.  So, what’s keeping you and countless others from adopting the technologies? High Cost, High Consumption Well, it would have to be the high cost of the components.  In some estimates, the purchase of solar panels for the average American home is equivalent to the electricity bills for the next 20 years except that you have to pay it upfront. Unless your family belongs to the millionaires’ club, it will be very difficult to adopt renewable energy on the home level.  And then there is the unassailable fact that the average American home consumes electricity far beyond the capacity of most small home installations, which makes the option less attractive. Lower Cost, High Rebates Fortunately, many governments both here and abroad have adopted measures to assist homeowners in the installation of renewable energy sources in their homes through rebates and incentives.  When these are ...

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Energy Efficiency Tips for Going Green in Your Home Office

Telecommuting or running your business from your home is a great way to save time and money, and it's also good for the environment. After all, you're not spending the fuel to commute to and from work. However, that's not all you can do to be environmentally friendly while working at home.  Let's take a look at some home office tips that can help you work a lot greener. According to the US Department of Labor, about fourteen million people telecommute part time and seven million ran home based businesses in 2004.  It's been a while since then, and the number of people working at home just keeps going up, with a sixty-three percent increase in part time telecommuting between 2004 and 2006.  Over half of all US companies asked offer some form of telecommuting at the moment. You'll want to pay close attention to energy use if you're working at home, however.  Staying home can increase your energy expenditures, and consumer electronics (such as your computer) make up around fifteen percent of usage.  Unplugging unnecessary electronics that don't need to be on is ...

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Green Mother’s Day Gifts

In the United States and in many other countries that has adopted the modern-day tradition, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May.  It is a very popular tradition filled with flowers, greeting cards and gifts, which business research has shown to amount to approximately US $5 billion annually. No matter how you look at it, Mother’s Day can leave carbon footprints on the environment from the flowers harvested to the electronic gifts manufactured.  You can, however, make your Mother’s Day gifts more Eco-friendly with these green gift ideas. Fun Activities Your mother’s personality will determine the fun green gifts you can give her on her special day.  These are usually gifts that involve providing for fun, free, and friendly activities at little strain to your pockets. For example, if your mother is a nature lover, you can schedule a hike through the national park, a picnic in the backyard garden, an evening stargazing with good food and good wine in the side, or even just a simple swim in her favorite lake. If your mother is the gourmand type, then you ...

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Reduce Global Warming: Take Public Transportation

There are many different measures that we all can take to reduce global warming, however the most popular method that we can do this is to take public transportation. Stepping out of your personal vehicle, and stepping onto a means of transportation that is public based is a wonderful way to reduce emissions, reduce your carbon footprint, and enhance the overall air quality of your community. Here, you will learn more about this particular issue, and how you can make a difference in the world. In recent studies, conclusive evidence indicates that transportation by way of personal vehicles accounts for well over one fourth of all of the emissions of carbon dioxide in the country today. However, public transportation has resulted in many different types of savings. These savings include just over one billion gallons of fuel, as well as one and a half million tons of the dangerous emissions of carbon dioxide on a yearly basis. Unfortunately, not everyone uses transportation that is public based. Still, nearly 90% of all transportation is done by way of personal vehicles. There are ...

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