Pump Sunlight Indoors for Powerful Daylighting

What if you could light your entire building using no electricity, or artificial lights – but just the natural light from the sun? Conventional sky-lights do this well in certain types of single-story spaces, but are not very adaptable, powerful, and often have problems with excessive solar heat gain and heat loss. Enter the Sundolier, a powerful sunlight transport system that’s like putting a solar robot on your roof to pump sunlight indoors! The manufacturer claims a single Sundolier unit can provide enough light to illuminate a 1000-2500 sq. ft. area without any other sources.

Daylighting has taken an important role in green building, with benefits ranging from lowered energy bills to happier occupants. Many architects have struggled with making daylighting effective without the cost of glare and heat gain. The Sundolier daylighting system is a new way to gain the benefits of natural light without the drawbacks.

They do this by using an active two-axis tracking mount with a couple of reflectors that look like a big banana peel. The concentrated light is then reflected down a two foot tube and distributed using a “sun chandelier”. They are offering a few chandelier models now with more designs on the way. A roof penetration of only 3.3 sq. ft. is an industry best for the lumens output. Lighting levels at full sun are stated to be 40-50 foot candles at table top with minimal heat gain in a 1000 sq. ft. room. Here is a great video of an installation at a public library.

Now that we got the stats taken care of let’s talk about why natural light is such a hot topic in the land of green building. Studies have shown that retail sales go up, productivity increases, and school grades improve thanks to natural indoor light. But the biggest gain is in the occupants’ health. Link your lighting to a photo sensor and you save a healthy amount of energy as well. An even greater energy reduction is realized because air conditioning is reduced or eliminated by keeping those heat-producing artificial lights off.

LED Lights: Think Beyond the Bulb

Light Emitting Diodes Are the Future

While the recently approved energy bill -- which included the federal phase out plans – appropriately positions age old filament bulbs as a way of the past and compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) as the way to the future, the reality is that in 10 or so years the eventual lighting technology winner will be light emitting diode (LEDs) solutions.

Since their introduction in the early 1960s, LEDs have evolved from simple indicator lights and alphanumeric displays to an exciting new source for general lighting. LEDs differ radically from traditional light sources in that there are no glass bulbs or filaments to break, or electrodes to decay. Instead, LEDs are solid state light sources – basically, a chemical chip embedded in a plastic capsule. When the chip is energized by applying a voltage, it emits visible light, the color depending on the chip's chemical composition. The light can then be focused, routed, or scattered using lenses, waveguides or diffusers.

Due to the tremendous pace of technical developments, LED efficacy now rivals or surpasses that of standard incandescent lamps as well as the newly minted CFLs. For example, white LEDs are now producing more than 20 lumens per watt, compared to 8 - 15 lumens per watt for incandescent lamps. White LEDs are actually blue LEDs with a phosphor coating, which converts a portion of the blue light to yellow – the combination resulting in white light.

OSRAM SYLVANIA (OSI), the lighting division of engineering conglomerate Siemens AG, is integrating LEDs in a number of unique modular systems, including flexible and linear modules, marker lights, and powerful "effect" modules with focusing lenses. Flexible and linear LED modules can provide uniform backlighting for signs and contour lighting for architecture, while occupying a fraction of the space – and consuming a fraction of the energy – required by traditional light sources. Similarly, low-profile marker lights can highlight steps or edges, guiding or alerting users to hazards in areas like auditoriums, stairways and subway platforms. Effect lights combine an array of ten LEDs with individual lenses in a single compact module, focusing the combined light output into an intense and narrow beam, which can provide colorful accent lighting for architectural features.

Given the current pace of development, even general room lighting with LEDs is not a distant consideration. Indeed, the unique characteristics of LEDs invite designers, consumers and organizations alike to "think beyond the bulb," and ponder a more seamless integration of lighting and building materials.

Obama tightens efficiency rules for home water heaters

President Obama's push to increase energy efficiency is extending to home water heaters. The Department of Energy is requiring new ones meet stricter standards that could increase initial costs but reduce utility bills.

The Department of Energy is requiring that water heaters, beginning in 2015, meet stricter energy efficiency standards. Here's a General Electric one that carries the government's Energy Star label.

DOE, which has increased efficiency standards for more than 20 products such as washing machines in the last year, announced Thursday that large electric water heaters (55 gallons or more) will need to use 47% less energy and large gas ones, 30% less. Smaller units won't need to reduce energy use as much.

"You don't have to go out and replace your water heater," says DOE spokeswoman Jen Stutsman. The rules simply require that new conventional water heaters, beginning in 2015, be more efficient.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu said energy efficient appliances save families money, reduce pollution and "enhance our energy security for decades to come."

Environmentalists pushed for the new rules, which are stricter than ones DOE proposed late last year.

"These standards will not only boost the total national energy savings, but help create a bigger market for advanced water heater technologies that will eventually make every shower cheaper and more sustainable," Lane Burt of the Natural Resources Defense Council said in a statement.

DOE is also increasing efficiency standards, beginning in 2013, for pool heaters and direct heating equipment, such as gas fireplaces. These products, along with water heaters, account for 18% of home energy use.

Over three decades, DOE says the new rules will save a total of $10 billion and prevent up to 164 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions -- the equivalent of taking 46 million cars off the road for one year.

DOE estimates that the installed cost of a typical gas storage water heater (now $1,079) will increased $120 but will be offset by savings of $143 in average lifetime operating costs.

The department says it' also stepping up its enforcement of efficiency standards. On Monday, for example, it ordered that AeroSys, Inc. stop distributing an air conditioner and heat pump that independent testing showed were consuming more energy than allowed.

U.S. solar industry shows signs of growth

The U.S. solar industry is continuing to regain momentum in both the residential and commercial market, with a number of companies reporting gains overseas and in the domestic market.

One recent example comes from a Reuters report on Los Angeles-based Suniva, which has reportedly sold out its products through 2010 and is planning to triple its exports in the next five years.

The wire service added that the company is also expected to build a 400-megawatt plant in Saginaw County, Michigan, with an eye on generating electricity there by 2011.

Americans are going to see more and more solar energy generated in the next several years, with dozens of projects under construction or being planned throughout the Southwest. Other parts of the country that do not get as steady a supply of sunlight are also increasingly embarking on their own solar projects. Some states are even home to projects that will re-invent old landfills as solar energy plants.

Elsewhere, a number of other companies have showed that they have serious potential for long-term growth with or without the various tax credits that have been provided under the government stimulus bill.

Warm up your Pool with Solar Water Heating Systems

If you are a person that loves to swim, and if you own a swimming pool, then your family knows just how much fun they have during the warm seasons. Wouldn’t it be more fun if you could open the pool up earlier than usual, and the kids could stay in the pool a little later in the evening, or maybe you could leave the pool open a little longer in the early fall.

I found a product that can help you do so. It’s called – Solar Pool Heater, this kind is made for above ground pools, there is also another kind that is made for In-Ground pools. This one in the picture is for above ground pools and you can lay it beside the pool or mount it on a slant frame, preferable were ever it is convenient, and out of the way, but you should consider positioning it were it will lay in the sun all day. That way you will get more benefit from using the Solar Pool Heater as it will absorb the most of the sun rays against the black surface.

The Solar Pool Heater Systems for the In-Ground pool uses a different approach, with that system it is installed up on the roof, and collects the sun rays up there were it stays HOT! It installs easily in line with your exiting pump and equipment. The pool water circulates through solar channels and returns to the pool nice and warm.

Both of these Solar Water Heating Systems uses No Electricity at all, just the power of the sun. You should expect 10 to 15 degrees warmer water. That would be very pleasant instead of getting that initial shock you get when you jump in the cold water, at first getting in. Here is a chart to help you decide what size system you may need.

Solar Panels for All

A few years ago, implementing solar technology in your home was only a dream. Sure a few people had their homes outfitted with solar panels, but this was mainly affluent people who lived in areas that received perennial sunshine. Thanks to recent innovations, however, solar energy is making its way into the mainstream.

The internet is littered with sites providing information on how to make your own solar panels. If DIY isn’t for you, there are also a variety of affordable pre-constructed panels now for sale. Solar panels are also being utilized in an assortment of consumer products, such as flashlights and outdoor lighting

Small Bathroom Makeovers with Saving Water Technology Toiletries

Bathroom is one of important rooms inside our home. We have to make over our bathroom although we have small bathroom inside our home. Small bathroom makeovers are must for us that want to get neat and healthy small bathroom. There are some things that we have to pay attention for them while doing small bathroom makeovers. One of them is how to picking out toiletries. Of course we should pick out the best toiletries and the toiletries that suitable with our small bathroom style.

Generally, people think that the bathroom design is the most important thing on small bathroom makeovers. That’s not wrong but nowadays we have to pay attention on the technology of the toiletries too. The technology which is care to environment and water saving. There are three toiletries which we can use for water saving and give care to our environment.

1. Saving Water Toilet Bowl

Make sure that our toilet bowl is belonging to saving water category. The saving water toilet bowl is on 4.5/3 liter flushing.

2. Sink Faucet

Make sure that our sink faucet is not drum water on pressure up to 23 liter per minute. Nowadays, in the sink faucet market, there is a sink faucet that created with Pressure Compensating Aerator (PCA) technology. By this PCA technology, the sink faucet only drums 7 liter water per minute.

3. Shower

Generally, shower drums 23 liter water per minute. This is too much water spending. Now, with shower that uses Pressure Compensating Washer (PCW), we can give care to our environment by saving water. By this PCW technology, the shower only drums 9 liter water per minute without decreasing our bathing comfort.

We can use toiletries like these if we want to take care our environment by saving water. Beside, we find our small bathroom makeovers become good, we also go along with Go Green campaign.

White House Issues New Gas Mileage Standards

That gallon of gas is going to get you a little farther. The Obama administration signed off on the nation's first rules on greenhouse gas emissions Thursday and set new fuel standards that will raise current standards by nearly 10 mpg by the 2016 model year.

The so-called CAFE standards, issued by the Transportation Department and the Environmental Protection Agency, cover cars and trucks for model years 2012 to 2016. Automakers will be required to meet a fleet-wide average of 35.5 by 2016.

Although the new requirements would add an estimated $434 per vehicle in the 2012 model year and $926 per vehicle by 2016, drivers could save as much as $3,000 over the life of a vehicle through better gas mileage, according to a government statement. The new standards also will conserve about 1.8 billion barrels of oil and cut carbon dioxide emissions by nearly a billion tons over the life of the regulated models.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood praised the new standards as "achievable" and said they would encourage new and emerging technologies.

"We will be helping American motorists save money at the pump, while putting less pollution in the air," LaHood said.

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson called the move a "significant step toward cleaner air and energy efficiency." The EPA issued its first rules ever on vehicle greenhouse gas emissions following a 2007 Supreme Court decision.

Beginning in the 2012 model year, automakers must improve fleet-wide fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 5 percent a year. The revised standards move up goals set three years ago that would have required the industry to meet a 35 mpg average by 2020.

President Obama hinted at the new standards during an "energy security" speech Wednesday, saying they would be the equivalent of removing more than 50 million cars a year from the nation's roads.

Dave McCurdy, a former congressman from Oklahoma who leads the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group representing 11 automakers, said the industry supports a single national standard for future vehicles.

"America needs a road map to reduced dependence on foreign oil and greenhouse gases, and only the federal government can play this role," McCurdy said. "Today, the federal government has laid out a course of action through 2016, and now we need to work on 2017 and beyond."

Environmental groups have sought curbs on greenhouse gas emissions, blamed for global warming, and challenged the Bush administration for blocking a waiver request from California to pursue more stringent air pollution rules than required by the federal government. The request was granted by the Obama administration last year.

"The standards forthcoming under the 'clean car peace treaty' are a good deal for consumers, for companies, for the country and for the planet," said David Doniger, climate policy director for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Automakers have been working on hybrids, electric cars and other fuel-efficiency technologies that shut off an engine's cylinders when full power isn't needed.

Nissan is releasing its electric car, the Leaf, later this year, while General Motors is introducing the Chevrolet Volt, which is said to get 40 miles on a single battery charge before an engine kicks in to recharge. Ford plans to put its "EcoBoost" line of direct-injection turbocharged engines, which provide a 20 percent increase in fuel efficiency, in 90 percent of its models by 2013.

Used solar panels and surplus solar panels

Used and imperfect solar panels and cells retailers

Other Power Things to watch when buying used panels.
Oasis Montana MontanaAlternative energy retailer with a very nice catalog and a free listings page for used and surplus components.
eBay Link will take you directly to a search done for "solar panel" on eBay.COM.
TheSolar.biz This page contains pre-owned modules and module racks.
Sell also used inverters.
Sun Electronics Blemished solar panels for sale.

Used and surplus solar cell retail

Surplus Traders Net A general surplus reseller with an interesting section of solar cells, ...

Used and imperfect solar panels and cells retailers

spotHunter.com Germany Business auctions for house automation and environmental technology.

Ways To Reduce Your Household Energy Use

Although gas, electricity and other fossil fuel prices have fallen recently, that is no reason to pay more than you need to for your utility bills such as water, natural gas, or electricity. And even though winter is over and those in cold climates will get a break, those of us in warmer climates (read:hot!) are about to get hit with higher utility bills as it heats up during summer.

Becoming more energy efficient throughout your house is good for several reasons. First, it will save you money, often fairly quickly for little initial expense. Second, it saves natural resources, as cutting down on your energy use saves fossil fuels, like coal, heating oil, and natural gas, both for direct use and generation of electricity in many parts of the country. There is also a federal tax credit of 30% (up to $1500) for installing energy efficient products in 2009 to 2010. It is a great time to take advantage and upgrade, lowering your bills in the process!

Save on Water

• Check for leaks- Check for leaky faucets, a running toilet, or other signs of water leaks, and get them repaired.
• Go low flow- Consider getting a low flow showerhead or toilet for more efficient usage.
• Reduce the amount of time you run water faucets- Whether in the shower, the sink, or washing dishes, turn off the faucet as quickly as possible.
• Do your outdoor watering early or late- Avoid watering in the middle of the day, when the water will evaporate faster and make your watering efforts less efficient.

Save on Power, Electricity, Natural Gas, and Lighting

• Upgrade old appliances- Older appliances can be very inefficient compare to newer, Energy Star compliant appliances. If you are thinking of replacing an older appliance, you may save quite a bit on energy use costs, so keep that in mind.
• Switch to energy efficient light bulbs, like compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL’s)- Compact fluorescent bulbs use about one quarter of the energy that incandescent bulbs do, and can last up to 10X longer.
• Turn off lights- Leaving lights on can become a habit, but getting into the habit of turning off lights when you leave a room is easy to get into.
• Allow more natural light into your house- use lighter colors, or sheer curtains, to allow more natural light into your house during the day.
• Eliminate phantom use-unplug unused appliances or chargers- If you leave appliances in that you rarely use, get in the habit of unplugging them, as they will still draw a small amount of power. The same goes for chargers too, such as your cell phone or other portable electronic devices.
• Set your computer to sleep or hibernate mode- Computers use quite a bit of energy, so be sure to set it to hibernate or sleep mode. You can turn off your computer, too. The advice that you should leave your computer on most of time is outdated, newer components can withstand the turning off and on better, and most computers will become obsolete technologically before they would wear out anyway.
• Lower your hot water heater a few degrees- Once again, if you lower it several degrees, you will have to heat it less, and will get used to the slightly lower water temperature quickly.
• Use your dryer for several loads at a time- The residual heat will cut down on drying time for subsequent loads.
• Consider an on demand or tankless water heater- Instead of heating gallons and gallons of water, only heat what you need with a tankless water heater.

Save on Heating or Air Conditioning

• Check for leaks or drafts- Find out where your energy leaks are, and get them closed off or sealed.
• Insulate- Weatherstripping around doors or windows and insulation in attics or other places can reduce drafts.
• Lower or raise your thermostat settings- Set your thermostat several degrees lower in the winter, and a few degrees higher in the summer.
• Consider a programmable thermostat- A basic programmable thermostat can be had fairly cheap, and will start paying for itself right away.
• Upgrade windows- Older windows, in an older house, can often let a tremendous amount of airflow, i.e., heating or cooling, through, all of which is wasted. It may be more cost effective over a surprisingly short period of time to replace your older windows with new, energy efficient ones.
• Plant trees- A few large trees providing shade to your house in the hot summer can reduce your cooling bills. It may take several years or longer for the tree to get large enough to make a difference, though.
• Consider solar panels, geothermal heat pumps, or solar water heaters- There is also a 30% federal tax credit for installing renewable energy systems, and some states, such as Louisiana (which offers a tax credit of 50% on expenses up to $25,000, or a $12,500 credit-a national high, I believe) , offer an additional tax credit on top of that, so it can really add up.

Practical Ways to Save on Your Electric Bill

The cost of energy is one of those things that keep rising and it appears that once it goes up, it is not coming back down. This is the case with all common forms of energy that we use. The price of gasoline for our cars, the fuel to heat or homes, and the electricity that we use in all parts of our modern lives are all included.

Unlike a lot of things that we buy that are optional, the usage of fuel is something that most of us simply cannot do without. Okay, I know that some of you have dreams of living in the forest with a campfire, or moving to a deserted island. If that is your plan, please drop me a line and let me know how it works out for you.

While we are mostly dependent on fuel sources, there are some simple things that we can do to help save all of our money from running out of or pockets. While I mentioned different fuel sources, I would like to focus on the usage of electricity. Electricity is not one of those things where you have much of a choice in making your purchase. There is one electrical utility in any given region, and if you want the power, you are going to pay the price.

While you may not be able to give up your electrical addiction completely, there are several things that you can do to make it more manageable. Besides saving energy, there is another great benefit as well. By using less energy, you are helping to save on the global emission of greenhouse gasses and pollution. That alone is of benefit to everyone on the planet and for generations to come.

While most of these tips that I present are simple, they are effective in helping to reduce your electric bill.

One of the big energy eaters is the heating and cooling system in your home. Even if your heat is provided by gas or another source other than electric, there are a few things you can do to keep it operating more efficiently. The first thing that you can do is to keep a clean filter installed. A dirty filter requires you to use more energy and also greatly reduces heat output. The same is true to air conditioning. A dirty filter greatly reduces the cooing ability of your system. You should have your system serviced every year to keep everything operating at peak performance.

Pick a reasonable temperature on the thermostat and leave it alone. Constantly changing the setting makes your system work much harder. If you are a little cool in the winter, put on a sweater or warmer clothing. The amount of energy saved can be substantial.

Walk around your house on a cool day and feel for air leaks around doors, windows and electrical outlets. If cold air is leaking in, then warm air is also leaking out requiring you to use more energy. Have any leaks that you find insulated. These are one-time repairs that can save you money in just a short matter of time.

As your home needs larger repairs, you should consider insulated windows and doors. There are companies that can test your home to see where there are energy losses.

Another appliance that can use a lot of energy is the water heater, whether it is electric or gas. By setting the temperature just a few degrees cooler can make a difference in your energy bill. If you don't use a lot of hot water, you might actually be heating too much water. If your water temperature is set high, you use a lot of cold water to bring the temperature back to where it is useable for a bath or shower. Why heat the water to an excessively high temperature, just to turn around and cool it again. I personally have my hot water set to just about the right temperature for taking a comfortable shower.

When it comes time to replace any appliance, you should purchase the most efficient model possible. While the price might be higher now, the long-term savings in energy will pay you back many times over.

A very easy thing that everyone can do starting right now is to turn off anything that you are not using. Turn off lights that are not being used. If your not watching the television, turn it off. Excess lighting and appliance use are major wasters or energy. Once you get in the habit of turning off unused things you will start saving.

Energy efficient light bulbs are a great way to conserve electricity and the cost is not that great. The fluorescent bulb replacements are a great alternative to regular light bulbs. You can replace a 60-watt bulb with an energy saver that uses 13 watts and you are now using one-fourth the amount of energy. Another benefit to the fluorescent replacement bulbs is the fact that they are cool to operate. This is a very nice feature in the summer time. These energy saving bulbs also last considerably longer as well so the cost difference isn't really much higher than a standard light bulb.

In the kitchen, there is the monster of energy consumers. The electric range is like a hungry beast screaming for lots of electricity. Here is a little test, go look at your electric meter and note how fast the wheel is spinning. Turn on the oven and a couple of stove elements and now go back and look at your meter. It is amazing how much power the kitchen range can use. If you simply want to heat something up, a microwave oven is much more efficient for this purpose.

This is not a complete list of everything that can save you energy, but by checking out these basic ideas, you can reduce your electric bill considerably. As I mentioned, you can also help reduce the global pollution output as well.

Eight Ways to Save Energy at Home

For many of us, the new year brings resolutions of better living. We hope that you'll consider taking these easy steps in your life to save energy in your home.

1. Low-flow shower head. Switch to a low-flow shower head and you have just taken the most effective step in saving water in your home. This cheap fixture will pay for itself in a year in what you save in water bills.



2. Faucet water saver. This dandy fixture on your kitchen or bathroom faucet lets you adjust the amount of water when washing dishes or brushing your teeth. Those extra seconds will add up to a lot of gallons saved!



3. Compact fluorescent light bulbs. We all know we should switch from those energy-losing incandescent light bulbs. Each bulb will save over $30 in your electricity bill, and you'll be saving more than 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from contributing to global warming.
   



4. Renewable energy. I opted to get my home electricity from wind energy through my electric utility, costing me 2 cents extra per kilowatt hour. For reducing my climate change impact, I think that's worth it! To find out renewable energy options in your state, just ask your utility company.



5. Paperless bills. This is so easy: choose to get your bills online from your utilities, credit card company, bank, and phone company. Sixty-three billion checks are written each year in the United States: imagine how much paper we could save if we all paid bills online?



6. Offset travel. We've become a traveling society, and all those air miles are building up carbon in our air. Offsetting each trip with clean energy for someone else is easy, and doesn't cost as much as you'd think. There are a dozen different companies out there.


7. Wash laundry in cold water. About 90% of energy used to do laundry is to heat water. Your clothes will also last longer when washed in cold water.



8. Unplug it! More than 5% of a typical home's energy bill comes from electricity "leaked" from appliances that are plugged in and turned off. Unplugging electronics and things like cell phone charges when not in use will save on your electricity bill.

These small changes in your life will do a big part in helping to reduce global warming and save natural resources for future generations.

Energy Efficiency Tips for Going Green in Your Home Office

Telecommuting or running your business from your home is a great way to save time and money, and it’s also good for the environment. After all, you’re not spending the fuel to commute to and from work. However, that’s not all you can do to be environmentally friendly while working at home. Let’s take a look at some home office tips that can help you work a lot greener.

According to the US Department of Labor, about fourteen million people telecommute part time and seven million ran home based businesses in 2004. It’s been a while since then, and the number of people working at home just keeps going up, with a sixty-three percent increase in part time telecommuting between 2004 and 2006. Over half of all US companies asked offer some form of telecommuting at the moment.

You’ll want to pay close attention to energy use if you’re working at home, however. Staying home can increase your energy expenditures, and consumer electronics (such as your computer) make up around fifteen percent of usage. Unplugging unnecessary electronics that don’t need to be on is one place to start. Fax machines, printers, and copiers are often kept on, even when they don’t need to be. Computers left on all night are a problem, too. Turn them off and save a couple hundred dollars a year.

Remember to think about phantom load, too. That’s why you should unplug, not just turn off. Many small electronic devices remain in a semi-on state when turned off, so they’ll come back on again quickly. That might just be a few watts, or it might be up to forty watts per device.

Turning your laser printer off instead of leaving it idle will save half the energy, but if you unplug it, it won’t use any at all. Seventy-five percent of the energy used to power electronics is used when they’re off, and it adds up. That’s about ten percent of all monthly power bills. Using a power strip for peripherals lets you be sure that everything is really off, not just in standby.

Power adapters and chargers should be turned off when you’re not using them, too. They still draw power, even if there’s nothing plugged in. Be sure your office lighting is compact fluorescent, not incandescent, and you’ll use less energy, as well as changing and throwing away fewer light bulbs. Choose Energy Star qualified equipment when you can. It uses less power, and it’ll keep your house at a more comfortable temperature by running cooler. Once you start thinking about how to green your home office, you’ll be amazed at all the opportunities there are to do it.

Five Easy Steps to Green Computing

You can’t pick up the newspaper, turn on the television, or surf the Internet, without being bombarded by hot topics such as global warming, rising greenhouse gas emissions and the world’s energy crisis. You’re doing your part to help out by recycling and carpooling, but did you know that one of the most effective ways to improve energy management, increase energy efficiency and reduce waste starts with your computer?

According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), computers account for a relatively large portion of our electrical consumption—about 2% nationwide. The growing use of computers has caused a dramatic increase in energy consumption, which puts negative pressure on the environment. Each year consumers (and businesses) purchase more computers and put to them to use, but it’s not just the sheer number of computers that is driving energy consumption upward. The way that we use computers also adds to the increasing energy burden.

By adopting conservation practices and changing the way you use your computer, you can help make a difference in the environment – and your own wallet. If you’re ready to take the “green computing” initiative, here are a few simple tips to get you started:

Buy “Energy Star” compliant peripherals

Before you buy, check with the manufacturer or on the Energy Star web site.

Enable power management features

Thanks to the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA), personal computer systems purchased today can be easy on energy. These “Energy Star” computers and monitors can be programmed to automatically “power-down” to a low power state when they are not being used. These efficiency gains can be achieved without any sacrifice in computing performance.

The EPA has estimated that providing computers with “sleep mode” reduces their energy use by 60 to 70 percent – and ultimately could save enough electricity each year to power Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, cut electric bills by $2 billion, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by the equivalent of 5 million cars.

Follow these simple steps to access computer and monitor power management features for Windows.

1. First check to see that your monitor is Energy Star compliant (see above)

2. Open ‘Display’ in the Control Panel, go to the ‘Settings’ tab, click on ‘Advanced Properties’ and choose the ‘Monitor’ tab

3. Check ‘Monitor is Energy Star compliant’ box click ‘OK’.

The recommended settings are 20 minutes for monitor sleep and 30 minutes for system sleep. Remember that to save energy with your monitor’s built-in power management system, your monitor must go to sleep (shut itself down).

4. Turn off the screen saver

If screen saver images appear on your monitor for more than 5 minutes, you are wasting energy! Screen saver programs may save the phosphors in your monitor screen, but this is not really a concern with newer monitors, especially LCD screens. And they certainly don’t save energy.

A screen saver that displays moving images causes your monitor to consume as much as electricity as it does when in active use. These screen saver programs also involve system interaction with your CPU that results in additional energy consumption. A blank screen saver is slightly better but even that only reduces monitor energy consumption by a few percent.

5. When not in use, turn off the juice

Research reveals that most personal desktop computers are not being used the majority of the time they are running and many personal computers nationwide are needlessly left on continuously. Every time we leave computers or lights on we waste electricity. Burning fossil fuels generates most of our electricity and it also emits pollutants, sulfur, and carbon dioxide into the air. These emissions can cause respiratory disease, smog, acid rain and global climate change.

Consider doing the following:

o Turn off your computer and/or peripherals when they are not in use. Turning them on and off will not harm the equipment.

o Don’t run computers continuously unless they are in use continuously.

o Turn off computers and peripherals at night.

o Look for ways to reduce the amount of time your computer is on without adversely affecting your productivity.

o Unless you require immediate access to e-mail or other Internet services, break the habit of turning on all your computer equipment as soon as you enter the office each day.

o If practical, informally group your computer activities and try to do then during one or two parts of the day, leaving the computer off at other times.

o Avoid using the switch on a powerstrip to turn on all your equipment.

o If you use a laser printer, don’t turn your printer on until you are ready to print.

o Turn off your entire computer system (CPU, monitor and printer) or at least your monitor and printer when if you are going to be away from the computer for a little while.

Take proper care of your laptop batteries and dispose of them carefully

Follow the guidelines in your laptop manual, such as removing the AC adapter when fully charged, or totally discharging before recharging, to maximize the working life of a laptop battery. Many types of rechargeable batteries contain potentially toxic materials such as Cadmium, so dispose of them properly and carefully.

Don’t throw your old computer away

Globally over 35 million PC’s are thrown away ever year - yet there are many companies now recycling or reconditioning components or whole computers. Don’t throw it away. Your old computer might be worth something either to a dealer, a local school or a charity.

Ways to reduce electricity leakage in your home

Electricity is used by a very wide variety of equipment, much of this continually consumes electrical power in standby mode even if it is not being used, this is sometimes referred to as 'electricity leakage', this wastes electrical energy prodigiously.

It is easy to dramatically reduce electricity leakage.

Almost all homes continually consume electricity, if yours continually consumes 0.1kWh - this is quite common, nearly 440 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per household at a cost of about $40 per year.

The electricity leakage occurs because many electronic devices can't be fully turned off without switching them off at the wall socket or disconnecting them. While the device may appear to be turned off, in reality, it is one of several standby modes wasting electricity, somewhere between fully off and fully on, so it consumes electric energy 24/7.

Eliminating this standby or "leaking" electricity could save households between six and 26 percent on their average monthly electricity usage.

Tips to reduce electricity leakage:

If you are not using the equipment turn it off at the wall socket.

Do not leave electrical equipment on standby, use a switched power distribution unit for systems that have many plugs and switch it off when not in use or use an intelligent surge protector.

Unplug electric toothbrush and shaver charging cables from the wall socket when not in use.

Refrigerator Freezer energy efficiency

Refrigerator Tips:

Minimize door openings as much as possible. Every time the refrigerator door is opened, cooled air escapes. The unit must then work harder to replace the air. Try to keep the door open no longer than necessary. Be sure to close the door completely.

Don't keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures are 37° to 40°F for the fresh food compartment of the refrigerator and 5°F for the freezer section. If you have a separate freezer for long-term storage, it should be kept at 0 to 5°F.

To check refrigerator temperature, place an appliance thermometer in a glass of water in the center of the refrigerator. Read it after 24 hours. To check the freezer temperature, place a thermometer between frozen packages. Read it after 24 hours.

Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a piece of paper or a dollar bill so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull the paper or bill out easily, the latch may need adjustment or the seal may need replacing.

Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.

Move your refrigerator out from the wall and vacuum its condenser coils once a year unless you have a no-clean condenser model. Your refrigerator will run for shorter periods with clean coils.

When going on vacation, remove perishables from the refrigerator and turn the setting up a few degrees.

Freezer Tips:

Freezer temperature should be kept at 0 to 5°F.

Make sure the freezer door closes tightly. Check the door seals and gaskets periodically for air leakage. Lubricate the gaskets with petroleum jelly to keep them from cracking or drying out.

Avoid putting hot foods directly in the freezer. Let them cool in the room first.

A full freezer will perform better than a nearly empty freezer.

Mark items in the freezer for quick identification so that you don't have to keep the door open longer than necessary.

Kitchen Range and Stove energy efficiency

Which piece of cooking equipment you use and how you use it makes a big impact on how much energy you use preparing meals. Here are some tips that should help you decide where and when savings are possible in the kitchen.

Select the right pan or appliance. Oversized pans waste energy. The pan you use should match the burner size. A 6-inch diameter pan on an 8-inch burner wastes almost half of the energy produced by the burner. Using a separate appliance like a Crockpot can save energy when preparing foods requiring long cooking times. Pressure cookers reduce energy use 50 to 75 percent because cooking times are reduced when food is cooked at the higher temperatures created inside a pressure cooker. And when you bake, use glass and ceramic pans and you can lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees. If you're baking or roasting something for less than a half hour, use a toaster oven. They often use 1/3 to 1/2 the power needed for a conventional oven.

With flat-surface electric burners, make sure the bottom of your pans are flat-bottomed and can make good contact with the element. Uneven pan bottoms don't conduct heat to the food as well. And with electric burners, you can turn them off toward the end of the cooking time since they'll radiate heat for awhile as they cool.

Keep lids on pans as you cook; cooking without them can require three times as much energy as cooking with them on. Look for pans with glass lids if you like to keep an eye on what you are preparing.

When boiling foods, keep the amount of water used to a minimum. Using excess water that must be heated wastes the energy required to raise its temperature.

Microwaves use a lot of energy when operating, but because cooking times are so drastically reduced, using a microwave to prepare a meal will reduce energy use by about two-thirds compared to a conventional oven. Because less heat is generated in the kitchen, you may also save on air conditioning costs during the summer. Some microwave ovens include sophisticated features to further boost energy efficiency and cooking performance, such as temperature probes, controls to turn off the microwave when food is cooked, and variable power settings. New “rapid-cook” ovens combining microwaves with other cooking technologies— notably halogen lights or convection—are designed to cut cooking time and improve the quality of foods compared to standard microwave preparation.

Defrosting frozen foods in the refrigerator will reduce cooking time. But allow enough time for defrosting to take place. It can take several days for a frozen turkey to defrost in a refrigerator.

Air Conditioning energy savings tips

In most homes the air conditioner is the single largest consumer of energy. Air conditioners put a strain on most people’s energy costs in the summertime. High temperatures make it harder for the unit to work most effectively. Using energy efficient air conditioning can dramatically reduce one’s energy costs- some by forty percent.

Air conditioners employ the same operating principles and basic components as your home refrigerator. An air conditioner cools your home with a cold indoor coil called the evaporator. The condenser, a hot outdoor coil, releases the collected heat outside.

Each air conditioner has an energy-efficiency rating that lists how many Btu per hour are removed for each watt of power it draws. For room air conditioners, this efficiency rating is the Energy Efficiency Ratio, or EER. For central air conditioners, it is the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER. These ratings are posted on an Energy Guide Label, which must be conspicuously attached to all new air conditioners. Many air conditioner manufacturers are participants in the voluntary EnergyStar® labeling program. EnergyStar-labeled appliances mean that they have high EER and SEER ratings.

When purchasing energy efficient units it’s important to take note of the energy efficiency rating. This minimum rating was increased about three years ago, so manufacturers are no longer able to build units below the new minimum. The increase in ratings gives the consumer a thirty percent decrease in energy consumption.

A few tips that will help you further save money:

Leave the thermostat at one temperature. Dropping the temp to cool the house quickly will not cool the house any faster. If the thermostat is set to seventy eight it will take the same amount of time to get to seventy eight as it would if it was set to seventy.

For the most energy savings the thermostat should stay at seventy eight in the summer and sixty eight in the winter.

While natural sunlight is perfect for energy efficient lighting, closing the curtains when not in the room will help the house retain cool air. Opening the curtains at night will allow heat to escape as well.

Keep the air filter clean, check it every couple of months or so. A clean filter can increase efficiency by five to fifteen percent.

Clothes washer energy efficiency

The average American family washes almost 400 loads of laundry each year using about 40 gallons of water per full load with a conventional washer.

It’s a good thing families can cut their related energy costs by more than a third — and the water costs by more than half — just by purchasing a clothes washer with the ENERGY STAR label.

Is your washer over 10 years old? Replace it with a new ENERGY STAR qualified washer and you could save over $145 each year on your utility bills. That’s like getting your High Efficiency (HE) detergent free year round.

The good news is that new washers on the market today can cut your energy use by as much as 70 percent. They can save you more than $850 in water and detergent over the life of the machine. Best of all, independent studies show they may actually get clothes cleaner!

ENERGY STAR clothes washers range from about 1.6 cubic feet up to 2.9 cubic feet. A typical large-capacity washer, such as found in most households, is about 2.7 cubic feet. For a family that does a lot of laundry, one of the larger models probably makes the most sense. For an individual or couple who do less laundry, a small model will be the most economical.

Look for high-speed spin cycles that remove more water from fabrics, so less energy is needed for drying.

When purchasing a washer, select one that allows control of the water level and temperature. Look for energy-saving features like pre-soak, "suds saver," and cold water settings.

When you look for energy efficient appliances, don't be misled. Names like "Energy Miser," "Energy Saver" and "Fuel Saver" don't necessarily guarantee savings. The best way to determine energy efficiency of appliances is to actually compare information provided by EnergyGuide labels.

Check for rebates before you buy new appliances. Call your utility company to see if they are giving rebates on high efficiency models. When shopping, ask your salesperson about them.

Clothes Washer Energy Tips:

Use cold water and detergent specially formulated for use in cold water.

When laundry day comes, wash only full loads, but do not overload your machine. Wash smaller loads only when you have a small-load attachment or variable water levels.

Use the correct amount of detergent. Too many bubbles make your machine work harder and use more energy.

Presoak or use the soak cycle when washing heavily soiled garments like your kid's soccer uniform. You'll avoid two washings and save energy.

Up to 90 percent of the cost of washing clothes comes from heating the water, so use hot water only for very dirty clothes, and always use cold water in the rinse cycle.

Clothes dryer energy efficiency

Of course, one of the cheapest means of drying clothes uses no appliance what-so-ever. The simple clothes line and clothes pins cost hardly anything. Using the heat of the sun and drying power of breezes, clothes lines are making a come back in many backyards.

Unlike most other types of appliances, clothes dryers don't vary much in the amount of energy used from model to model. That's why clothes dryers are not required to display EnergyGuide labels. They're also not listed in the ENERGY STAR®'s database.

But that doesn't mean that the amount of energy used by clothes dryers isn't important. A dryer is typically the second-biggest electricity-using appliance after the refrigerator, costing about $85 to operate annually.

Over its expected lifetime of 18 years, the average clothes dryer will cost you approximately $1,530 to operate.

Right now, all dryers on the market work the same - they tumble clothes through heated air to remove moisture. Engineers are working to develop dryers that use microwaves to dry clothes, but they're not yet being sold. (One problem still to be overcome is metal rivets and metal zippers, which don't microwave well.)

Buying Smart

Consider these tips if you're looking to buy an efficient clothes dryer:

Check for the highest energy factor number when comparing different models. Remember that there are two costs to an appliance - the initial purchase price, and the cost of operating that appliance over the many years you own it.

Look for a clothes dryer with a moisture sensor that automatically shuts off the machine when your clothes are dry. Not only does this save energy; it reduces wear and tear on clothes caused by over-drying.

The best dryers have moisture sensors in the drum for sensing dryness, while most only estimate dryness by sensing the temperature of the exhaust air. Compared with timed drying, you can save about 10 percent with a temperature sensing control, and 15 percent with a moisture sensing control.

Look for a dryer with a cycle that includes a cool-down period, sometimes known as a "perma-press" cycle. In the last few minutes of the cycle, cool air, rather than heated air, is blown through the tumbling clothes to complete the drying process.