Whether you’re looking to save a few dollars on your electricity bill or want do your part in keeping the planet green, there are a few fundamental steps you can take to save energy at home.

The main thing to recognize is saving energy doesn’t require massive sacrifice. It’s all about being conscious of how valuable a resource energy is, and taking practical steps to use what you need but only what you need.

As well as learning about how to save energy, it’s a great idea to do a five minute home energy audit every couple of years.

Saving energy and doing your part for the planet can be as simple as taking a few steps here and there to cut back on what you don’t need. Below are six simple but effective tips that you can use to start reducing your energy consumption today.

1. Energy Efficient Appliances

Choose energy efficient appliances that have the Energy Star stamp of approval, and turn off appliances when they are not being used.

Energy Star is a joint program between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Its mandate is to increase access to, and awareness of, energy efficient technology for homes and businesses. This system has been implemented in several countries around the world.

2. Heating

If it’s as cold as Siberia outside, you don’t need to make it a tropical paradise inside.

Keep the thermostat set to a temperature that you are comfortable with in a few layers of warm clothing.

Turn down the thermostat before you retire to bed and compensate by snuggling under a warm blanket.

3. Hot Showers

As a general rule, water heating accounts for around 30% of household power consumption.

Insulate your hot water cylinder with a cylinder wrap. Just like wall and roof insulation, cylinder wraps give huge benefits in blocking heat-radiation, meaning your cylinder element doesn’t have to work as hard and doesn’t use as much electricity.

Also, turn your water temperature down a notch to save energy. Not only does too-hot water take extra energy to heat, it can be detrimental to the health of your skin and hair. It can be dehydrating in cold weather, when most people are already prone to having dry skin.

4. Alternative Heating

Instead of using traditional home heating methods, you could go with other options.

If you live in an area that’s sunny during the day and chilly at night, consider investing in a solar water heater.

Solar water heating is the most cost-effective (and lowest capital investment) form of residential green energy.

Also, use a traditional fireplace with real wood during the winter. Not only will you save on electricity, but the authenticity of a real fireplace gives a cozy atmosphere during winter.

Using a fireplace can be much less environmentally abusive than relying on coal-produced energy sources if you choose a clean-burning local wood and make sure it’s been adequately dried.

If you’re building a new home or commercial building, consider a design that incorporates passive heating and cooling. This basically involves designing the structure to retain heat in winter, and stay cool in summer.

Passively heated buildings often actually cost less to construct as they don’t require expensive appliances such as air conditioners and heat pumps – not to mention the enormous power bill reductions.

5. Lights

Although many people feel far more comfortable in a well-lit home, don’t forget that the more lights you have on, the more energy you are burning.

Only have the lights that you need on, and switch off lights if you are the last to leave a room.

Switch to energy efficient bulbs, which consume less energy and provide brighter light.

Consider installing sensor activated lights in your hallway. You don’t have to remind yourself to turn them off, because they automatically turn on as you walk up the hallway, and turn off five minutes later.

As well as automated energy savings, sensor lights are a very cool feature, especially if you choose something like wall mounted splash lights. Plus you won’t have to fumble around for the switch in the middle of the night – particularly good if you’ve got young children.

If you’re building, research lighting design and “daylighting.” This is building that makes use of natural light flows, as well as things like placing lighting at the optimal height (to get sufficient light with less lighting fixtures) or in the optimal proximity to walls.

6. Washing Clothes And Dishes

Make a conscious effort to start the dishwasher only when it’s full – more work gets done using the same amount of energy.

When washing clothes, use cold water whenever possible – particularly for things like towels.

Most of the energy it takes to run a washing machine goes to heating the water.

7. Fix Drafts

Install caulking to make sure there are no air leaks within the home.

This will simply result in you spending less on heating and air conditioning.

Most older homes have some level of draft gaps, which means heating has to run continuously in order to compensate for outgoing hot air and incoming cold drafts during winter, and vice versa during summer.

Learn more about finding energy-drain areas of your home and complete your own home energy audit checklist.

Now You Have The Power

By implementing the above energy saving tips in your home, you will not only cut down your electricity bill, you will also reduce your carbon footprint, and in so doing, contribute to a greener planet.

Sustainable energy supplies have recently become a hot-topic and have garnered alot of public and political awareness and support.

Up until this urgency became windspread, the common focus was solely economics and growth. The great developments of the Industrial Revolution introduced a not-so-great belief that energy resources would be infinitely provided by the earth – void of any consequences.

Today we have a much more indepth understanding of literally everything under the sun, including the knowledge of how to live more harmoniously with the environment. The pieces of the puzzle to solving global problems can come down to many individual choices, which aren’t limited to but include taking a look around your home or office to identify small areas for energy improvement.

Going Green: Digesting Tea Defends Against Alzheimer’s, Cancer …

Thursday, January 6, 2011. The Guardian Going Green: Digesting Tea Defends Against Alzheimer’s, Cancer Medical News Today Drinking, or better yet digestion and the body’s ability to absorb key elements of green tea, may play a vital …
Photo by digiyesica

Publish Date: 01/06/2011 18:01

http://jackskin.com/2011/01/06/going-green-digesting-tea-defends-against-alzheimers-cancer-medical-news-today/

Green Vol 1.19: Win A Nonprofit Guide To Going Green, National …

Support this newsletter with a sponsor message details at: http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=171523 Where Green Meets Good Thursday, January 6, 2011 Green Vol 1.19: Win A Nonprofit Guide To Going Green, National Geographic, …

Publish Date: 01/06/2011 11:32

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Going Green With Used Solar Panels | Gossips99.Com

Going green will not be at all times the least expensive possibility for a family in immediately’s harsh economic reality. In actual fact, the costliest facet of going solar is within the initial phase of buying and installing your panels. … January 5, 2011 | Author: nataliefoster333 | Posted in Celebrities. Going green is not always the least costly possibility for a family in as we speak’s harsh financial reality. Actually, the costliest aspect of going photo voltaic …

Publish Date: 01/05/2011 2:38

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Going Green Magazine Expanding the Going Green Market « Business …

Las Vegas, Nevada, January 5, 2011 /India PRwire/ — Major strides are being made in the going green market. Companies are being shown exactly how to accelerate their business growth and how to increase their visibility and profitability …

Publish Date: 01/05/2011 23:08

http://stockmarketsreview.com/pressrelease/2011/01/06/going-green-magazine-expanding-the-going-green-market/

Going green: my January Life @ Home article – Table for 5 …

Caroline Barrett dishes about breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Publish Date: 01/01/2011 9:35

http://blog.timesunion.com/tablefor5/going-green-my-january-life-home-article/925/

Green Going Tweets for January:

By Chef_JeffGary at 01/06/2011 4:30

By goodolclint at 01/05/2011 20:37

By GoingGreenGone at 01/05/2011 19:06

Green Going Videos for January:

Going Green!!

Listen to me talk about the fact that going green decreases world suck levels! And rant about the proper way to say the year 2011 as well as Time Machine (the mac back-up system, not the TARDIS). Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/Sara0Michelle

Webkinz go green

Go green it is not just u it’s me to please go green

Going Green

www.wpnr.org Saint Vincent College is going green. Learn how.

Going Green with Yolanda Green — Riding the Bus: Worth It?

Going Green Intern Joe Dwyer weighs the costs between taking the bus and driving to work.

By using natural propducts in our homes, instead of man made manufactured items, we can greatly reduce the amount of waste that we generate over the course of the year. Not only does a factory not have to manufacture the amterial, but the materials itself is a part of the world, and as such, it is not truly garbage, even when it is broken or when it is time to throw it away. Stone can't ever be garbage, its part of the world? Rock is the material that the entire earth is made of.

You can use them in your kitchen, mini bar, patio or in the garden. Wherever used, they serve the same function as their wood, paper or plastic versions.

Coasters protect your furniture from damage in an environmentally responsible way. You will be able to shield your tables, desk or coffee tables from stains, discoloration and warps. This way you can make them last longer, preserve their shine and maintain their beauty.

Sandstone coasters come in various shapes and sizes. They can have customized logos or have themed graphics. If you have a bar, you can have your slogan or logo neatly printed on the sandstone coasters. You can also have these types of coasters in your restaurant where you have pieces of advertising messages on them. Stull further, you can use these green coasters as giveaways, gifts, or souvenirs for patrons at your eatery. If you had an environmentalist friend, the sandstone coasters will serve as a perfect gift for them.

Choosing eco friendly coasters demonstrates your commitment to the protection of the world’s resources. Using them to protect your furniture will complement conservation efforts.

Resources that are regenerative, meaning they cannot be depleted are considered renewable energy. These resources are safe for our environment and produce energy without the harmful pollutants and emissions associated with fossil-fuels.

Wind farms often receive a bad press, especially when they’re situated near homes or in popular hiking areas. Because they have to be placed in skylines for maximum efficiency and they make a lot of noise and often spoil views. Offshore wind farms are less problematic in this way and can take advantage of fierce sea winds, increasing their output, but they rely on a nation having a lot of suitable coastline.

While the Netherlands does very well with its wind farms, the US is, considering the comparative size of its population, at a distinct disadvantage. For the home-owner, small wind-powered generators are available, but they’re not very efficient and often result in complaints from neighbors.

A much more effective way of generating power is using hydroelectricity that uses tidal forces and the natural energy of rivers. However, there are a limited number of suitable locations for hydroelectric generators, and often these are in areas which already provide fertile farmland, so a lot of people have to be displaced and lose their land in order for them to be built. The impact on local wildlife can also be damaging.

The test is being easy to access, non-polluting and practical and solar power is the only alternative that truly passes that test. Solar panels of today will still work effectively even in areas that are always cloudy. They require very little maintenance and once installed do not get in any ones way. Harnessing the power of the sun is the greenest way to generate the power we need for these reasons.

SOURCE Green Energy Technologies LLC

Katie Patrick has some good tips for you if you’re looking to buy a green home. Check it out at:

http://www.thegreenpages.com.au/blogs/katiepatrick/?p=102

Green energy refers to the use of power that is not only more efficient than fossil fuel but that is friendly to the environment as well. Green energy is generally defined as energy sources that dont pollute and are renewable.

There are several categories of green energy. They are anaerobic digestion, wind power, geothermal power, hydropower on a small scale, biomass power, solar power and wave power. Waste incineration can even be a source of green energy.

Nuclear power plants claim that they produce green energy as well, though this source is fraught with controversy, as we all know. While nuclear energy may be sustainable, may be considered renewable and does not pollute the atmosphere while it is producing energy, its waste does pollute the biosphere as it is released.

The transport, mining and phases before and after production of nuclear energy does produce and release carbon dioxide and similar destructive greenhouse gases. When we read of green energy, therefore, we rarely see nuclear power included.

Those who support nuclear energy say that nuclear waste is not, in fact, released into our earths biosphere during its normal production cycle. They stress as well that the carbon dioxide that nuclear energy production releases is comparable, in terms of each kilowatt hour of electricity, to such sources of green energy as wind power.

As an example of the green energy production the average wind turbine, such as the one in Reading England, can produce enough energy daily to be the only energy source for 1000 households.

Many countries now offer household and commercial consumers to opt for total use of green energy. They do this one of two ways. Consumers can buy their electricity from a company that only uses renewable green energy technology, or they can buy from their general supplies such as the local utility company who then buys from green energy resources only as much of a supply as consumers pay for.

The latter is generally a more cost – efficient way of supplying a home or office with green energy, as the supplier can reap the economic benefits of a mass purchase. Green energy generally costs more per kilowatt hour than standard fossil fuel energy.

Consumers can also purchase green energy certificates, which are alternately referred to as green tags or green certificates. These are available in both Europe and the United States, and are the most convenient method for the average consumer to support green energy. More than 35 million European households and one million American households now buy these green energy certificates.

While green energy is a great step in the direction of keeping our environment healthy and our air as pollutant free as possible, it must be noted that no matter what the energy, it will negatively impact the environment to some extent.

Every energy source, green or otherwise, requires energy. The production of this energy will create pollution during its manufacture. Green energys impact is minimal, however.

James Copper owns http://www.propertycareerskills.co.uk who offer energy training and assessment.

Seven hotels recently received Delaware Green Lodging certification for implementing basic green lodging practices that conserve natural resources, save money and enhance their marketing potentials as environmentally-responsible businesses. The announcement, which brings the total number of Green Lodging Hotels in Delaware to twelve, was made by program partners – the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Delaware Hotel and Lodging Association.

“Green hotels have responded to consumer demands by changing to more environmentally-friendly and sustainable practices,” said Crystal Nagyiski, Delaware Green Lodging program manager. “By incorporating green practices in the way they do business, green hotels have set themselves apart from the competition.”

The seven hotels recognized were: Quality Inn & Suites, New Castle; Holiday Inn Express, Bethany Beach and Rehoboth Beach; the Atlantis Inn, Rehoboth Beach; Embassy Suites, Newark; the Awaken Inn, Millsboro; and The Biden Environmental Training Center, Lewes. To qualify for the program, the hotels implemented five basic green lodging practices – recycling, water conservation, optional linen service, energy conservation and a “green events” package.

DNREC’s website includes an overview of the Delaware Green Lodging program, the checklist businesses need to complete to qualify and other information. A list of participating businesses and environmentally-friendly practices implemented is also included. Visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/p2/Pages/GreenLodging.aspx.

The Delaware Green Lodging Program is a voluntary, self-certifying program that encourages hotels, resorts and other hospitality facilities to understand their impacts to the environment and implement pollution prevention practices. Facilities that meet the requirements receive a certificate and window decals and can display the Delaware Green Lodging logo on marketing materials. In addition, Green
Lodging hotels are listed on the program website and are eligible to participate in grant opportunities.

For more information on the Green Lodging or other Pollution Prevention programs, contact Crystal Nagyiski at (302) 739-9072 or crystal.nagyiski@state.de.us.

Tip 1:

Knowledge is power. You have to understand the problems at hand to be able to deal with them effectively. The environment has been being attacked for decades and decades from pollution-causing manufacturing plants and governmental agencies who do far less than not caring. Truths have been consistently masked and hidden from the public in the name of increased profit margins. To believe otherwise is both ludicrous and self-destructive. This is your planet! Stand up and fight for it. Educate yourself and grow in knowledge. Use that knowledge to force your elected leaders into positive action that addresses the urgent environmental issues at hand. Be a green mover; become a green knowledge bank!

It’s not enough to simply be aware of the problems that are destroying our planet; you have to be proactive in your approach to addressing them. Almost everyone acknowledges that there are many things which must be done to reverse the damages done and impede or stop further damage to our planet. That’s no surprise. Taking action is what it’s all about though.

Tip 2:

Change the way that you and your family move around. Transportation of the masses of people around the planet everyday unleashes a devastating amount of toxins into the atmosphere, soil and water. Consider green alternative forms of transportation such as bicycling, scootering, walking or mass transit systems. Explore the possibility of working from home to cut down on your need to travel so much. Ever thought about forming a carpool? If you just can’t see making full-time green changes in your travel habits, maybe you could just change them on a few given days of each week. At a minimum, you should at least be driving a fuel-efficient vehicle. The bottom line is that it is you that must take action. Just do something!

Tip 3:

Green living has a lot to do with intentionally lessening your consumption of energy. You don’t have to spend a hundred thousand dollars transforming your home with wind turbines, solar panels and flux capacitors. You can do simple green things for free like shutting the lights off when you leave a room. Try dropping that thermostat setting a few degrees in the winter and raising it a few degrees in the summer. Buy energy-saving light bulbs and appliances. Ensure that your home, water lines and hot water tanks are thoroughly insulated. You can also periodically inquire about green alternatives with your utility companies. If they never get the requests, they will never embrace the changes necessary.

Tip 4:

Train yourself to embrace healthier eating habits of water-rich foods. It is a very green way to enhance your health while simultaneously saving the planet. The Internet has made it possible to drop ship international foods all around the planet with simple mouse clicks. Shipping products and intensive farming methods have deadly impacts on the environment. Embrace the concept of gardening. Start a compost pile in your backyard and enrich the soil on your land. Eliminate your consumption of inorganic, pesticide and herbicide laden vegetables. Eat less meat. Enjoy the natural, seasonal bounties of nature.

There are many healthful, environmentally-responsible and fun ways to enjoy a greener lifestyle and become a part of an international effort to save our planet. Why should we continue to turn a blind eye towards corrupt governments and corporate entities? Why should they continue to unleash total devastation on our planet – our home? Make at least some small, simplistic changes in your lifestyle today to further the green cause. The rewards that you experience will be far further reaching than you will be able to see.

Phillip runs an awesome green website at http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org/

He wants to call attention to the impact of wasted natural resources and help to advocate the necessity of the Green movement.

You are encouraged to check out the site’s blog at http://ypggblog.com/

Please visit often!

The most effective changes you can make to your lifestyle begin, as all the best things do, at home, and the best part is these changes require nothing more than small alterations to your normal routine. The best way to start is to cut down on your energy uses. There are a variety of ways to do this, but start by always ensuring that appliances that are not in used are switched off at the plug – stand-by is not your friend. The same goes for lighting – if you’re not in the room, switch the light off.

You can also save water and energy by only boiling as much water as you need. A good way to do this is to fill whatever mug you’re going to use with cold water, put it in the kettle, half fill the mug again and add this, and boil. You need slightly more than a full cup as boiling produces steam and causes evaporation. On the same water-saving vein, having a bath is far more eco-friendly than using a shower.

Other small changes that will drastically reduce your energy consumption include relying less on heating – if you’re just a bit chilly, put a jumper on rather than reaching for the dial. And for whatever heating you do use, if you foil back your radiators, you will get more heat into the room for the same energy use.

Outside of the home there are still plenty of options. Check and see if your bank or telecoms provider offers paperless billing. This usually means your bill is sent in full to an email account and this is turn really helps the environment. It is also worth investing in some sturdy, long-term canvas bags to use while shopping for groceries – the carrier bag is one of the worst eco-enemies in use today. Complete eradicate it from your weekly shop and your carbon footprint will go into freefall.

The last, and perhaps most obvious, green friendly tip is the three Rs: recycle, recycle, recycle. Separate all your waste products in their appropriate places, so instead of just putting it all in one bin, split it into categories like food waste, garden waste and plastic and then send it to be recycled.

When it comes to being eco friendly, small changes to one person’s habits can make a huge difference to the earth.