A solar water heater (SWH) is a relatively cheap and easy way to start becoming energy independent and save some money. A solar water heater uses solar energy to warm the water used by your home, reducing your energy costs. Depending on the climate you live in and the efficiency of your model, a SWH can reduce your overall annual energy bill by 10-20%.

For information on pricing, read this article on the cost of installing a solar water heater for your home.

Types of Systems
There are two types of systems a solar water heater can have.

An active system uses a pump to move water through the system. As such it requires a secondary energy source to power the pump. Active system allow for more design flexibility, like having the water tank indoors and out of sight. An active system may be necessary in colder climates where the water freezing is an issue.

Passive systems use no pumps or secondary power systems. Natural convection currents move the cold water from the tank to the solar heating panel, and the heated water from the panel to the storage tank for use. These systems are generally cheaper, but are less efficient, less reliable, and require the water tank to be located above the heating panels (this often means on top of the roof). Passive systems can have a separate water heater and storage tank, or they can be combined (known as a batch collector, as we will read about below).

Types of Collectors
There are various types of collectors a solar water heating system could have. All contain a fluid to transfer heat (often this is simply the water that is being warmed, but in colder climates it might be an anti-freeze solution).

Flat plate collectors are a panel with a glass or plastic top, a dark colored, sun absorbing bottom, and in-between them a series of pipes containing the fluid that transfers the heat.

Evacuated tubes are a series of tubes within tubes, where the outer tube absorbs and traps heat and the inner tubes contain the heat transfer fluid. It’s the most efficient, but most expensive method of solar collecting.

Batch collectors are water tanks that serve as both the solar collector and as water storage, contained within an insulated box to maximize energy absorption. They are probably the cheapest solar water heating system available.

Good luck and stay prepared!

Read more from RamboMoe at preparedforthat.com

Heat pumps use less energy than other heating systems and therefor reduce the creation of greenhouse gases.  This heat pump guide explains how heat pumps make the world greener. It also provides tips for choosing the most energy-efficient heat pump for your home.

How Heat Pumps Produce Green Heating

The heat pumps being manufactured today by all the leading brands are much more efficient than those produced just 10-20 years ago.  Fifteen years ago the average SEER rating, an efficiency rating, for heat pumps was 9.  Today the average is about 17.  Some models offer SEER ratings over 20 and many homeowners are installing heat pumps that are twice as efficient as the ones they replace.  That means they produce about half the greenhouse gases.  That’s a huge difference for the environment. Energy Star heat pumps have 14.5 SEER ratings and higher.

Heat pumps are more energy-efficient than gas furnaces, resulting in fewer carbon emissions.  In other words, the emissions produced making the electricity to run a heat pump are less than the emissions produced by a gas furnace.

Heat Pumps Use Safer Refrigerant

Refrigerants containing chlorine deplete the earth’s ozone layer and are linked to global warming.  Those refrigerants are being rapidly phased out.  Most manufacturers are using only new chlorine-free refrigerants.  The most common is R-410A which is used under that name or under brands names such as Puron and Smart Cool 410.  Check heat pump review sites to find models that use R-410A.  You can also find information on efficiency, features and pricing.

R-410A is also more efficient.  It does a better job absorbing heat during a heating cycle and shedding that heat inside the home in order to warm the air.  Heat pump and refrigerant technology is on the cutting edge of new, greener methods to heat and cool our homes.

Choosing a Green Heat Pump for your Home

Start by looking at heat pump sites online.  Read heat pump reviews and articles on these sites to learn more about heat pumps.  Use the reviews to find which heat pumps are most efficient.  As noted, heat pumps of 14.5 SEER or higher are Energy Star products but most current heat pumps exceed that.  You’ll find models with SEER ratings over 20.

All heat pumps that achieve Energy Star qualification use R-410A refrigerant, so that’s covered.  The next step for you is to choose the most efficient heat pump you can afford.  Even 16 SEER to 18 SEER heat pumps will dramatically reduce greenhouse gases when replacing a model 12-25 years old.  They will also use less energy and reduce carbon emissions compared to a 90% efficient Energy Star gas furnace.

Summary

If you are committed to a greener lifestyle, choosing an energy-efficient heat pump is a very good place to start.  In moderate and warm climates, look at standard heat pumps.  In climates where winter weather drops below freezing, a dual fuel heat pump is a better choice.  Again, research heat pump reviews and articles to find models that would be best for your home.

In our world of waste it seems unlikely to consider being sustainable in an urban setting. Our yards are small and our houses are generally close together. This seems to limit our options.

Depending on the position of your home you may be surprised to learn that you can be entirely self-sufficient even if you live in the city. The roof of your home may be able to support an array of technologies that could literally take you off the grid.

Practically every green technology available can be mounted on your roof. From Solar Power to Wind, Hot water to Air conditioning could all fit on that most unused of spaces.

There are several projects under way in cities around the world utilizing this very concept.  The footprint of your home is wasted space if your not utilizing your roof.

A single 225 watt Solar Power Panel takes up about 18 square feet and a single Solar Hot Water Panel is about the same size. If your home is only 30 x 30 that still gives you 900 square feet of roof space or 450 square feet of usable space on the sun side of your home.

A typical set up for both Solar Power and Hot Water would utilize only about one third of that space. If you were to also conduct a wind survey and find that you could also utilize a wind generator or two you would still only be approaching the half  mark.

While the process of taking your home off the grid in an urban setting can be full of trials when it comes to permits and approvals from building inspectors,  homeowners associations and the like, the rewards far exceed the headaches.

Not only will you qualify for tax credits from your state and the federal government, you will no longer have monthly utility bills to worry about. There are also a variety of programs available to help with funding your project.

Imagine, if you will, the next time it’s snowing, the wind is howling and the temperature has bottomed out, the power fails. Your neighbors scramble for candles and warm clothes. You, on the other hand, continue to watch the movie that is playing, in your well lit, warm and cozy home.

There are many methods of controlling grubs in your garden.  You can use a couple of them at the same time to make your grub control more effective and to eliminate as many grubs as you can.  Using excessive chemical methods is not recommended, but you can double up on your chemical and organic or your chemical and mechanical methods if you want to.  This should just increase your effectiveness and help you to kill the grubs faster.

Some of the really good brands of grub control are ortho Max and Scott’s summer guard.  Both of these brands have been tested and proven to work in the majority of cases.  If you suspect that grub worms might be attacking and destroying your lawn, you probably want to apply this as soon as you can.

On top of that, you can also use a method called milky spores.  Milky spores are a disease that can contaminate and kill grubs.  If the grub control doesn’t work to kill them, then the milky spores will.  Even if the grub control only weakens them, the milky spores will be much more effective at reducing the grub worm population in your lawn.  Another method that you can use is actually a mechanical method of grub control.  It involves using 2 inch long aerator spikes on the bottom of your sandals and walking across your lawn multiple times.  This works to kill grubs because most of the grubs live right next to the surface where they are chomping down on your grass roots. By walking over your lawn multiple times, you inadvertently kill 20 to 25% of the grub worms that are living in your lawn. It might even be a good idea to walk across your lawn first, and then apply the grub killer.  This way the grub killer will have an easier time getting an inch or two down into the soil where the grubs live and it will be able to kill them faster.

Keep in mind that although grub worms are a common pest, they do have their place in your garden and yard just as all creatures do, and they offer positive benefits to your soil structure.  Although they may seem pesky, they have evolved a symbiotic relationship with the soil and may actually be beneficial enough to leave alone.  If your lawn in dying, it is most likely due to entirely different causes which involve soil microbes, poor soil, or over saturation of chemical fertilizers.

People are dedicating themselves to sustainable lifestyles and this has led to the growing popularity of solar panel products.  People enjoy using solar power because it is good for the environment and it is very cost effective.  There are very few emissions that come from solar panels and absolutely no electricity bills have to be paid.  This ensures that people who use these panels are living greener and more sustainable lifestyles.  Solar panels are wonderful for individuals who want to live outside the system or who live on a tight budget.  But finding these products is not always easy and it is best to do some research before making any purchases.  Here are some tips on where to find solar products and accessories.

Look at hardware stores

Many hardware stores now have limited stocks of solar panel products.  This is due in large part to the growing demand for sustainable products and services.  Many retailers understand that those who have the income to live healthier lifestyles will seek out products and be willing to pay more for them.  This equates to large profits for retailers who have solar panel products and other earth-friendly goods.  Any individual looking for these products should ask the staff for their location since they are usually placed in hard to find areas.  In certain specialty stores, they might even have do it yourself solar panels that can be installed directly by the buyer.

Look online

The online community is by far one of the best places to find sustainable products.  By logging in online an individual is given access to the best solar panel products from around the world.  Many environmentally-friendly retailers choose to operate online due to the lack of overhead and employee costs.  This ensures that they can afford to put the best solar panel products in their inventories.  Nevertheless, an individual should ensure that any company that he or she orders from has a refund policy in case defective products are ordered.

It is now easy to make one’s home greener and more environmentally-friendly.  Special solar panel products can now be found at hardware stores and in the online community.  These are terrific for powering one’s home in an earth-friendly manner.

Broccoli is probably one of the easiest vegetables to grow. You do not have to have much experience in horticulture to learn how to grow broccoli. And you do not have to wait for the season to enjoy fresh broccoli shoots either. In just less than a week, you can pick fresh broccoli shoots from your own garden. Almost everybody knows that broccoli is rich in nutrients. It has a good amount of vitamin A, B, C, E and K and other nutrients such as protein, calcium, zinc and antioxidants known to fight cancer. Perhaps that is why broccoli is one of the most popular home grown vegetables. Keep reading to learn how to grow broccoli sprouts.

Besides the health benefits of broccoli, they are known to be more tolerant than most other vegetables. Thus, it would not be so many problems to develop their own broccoli sprouts. So to get you started, here are the practical steps to grow your own broccoli sprouts: First, you should have all the necessary materials. What you need seeds for sprouting broccoli scored, shallow containers, compost and plastic wrap. Soak the seeds from the previous night at room temperature. When selecting seeds, be sure to choose the right ones and check the label carefully. It should be marked for germination. In addition, I strongly recommend you use organic seeds.

Some commercial seeds are treated with special chemicals that are bad for the environment. Prepare the container. Fill it with just the right amount of compost. Scatter the seeds on the soil surface. You do not need to worry too much or spraying seed spacing. You will not grow adult broccoli, if space is not a problem. Then cover it again with another thin layer of soil. Cover the container with plastic wrap. Drill some holes in a plastic bag for air circulation. Keep the seeds in a warm area and dry. Make sure it is away from heat and direct sunlight. After 2 days, you’ll be able to see the first sprouts. After five days, the sprouts will be ready for harvest. Learn more at DIY gardener, where you can try out our dill pickle recipe.

Only 4% of the people chose cremation over a traditional burial service before 1980. Today, that figure is over 40% nationwide and some predict that it will be 60% within 15 years. Why is that?

Many of the religious concerns have changed or become less of a factor. Surveys have shown that less people are practicing their religion or going to church on a regular basis.

Our society has become more mobile. We are not as apt to see generations of the same family that have stayed in the same community. The family burial plot has changed. As the children have gone off to college or gone elsewhere to seek employment, they have spread out. We stay connected through better transportation and electronic communications – Skype, smart phones, and computers with email. If the family is not there, who is going to visit the grave?

Retirement communities have become more prevalent. Not only have the children moved away, Mom and Dad have also uprooted and moved near the children or to a warmer climate with their friends. Cremation has become a much more accepted and dignified way of planning your final disposition. It is cheaper, more flexible, and more mobile. It gives the family more options on how they can share in the memorial. They are no longer tied to a burial plot miles away when it comes time to remember mom and dad.

The cost of cremation and the simplicity of the service have had an impact on the number of people choosing cremation over traditional burial. The cost of cremation can be typically 20-40% of a traditional funeral.

We are welcoming more and more immigrants to the United States as we continue to become a more diverse society. Many of the immigrants are coming from India and Asia, where cremation is more accepted and is a part of their culture that they are bring with them.

And finally, cremation is one way of reducing the pressure on land resources. It is thought of as a way to move toward a more “green burial” with less environmental impact. Find out more about how you can explore alternative burials for yourself.

As populations rise and energy supplies see more demand, we can expect the cost of powering our homes, heating our water, and cooling our refrigerators to only go up. It’s important that we don’t abuse our access to energy not just because it’s a waste of money but it’s also a finite resource. Here are some extremely simple things you can implement today that will lower your utility bill by reducing the energy footprint of your home.

Install Energy Efficient Fluorescent Lights

Lights waste a lot of energy. A “normal” light bulb wastes something in the range of 80% of its energy through the heat and not light. (This is why light bulbs get so hot.) In many places, the legislation is already on the way to enforce more energy efficient light bulbs, and we couldn’t agree more with the reasons why. Check for fluorescent bulbs which are marked as energy efficient. This should cut down on about 30% or more of the energy your old bulbs would have wasted.

Also, when possible, don’t forget to leverage the greatest source of light we have: the sun. Lighten rooms naturally by keeping curtains and blinds open during the day.

Place Insulation Inside Outlet Covers

Air drafts are sneaky. If there’s a path for air to take to get through your walls and into your home it will be used. While the topic of insulation is a big one and not something you can just “do” without some real thought, money, and professional labor, one area you can insulate that’s almost certainly leaking air is the space behind the outlet covers of your wall. Look for insulation made specifically for this area of the house and buy as much as you have outlets to insulate. Use a screw to open the outlet and insert, then screw the outlet cover back on. This simple step will reduce air drafts and save you from unnecessary heating and cooling.

Use Cold Water to Wash Clothes

If you usually set your washer to use hot or warm water, you can probably get away with tweaking this down to cold water and still get your clothes cleaned just as well. Washing machines using cold water use less energy since they don’t have to heat anything up. If you do use hot water, try and do loads back to back so that the second load can piggyback on the energy already expended to heat things up and won’t have to start from scratch for load number 2.

Pay Attention to Energy Star Levels

A really easy way to be more energy efficient is to pay attention to those Energy Star certifications you’ll find on new appliances. This is really a no brainer and there’s no reason you shouldn’t get more energy efficient electronics. Any extra money spent on something that uses energy more efficiently just means you’ll save money in the long run on lower utility bills.

Author Bio:  By DeAngelo Sage. DeAngelo is an editor at the Wardrobe Closets blog, a site on antique closet furniture, store, and accessories. He is passionate about making green choices when it comes not to just the way we run our homes but the furniture we put inside, too.

For an alternative source of heating, to heat your entire home in a more greener and efficient way than the traditional central heating system, you can use a unit which is like a small fireplace that can without any obstruction for the passage of the airway to the other rooms, heat an entire floor of your home.

What Is a Pellet Stove?

Stoves as they are called use small pellets of dense material as fuel in the form of biomass pellets or compressed wood. The latter is usually made from a byproduct of saw-milling called saw dust or collected from other wood working activities.

For those who are environment conscious and want to reduce the carbon contents in the air and prefer to use recycled material as the Harman’s, P 68, pellet stove in twofold are commonly used. Today, the Government is offering tax savings to those who use such heating solutions.

The Operation of Harman’s P 68 Pellet Stove:

• This stove, at first has to be filled with the required pellet in the hopper, and it will light its own fire which will continue burning till the temperature of the room has reached the desire level.
• Once the level of temperature has reached a specific level, the stove will shut down. This process will continue burning fully automatically that is as the temperature goes down below the level the stove will resume heating and when the temperature reaches a higher level the stove will shut off automatically.
• Inverness wood stoves are very commonly used in and around Scotland. The cleaning of a pellet stove is a simple process; you have to remove the ash after the stove has consumed one tone of pellet.

This stove is designed to complement your home design. It has an attractive door handle or mirror glass on the front of the unit, a laser-cut plated leaf decoration accenting the door and can fit any design scheme.

Development of alternative fuels have become one of the thrilling innovations in the automobile industry. As scientists continue to search fuels that are cleaner burning and won’t damage the planet, alternative fuels are the wave of the future. Recent developments have resulted in fuels that not only burn clean but provides an advantage to car owners.

Of all of the alternative fuels available, the most well-known is ethanol. Ethanol is also referred t grain alcohol, and it is generally created from either corn or soya beans. On the market, you can buy E85, which is a combination of 85% ethanol, and 15% petrol. For folks who use it, they save on gas mileage because ethanol burns much cleaner than gasoline. Though there is gas in E85, it does not put out as much toxins as normal petrol. Aside from corn and soya beans, plant materials from logging, discarded paper and other organic materials can be used to create ethanol. An alternative fuel type that is like to ethanol is methanol.

Methanol can be made out of biomass resources, including wood and coal, and is called wood alcohol. These days, as it is a lot more inexpensive to create, methanol is made from natural gas or propane. One more fuel that is rising in popularity is propane or compressed natural gas. Just like crude oil, propane can be found underground. But unlike petroleum gasoline, propane is a gas and not a liquid. Since it is a very eco-friendly fuel, natural gas has been growing in popularity. Electric power is another alternative fuel type that has gotten much attention. Another popular source of alternative energy is solar. There are a lot of diy solar cells available in store nowadays.

As a result of environmental concerns, electric-powered cars are becoming popular again, even though they have been around for quite some time. An electric car utilizes electrical energy stored in batteries, instead of burning petrol in an engine. It can take anywhere from 12 to 24 batteries to power an electric automobile. Some of those batteries can even draw out power from the sun. You can check walmart solar batteries for these types of batteries. An alternative fuel type that gives a great deal of promise is hydrogen. Presently, it is in the experimental phase but it shows a lot of promise. The positives of hydrogen are that it is easy to make and it is extremely light. It is expected that hydrogen will be the next big thing for powering vehicles.

There are numerous types of alternative sources of fuel, and the ones mentioned were only a few. With people anxious about global warming, every effort is being made to create even better and more efficient alternative fuels. Alternative fuels will continue to be popular, and their place will go up and down according to what is discovered next.