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Showing posts with label alternative energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alternative energy. Show all posts

Thursday, June 10, 2010

7 Ways to Use Green Products


By Kathryn Haley



More and more people are concerned about the environment and individuals are asking what they can do. While doing a home improvement project may not seem to be eco-friendly, there are ways you can improve your home and be green at the same time. Here are 7 ways you can go green.
1) Use Green paint. No I don't mean paint everything green. I mean use zero VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paint. Many leading brands are now using these zero emission paints. You can find these paints in a wide variety of colours and they are available in both interior and exterior grade.
2) Use Eco-friendly flooring. Consider using Bamboo or cork. Bamboo has a modern feel to it and Cork is comfortable to walk on. There are also eco friendly hardwood flooring options that are easy to install and look great. For carpet, look for wool or linen and consider sisal or grass for area rugs.
3) Purchase Energy Star rated appliances. Most of the top brand appliances are offering energy efficient options. They allow you to save time and money and you can get rebates back from the government.
4) Recycle materials you already own. Have fun and get creative with the things in your garage. Break up old tile and create an interesting table top or backsplash. Take old scraps of fabric and create colourful throw pillows or a piece of wall art.
5) Use HardiPlank siding instead of vinyl. Vinyl siding is flammable and toxic to produce. HardiPlank is made from wood pulp and it comes either pre finished or ready to paint. It won't rot, crack or split.
6) Buy Green furniture. Again I'm not referring to the colour, not that I have anything against a green sofa. More and more furniture designers are getting into the green movement and creating pieces made from recycled materials and eco-friendly fabrics.
7) Change your lights. You can now find a great selection of fixtures that use LED lighting or Fluorescent bulbs. They both use 75% less energy than incandescent fixtures. If you aren't planning on changing the fixtures themselves you can still be green. Switch the bulbs to CFL's or compact fluorescent bulbs. They last 10 times longer than the incandescent bulbs.
Hopefully you can incorporate some of these tips in your next renovation project. Ask your favorite retailers to show you their eco-friendly lines. I think you will be surprised how much is out there now in green products.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Friday, June 4, 2010

Great Savings By Using Green Products

By Alfred Blaine

Many people think of green products and green energy as a way to protect the environment. This is absolutely true, but green fuel and energy also can put more money in your pocket through some tremendous savings. When more people begin to realize how much money can be saved with green energy, the use and popularity of these products will go through the roof.

Green energy products such as solar panels can help you cut down on your energy costs in your home or business location, which will offset the initial cost of the products. These panels can be purchased and installed on your home to use the power of the sun to supply energy for a variety of uses in your home. The sun energy can supply electric power or be stored and used to heat the home and hot water. There is an initial cost to set your home up with solar panels and batteries to supply the electricity for your home, but it is not necessary to do everything all at once.

Start with solar heated water to divert some of the energy costs in your home. Many people heat the water for their home use inside the home and for swimming pools. Starting small can help you to begin to earn some savings in your home before fully outfitting the house with solar panels.

The technology behind solar panels is simple enough for anyone to understand and this allows you to make the best decisions for your home. Solar panel technology has made great strides in recent years and this means that more people are able to include green technology and green energy products in their home. At one time items like solar panels were beyond the reach of the average home owner. Today, homeowners can enjoy the same benefits of solar energy and the savings on their power bills by installing panels on their home.

Some solar panel users can even get a small amount of money returned to the by selling excess power generated at their home back to the power company. Not every power company participates in this type of program, but it is worth investigating.

Green fuel is the one way that consumers can get control over the amount of money that they spend on their energy bills. In fact, it is the one way that a consumer can determine how much they spend on their energy every month. When you consider the amount of energy that you need to run your home, installing solar panels and other green energy products allows you to generate your own power and eliminate your need for the power company. The homeowner can decide how much money they save every month on their power bills by installing solar panels at their own pace.

Get your FREE Report and information on how not to pay a single dime to the power company at http://www.inexhaustiblesupplies.blogspot.com

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/