Sometimes, it is disheartening.

And so I started looking for ways to save money.  We started with all of the “usual suspects” : I dropped the data plan on my phone, we quite going to the movie theatre, we dropped cable and got Netflix instead, we quit eating out as much and I started taking lunch with me to work .  In fact, I haven’t bought a Starbucks in over 3 months! (If you knew me, you would realize that is the biggest sacrifice.)

And all of these pennies do add up and make a difference.

However, I am now looking for ways to save even more money: trimming the utility bill.

Perhaps it is a more audacious goal then some of the other ones we have accomplished, but I’m pretty excited.  Not only is it a great way to save money, but also it benefits the environment by reducing pollution.

So, without any further ado, let me share with you some of the changes we are making to save money on our monthly utilities. We’ll start with the cheapest ideas first.

How To Cut Your Energy Bill!

Habits – This one is the hardest! Do you turn the lights out when you leave the room?  If you are a tad chilly, do you turn up the thermostat or throw on a sweater and a beanie?  My wife likes it a lot colder in the house than I do, but if I can bundle up and stand the 2-degree discomfort, it makes all the difference in our heating bill. And, we have yet to kick on the air conditioning this spring, choosing instead to go with a couple of $10 box fans we picked up last fall (and, yes, twice we have hit 80-degrees in the house.  Drink more water!)

Lighting – This was another cheap way to make a difference.  Now, I realize that the initial investment in fluorescent lighting is high enough that  it really takes a few years before the savings difference pays for itself (A 60 watt fluorescent replacement typically only saves about $40.50 in electricity costs over its lifetime.  Here is a light bulb efficiency calculator if you want to run some numbers).  However, these light bulbs are an extremely effective way to slowly transition to a greener home.

Appliances - Now we are getting to the more expensive suggestions.  Think about it.  How much do you run your washer and dryer and refrigerator?  If you are like us, you run them quite a bit.  The trick here is to weigh out the numbers.  It is easy to get carried away buying the “newest” front load washing machine, but a $2,000 front load washer had better be saving you a lot more money on energy, soap and water, to best the $600 top load washing machine it is sitting next to.  And don’t forget items like you heater and air conditioner.  Sometimes you can even get efficiency rebates from your local utility company by upgrading appliances or heating and cooling systems.

Attic Vents – I recently had a roofing contractor come over and give me a quote on my 1960′s house.  The roof is okay, but it only has 4 vents for about 1,000 square feet.  Since each vent is about half a foot of ventilation,  we need to double our venting.  The cost? $350.  It seems to be a great price in order to create a cooler attic that our air conditioning unit that won’t have to constantly struggle with.

Insulation – It’s a similar story with our insulation. We only have R-13 and, for our location, R-30 is the recommended value.  Once again, for only $300 (and a hot Saturday spent in the attic) we can blow in enough insulation to raise the R-value to current standards and drastically cut the amount of heat we loose in the wintertime.

Solar and Renewable Energy – I am including these here because I know a lot of people are looking for extreme ways to save money on their monthly bill.  And, if you have enough money to fund the initial installation costs, these renewable energy forms can be one of the best ways to truly create “free electricity”.  However, before starting a major renewable energy project, I would recommend that you get a home energy audit and find ways to save the most energy possible.  After all, even “free” electricity gets pricey if its wasted.

Jonathon Henly is the writer and webmaster for a Solar Energy site.

Green Living

• Solutions for Renewable Energy for our Future
• Cutting your Energy Bill is as easy as 1, 2, 3…4.
• Solar Power = One of the most effective and popular forms of alternative energy
• Getting a Solar Energy System For Your Home Without Going Broke
• Ways you can use solar energy at home….and why you should

The past years have brought in a resurgence of these creepy crawlies in homes and hotels which has alerted both the private and public sectors alike. Despite their miniscule size, these persistent and tiny critters can wreak havoc and nasty bites on anyone who is unfortunate enough to rest in their domain.

One of the biggest problems in fending off these bugs lies in the fact that they can easily spread. From the most luxurious hotels in New York to the smallest community in Alaska, no mattress is safe from these tiny crawlers.

Tracking down and eliminating these bed creepers is not easy. Given their size and numbers, fending off these insects requires skill and dedication. Rather than resort to costly and risky chemical pesticides, we are listing the most effective steps to eradicate these bugs sans the use of any toxic chemicals.

Step 1: Inspection

Check your home for any sign of bed bug infestation by going on all fours and closely inspecting your mattress and side tables to look for these cunning creatures. Make sure to look through every fold and crack where they could be hiding.

Step 2: Boric Acid

Buy some powdered boric acid and spread them around your bed. Completely safe for your loved ones and pets, boric acid is very potent in killing bed bugs that prey on you and your family.

Step 3: Black Walnut Leaf Tea

Go to the store and buy yourself some black walnut leaf tea, a powerful insecticide that is sure to give your unwanted house guests an early demise. The best way to use it is to pour it on a dropper and apply it directly to these bugs as you go over your bed, mattress, bedding and the like. Alternately, you can also pour it on a sprayer and light squirt it along your bed.

Step 4: Hot Water

When laundering your bed sheets and pillowcases, make sure to wash them with hot water to eliminate these sturdy crawlers. The hot water also does a great job at disinfecting them and removing tiny stains that these blood suckers may have left behind on your bedding.

Step 5: Neem Oil

Spraying neem oil on your bed is also highly effective in getting rid of bed bugs and head lice. Approved by the US FDA for home use, neem oil is taken from the leaves of a tree in India and can be bought in local stores.

Step 6: Thyme

Thyme can also help drive out bed bugs as they give off a specific odor that bed bugs cannot stand.

Step 7: Replace

If, after all these steps, you still feel that you have these critters around, then invest in a new mattress or clean it out from top to bottom to thoroughly rid your home of these bed bugs.

Consider these alternatives to chemical treatments before moving to the hard stuff. Your family and the environment will thank you.

Carla writes for BedBugs.org, where she educates homeowners on their bedbugs spray options, as well as the many other detection and bed bug control products available today.

Other green posts you might be interested in:

• How Do You Make Your Own Solar Panels
• DIY Solar Panels – The inexpensive way to using solar power
• Doing Your Part for the Planet
• Saving Money With Sustainable Homes
• The Fundamentals of Green Interior Design

Many kids and school-leavers are asking what they should study to work in the field of sustainable energies. The good news is: This branch is as interdisciplinary as it gets and you have very good opportunities with a wide range of qualifications.

Geosciences

The geosciences are a broad field dealing with all processes that take place naturally on our earth. While there are many job opportunities that are not so green like oil exploration for example, there is a big demand for professionals that work in the environmental field.

Pollutions of every kind play a huge role in our industrial environment and the goal of many geoscientists is the reduction and prevention of these pollutions. Other fields include groundwater management, climatic research and waste management.

Engineering

The same rules that apply for the geosciences apply for engineering. You carefully need to evaluate the job opportunity you take, because while there are many green jobs, there are even more jobs that will harm our environment.

Work for a company that produces wind turbines, not for the nuclear plant. Invent new ways to build small scale wind turbines for the home and don’t construct the next 20l car. The keyword here is environmental engineering. Environmental engineers apply the concepts of engineering to minimize pollution and to ensure that our water, air and land remains clean or gets clean again.

Besides, there are many products that can be invented which make a small step in the right direction. Think about water saving shower heads for example. While one of them doesn’t make a big difference, we can conserve incredible amounts of water if everybody uses them.

Chemistry

There are many branches where chemists can work in a green way.

They support the engineers and geoscientists with chemical analysis and laboratory work. They detect pollutants, develop methods to clean water and soil, and research new possibilities for a greener use of our resources. They also develop new eco-friendly materials to lower our waste output.

Consulting

Consulting is getting more and more important in our technical times.

While most people don’t care about the environment at all, everybody loves to know how to save energy at home when you show them the huge saving potential. Energy consultants help companies and home owners to reduce their energy consumption. For me it doesn’t matter if they want to save their money or the environment, the result is what matters.

As you can see, there are many branches that offer great opportunities for a green job. Apply today and do your part for an eco-friendly future.

Other green posts you might be interested in:

• Living off the Grid – A viable option?
• Amazon – Riding The Green Wave
• 6 Ways Investing In the Environment is Investing In the Future
• Earth for Energy – A real look at what’s behind the hype
• Doing Your Part for the Planet

Graphene is an allotrope of carbon that is only a single atom in depth. It strength arises from the four pi electrons that hold each carbon atom in place in a hexagonal arrangement. Much like graphite which has the same arrangement of atoms but exists as a number of stacked planes, graphene is so strong that a single sheet of it can be held in the hand without breaking. In fact, a sheet of graphene the thickness of food wrap would be so strong that it could support the weight of an elephant sat on top of a pencil. Now, that’s some party trick.

So, with graphene being such a promising material you probably want to know what more about the downside. Every rose has its thorn as they say. Well, one of the biggest problems with graphene is the problem of production. Graphene was first created after an inauspicious experiment involving a block of graphite and scotch tape, but the main industrial production processes involve the use of highly toxic hydrazine vapour. All that promise, and all those claims of environmental friendliness, suddenly vanish in a cloud of poisonous gas. Other production techniques are possible, but none are as economically viable as the hydrazine technique.

At least that was the case until recently. In an about turn, graphene is set to reclaim its rights to being the greenest material known to man . Researchers from Toyahashi University in Japan have discovered a technique to make the miracle material using the bacteria found in river sediment. The natural respiration of the bacteria has been shown to reduce graphene oxide to graphene, making the material a miracle of mother nature.

Furthermore, in another piece of recent research graphene has been shown to be piezoelectric, which means it has the capacity to generate electricity through movement. Bend a piece of graphene and a current is produced, not a bad property for a flexible material. So graphene’s green potential is reasserted, and with more academic papers being published on this substance than on any other the chances of new discoveries is extremely high.

If you are serious about green technology and a greener future then you really can’t afford to remain in the dark about graphene. This one substance is set to change our lives.

Green Living

• Energy Star- A Project Long in the Making
• What are the best ways to start saving energy? By using energy saving light bulbs

The cheaper compact fluorescent lamps tend to be somewhat lacking in the light quality department and don’t save anywhere near as much as the more expensive LED (light emitting diode) bulbs. Among their many failing are: poor “warm up” time (they don’t deliver full brightness instantly); bulky and odd appearance; they contain mercury vapor which makes safe disposal a bit of an issue.

The trouble with LED light bulbs though is that there is a world of difference between the high quality ones and those that are frankly rubbish. But there is usually little to guide a prospective purchaser – even those familiar with the terminology can be easily misled, and certainly going by price is not helpful either.

Some good quality LED bulbs really do retail for less than others that cost more but are hardly brighter than a regular 10 watt night light. Bricks and mortar DIY stores seem to be among the worst offenders here, with LED light bulbs that struggle to hold a candle to, well, a candle.

The average Jo for the most part doesn’t understand what 270 lumens at 3000 Kelvin means, so they rely on the vendor’s often fanciful claims that this replaces a 50 watt halogen lamp. The thing is, it might or it might not – there are too many other interconnected factors to consider. LED spotlights for example vary considerably in perceived performance according to beam angle and the specific number and type of LED modules.

So what’s the best way to buy into this exciting new technology and save yourself a fortune in electricity costs without making a lot of costly mistakes along the way? Well, it’s not that difficult really; a little time spent researching your options, checking out genuine unbiased consumer reviews and going for a recognized brand name product will most times ensure you end up with a quality bulb that will perform as it should.

Check out this Philips GU10 LED review for a good example of what to look for. There are numerous other products also reviewed, with decent descriptions of the various pros and cons of each, plus photos of the actual light bulbs compared against regular incandescent bulbs in a number of typical settings. No attempt to bamboozle you with confusing jargon; just straightforward, informative reviews in plain English.

Other green posts you might be interested in:

• The 5 Biggest Disadvantages of wind power vs solar power
• Benefits of Organic Castor Oil for the Health
• Reducing Your Water Wastage – Easy ways to conserve water in your home
• Global Warming and What We Can Do To Fight It
• Smaller Businesses Going Green

Energy Star Helps Save Energy and Money

Replace older model appliances with Energy Star units will save hundreds of dollars a year and ultimately pay for itself in time. The units should also be cleaned thoroughly at least twice a year including cleaning the dust off any motors, air filters, coils, evaporator pans and fins.

Cold Water is Cheaper

Cold water should be used in favor of hot water whenever possible such as washing clothes, running the garbage disposal and brushing your teeth. You can also lowering the thermostat on your hot water tank to around 120°F to conserve energy and save money.

Lighting for Savings

Change all your incandescent bulbs for LED bulbs, they last about fifty times longer than the traditional light bulb and can save about sixty dollars a year on your electric bill by changing just five bulbs. Turning lights off when not in use is also a common sense and easy way of saving on your electric bill. CFL, or compact fluorescent light bulbs should be used with care as they contain mercury. Real all labeling and inserts associated with CFL’s before using.

Winterize Your Home

If you live in a cold weather climate, winterizing your home can lower those high winter utility bills and reduce energy usage. Replace your furnace air filters before you use it for the first time each at the beginning of the cold season. Seal up air leaks with window wrap, door draft stoppers and caulk any gaps in pipes on outside walls or windows.

Home Affordable Refinance Loans for Energy-Efficiency

If you want to get serious about saving energy and money, you may want to consider applying for a home affordable refinance loan. The loan can be used for remodeling any area of the home that may be causing a loss of heat or allows drafts, solar panels for energy use, replacing older appliances with new Energy Star models or replacing an older furnace for a new energy efficient model.

Replace Leaky Windows

Not only are windows an aesthetically appealing feature of your home, but new models can save up to twenty five percent of your heating bill. During the winter, older windows can allow cold air in and your costly heated air to flow out. During the summer, air conditioners have to work harder and longer to cool down spaces with older windows. By upgrading you’ll not only save money but make your home look nicer as well.

Unplug Energy Draining Appliances

Any time an appliance or electronic unit has a power light that stays on even when the unit is not in use is still draining energy and costing you money. Plug TVs, video game consoles, DVDs, Blu-Ray Players, computers and more into power strips that can easily be turned off when not in use. Kitchen appliances like toasters, digital coffee pots and microwaves can also be unplugged when not being used to save money and energy. Additionally, make sure when you purchase appliances, that they are are as energy-efficient as possible. Most new ones are. Look for savings on new appliances by using this Sears promotional code.

Setting the Thermostat for Savings

Setting your thermostat to 68°F can save significant amounts of money and energy. This prevents the heat from kicking on and off too much and leaves you comfortable during the day. It can be lowered to 60°F while you are away from the home or sleeping for an additional ten percent savings on your heating costs.

Take Short Showers

Take short showers rather than long, hot baths. It uses less hot water, less energy and saves money. Low-flow shower heads can also help reduce the use of energy wasted in the bathroom.

Drive Sensibly

Avoiding unnecessary accelerations, braking or driving aggressively uses more gas and causes more wear and tear on your vehicle. Keeping your tires inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pound per square inch (psi) can also save on your vehicle gas bill.

Green Living

• Consumer Power – Helping You Buy Better
• Energy Star- A Project Long in the Making
• 5 Easy steps to living a greener life

By changing our consumer habits and make a genuine effort to be more environmentally responsible,  the companies that are producing products with harmful solutions will eventually change accordingly.  Manufacturers will gladly lend an ear when it becomes an issue about money.

When you go out shopping, here are a couple of things to think to yourself:

1. Is this particular product is a “want” or a “need”?
2. Where will this product eventually end up? Is it going to end up in a landfill, down the drain, recycled? Also consider how much packaging is on an item and could you get the same thing without all of the packaging?
3. Buy food at discount bulk stores.  You can save money, but you are also buying products with less packaging, meaning you are actually spending less money!

There are also a few tips to keep in mind to make the best buying decision.  Not only are the economic factors to take into consideration, but also environmental factors.

Here are some handy little things to remember when shopping:

1. When we are pressured into buying a product, you’ll most likely experience buyers regret. Do your research before you go shopping. We have all run into the scenario where we see something we want, feel the urge to buy it because it’s going to be gone next week or the price is going to sky rocket overnight.  There will always be a better deal somewhere else.  Research, research, research.
2. We love new items.  We love that it’s NEW!  Think about any investment you make and what it’s lifetime running costs will be.  Consider if Energy Star has the same product. Try to get the best option out of a purchase so you can have the very best.
3. Choose products made from environmentally friendly fabrics like silk, wool and cotton.
4. Avoid cheap products. Go for the products that will last longer. You may end up spending more money, but it will pay itself off better than the cheaper version.
5. Reuse products. Using reusable products will save you money and will do wonders for the environment.  They won’t end up in landfills will reduce the amount of carbon emissions and energy associated with making more products.
6. Purchase produce that is “in season”.  You will be supporting local farmer’s markets as well as cutting out the transportation costs to bring in produce across the country.
7. Look for products that are biodgradbale and non-toxic.  These products will be able to decompose quickly and don’t leave byproducts in the environment.
8. Rethink the 2 for 1 specials.  Do you really need all of that particular item, or will it be wasted?

Green Living

• Energy Saving Tips for a Green Lifestyle
• Energy Star- A Project Long in the Making

1. Look at heating and electricity.  By simply turning off lights and electronic devices that you aren’t using, you could knock off at least 25% of your next energy bill.  When it comes to heat, turn your heat either down or off while nobody is at home.
2. Buy bulk brands.  Because of their size, less packaging is used for the amount of food you are actually purchasing.
3. Check into your local stores and see if they do free refills. Some stores will actually refill bottles of soap, shampoo or any product that is bottled if you bring in your empty bottles.

These are simple, easy ways to save some money during these tough economic times, but also becoming a little more environmentally-conscious. Give it a try!

Green Living

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• What exactly does it mean to be a “Green Company”? And should I care?
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Most people aren’t exactly sure what this means.  What do SRI’s entail?  What are SRI’s? Basically, an SRI opportunity is an investment strategy that means to make a better world while giving you a good return.

Here’s how this works.

SRI analysts search for businesses and companies that you can talk to who actively practice responsible corporate behaviors.  The analysts base their decisions on areas focusing on environmental issues, community relations, human rights and the rights of indigenous people.  They also focus on product safety.

You, as the investor, hold stocks in high-standing companies.  This means that the company scores high in social, ethical as well as environment friendly standards.

SRI mutual funds perform just as well as regular mutual funds.  SRI mutual funds will gain returns.  The fees may be a little bit higher than you’re used to, but in the long run, it’s a small price to pay. The future of your world has extreme value by itself as well as your own personal financial future.

By beginning your research in SRI mutual funds, you can find investment opportunities that correlate to your own personal beliefs.  You simply rank the causes you would support and continue your research along with SRI management analysts to find the right investment fund for you.

You can also follow diverse SRI funds.  Diversify your related areas, just don’t put all your eggs in one basket.  If one area of interest suffers, you will always have another back up with another interest.  Do your research and look at each fund that you are interested in without having to sacrifice your own beliefs. Try to diversify rather than finding all mutual funds for the same principle.

Always consider SRI funds for investment potential and your own beliefs.  The environment has so many opportunities for growth and development.  You can absolutely support several causes or just focus on one.  It’s possible to preserve our earth while making a little bit of profit simultaneously.

Other green posts you might be interested in:

• Green painting – Earth friendly choices for redecorating your home
• How to Save Energy with your Central AC System
• How Does Solar Energy Work in Your Home?
• How Do You Make Your Own Solar Panels
• Saving Power In Your Home In 6 Easy Steps

Today, more and more people can be seen carrying a water bottle.  Water bottles have gone far beyond the generic store-bought water.  Fashionable bottles have been made, perhaps to help the health-conscious society become more prone to drink water. Admit it, you feel sort of guilty when you see other people grabbing a water bottle and taking a huge gulp.  You think to yourself that you should be drinking more water, right?

Studies show that during a blind test, subjects were given a sample of tap water as well as a sample of bottled water.  During the study, the subjects were asked to point out which one was tap and which one was bottled. 50% of the time, the subjects could not tell the difference.

The issue is not that we need to drink more water, it’s the kind of water we use that is the main concern here.  More people are drinking bottled water, rather than tap water.  Ultimately, this is creating a problem with the amount of plastic we are consuming.

Plastic bottles are consuming more fossil fuel resources that we have been trying to preserve.  Petroleum, which is a product of crude oil, is one of the major components in water bottles. The components of plastic bottles create a very durable plastic that does not break down easily.  It takes longer for a plastic bottle to break down, causing byproducts to build up in the environment.

Landfills are becoming clouted with garbage.  Because this plastic takes time to break down, the amount of garbage is forcing landfills to reach maximum capacity very quickly.

It is estimated that 22 billion plastic bottles are consumed annually.  Only about 10% of this estimate actually is recycled.  The rest ends up in our landfills. Scary to think about, right?

Each plastic bottle has a carbon footprint. Each bottle uses materials that are processed, transported and ultimately disposed of and is equal to a 25% bottle of oil.

What can we do to fix this problem?

1. Make a conscious effort to recycle more often.  It takes less energy to use recycled materials than it does to make more product.
2. Reduce the amount of water you buy.  Instead, try using a water filter at home. Filters do an excellent job of extracting dirt and other germs out of your tap water.

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