The Dawg Blog

Have You Run Out of Ideas to Get a Lower Electric Bill? Here’s Two Biggies!
By Bob Lindner
Have you been racking your brain about how get a lower electric bill, you’re not alone. These days, everybody is looking at cutting cost. High gas prices just about drove us all into the ‘poor house’!

Besides the obvious things we can do like turning off the lights when you leave a room, and turning the heat so far down that you catch pneumonia! There’s a lot of simple things you can do.

Before you start though, you need to know what uses the most power to begin with! What I’m saying here is this, don’t concern yourself with turning off that 50 watt lamp and leave the refrigerator door standing open! All kidding aside, you need to know where the ‘energy suckers’ in your home are, and find ways to save on those.

Beyond the obvious stuff, like making sure all of the windows are closed properly, concentrate on the ‘Big Stuff’

Want a Lower Electric Bill? Here’s a list of the ‘Big Stuff’


Biggie #1 - The Hot Water Heater - Many people will tell you to turn down the temperature. That’s a really fun thing to do. That way you can freeze to death in the shower! That sound like a lot of fun doesn’t it. Or, how about dirty dishes, fresh out of the dishwasher. That’s really healthy!

When you need hot water, it needs to be hot! There are two things that you can do to cut your hot water cost drastically.

* Insulate your hot water heater. This makes a big difference.
* Put your hot water heater on a timer. I set mine to come on at 6am and off at 10pm. My hot water heater only runs fourteen hours a day, and off for ten hours. You can take this one to the bank!


Biggie #2 - The Furnace/Air Conditioner - Again, you have to take care of the basics. Like making sure your filter is always clean. A blocked air filter, blocks air flow, and when air flow is blocked, it takes the unit longer to reach the desired temperature and therefore runs longer. Make sure the condenser on the a/c is clean. A blocked condenser won’t get rid of the heat as fast as a clean one will. Now, for the ‘Biggie’ part, install a programmable thermostat. For heating, mine drops down to 65 at midnight, goes up to 70 at 6am, drops to 60 at 9am, then back up to 70 at 5pm. That way the temperature is just right, when I’m home and awake.

If you want a lower electric bill, those are the two ‘Biggies’! They will rob you faster than a thief in a dark subway. Take care of business with these two and your well on your way to winning the energy battle.

I have a lot more tips on how get a lower electric bill. I’m now working on eliminating it altogether. Get my free book ‘Energy Efficient Home’ and save even more money!http://www.energymoneysavings.com
_________________

Latest News….Energy saving ideas

energy saving ideas - Google News

DVD gives energy saving tips for tenants - Inside Housing DVD gives energy saving tips for tenants Inside Housing, UK - 3 hours ago The DVD is based in the Derby home of Derwent tenant Nadia Nochese, where Ms Brand dispenses energy saving tips, and shows the family – which also includes …

Helpful, energy-saving tips for your appliances - Tampabay.com Helpful, energy-saving tips for your appliances Tampabay.com, FL - Jan 5, 2009 Energy Star, a partnership between the US Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, offers a slew of helpful tips, including information …

Pine Knoll Shores works on conservation - ENC Today Pine Knoll Shores works on conservation ENC Today, NC - 12 hours ago Part of the ongoing initiative is to increase the public's awareness of the things they can do to save energy. The town includes energy saving tips from …

Group schedules energy-saving workshops - Elmira Star-Gazette Group schedules energy-saving workshops Elmira Star-Gazette, NY - 18 hours ago … determine which ideas will work in their home and how much they may save. Everyone attending will receive an assortment of energy saving items.

Bright ideas - MidWeek Bright ideas MidWeek, IL - 3 hours ago Additional energy-saving tips are available at comed.com, in which you will find that offer an Energy Analyzer, Tips & Guides, Home Makeovers, Programs and …

UT committee reviews cost-saving ideas - Memphis Commercial Appeal UT committee reviews cost-saving ideas Memphis Commercial Appeal, TN - Jan 5, 2009 They included reducing salary of employees making more than $100000, putting a tax on athletics, limiting travel and increasing energy efficiency. …

Interest in energy sustained - Jackson Hole Daily Interest in energy sustained Jackson Hole Daily, WY - 7 hours ago Lower Valley Energy also offers Home Weatherization Incentives, Energy Audits, Residential Lighting, rebates on energy-saving appliances and water heaters, …

ADD UP THE SAVINGS ; Elementary Students Incorporate Conservation … - istockAnalyst.com (press release) ADD UP THE SAVINGS ; Elementary Students Incorporate Conservation … istockAnalyst.com (press release), OR - 17 hours ago … Labs scientist and energy conservation expert Al Zelicoff, who helped develp a list of easy-to-implement energy saving ideas for them to take home. …

City's chief 'green' official blends his background in electrical … - Houston Chronicle Houston Chronicle City's chief 'green' official blends his background in electrical … Houston Chronicle, United States - Jan 5, 2009 When Eugster recounts how the city helped low-income residents install energy-saving insulation, he speaks about "performance metrics. …

Progress Energy Florida Signs Contract for New, Advanced-Design … - Reuters Progress Energy Florida Signs Contract for New, Advanced-Design … Reuters - Jan 5, 2009 Florida's nuclear cost recovery legislation implements state energy policy by saving consumers money and providing annual oversight of all nuclear project …

RSS integration by RSSinclude

Five Simple Things You Can Do to Live Green
By David Kraft
Today’s struggling economy has many people looking for ways to conserve energy, help the environment, and save money. Thankfully, many “green” lifestyle changes that you can make can do all three. Many people would like to start living more green but don’t know where to begin. This list of five simple steps can help get you started.

1. Replace your current light bulbs with compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs). CFLs use 75% less energy than regular bulbs and will last longer. Over the span of their lives, the savings in electricity will more than pay for the additional cost of CFLs when compared to regular bulbs.

2. Stop using paper and plastic bags for your shopping and start using reusable shopping bags. Reusable bags help reduce the number of paper and plastic bags that are produced and enter our waste stream - where paper and plastic account for over 40% of solid waste. Paper and plastic bags harm the environment in their production (pollution) and disposal (litter, contamination of water and soil, incineration which pollutes). They are commonly NOT recycled.

3. Begin using rags and towels around the house to clean up spills and other messes instead of paper towels.

4. Recycle your dish water and use it to water plants or complete additional chores.

5. Start using rechargeable batteries to reduce the amount of toxic waste that you dispose of each year.

There you have it - five things that we all can easily do that will have positive impacts on our environment and energy use. A couple of them will also help you save some money. Living green isn’t any more complicated than not living green - it just involves making different choices - so start making them!

David Kraft is a freelance author that writes about a variety of subjects. He supports eco-friendly living and green products such as reusable shopping bags. For more information about eco-friendly living, visit his reusable bags site.
____________

living green - Google News

Living Green - Green kitchen products - WWSB ABC 7 Living Green - Green kitchen products WWSB ABC 7, FL - 13 hours ago SARASOTA - Families spend a lot of time in the kitchen. It's the gathering spot in the home. So why not make it as environmentally friendly as possible? …

In Egypt, Living on a Farm - New York Times New York Times In Egypt, Living on a Farm New York Times, United States - 13 hours ago Maryanne Stroud Gabbani's two stucco houses are painted a gray-green shade designed to blend in with the foliage, which includes banana trees, cactus plants …

Fort Pierce festival to celebrate green living on Treasure Coast - TCPalm Fort Pierce festival to celebrate green living on Treasure Coast TCPalm, FL - Jan 3, 2009 FORT PIERCE — The Art of Living Green — the Treasure Coast's first festival celebrating greener living — will be Jan. 17 and 18 on the grounds of the AE …

Victory Gardens Theater - NBC Chicago Victory Gardens Theater NBC Chicago, IL - Jan 6, 2009 The next open rehearsal for VG's first world premiere play of 2009, 'Living Green' is Thursday, Jan. 15 at 6 pm at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, …

Green revolution: still possible amid deep recession? - Christian Science Monitor Christian Science Monitor Green revolution: still possible amid deep recession? Christian Science Monitor, MA - 14 hours ago … off and will continue to do so while credit is tight in 2009, and consumers may be deflected from their newfound interest in (costly) green living. …

Phoenix resident shares his green philosophy - Arizona Republic Phoenix resident shares his green philosophy Arizona Republic, AZ - Jan 2, 2009 The whole notion of living green is the different levels or shades of green. There are things, like not using plastic bottles. That would be easy green. …

Patricia Barber delivers intimate performance at Green Mill - Chicago Tribune Patricia Barber delivers intimate performance at Green Mill Chicago Tribune, United States - 3 hours ago Either way, if you had closed your eyes you might have thought you were lingering in someone's living room late at night, eavesdropping as he or she …

Boise Green Living: Going '10 to the 100th' - KIVI-TV Boise Green Living: Going '10 to the 100th' KIVI-TV, ID - 20 hours ago It wasn't easy mastering video editing but Reddy wanted to showcase his green idea in the best light possible. His concept involves the use of containers …

Plainfield to host green living events - Plainfield Sun Plainfield to host green living events Plainfield Sun, IL - Jan 5, 2009 There are financial benefits to living an environmentally conscious life, said Jonathan Proulx, a village planner. Rain barrels are a prime example of that, …

A not so green and pleasant land - guardian.co.uk A not so green and pleasant land guardian.co.uk, UK - 11 hours ago The documentary lifts the lid on rural people living in poverty. Show & Tell brings unfamiliar voices to the screen and exposes the hardship and stigma of …

RSS integration by RSSinclude

Shower Head Tips and Information
By Theodor Cartman
Taking a shower is something most of us do without giving it a second thought. But did you actually know what the type of shower head you are using can determine whether you pay or save hundreds of dollars every year in heating costs and water costs? Many do not know this and assume that if they need a shower, any old shower head will accomplish the job regardless of the water used and the energy used. With the world’s water supply dwindling and energy costs running at an all-time high, what many people do not realize is that using the the wrong shower head can drastically escalate one’s energy and water costs. To avoid this, education is needed as to the best shower heads and knowing that not all shower heads are the same. There are ordinary wasteful shower heads and then there are those which are energy and water savers and which also do good to your skin at the same time.

As we mentioned earlier, not all shower heads are the same. There are many different types and styles and also many different makes and models. This means there will be something for everyone. Regular shower heads are cheap and most houses and apartments come with pre-installed heads. Their cost really depends on the make and model and also technological features. You can buy a regular shower head for less than a $100, but others cost over $1,000 such as those with thermal energy features and also those which are gold or silver-plated. One thing you need to remember when buying a shower head installation. This is because different shower heads require different ways to install and the more complex the installation the more it will cost you. This is because some installations also require modifications and changes to be made in the plumbing.

When buying a shower head you must do your research and ask yourself some questions. How many ways of spraying water does the shower head have? People tend to go for the ones that come with adjustable spray settings. Larger adjustable heads are also doing well in the market. There are hand held models and wall mounted models. Vertical shower heads are also popular due to their spa-like features which can be enjoyed easily from the comfort of one’s home. The saying you get what you pay for also applies to shower heads.

The best ones today are those with energy-saving features which also reduce the amount of water used in a typical shower session. These may restrict the flow of water to just 2.5 gpm (gallons per minute) or less (about 9.5 liters/min) which is a great water saver. This is also ideal for water conservation and also energy costs.

Unfortunately many of them were made before 1992and as such are not energy-efficient and are downright wasteful pumping up to 5 gpm (19 liters/min).

Looking for information on shower heads and recommends the best shower heads when buying.
___________________

Google Video - Shower Head Tips

How to Install a Shower Head : Tips for Removing Shower Head Learn Tips for Removing Shower Head in this free bathroom repair video from our experienced plumber. www.youtube.com

How to Install a Shower Head : Tips for Cleaning Shower Heads Learn how to Remove Residue during Shower Head Installation in this free bathroom repair video from our experienced plumber. www.youtube.com

How to Install a Shower Head: Free Online Home Improvement … Learn how to test the seals on a shower head in this free home improvement video clip on DIY shower head installation. www.youtube.com

How to install a low flow shower head to save water Learn how to identify and install a low flow shower head and also get a few other tips on conserving water in the shower. This eco friendly tip … www.wonderhowto.com

How to Install a Shower Head : Tips for Cleaning Shower Heads Learn how to Remove Residue during Shower Head Installation in this free bathroom repair video from our experienced plumber. www.expertvillage.com

How to Install a Shower Head: Free Online Home Improvement … Learn how to install a new shower head in this free home improvement video clip on DIY shower head installation. www.expertvillage.com

Home Improvement & Repair Tips: Easy Do It Yourself Projects … Learn tips on how to fix a leaky showerhead in your bathroom by removing lime and calcium deposits in this free online home improvement video. homegarden.expertvillage.com

How to Install a Shower Head : Tips for Removing Shower Head Learn Tips for Removing Shower Head in this free bathroom repair video from our experienced plumber. www.expertvillage.com

How to Install a Shower Head: Free Online Home Improvement … Learn how to tape the pipe and install the switch when installing a shower head in this free home improvement video clip on DIY shower head … www.youtube.com

How to change a shower head in your bathroom Changing a shower head in your bathroom can seem like an intimidating task. It really is a very simple thing to do. In this how to video, Barbara … www.wonderhowto.com

RSS integration by RSSinclude

Outside Shutters Can Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
By Shad Storhaug
In this era of global warming and climate change, many people are converting their homes into a more energy efficient place. Green building typically means putting more energy efficient appliances in the home, using recycled materials during construction, installing a more sophisticated thermostat, and adding solar powered lighting. However, often overlooked is the source of the climate change problem - the sun.

Using the sun’s rays effectively can help to save both energy costs and protect your furniture and carpet from the harmful rays of the sun. A good way to do this is to install functional outside shutters on your home. Functional outside shutters can be closed to keep out the sun’s rays in the summer time which will lower your air conditioning costs. In the winter, you can open the external shutters wide to allow the sun to warm your home naturally, which will also make your home more energy efficient.

Many people look at the price of operable outside shutters and the related hardware and they can’t see the value of installing something on their windows that costs so much money. However, when you consider that outside shutters do more than make your home more aesthetically appealing and can in fact more than pay for themselves through years of energy savings, you can see that outside shutters really do add value and savings to your home.

Global warming is a reality and unless energy usage in most homes is lowered, climate change is inevitable. You can do your part by making a few improvements to your home such as installing solar powered lights and putting outside shutters on your home’s windows.

Of course, in addition to energy efficiency other some other benefits of outside shutters include:

Security - Functional outside shutters can make your home more difficult to break into because they can protect the glass from being easily broken. Also, because they typically latch on the inside, outside shutters make the window opening more difficult to penetrate. Outside shutters can be secured shut whenever you leave town to keep your home safe.

Privacy - Closing your outside shutters can avert your neighbor’s prying eyes from penetrating your windows. Whenever you don’t feel like having an audience, simply pull your outside shutters closed.

Harsh Weather Protection - If you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes, putting the right outside shutters on your home can protect the glass from shattering in high winds. Outside shutters can also help prevent your skylights from the heavy weight of snow in the winter time.

Solar Control - The ability to control the amount of light in the room with outside shutters can not only lower your energy bills, but also make your home a more comfortable place to live and work. Some operable louvered outside shutters work in 2 ways to control the amount of light that enters your home - they can be opened and closed over the entire window just like other outside shutters, but also the louvers can be opened and closed while the shutters are in the closed position using a tilt rod. This changes the angle of the louvers on the outside shutters thus controlling the amount of light that can pass through. In addition to making your home more comfortable, outside shutters can protect your expensive furniture and carpet from the sun’s rays, meaning you will need to replace them less often over the years.

Elegance - Operable outside shutters can move your home up a notch in the pecking order of luxury and add a new dimension to your windows that you didn’t have before. Installing functional outside shutters adds both to the perceived value and actual value of your home.

Aesthetics - And of course, the most popular reason to install outside shutters is to make your home more beautiful and to add a touch of personal style to its appearance. This can be done with either functional outside shutters or decorative outside shutters. While decorative shutters don’t provide the other benefits listed here, they can make your home a more beautiful place and still add to its overall value.

When considering outside shutters for your home, it is important to realize that there is more to consider than just the price when determining the bottom line. Through years of use, functional outside shutters can pay for themselves many times over by providing other benefits.

Shad Storhaug is the founder of ShutterContractor.com and is an expert in providing advice about selection, measuring, installation, and maintenence of outside shutters. For more information, please visit ShutterContractor.com or http://www.external-shutters.com/.

This article is copyright (C) 2008 Shad Storhaug. You have permission to republish this article in its entirety on your blog or website provided all hyperlinks are left intact and no changes are made to the content of the article.

Passive Solar Design Basics
By Tim McDonald
If you ever wanted to save electricity and improve the comfort of your home without using any high-tech gadgets, then passive solar design is the answer.

Passive solar design is a technique of using the sun to naturally heat and light up your home or office. This is achieved by using various building features and materials to improve heating and cooling efficiency. The best part about passive solar design is that it is relatively simple to implement, little maintenance is needed, and your home’s market value can increase considerably.

Your home’s passive solar potential is determined by where and how it is situated and by the types of windows and materials used. Although most buildings can be optimized to receive the ideal amount of sunshine, it is easier if they are on flat land or a sun-facing slope. If your home is surrounded by many trees, make sure they are deciduous so that they shade your home in summer, but their bare branches let sunlight through in winter. Also, try avoid nearby buildings that create too much shade.

When constructing a new home, make sure it is built so that the length of the house faces the sun, allowing the maximum amount of sunlight. Also note how the size, shape and placement of windows will determine the amount of natural heat and light in your home.

So how does the sun heat your home? There are three ways:

Direct gain - direct heat from the sun shining on a surface.
Indirect gain - radiated heat from objects heated by the sun.
Isolated gain - determined by the airflow in your home.

To ensure the most natural heat from the above three sources, a number of large windows should be placed on the sun-facing side of your home, allowing maximum sunlight in.

All that sunlight and heat in your home is useless, if it cannot be stored and used when the sun is set. The solution is to use heat-absorbent flooring and walls that carry on radiating heat long into the night. A simple way to reduce power cost in winter is to locate to rooms in your house that get the most sunshine at certain times of day. Also, shady rooms should be cut-off (their doors closed) from the rest of the house to retain heat better.

During summer, the right length roof overhangs or eaves can be used to control the amount sunlight and heat in your home. The eaves should be wide enough shade out the intense midday sun, but let the let low-angle sunlight through during dusk and dawn to light up and warm the home. Again, the right trees and shrubs can be planted to regulate the house’s seasonal exposure to the sun.

For current buildings, the simplest passive solar design solution is to replace your windows with modern ones, that use various methods to store up 50% more heat. Although they are 10% to 15% more expensive, they pay for themselves in the long-term from all the power saved to heat your home.

Double-glazed or Low-emissivity (Low-E) windows let solar heat in, but keep in the indoor radiant heat. Another way to reduce heat loss is to ensure tight seals around all windows or by using multiple panes that have gaps between them filled with argon or krypton gas.

What your windows are made from can make a big difference too. While metal framed windows generally conduct heat out the house, wood, vinyl and fiberglass frames insulate the heat better. Always ensure any modern windows bought have labels issued by Energy Star or the National Fenestration Rating Council. These labels provide statistics on how effective and efficient the windows are at retaining heat, which helps you purchase the right windows for your conditions and budget.

So you can see, passive solar design is the effective use of nature and physics to maximize the use of the sun’s natural lighting and heat. Always remember, the point of solar passive design is to reduce your electricity usage and bills. So it is recommended to always weigh up the costs against the potential power savings when installing any passive solar solution at home.

Tim McDonald and his wife, Trudy, have been living off the grid since June 2008. If you want to learn to make your own power at home, get off the grid and save thousands on your electricity bills, then go to http://DIY-Renewable-Energy.com, where you will find a wealth of information.
______________

solar design - Google News

Solyndra Proves Creative Solar Designs Are a Hit With Investors - BNET Solyndra Proves Creative Solar Designs Are a Hit With Investors BNET, Ca - Jan 2, 2009 By Chris Morrison | January 2nd, 2009 @ 7:12 pm An innovative rooftop solar design for that looks like a cross between a row of fluorescent tube lights and …

Solar Velocity Delivers a Facelift to Lotuscars.com and Designs a … - PR.com (press release) Solar Velocity Delivers a Facelift to Lotuscars.com and Designs a … PR.com (press release), NY - 3 hours ago … such as web design, Internet applications, and web 2.0 online advertising. Solar Velocity’s innovative services produce measurable marketing campaigns …

Green by design - CharlotteObserver.com CharlotteObserver.com Green by design CharlotteObserver.com, NC - Jan 3, 2009 Passive solar design uses architectural strategies to harness the sun's energy to warm buildings while guarding against excessive heat gain. …

Design plan approved for proposed Marco Utilities building - Marco Island Sun Times Design plan approved for proposed Marco Utilities building Marco Island Sun Times, Fl - Jan 5, 2009 Waldack said proposed eco-friendly features of the design, such as solar paneling are in a step in the right direction. "I thought a green building was just … Marco to build "green" utility building Marco Eagle all 4 news articles

ESI Among World-Renowned Team Commissioned to Design Shanghai … - MSNBC ESI Among World-Renowned Team Commissioned to Design Shanghai … MSNBC - 17 hours ago Dr. Shi Zhengrong, a renewable energy pioneer, who founded Suntech Power Co., Ltd., which specializes in manufacturing silicon solar cells, modules and …

New Solar Program For Bay Area Residents - Alternative Energy Retailer magazine New Solar Program For Bay Area Residents Alternative Energy Retailer magazine, CT - 20 hours ago Program participants will be eligible to receive 25% off the retail cash price of a home solar system and a comprehensive design and installation package …

Progress Energy Florida Signs Contract for New, Advanced-Design … - Reuters Progress Energy Florida Signs Contract for New, Advanced-Design … Reuters - Jan 5, 2009 Today, Progress Energy Florida's alternative and renewable projects include multiple biomass projects, several solar photovoltaic initiatives, …

Stockwire.com: JA Solar Holding Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ:JASO) just … - Trading Markets (press release) PV Tech Stockwire.com: JA Solar Holding Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ:JASO) just … Trading Markets (press release), CA - 20 hours ago With a state of the art manufacturing facility in Shenzhen, China, Solar Power, Inc. provides turnkey design-build solutions through its Roseville, … Collins Stewart Downgrades JA Solar (JASO) to Hold StreetInsider.com (subscription) all 38 news articles

Solar Power, Inc. to Present at the 11th Annual Needham Growth … - Reuters Solar Power, Inc. to Present at the 11th Annual Needham Growth … Reuters - Jan 5, 2009 With a state of the art manufacturing facility in Shenzhen, China, Solar Power, Inc. provides turnkey design-build solutions through its Roseville, …

Passive-Solar Gem Wins Build Green Award - istockAnalyst.com (press release) Passive-Solar Gem Wins Build Green Award istockAnalyst.com (press release), OR - Jan 4, 2009 The builder lamented that the incentives for owners to do passive-solar design waned after the 1970s. "At the time, there were very favorable state and …

RSS integration by RSSinclude