-Joshua
We constantly hear time and time again from the media, government, industry and community that we need to be more green or that we need to think more about the environment and the impact we’re having on it. Most of the time we’d genuinely like to do our part, however when we realize the certain amount of sacrifice that comes from living a slightly greener life, we suddenly find a thousand reasons not to.
As an example, renewable energy technology can be expensive to install, especially with the initial start up cost running anywhere from $5,000 to $6,000 US for professional installation and that’s the lower end of the price spectrum. Not a figure most people have floating around in the bank in these current economic times.
There are however alternatives available out there that enable you to bypass the tradesmen and the expensive costs of hiring others to do the job for you. Instead of the usual 4 to 5 figure start up expenses associated with installing your own solar panels you can set yours up for around $200.
This applies if you choose to build a wind generator too. If you live in areas with high wind, then this could be a viable option for you.
Earth 4 Energy is fast becoming a popular solution for those wanting to go solo, energy-wise, minus the hefty fees. More people than ever before are turning their interests to this alternative to their main energy provider.
There’s no better time to start especially in these challenging times, who couldn’t do with a few more dollars in their pocket?
In fact most people make back the cost of their DIY solar panel and wind turbine within the first year. This means that every year after is pure profit in the pocket and the fact that there are no more ongoing costs after initial setup makes it very attractive. You’re also not at the mercy of price hikes when demand is high.
This independent, renewable energy is catching on as people are realizing that going green has huge benefits.
Not only are there advantages for going off the main grid but it gives such independence to know that as the growing stress on our energy continues with the amount of demand we subject it to, power failures are unavoidable. There will simply be too many people and not enough energy to go around.
Living off the main grid provides a peace of mind knowing that you’re not subjected to the inconveniences that mainstream is.
Don’t think you have to go completely independent straight off the bat. Any effort counts, even replacing a quarter or a third of your energy requirements with natural, alternative sources can add up to big savings over the years while taking pressure off the main energy supply.
It also reduces your carbon footprint because no longer, in terms of your home energy use are you putting any demands on infrastructure and the amount of CO2 emission directly related to your activities is greatly reduced.
For example, with solar energy or “Photovoltaic” systems they are able to produce clean, renewable power without no CO2 emissions. This means that you reduce your carbon footprint by approximately 7.5 tonnes of CO2 (that you would have otherwise produced) over a 30 year period time. Imagine if everyone did that we would be able to slow the rate of global warming in a big way.
Another great benefit of being energy independent is that not only can you save money on your power bill but if you create an excess you have the added advantage of being able to sell it back to the power companies.
This has a two-fold purpose:
1. It gives you an opportunity to earn extra money
2. By selling this energy back to the power companies you are in effect
“sharing” your excess energy with others. Energy that did not have to be created or generated by the company, reducing the amount of emissions normally required to produce it.
This makes going independent from the grid very appealing, especially for those who are money conscious.
It’s a big decision because it is effectively a lifestyle choice but one with several long term benefits.
If you want to save money and know that you are doing your bit for the environment, then independent, sustainable energy might be for you.
Bills are a daily reminder to us that our money is never really our own.
With constant payments going to toward the gas, electricity, water, phone, insurances, food, rent, mortgage it’s no wonder we feel overwhelmed and frustrated as we’re forever stuck running on the spot, never advancing anywhere. Some days it seems that all we work for is to pay the bills never mind having any money left over to put away for a rainy day.
There is a solution that increasingly more people are opting for these days allowing them to save more money at the end of the month in reduced utility bills by living independently of the main energy grid. Not only does this save money as you essentially produce your own energy but you can actually make money by selling your excess energy back to the power companies.
The concept of “net metering” came about during the 1970’s when Federal legislation named the “Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act” was passed enabling any residential energy producer residing in the United States the right to sell excess power to their local energy provider at retail rates. There are currently over 30 states in the US that support net metering, to find out if yours is one of them you can find out here:
http://www.dsireusa.org/
Earth 4 Energy is the ideal solution if you wish to choose this path. Not only do you get to keep more of your hard earned money but you’re also doing something beneficial for the environment at the same time.
With Earth 4 Energy you’ll learn how to assemble your own solar panels and wind generator. The advantage to these forms of energy is that they are fully renewable unlike fossil fuels where there is only a finite amount ever produced and when that runs out, that’s it.
The usual set up costs associated with independent energy is usually steep and without of reach of most people, however with Earth 4 Energy you can learn how to be up and running for under $200. You’ll find that the savings over time will enable you to recoup your cost within a year, a shorter timeframe if you choose to sell energy back to the power company.
Why alternate energy sources are the way to go:
As mentioned previously because the energy source is renewable and unlimited and doesn’t harm the environment as it captures, stores and expends energy, in fact there are no carbon emissions associated with this form of energy production.
Using “Photovoltaic” systems such as solar energy reduces the need for energy storing dry cell batteries. Sadly batteries when past their usefulness are discarded into our landfills at a staggering rate of 3 billion, and that’s just per year. These batteries are laced with toxic chemicals such as Mercury and Cadmium and Lead and corrosive acids like sulphuric acid which can cause severe burns when in contact with the skin, and like with any landfill, each has the potential to leak and leach contaminants into our environment.
Incorporating solar and wind energy into your life on a bigger scale reduces the need for these batteries and the less they clog up and pollute our landfills.
This is one of the cleanest sources of energy production that doesn’t emit CO2 greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, in fact over a 30 year period you would have saved over 7 tonnes of CO2 emission just with your energy use alone. That’s one huge carbon footprint reduction. This also means that you’re contributing to cleaner, emission free air for the future which means better health for everyone.
So if you want to reduce your lifelong carbon footprint by over 7 tonnes and truly do something of benefit for your environment, then using Earth 4 Energy could be the solution you’re looking for.
When the alarm over energy usage and the diminishing supply of fossil fuels was placed within the public realm, a lot of people started to become more and more aware of the amount of their personal energy consumption and what effect it was having on our planet. If you are one of these people and are looking for a way to help out with the environment and reduce your energy usage, there are five simple steps to helping you to cut back on the amount of traditional energy you use and we are going to cover them here.
One of the first things that people trying to cut down on energy consumption do is to make sure that they turn off all of the unnecessary lights in their home. You may think this is a no brainer but next time look at your power bill and think how much it could be reduced by just by making that little bit of extra effort. Try being more vigilant in this task for the next month by making a real commitment to stick to it and compare your current power bill with next month’s one to measure how much money you actually can save over the long term just by doing this simple thing.
In fact your mother probably taught you to turn off the lights when you are not in a room, and there is some truth to this. Even with low voltage bulbs, it can help to make a difference to keep them switched off when they are not in use.
Get a digital programmable thermostat for your home. This way, you can set the thermostat to run the heat or air conditioning less when you are out, and then set the temperature to go back to comfortable levels just before you return. If the system is not running all day it will cut back significantly on the amount of energy you use.
Rely on solar power whenever you can. If you use outdoor lights, then switch these over to run on solar energy. You can also get a portable solar charger that can charge up small appliances like cell phones and laptops. While people mainly use these devices on the go, you can also routinely use them in the home as well.
Reduce your water consumption. You can accomplish this by cutting back on the amount you water your lawn, making sure that none of your faucets are dripping, and turning off the water when you are not using it.
Make sure that all of the bulbs in your home have been switched over to the low voltage compact fluorescents. Incandescent bulbs can almost triple your energy usage. Also, if you do have any outside bulbs that are not operated by solar power you need to make sure that they have the capability to turn themselves off during the daylight hours. This way even if you forget to turn the light off it will not be operating all day.
Just follow these five simple steps and you will be able to cut back on your energy consumption. Not only will you be working to save the environment, but you will also be reducing your utility bills as well.
We have all heard about water conservation. Whether or not you live in a area that has water restrictions due to shortages, conserving water can also save you money. Here’s some easy ideas to get you started.
In your kitchen, only run your dishwasher when completely full. If you handwash your dishes only fill the sink 1/2 full, wash the dishes, and then rinse the dishes all at once, not one at a time. Do not let the water run when you are scrubbing , use just enough to get the job done. Also, when you need hot water do not let your faucet run until it gets hot. Its uses less energy to microwave a few cups of water than to waste gallons of water waiting for it to get hot from the faucet. When cooking pasta, boiling eggs, or vegetables, let the water cool and use it to water your plants around the house. The nutrients left in the water from cooking are better for your plants than “plain” water. Keep a pitcher of water in your fridge so you always have “cold” water and don’t run the faucet.
All these ideas are free but if you plan to upgrade to new appliances be sure to check the energy rating as most manufacturers sell extremely efficient appliances that have the ratings listed right on the door so you can compare before you buy.
Happy Conserving!