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Soften the light and save - use dimmers and LED lights

10/22/2009

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Many good citizens do the right thing and have been converting most of their incandescent to CFL’s (compact fluorescent lamps) because they save money/energy. However, there are many situations where an incandescent lighting solution is the better choice. Incandescent light offers a warmer glow and a less harsh experience on the eyes than fluorescents. So for that living room spot, dining room chandelier, conference room presentation lights , or sconce mood light….how can we be more efficient? The answer is dimmers. Reducing the light to just 80% of the rated capacity greatly lengthens the bulbs life in addition to the power savings. It has also been shown to increase work productivity in many environments. Check out this article from the Morning Call.

LED(Light Emitting Diode) lighting is another solution that is readily available these days. One of the nice things about LED lighting is that the energy consumption is a fraction of even what a CFL consumes. The light quality of an LED bulb is also very good, plus it contains no mercury like a CFL. Most of the LED lights are fully dimmable too, which is another added benefit. Though they are more costly initially – LED lights will likely outlast everything else in your home (and save you money each month). Contact me if you are interested in getting more info or purchasing Cree or Solaris LED light fixtures - we get them at wholesale.

The following emit the same amount of light when used for a spotlight application:

60Watt Incandescent Spot light bulb = 13Watt CFL spot =  6 to 7Watt LED spot light !



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Idle your engine or switch it off ?

10/20/2009

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Shut off your engine. Idling for even 10 seconds uses as much gasoline as stopping and restarting. That may not sound like a lot, but that’s gas money being spent just to pollute the atmosphere. Wouldn’t you rather use it to buy something for you or your family? More info here
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What is so great about geothermal heating?

10/13/2009

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Geothermal heating uses renewable energy to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels while reducing home heating bill by 50 – 70%. Geothermal systems (a.k.a. ground source heat pumps, water source heat pumps, geo-exchange) uses the earth’s relatively stable temperature as a heat source for heating, and a heat sink for cooling. This allows geo heating and air conditioning systems to reach incredible efficiency ratings over conventional means.

The arguments for using a geothermal heating system have never been stronger. It is more important than ever that we all spend our money wisely. So the benefit of saving 50-70% on our heating bills is easy to see, as are the benefits of reducing our carbon footprints, and keeping our energy dollars in the U.S. economy.

80% of homes in the Northeast heat by burning #2 heating oil. This accounts for 80% of #2 oil usage in the United States! In 2008, nearly $1.6 billion was spent on home heating oil. Unfortunately 75% of that money ($1.2 billion) left the U.S. economy to foreign countries. By using geothermal heat pumps & equipment manufactured in the U.S, installed by U.S. companies, and operated on U.S. generated electricity, we can solve our energy needs, maximize our economy, and improve our national security.

A 30% federal tax credit is now available to homeowners who install a geothermal system and a 10% tax credit is available to businesses. This makes now the perfect time to invest in your future by installing a heating system that will save you money for decades to come while increasing the resale value of your home.

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Why not put the outlets at work - to work for you ?

10/4/2009

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Are you a hard working employee that wants to save a few dollars per year? Charge your electronic devices at work. Mobile phone, laptop, camera batteries, Plug-in car or electric scooter, etc… they all add up over time. fyi: If you are not a hardworking employee, might not want to get too crazy here. I have an electric scooter like the one pictured below and used it to commute to work for the entire year!

Leaving your home for more than a few days? Consider switching off all your circuit breakers except for your fridge and heating system if needed! You will be surprised at how many appliances/household devices slurp energy when they are not in use.

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