01-12-05
The US is facing the reality of a very expensive heating season, higher
gasoline and natural gas prices and increasing awareness of our nation's effect
on global warming. So it is timely for us to offer some tips (and plenty of
links) on how to save money and energy using renewable resources.
The least expensive energy is the energy you don't have to buy. Consider one of
any number of options to go green. Plus, renewable energy-powered products are
popping up all over the place.
1) Heat your home with clean renewable bio-fuels
If you are currently heating with oil, consider switching to heating with
biodiesel (also referred to as bio-oil or bio-heat). With home heating oil
prices expected to reach record levels during this heating season, biodiesel is
likely to be competitive in price, cleaner burning and made from crops grown by
American farmers.
There are a number of heating oil suppliers that are offering their customers a
blended product. Call you local supplier to see if they offer biodiesel for home
heating or visit the National Biodiesl Board website to find a supplier near
you.
Want to get away from oil altogether? Wood pellet stoves are fuelled by
pellets made from compressed chips and sawdust, and purchasing one of these
super efficient stoves can also earn you a $ 2,000 tax credit thanks to
legislation in the recently passed Energy Bill.
See the Pellet Fuels Institute or New England Wood Pellets websites.
2) Get yourself into solar hot water
Want to make a hot change? Buy a solar water heater the next time your
conventional water heater dies (or sooner) -- and if you finance it when you
remodel or upgrade your home, condominium, or cabin the energy cost savings far
outweigh the amount in the monthly payments on your second mortgage used to pay
for your new solar system!
See websites Solahart, SunEarth Inc., SolarGenix, Heliodyne.
3) Light-up your home, office or big box retail store
Home: Install a solar path, security or walkway lights. Whether taking out the
garbage, walking the dog or coming home late from work or a trip, it's useful to
have some solar-generated light at night -- and show your neighbours a practical
use of renewables.
Office: The least expensive energy is the energy you don't have to buy.
Consider a solar day-lighting solution for your home or office -- day-lighting
in offices not only fits the occupation profile, but also improves the
productivity of people working there.
If day-lighting is not the right solution, how about coupling solar directly
with your store's lighting system?
See website Nextek Power Systems.
Big Box: Have a big box store or warehouse and want to see what's possible? Check out what Wal-Mart is doing on the renewable energy front.
4) Light-up your street, neighbourhood or town
Outdoor public lighting can often be less expensive if you use solar-powered
lights and not only for driveways, but on roadways, piers, parking lots,
signage, street and security lights -- providing immediate savings for not
having to run or bury electric wires, not to mention the ongoing electric bill.
Properly designed outdoor solar lighting also provides the right amount light
for the task without over lighting, so as not to get that "urban glow" -- great
for urban dwellers, rural consumers, and astronomy buffs.
5) Renewable consumer products
To prove that clean, green renewable energy can be hip and fashionable too, we
have compiled a list of “cool” consumer products and gadgets that integrate
renewable energy. A solar watch by Citizen or Junghaus, the Casio Scientific
Solar Calculator, the new iPod charger by Solio, a battery or solar backpack
charger by Reluminati, even solar-powered models for children -- RE-powered
products are popping up all over the place.
Plus, more than 110 products are certified as manufactured using renewable
energy.
6) Cool your building clean and green
Buy a solar vent fan or thermal barrier paint for your attic -- by loweringattic
temperatures your air conditioning bills go down, plain and simple.
7) Purchase renewable energy to power your home or business
So you like Renewable Energy and want to support it, but for now just can't buy
a product or add some power generating device to your home or business.
The solution is simple. Buy Renewable Energy Credits (also referred to as Green
Tags) for a slight premium on your regular monthly power bill and know that your
source of energy is clean and green. Put your money where your heart is. No
excuses, no renovations or gadgets, just a monthly tithe to ramp up the market
so industry can reach economies-of-scale so more people can "walk the talk."
8) Clean back-up power systems
If you need reliable power in your home or business for a specific circuit or
need be sure to buy a back-up power system that utilizes renewable energy.
When the electric power goes out your basement sump pump, web router,
refrigerator, etc. keep working -- no matter what. If asquirrel eats a wire,
falling tree limb snaps a feeder line, ice or wind bring down a distribution
connector, or substation transformer just gives out -- you're protected!
See websites GridPoint, Xantrex, Outback Power, SMA.
9) Think globally -- act for renewable energy locally
Don't just rubber stamp local bond issues without demanding that renewable
energy be considered for powering (fuelling) public spaces.
Parks (lighting), public restrooms (fans and water heating) and schools (energy
is the third highest cost of education after teachers' salaries and their
benefits) and other public facilities are great candidates for renewable energy
power, heating and cooling systems.
10) Educate yourself and others about renewable energy
If you are new to renewable energy, one of the best ways to learn about it is by
going to see a working RE system. There are an increasing number of events that
anyone can attend to learn about the technology and more.
If you own or have access to a renewable energy system, organize an event and
invite your neighbours, business colleagues, friends and local officials -- let
them see your solar home or business installations or even the solar gadgets you
have. Most people still don't know how well these technologies work -- and
seeing is believing. Show off your renewable energy system on the National Solar
Home Tour (every October).
Disclaimer:
REA does not endorse any of the products mentioned in this article. They are
provided as a starting point only.
Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com