www.segra.org

All the advances in green energy technology, creating your own solar energy for your homeis easier than ever has been. A green energy home utilizes renewable resources to provide electricity, hot water, heat and peace of mind. Which in turn will help you save on all your utility costs year round.  

There are numorous ways to implement your green energy home plan and start saving on your costs. The first is solar energy.  In a green energy home you can install solar hot water panels which heat and store water for use and you can install solar panels, which use photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity. These can very costly especially when getting it installed by a professional. But, there are many different resources out there that will teach you how to do it yourself for a fraction of what the cost would be.

 If you are just building your home, a great way to make it a green energy home is to implement passive solar design during construction.  This means taking advantage of south facing sides of the house for heating and cooling.  By installing lots of highly efficient windows and heat retaining bricks and stone on your south facing areas, you are taking advantage of passive solar techniques to develop your green energy home.

Another addition to the green energy home would be a windmill. Windmills are used to generate electricity from the renewable resource wind.  Windmills can be installed on rooftops or in yards and offer pollution free electric.  Windmills can be purchased from retailers or there are a wide variety of affordable kits available for the motivated do-it-yourselfers to handle the implementation of their own green energy home plans. By doing the installation yourself, you will be saving alot and will also be making your home a greener home and create free energy that will always be there.  

The ultimate green energy home would combine all of these resources.  By using wind, water and solar to generate electricity you will be cutting on the costs for your utlities, but you will also be conserving our natural resources for the future and will be making it a greener place while cutting on global warming as well.  To further combine passive solar design and solar hot water systems, you are reducing your energy needs massively and will create a greener future for you and the future for your children and theirs, etc….

A green energy home doesn’t require more maintenance than traditional homes. Actually, in some ways, a greener home requires less maintenance then traditional homes and if needed the maintenance would be half the cost. Solar technologies require little to no maintenance and wind and water turbines require only regular oiling for optimum performance.  There is no better time to create your HOME MADE ENERGY and start saving on your energy costs.

http://diysolarhomeproducts.blogspot.com/

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.

We use a lot of credit card these days. Due to economic turmoil in the US, many citizens are losing their jobs. As a result they have little or no income at all. This situation highlights the reason for a higher debt percentage in the country. This percentage is increasing every day.

The US government has come up with a program that provides extensive debt relief to the people. These programs specifically target the people who are in financial turmoil. The plan considers those people who have lost a lot in this economic crisis and those who think there is no other option than to reach out to a bankruptcy court.

The criterion of the grant is very simple. People awarded the grant should have the ability to repay the money by being productive for the country. You should have this in mind that the government will pay this grant from the taxpayer’s account. The candidate should choose the program that meets the preferences previously outlined. For the grant, they are required to fill an online application. This should have all the documentation required by the government. The application has to be sent to the local government. You should present a strong case by providing evidences that emphasize on the fact that you need the grant and that your process should be expedited.

If we want to eliminate the financial problems associated with debt, we should adopt these grants. Through this scheme the government focuses on low income groups, and the people who are jobless during this turmoil period. There is evidence to the fact that people who are in trouble because the financial situation of the country should go for this program. This will help them start a new life. In addition, we should appreciate the fact that the government is doing its best to encourage people to get through this economic crisis.

In turn, we should show the government that we care for them. We should state clearly that once we are through with our grants, we will join the team of taxpaying citizens of the country.

>>> Let me show you how to get $12,000 Free Government Grant from the US Government as little as 7 days. Click here now!

Are you facing problem getting loan from any financial institution? Are you facing slumber in your business and need money to revive it? Are you worried about your college studies because you don’t have the money to pay your dues? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you are reading the article at the right time. The American government is giving out grants to its citizens who are facing any kind of financial crisis. These grants are particularly aimed at improving the condition of the American citizens and are non-taxable and non-repayable funds.

Even if your financial issues are not that grave and you wish to improve your lifestyle by purchasing a new car or a new home, you can apply for these grants and make your dreams come true. The free government grants are for all American citizens and help in catering their needs in one way or the other. You can even make use of the grants to keep extra cash in your pocket. These grants play a vital role in helping the people with low income get rid of their poverty. You can avail the grants without having a credit check or income proof. All citizens regardless of their bad debts and low income can avail this life changing opportunity.

Since the grants are divided into different categories, you can fight your financial crisis of any nature. In order to avail these grants, you should gather all the facts and the various programmes and apply for them at the earliest. Keep in mind that you can apply for multiple grant programmes, hence greatly improving your chances to get them.

What do you do after you have changed out the light bulbs that will not cost you an arm and a leg?  Actually there are a number of products that I will cover in this article that don’t cost much but can save you a lot of money.

Whether you believe in global warming or not, conserving energy makes sense on many levels.  I have been in the conservation business since 1992 and have always understood that as much as we want to do what is right for the planet, unless I could prove the economic value of a product not many people would buy it.

Here are some options you might not have considered yet (and if you have, why haven’t you implemented them?)  Some ideas have not been traditionally thought of as energy conservation strategies but at closer look they are.  Other ideas have been around for awhile but recent advancements might mean it’s time for an upgrade.

For the purposes of this article I am going to focus on products that reduce hot water consumption.  Studies show that 30% to 40% of water consumed in a residential environment is heated.

I am going to assume that you have already installed low-flow showerheads and aerators, low-flush toilets and replaced your energy wasting light bulbs.  If you haven’t, bookmark this page and go do it.

Idea #1

Check your building pressure:  Higher pressure means that more water is being forced through the low-flow faucets and aerators you installed.  Since they are already restricting flow, reduce the pressure in 5 psi increments until the service level is no longer satisfactory.  It is difficult to say what pressure is the right pressure – it changes from building to building.  If you have a pressure regulator already installed there is no cost to implementing this strategy – experiment with it.

Idea #2

Drip Stop Faucet Washers:  90% of leaks occur in hot water pipes – some are easy to spot, others are hard to find.  If you follow these steps you can pinpoint any problems and then take action to stop the bleeding.  First, check all of your faucets.  If they are leaking – fix them!  The best replacement washers are made by Drip Stop.  Google them, go to their website (turn off the annoying dripping sound) and buy them.  Their patented design uses your faucet’s own internal pressure to create a tight seal which actually makes your faucets easier to turn off as well.

Next turn off all of the fixtures and go look at the meter.  Most utilities are now using meters with a spinner on the face that indicates even the smallest amount passing through the meter.  Again if you have a leak -fix it!

Idea #3

Lower-Flow Showerheads:  That’s right, lower flow.  When they first came out they were just watered down (pardon the pun) versions of the old guzzlers with flow restrictors.  Nobody liked the way they felt but over the years advances were made and there are a number of low-flow showerheads that conserve while providing a quality showering experience.

But they have evolved and now there are an even better ones available and here are 4 reasons why:

1.)  One is rated at 1.59 gpm versus the old 2.5 gpm wasters.  This can save an average family of 3 about $155 per year – at around $40 your payback is under 4 months!

2.)  When we are pre-warming the water before we get in the shower most of us on the faucet and let it run while we do other things.  1 or 2 minutes later we return to a shower filled with steam, adjust the temperature and step in. 

One manufacturer has patented a technology that actually turns off the water once it reaches 95°F.  You can go about your business until you are ready, pull on a chain and take your shower.   This increases the savings by another $75 per year, for a total of $230 saved per year.  That’s a 2 month payback at $40 per shower head!!

3.)  The demise of most showerheads is clogging from lime (or other minerals) deposits.  Many new models have anti-clog spray nozzles that are cleaned by dragging you finger across the nozzle tips while the water is running.

4.)  Pressure can drastically change the amount of water flowing through your fixtures (see Idea #1 above).  Some new models use pressure compensating technology that helps maintain a consistent flow rate across the spectrum of building pressure from high to low. And they feel great, even with lower pressure.

The best of the new fixtures that I have found are called the Evolve Showerhead and are available at The Energy Conservation Store online.  And one of their polished chrome or brushed nickel showerhead (hand held also available) would look great with any decor.

There are other options but I have run out of time.  If you have any questions please send me an email at the link below.

It isn’t all that hard to learn the art of making solar panel. You will find a wide choice of instruction manuals or do-it-yourself guides to learn about constructing solar panels. Is it easy to assemble one? The advantages of creating one on your own will exceed the costs of actually doing one drastically. In addition to eliminating your own personal dependency on non-renewable and enviromentally-destructive energy sources like those produced with coal and fossil fuels, you will find yourself paying hundreds of dollars less for electricity. This is an uncomplicated, user-friendly manual that might jump-start your journey to making solar panel.

Determining How Much Power You Need

Depending on how much you need, the number of panels that you need to construct could vary greatly. To start making your own solar panels, you need to know just how much electricity your house will use. Most households who choose to have solar panels would aim at a 50% cut in their reliance on power grid, whereas some would go further to totally keep away by solely depending on solar power. The more electricity needed, the more solar panels required.

Buying What You Need

Once you have determined the quantity of solar panels you will need to build to meet your electrical needs, may we suggest you look at the following list of items you will need to purchase. Most micro wind turbines cost around $140 to construct, so constructing a solar panel is going to cost anywhere from $450 at the very least.

* Acrylite UV transparent sheet
* Acrylic bar – 4 pieces
* Sticky glue
* Silicone adhesive
* Rosin core solder
* Barrier Diode
* Solar cell interconnection ribbon
* A solar cell (0.5VDC)
* Dual row barrier strip
* Ring tongue terminals
* Enclosure box
* Gauge hookup wire
* Soldering iron
* Multimeter
* Heat gun
* Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) sheet

These are the basic items you would require. Also, if you go online and check out a few retailers, you should be able to find out who has the best deals for making solar panel. A few of these materials are not sold as pieces. Make sure you are prepared to fork out some cash! Purchasing the most relevant guide on the internet for making a solar panel is vitally important. Select one that will give you simple, understandable directions you can follow to make a solar panel.

Build your own solar panel at home and start reducing your bills. Discover ways to making solar panel when you visit NaturalFreeEnergy.com today.

Possibly, but possibly not. In fact, the credit bureaus may not even know that it happened.

We all pretty much expect that everything to do with our financial lives is an open book – reported to the credit bureaus and there for any and all to see. In spite of privacy laws, credit card companies, insurers, and even would-be employers can get access to our credit reports.

But it isn’t necessarily true with utility companies and small businesses. The fact is, it costs money to supply information to the credit bureaus, and not all companies want to spend the money just to report on their customers’ financial habits.

If you don’t know if the charge-off appears on your credit report, get your free copy right now and check.

If it’s there, you might be able to make it go away, if you agree to pay the bill in full. It’s worth a try to contact the utility and offer to make full payment if they’ll agree to remove the information from your credit report. If so, be sure to get their commitment in writing before you send the payment. You will want to ask for a letter to “delete” the account. And for full payment in a hurry they are very likely to do so.

They may not be willing to remove the information, but if you’re trying to raise your scores high enough to purchase a home before 7 years have passed, it’s still in your best interests to pay the bill.

While lenders do put emphasis on your credit scores, they also look at the credit report itself. If some time has passed and your report shows that you’ve not only paid the debt but have had good payment history since then, you may still be eligible for a home loan.

The more time has passed since the charge-off, the better. Negative information stays on your credit report for 7 years, but its impact on your credit decreases over time.

While you’re working to restore your credit after a charge-off or other financial mishap, do be sure to pay all your accounts on time. If the problem was severe enough to prevent you from getting any credit, consider a secured credit card. Then use it, but sparingly. Keep usage at 10% if possible, and never over 30%. Your timely payments on that card will show as “good” entries on your credit report and will begin to raise your FICO scores.

Expenses on utilities contribute to most of your household bills. Did you know that you could save a lot of money through your utilities? Here are some pointers to help you do this:

1.    Identify which appliances consume much electricity and contribute the most in making the electric bill cost that much. You can save hundreds of dollars annually by enrolling in a home management load program that offer a 100-dollar savings in a year on electric utility hour rate programs. This will help you lower your electric payments and will teach you on home energy conservation.

2.    It is recommended that you have improved appliance efficiency. The heating system appliances are the ones that consume too much electricity. The refrigerator and the water heater consume that much energy as well. Make sure to check these items regularly to ensure their efficiency. A well-maintained appliance will sustain its performance and will give you it’s accurate use of electricity.

3.    Always remember to give your furnace a tune up at least twice a year. You have to cover the water heater to insulate it and give your refrigerator coils a cleaning at least twice a year as well. You may also set a timer for the heater to have regular flow of electricity whenever it is in use. You may call your utility service to check if there is a low rate offered during any specific time of the day.

4.    You may also save money by lowering your heating bills. You may set your thermostat down three degrees to make you save 3 percent on your bills. You may even save more by not using it while you are at work or you can even turn it lower during nighttime when you are asleep. This can help you conserve electricity and save more money.

5.    You may want to lessen your long distance telephone calls to lower your telephone bills. If it is a need to call a very important person, you may call during weekends and night hours. Telephone companies offer a lower rate for long distance calls during those times of the day. The best alternative to save money is by using the Internet to communicate with your friends and relatives instead of the telephone.

6.    You may want to consider lowering your water bills in order to save money. Check if there are leaks so that you may fix them immediately. You may put a water saving showerhead to lessen the use of water when taking a shower. You can use a big container to stock water in the bathroom as an alternative rather than using the shower in the bathroom.

Did you know that the following states (NY, GA, OH, MI, & TX)  have been approved for Energy Deregulation?

If you didn’t then you might not know that right now your energy prices change every 15 minutes! These prices also increase during peak hours when people are home. Prices also change due to unforeseen acts of god, US Energies Policies, US Economic Outlook, and Emerging Global Economies. In addition to all of this, this is what happens when you have only one Utility Provider who can control pricing. Well my friend, NOT ANY MORE!

Energy Deregulation means that there is no longer a Monopoly on your local Energy (Gas & Electricity). This means that you have the option to choose who your energy provider is.

What if I said that there is an Energy Provider that services your state today that will lock you into a low rate for both your energy and gas; and you don’t have to pay a cent to do this! All you do is enter into the Fixed Price Protection Plan and make your monthly payments and that’s it. Oh yeah, smile too knowing that you are a protected customer against the volatility of the energy market.

Just to assure you that this is not a bad idea, think of these key stats:

Since 1999 natural gas prices in the U.S. have TRIPLED
Electrical has DOUBLED over the last 6 years.

Why do you think these numbers have increased? Demand; increased population, and all of the above factors I have already mentioned. Prices are and will always be on the rise!

To lock in your rates go to:      www.FixedUtilityRates.com

Sincerely,

Brandon Bettes

My thermostat is equipped with a two-position setting for the fan, “automatic” and “on”. Where should I set it?

The normal setting is on “automatic” with the fan’s cycle being controlled by the temperature in the room. However, if your home is equipped with an air cleaner (media or electronic) or you wish to keep a continuous flow of air, switch the setting to “on”. Remember, central air cleaning devices only work when the furnace is circulating air. If you wish to get the most from your air cleaner, you should keep your thermostat setting to “on”.

I see the arrow on my furnace filter, but I’m not sure how to correctly position it. What should I do?

The arrow should point in the same direction as the flow of air. In most cases, it will point towards the furnace and should fit between the return air part of the system and the furnace. The filter screens out the dust and other impurities before the air is warmed in your furnace and distributed through the duct system.

How does an air conditioning system actually work to cool the air in my home?

An air conditioning system consists of two parts: an outdoor unit (where liquid refrigerant is contained) and an indoor coil (where the refrigeration is pumped into). As the air moves across the air conditioning coil (usually located on top of the furnace), the refrigerant removes the heat from the air as well as the moisture by condensing it on the cold surface of the coil. In this way, the air conditioner not only cools but also dehumidifies the air. Virtually any system can have air conditioning hooked up to it provided it is a forced-air system.

In cases where there isn’t a forced-air system, Apollo has a unique “mini-duct” air conditioning system to cool an entire home. Apollo specializes in this “mini-duct” AC system to help our customers with older homes stay cool in the summer!

What is a S.E.E.R. (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating and what does it mean to me?

S.E.E.R. is the standard measurement of air conditioning efficiency established by the U.S. Department of Energy. Higher S.E.E.R. ratings translate into greater energy efficiency, which means lower summer cooling bills. So the higher the S.E.E.R. rating, the more money you save. If you air conditioner is more than 10 years old, it’s probably an 8.0 S.E.E.R. system. The newer systems out today are 12.0-14.0 S.E.E.R. systems. If an estimated annual bill for an 8.0 S.E.E.R. system is $1,000 (for example), it would only be $615 for a 13.0 S.E.E.R. system – a 38% savings! And in 2006, the U.S. government is giving a $300 energy tax credit to homeowners who upgrade to a 15.0 S.E.E.R. air conditioner and heat pumps.

I have trouble getting even amounts of heat/cooling to certain parts of my house. How can I get more even heating/cooling to the upstairs and downstairs of my home?

Every home seems to have at least one room that’s always too hot or too cold. The problem is due to standard heating and cooling systems that pump climate controlled air to all your rooms at once. Rooms furthest from your heating and cooling units get less warmed and cooled air. Our solution: Zoning. Zoned heating and cooling systems with automatic dampers and extra thermostats heat and cool specific “zones” without affecting the temperature in the rest of your house.