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Energy efficient lighting not only contributes to a better environment but also saves huge energy costs. By retrofitting lights you can upgrade your existing lighting system to more energy efficient one. LED retrofit is about replacing certain parts of the lighting system with others that make more sense, with respect to saving energy.

Energy savings may not be apparent immediately, but are realized only over a period of time. The savings that occur over the life time of the energy efficient device is sufficient to pay for the cost of the equipment and generate further returns.

LED retrofit technology is becoming more and more popular as a relatively straightforward and simple solution for energy savings. Commercial facilities and cities use a lot of power and the modern lifestyle also does not make it easy to reduce energy consumption. But just by adopting the LED retrofit lighting system in your office or home, you can contribute a great deal to making the planet just a little bit greener as well as reduce your energy consumption cost.

The ordinary lighting fixtures that are installed in homes and offices consume a lot of energy. Homeowners can make a wise investment towards lighting retrofit and save energy costs by more than 40%. It is estimated that if all the buildings in the US were to be upgraded to the LED retrofit lighting system, the demand for electricity can be reduced by over 30% and energy savings of above $250 billion can be made.

If you conduct an energy audit, you will understand how much energy is being wasted in your home or office, and how much savings can be made by switching to a more energy efficient technology. Retrofitting ensures guaranteed cost savings as well as positive cash flow.

An LED retrofit lighting system is expected to have a payback period of 3 years and a return of slightly above 30% can be expected. This is considering the cost of retrofit equipment, installation and maintenance.

The US Department of Energy conducted a study which found that 50% energy savings can be made in a cost-effective way by retrofitting walkway lighting. This can be achieved while still easily meeting the minimum recommended illumination levels for walkways.

LED fixtures cost more to purchase than the traditional light sources. There are many factors that contribute to the effective and economic performance of LEDs, so a range of payback scenarios exist. But a lower wattage luminaire significantly reduces the payback period. Keeping an eye on the desired level of illumination and selecting the least wattage that will help you achieve that is the best way to reduce the payback period.

LED retrofits are now available for display lighting, underwater lighting, cove lighting, residential and office space lighting, architectural details and other lighting applications. The technology is also dramatically improving at a rapid pace. Along with improvement in the chip performance and reduction in price, the payback periods of LED retrofits will continue to come down.

As we all know that Sun is the ultimate source of energy and is available in profusion. It is a renewable supply of energy. The solar energy is attained from sunlight and it is freely and is hugely available in almost all sections of the globe. Wind and Water are the other two intrinsic sources of energy that are hugely available in atmosphere. We must never forget to appreciate Almighty for these precious renewable innate sources of energy that has made life viable on earth. We should save energy and know the value of it. Solar Energy is unlimited and freely available intrinsic energy which is eco-friendly as it does not pollute the environment nor does it emit greenhouse fumes. The solar power obtained from solar energy is a boon in our lives as it compensates the total or partial energy consumption. It not only assists you to supply solar power but also saves a great sum paid on power bills. The solar PV panels that are installed on the terraces are of great benefit as it has low maintenance and is highly useful. The solar electricity is used to operate a number of electronic machinery like TV, computers, lamps, fans, refrigerators, lights, and all other appliances that are used for day-to-day purposes. By fixing solar cooker or a solar heater you can attain great advantages as your electric bills are cut down tremendously. Hot or warm water used for daily needs like in bathrooms or swimming pools assists you to save on huge electricity bills. There are a number of companies that present you efficient solar equipments to successfully trap solar energy and change it to electric energy and use it for various purposes. Solar energy that is used for homely purposes is nothing but homemade energy and can be of huge help to save our mother earth for future generation. These industries provide a thorough layout and prove to be an ideal guide to create homemade solar power and wind power. Not just this but the solar power industries offer great details of installation with images of step by step development. It even assures environmental safety as it does not release dangerous gases that contaminate the environment and add to global warming. You are greatly contented by the working of homemade energy at affordable charges. This not just assists you to attain a good deal and save a good deal on installation but is also beneficial throughout as it brings down your electric bill tremendously low. Isn’t it a good idea to hoard a huge sum of money in today’s hard money market? Contribute for a noble reason by saving this world for our next generations to come. Hence, to hoard a good sum of money it is sensible to change over to homemade energy as it highly reduces your electricity bill and save the World. Don’t waste money on huge electricity bills, be sensible and think about homemade energy and start producing your own electric power. Solar energy is an old concept but is successfully used now-a-days to make the most out of this innate energy obtained from Sun. Achieve maximum benefits from the divine body-Sun and contribute to save our planet. Opt for homemade energy and lead a stress free life in future as you are certain to save a good amount of money and it is a good idea as you never know what your future stores for you, so save money wisely by homemade energy.

As gas and energy prices are rising again, that means Americans must tighten up their belts even further. In the winter you don’t need to dread the drop in the temps, ceilings fans can help you adjust your thermostats to save you dollars. You don’t need to dread hot summer temps and high air conditioning bills either when you have ceiling fans, your AC’s best friend!

If you already have ceiling fans in place, check to see whether they are Energy Star qualified. Ceiling fan/light combinations that have earned Energy Star accreditation are about 50 percent more efficient than non-conforming units. The difference lies in improved motors and blade designs. A model with an Energy Star light kit included provides even greater energy savings, and the bulbs don’t need to be changed as often.

Consumer demand for more energy-efficient ceiling fans and lighting products has driven the ceiling fan industry to integrate new ceiling fan lighting, ceiling fan blade and ceiling fan motor technologies that save operating costs. New products integrating the latest technologies are up to 75 percent more efficient than previous ceiling fan models.

Put your ceiling fans on when you are in the room during the day and when sleeping and turn your ceiling fans off when you leave. Ceiling fans cool people, not air. Using ceiling fans wisely while turning down the AC can save a lot of money visa a versa in the winter for your heater. Ceiling fans do such an efficient job of circulating air, they probably should be everywhere in your home. Any type of room can benefit, bedrooms, family rooms, and exterior living spaces are the most common applications, but we are seeing them used more in larger bathrooms, walk-in closets, home offices and garages.

Size Matters, consumers are installing ceiling fans throughout their homes, for example, fans with blade spans of 54, 60, and 72 inches are increasingly popular for living rooms and great rooms, while those with 24-inch spans are being installed in hallways and walk-in closets. How do you estimate the best size of ceiling fans for your needs? A good rule of thumb is a 36- to 52-inch diameter blade sweep for rooms measuring 200 square feet or less, are recommended by the ceiling fan experts, For rooms 200 to 400 square feet, we recommend ceiling fans have a diameter of 52 inches or greater; if the space is more than 400 square feet, two or more ceiling fans will be needed.

The number of blades makes some but little difference in airflow, however, whether to choose a four-, five-, or six-blade version is really a matter of aesthetics. You hear a lot about ceiling fans blade pitch, diameter and motor size. These are factors that will affect airflow, the greater the pitch of the blades on your ceiling fans the greater the airflow.

It’s important not to underestimate your ceiling fans. The most common size of ceiling fans sold in the U.S. is a 52-inch diameter. This size ceiling fans provides excellent results in rooms up to 150 square feet, but can also be appropriate for smaller rooms since the 52″ size ceiling fans can be adjusted with multiple speeds and the direction of the blades can be reversed, unlike some of the other smaller blade span ceiling fans. “It’s better to choose a slightly larger fan for a room than to choose a diameter that might prove to be too small to adequately provide air movement.

Many ceiling fans now come with integrated lighting or light kits, these all in one ceiling fans, offer a coordinating light kit available as an option. These lights do not offer enough illumination on their own, but they are useful in a room that already has some form of ambient lighting. Ceiling fans with lights should be considered as accent and mood lighting.

Should a Ceiling Fan Blend In or Stand Out?

The next step to consider is whether you’d like your ceiling fans to serve as a focal point or be more understated. The question is should your ceiling fans blend in or stand out? Is the room contemporary, traditional, tropical or transitional? Ceiling fans can serve as a design feature. The primary trend in ceiling fan design has been for styles that create aesthetic statements as bold as a chandelier. This follows the overall trend in residential design for more varied and more sophisticated concepts. Today a consumer can find a ceiling fan that matches any interior design.

In the summer, ceiling fans offer a comfortable alternative and accompaniment to air conditioning, but in the winter employing the reversible blade option provides a means of circulating the hotter air that rises to the ceiling. This helps save on heating bills when the weather gets cold. Ceiling fans do help in the winter months too.

When considering the many sources of renewable energy that could help reduce the United States’ dependence on fossil fuels, much consideration must be give to geothermal energy.  Geothermal energy is entirely clean and does not pose the health risks associated with the harvesting, use, and burning of fossil fuels.  It is an affordable and sustainable option, something that should be given great consideration as a viable alternative.

Geothermal energy is simply the heat given off by the earth itself.  The core of the earth contains a layer of magma that continually produces heat.  This heat is produced by the decay of radioactive materials such as uranium, and over fifty thousand times more energy than contained by all of our oil and natural gas resources can be found in only a 33,000 foot radius of the earth’s surface.

Currently, the most common method of harvesting geothermal energy is by tapping into geothermal springs.  In these springs, cooler water seeps into the ground, only to be heated through convection and rise to the surface as steam.  This steam is collected and used to power electricity generators.  Many power plants drill into the earth in order to capture steam more effectively and in greater quantities.

Many geothermal reservoirs have been discovered across the globe, each with the capacity to produce as much energy as a thousand wind power plants.  There is currently much research taking part on a global scale to find effective and safe ways to tap into and utilize this energy.  The biggest hindrance to mass geothermal energy use has been the buildup of silica inside wells at geothermal power plants.  Because researchers have recently found ways to help control this costly problem that has long been the biggest barrier to widespread use of geothermal energy, there is much hope that this form of energy will finally receive the attention and consideration it deserves.

With the discovery of a way to control silica buildup comes the hope that the energy committees will invest more research and money into geothermal energy, which promises to be both inexpensive and one of the cleanest energy sources available.  Over sixty million people worldwide receive their electricity from geothermal power plants, with over four million of those people residing in the United States.  Supporters of geothermal industry hope to see that number rise significantly in the coming years, as the process becomes more efficient in regards to both finances and energy production.

In short, tapping into the earth to harvest geothermal energy is by far one of the most sustainable methods of acquiring energy available.  The earth’s core is a constant supply of energy, with no risk of depletion and no harmful emissions.  Much research should be put into geothermal energy to find the best possible methods of bringing the technology to the greatest number of people, creating energy independence and eliminating the need for fossil fuels in the production of electricity.

The usage of natural gas energy has rendered methods of energy generation like wind power, virtually outdated. More people are content with using natural energy methods rather than wind energy generation methods. Studies have shown that there has been a 75% slow down in the number of people who used to generate energy through wind power. The primary advantage of natural gas energy methods is that they are very cheap. Even though there was a prediction that green energy industries will see a boom in the number of jobs this year, there have been mass lay-offs which have resulted in the disinterest of people.

Since the natural gas energy methods are cheaper as compared to other alternatives, most people are opting for it. The green energy projects are not able to compete with the sudden fall in prices and are being rendered the less preferred of the two. Since there is a recession going on, most companies are taking up natural gas energy rather than solar or wind power because of the high initial cost. Another fact is that many new gas reserves have been found in the last year and a half which has further helped in reducing the price.

Many investors are disinterested in investing money in projects which will take lots of time as well as cost more. Wind power requires a lot of investment and ongoing maintenance work as well which outs a lot of financial pressure on the investors. In these times of recession, it is only logical that they try to cut down on the expenses as much as possible. Natural gas energy reserves are being discovered all over the world and this has resulted in a global crisis for wind power projects. The low cost of investment helps in cutting down losses in this recession struck period.

There is only one sure way to make your home energy efficient especially during the winter and that is insulating it. Home insulation is just like putting heating blanket inside your house and with the use of effective insulating materials you can really save up to 20 to 30 percent of your electricity bill from your heating and aside from that your families are well protected and free from cold and diseases. There are two common types of insulation materials used for homes which are usually effective and these are the fiberglass batts and the mineral wool. Fiberglass insulation batts are snugly installed between wall studs or on ceiling joists or on the floor. Mineral wool or also known as rock wool is much like fiberglass batts but it is firmer and more resistant to water and fire. These two materials are very good insulation materials on walls and floors but how about the insulation for your doors and windows? For sure there is heat coming out of them especially if these fixtures have only single panes. This is where double glazing advice comes to support.

Saving on Energy with Those Windows

The best way so far in insulating our windows and doors is to use double glazing panes on them. It has been proven that because double glazed materials can keep the heat from escaping through these fixtures it can save us more energy for our heating requirement Double glazing serve as second layer of protection for our glass windows and doors thus greatly minimizing the lost of heat and put our heaters operating at optimum level. So far the best advice for homeowners is to invest on this type of insulation and let double glazing advice guide them for more efficient energy consumption. The method of double glazing is simple. It works by trapping air between two panes of glasses and these air will serve as the insulating barrier which will prevent the lost of heat and prevent condensation from entering our house either. Properly secured glazing can also serve as noise barriers.

Double glazing is now becoming popular on countries where climate become severely cold during winter. They are now common fixtures on schools, offices, churches, hospitals and even homes for the aged and young children because incidentally they can maintain heat to the room and keep the establishments from paying too much on their energy consumption. You should always look for double glazing advice from the internet or from home improvement magazines because from time to time new innovations are published. In the UK and some parts of the US, double glazing becomes a requirement because these countries are now proceeding on laws that encourage saving up on energy. It becomes part of the Home Information Packs that windows and doors must be properly secured so that energy use during winter is kept at efficient level and the best way to do this is by employing double glazing on these fixtures. Double glazed windows and doors serve as assets of the house and they can last for years so they are considered long term investment for homes. Your house

Air conditioning is actually a strange concept when you think about it. Some of the most popular air conditioners create a cold feeling by pulling the heat out of hot air as opposed to simply producing cold air. The results are still the same: refreshing cool air. This method of air conditioning actually uses less electricity than other methods, so making it solar powered makes it the perfect eco-friendly system.

The way that heat ends up producing cold air is because these air conditioners use hot water as their means of energy. This energy is then transferred into the cold air that comes out of the system. Typically the type of heat that an AC uses comes from gas boilers or the leftover heat from generators, but with the advances in solar technology the heat can now come directly from the sun. This means that the electricity used to power the heating source before no longer becomes necessary at all.

Trapping the heat from the sun is a simple process with the right tools. Solar panels absorb the heat from the sun in the form of thermal energy. That thermal energy is then delivered into the heart of the air conditioner where a ‘chiller’ is set up to cool off the air. There are different kinds of solar cooling systems and while they all basically work the same way they each have unique attributes that may make them more appropriate in different settings.

So what does this new technology mean for the environment? For one thing, it means that there will be less dangerous chemicals released into the air. All solar powered air conditioners and cooling systems run on chilling solutions that are made with limited amounts of hazardous chemicals such as Freon and other toxic materials. It also means less gases and pollutants getting into the air because energy is being conserved. The less energy that is used overall, the less energy power plants need to produce. On top of that, most of these cooling systems are very careful to create these systems with durable materials that won’t corrode over time.

When it comes to how the consumer is affected, being able to use a solar air cooling system means saving money. The initial installation costs can be over a thousand dollars, but over the years the energy it saves will return the investment and then be nothing but extra money. This is especially true for the solar cooling systems that can also be used for heating in the winter.

Using solar power to run an air conditioner was a great idea because the time when people are using their ACs is the time when the sun produces the most heat. These new systems kill two birds with one stone by cooling off homes and doing so in a much more natural way than conventional air conditioning systems. It’s another step towards creating zero energy homes and self-sustaining energy systems. This is a great example of how people can produce things that save the environment when they really try.

The past few years have found all of us looking at rising energy costs which seem to have been multiplied by the slow economy.  Whether you are thinking about ways to “go green” or you simply want to lower your monthly out of pocket energy costs, we’ve compiled some tips to help you out.  This is the third in a series of articles on lowering your monthly energy costs.

In our first two articles we discussed several tips to reduce your energy costs specifically during either the winter or summer months.  In this article we will discuss tips you can use year round to help lower your energy costs and save on your monthly bills.

First let’s recap some of the tips we suggested using in winter:

-          Lower your thermostat.  Stay warmer by wearing more clothes, using space heaters, using electric blankets at night, etc.

-          Check for drafts entering the home through doors or windows and seal them off.

-          Reduce your outdoor pool’s running time to a minimum

Next let’s look at some of the tips we suggested for summer:

-          Raise your thermostat.  Stay cool by using fans, drinking plenty of water,  wearing fewer clothes, etc.

-          Pull shades to block out the sun’s heat.

-           Insure your A/C unit is running optimally

Using our summer and winter tips will help you save on energy costs year round.  Many items work to help cool and heat your home both, helping your unit work less, and use less energy.

-Changing the A/C filter regularly helps your unit run at its optimum level in both heat and cool modes.

-Space heaters and fans help create air flow within your home which in turn helps your unit not work as hard to circulate the air.

-Pulling the shades on windows can help both in winter and summer.  In summer the shades block out the sun’s direct heat.   In the winter shades help to block out drafts and block the cold temperatures on the window surfaces from entering the room.

-Increasing your attic insulation helps year round as well by retaining both the heat and cool into your home instead of letting it escape thru the ceiling.

- Decreasing the amount of time that your outdoor pool’s filter system runs during the day will dramatically help to reduce your energy consumption.  Work with your pool professional to find the optimal amount of time that the system should run each day to keep the pool clean while at the same time using as little energy as possible.  You may want to consider building your own solar panel or wind turbine to power your pool pump.  There are several websites that can teach you how to do this.  See the links at the bottom of this article.

- Replacing your old windows with energy efficient models can easily pay for itself in a very short period of time.  Today’s windows with Low E film are many times over more efficient than older models.  The best advantage is that they work in both summer and winter.  In summer energy efficient windows block out the sun’s direct heat as well as the ambient heat outside, all while directing the A/C unit’s cool air back into the room.  In the winter they work the same by deflecting the heat in the room back into the room and by blocking out the cold air and wind.  If you haven’t looked into replacing your windows and your home is more than 30 years old, you should really do so.  The amount you could save could be huge.  Not to mention that fact that your home will feel much better as well.

-Replacing your old, worn out central system will save you money year round as well.  Depending on how old your unit is, how large your home is and how well it’s insulated, the savings you could see from replacing the unit could easily pay for the new unit in just a couple of years time.

-Caulking cracks around your home’s exterior will help to increase the home’s insulation factor which will obviously help year round by blocking out the cold and hot wind.

-Unplugging your unused electrical items will save energy year round. 

- Don’t leave rechargeable items plugged in all the time.  Once the unit is charged, unplug it completely from the wall. 

- Don’t leave your toaster plugged in.  It only takes a second to plug it in when you are ready to use it.

- Why leave your computer running all day while you are at work?  Not only turn it off, but if you have it on a surge protector, which you should, turn the switch off so that all your computer items are off including your printer, copier, modem, monitor, etc.

- Unplug your jam box.  It probably has a few lights and maybe a read out screen that stay lit even when the unit switch is off.

- Battery chargers.  Once your drill or screwdriver battery is charged in the garage, unplug it.

So, as you can see over this series of articles we have listed numerous tips that can help you save on your energy costs not just in the summer or winter, but year round as well.  Most of the items we have discussed are items that you could do yourself without having to pay anyone else and in many cases without having to spend any money at all.   If you are the do-it-yourself (DIY) type you will find most of these tips very easy to follow and implement.   If not, you can still accomplish them with just a little research.  There are plenty of websites on the net you can use for resources.

Another great way of reducing your energy costs is by producing your own energy through the use of either a solar panel or wind turbine.  You DIY enabled homeowners will find that building a solar panel or wind turbine is actually must easier than it may sound at first.  Several websites offer guides to building your own and take you through the steps one by one. 

Pure sunshine makes almost all of the world’s energy. Let’s repeat that; Pure sunshine makes almost all the world’s energy! No matter how you look at it the sun works in mysterious ways, whether the energy is harvested from of a tree, plant and then used indirectly as wood, pellets, oil or coal(taking billions of years) the majority of energy we use is a product of the sun. Enough sun energy falls on the earth in a single day to supply us with energy for several years. This could also be through several man made sources including solar panels, solar heating and solar hot water panels.
 

    The energy the sun supplies is free, all we need to do is put the equipment in place to harness the raw power going to waste every day. The energy we harness and use today will not deplete the energy we can harness and use tomorrow or the day after and best of all there will still be plenty for our children without the harmful effects on the environment. The drawback for many is the start up cost for purchasing and installing a system. You are paying for your electricity in a lump sum in advance before you even get to enjoy the clean energy. Our culture unfortunately is governed by “pay as you go” which makes all the utility companies very popular since they only charge us for what we use in a given period of time. Imagine paying up front for installation and never having to pay another electricity bill. Maintaining the system is well, basically maintenance free. 

    So what do you need to make solar energy—-Just the equipment – the sun does the rest! The equipment would be PV Panels, charge controller, batteries, system monitor, inverter and a circuit breaker panel. There are more and more manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of this equipment every day. If you do not believe me the go to the government site http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/solarphotv/solarpv.htmland see the information for yourself. Since 1997 this industry has grown exponentially each and every year. 

    To fulfill your energy requirements in any weather a good backup system to the solar would be a wind generator. Usually if it is cloudy a solar system will not generate the same output as it would on a sunny day. With the weather being unsettled usually there is wind and wind can also mean electricity backup. It takes and average wind speed of 9 miles per hour to keep a wind generator generating electricity. If wind power is not an option than additional energy storage batteries can also be a solution. 

    No matter how you look at it solar energy, green energy and wind energy is the only option for a socially responsible culture. We just need to adjust to the change now before the damage we do to the earth is irreversible. The government is offering tax credits for the installation of solar energy systems, up to 30% of the cost, you can see the tax form and instructions here http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5695.pdfany way you look at it, and it makes more and more sense to install a solar system to create energy.

In 2008, the power industry saw a massive increase in energy prices, thus having to pass the costs on to their customers. Countless households suddenly had to implement significant changes in the way they were using energy around the home, while many others were simply unable to afford their energy bills.

However, the trend of higher energy costs recently took a downturn, after wholesale costs decreased for energy providers. Still, many providers kept their prices up, prompting consumers to ask whether their profits were justified. After a severe increase in prices the previous year – with a price peak in July – consumers wanted savings finally absorbed by the energy companies to be passed on to them.

So why did some energy companies reduce their energy process right away, while others kept them up? Is it simply a matter of profiting, even if from struggling customers?

The simple answer is no. The energy industry has experienced a massive blow with the rise of energy prices; but with a recent turnaround, the industry is keen to get both themselves and their customers back on their feet with regard to energy costs. However, there are a number of aspects to consider with regard to the cost of energy to consumers now. For instance, while wholesale prices have decreased – thus prompting some energy providers to cut their costs to customers – the fact remains that those wholesale prices are still double what they were two years ago.

The UK now purchases energy on a global level, with about 40 per cent of its gas being imported. And with an increase in demand for energy from countries like India and China, global energy prices on a wholesale level have been pushed up. For many energy companies, lowering their costs to customers depends not only on wholesale prices decreasing further, but also staying down.

However, the energy debate still remains: with energy prices recently being reduced for companies, why are so many of these companies still failing to pass on more significant savings to their customers? After all, some companies have succeeded in decreasing their prices. One answer is that many companies are spending now to secure future supplies. In fact, some companies are currently spending more than they’re earning to build new power stations for this very purpose.

At the same time, while certain companies did reduce their prices sooner compared to others, the cuts were often a matter of timing versus cut figures. Because most companies are now buying energy on a global scale, energy costs to customers should fall into a common bracket. But while some companies are choosing to cut prices sooner – and in smaller amounts – others are choosing to do so later, in more significant chunks, so that costs ultimately do fall in line with one another. However, differences can be attributed to tariffs and services specific to each company.

So, can customers expect any significant price cuts in the near future? Ultimately it depends on an overall decrease in global wholesale energy prices. In the meantime, many energy companies are trying to help alleviate hardship for their customers with various means of support – including debt relief programmes and social tariffs, while encouraging people to conserve what they sell – a rarity within corporations.