by
Travis
22. April 2009 15:41
Earth Day is a very special day that is celebrated on April 22nd every year. Earth Day was actually founded by a United States Senator by the name of Gaylord Nelson in 1970 as an environmental teach-in (a kind of educational forum). This special day is not only celebrated here in the United States, but is now celebrated by countries all over the world. Essentially, that day, April 22nd of 1970, marks the beginning of the modern environmental movement. As such, this is a day that is indeed worthy of celebration, education, and awareness. At its inception in 1970, there were over 20 million Americans who participated, including thousands of colleges and universities who staged protests against the deterioration of the environment. That first Earth Day in 1970 also saw the birth of the Earth Day Network, an organization that promotes environmental citizenship and year-round progressive action worldwide. Through this network, activists can connect change in local, national, and global policies. Earth Day Network's international network reaches over 17,000 organizations in 174 countries, while the domestic program engages 5,000 groups and over 25,000 educators coordinating millions of community development and environmental protection activities throughout the year.
While the Earth Day Network and billions of others are making their contributions, you can be doing the same. You do not need to stage a protest or clean up an oil spill to take part in Earth Day. While we should be aware of our environment every day, Earth Day is a special time to heighten this awareness. Do you usually drive to work? On Earth Day, take the bus. Do you usually pack your lunch in a plastic bag? Pack it in a reusable bag on Earth Day. Do you usually throw that newspaper in the garbage? On Earth Day take that extra step to make sure it gets recycled. Whatever you do, just be aware that this is a special day for our planet, and billions of people worldwide recognize that and celebrate the world in which we all live. So have a Happy Earth Day and...until next year!
by
Travis
15. April 2009 17:43
Reduce your carbon footprint. Make a positive contribution to the environment. Help out your family, friends, and community. Save money on your monthly utility bills! The Greenovations Complete Home Audit offers you all of these things and many many more. Consider, just for a moment, the amount of electricity, water, and gas that your household uses. Now, consider the amount of money that you spend every month on these utilities. Although it is a difficult reality to accept, the price that we all pay for utilities will only be going up in the future, with no apparent end in sight. Do we all want to see our wallets, purses, and bank accounts drained of more money than they have to be? Absolutely not! So what is the solution? The Greenovations Complete Home Energy Audit, of course. For a small fee, you and your family could enjoy significant monthly savings on your utility bills, both now and throughout your future. What is more, after only a short time, the savings that you accumulate will have already paid for your initial investment in the audit and continue to bring you additional savings on top of that! As if that weren't enough, on top of that, you will be doing a tremendous service for your family's health and well-being, you will be making a lasting positive contribution to the environment, and you will be saving the planet. So what are you waiting for? Head back to the main page and start today!
by
Travis
5. January 2009 10:35
If you are overwhelmed by all of the information on the Internet, as many of us are, there is a website that makes gathering information about renewable energy and energy efficiency incentives for your state an easy process. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIREUSA.org) is a website that offers a fast and convenient way to gather accurate information regarding energy incentives specific to the state that you live in. They include incentives and regulatory policies from state and federal agencies, utilities, and local organizations. While you are welcome to search for these incentives for your specific state, there is also a link on the website to search specifically for federal incentives and policies. In addition to these tools, there is also a "search" option available so that you can find information by state, incentive type, renewable energy or energy efficiency technology, implementing sector, or eligible sector. So go visit the site and check out what incentives you may have been missing out on!
by
Travis
19. December 2008 13:23
One significant source of energy loss that is often overlooked occurs in unconditioned spaces. These spaces include areas such as attics, garages, and crawlspaces. Ducts that run through these areas can experience significant energy loss, both in the form of cool air running through a hot space and heated air running through a cool space. A simple solution to this problem of energy loss comes with sealing and insulating the ducts that run through unconditioned spaces. This easy task can improve both the comfort of your home and reduce energy costs at the same time. Visit www.energystar.gov for additional information.
by
Travis
19. December 2008 06:25
Whether at work or at home, buildings and structures silently emit toxins and pollutants into the indoor air that we breathe. This is especially true for both newly constructed or remodeled buildings. The major air pollutants that may be found in your office may include benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethelyne, while pollutants in the home may include asbestos, carbon monoxide, lead, and secondhand smoke, just to name a few. The good news is that you can take some eco-friendly steps to reduce your indoor air pollution, all while making your office or home more beautiful an inviting. While plants are critical in the reduction of carbon dioxide and essential to the production of oxygen, they can also absorb many harmful toxins and substances that may be contained in out indoor air. While plants in general contribute to our general health, specific breeds of plants can act as very effective pollutant reducers. For instance, to target pollutants from tobacco smoke in the office or home, the Dragon Tree is particularly suited for the job. To combat pollutants in a newly painted home, turn to the Ribbon Plant. Whatever your source of indoor air pollution may be, there is most certainly a plant to get rid of it. Find out more specific information about plant breeds and indoor air pollution here: Plants and Indoor Air Pollution, or visit the American Lung Association website for more information on pollution and health risks.
by
Travis
18. December 2008 07:51
According to Section 73 of the California Tax and Revenue Code (can be viewed here: Section 73), for industrial, commercial, and residential areas, the tax exemption amount of Solar Systems is equal to 100% of the value of the system. You need to act fairly quickly to get that Solar System installed because this section and benefit will be repealed on January 1st of 2010. To get a little more specific, so that you do not experience any surprises when you install you system, components such as storage devices, power conditioning equipment, transfer equipment, and parts all fall under the 100% exemption. Other components, such as pipes and ducts that are used to carry solar energy and energy produced from other sources, only fall under 75% exemption. Similarly, dual-usage items for solar-electric systems only falls under 75% exemption as well. Contact your County Assessor's office for additional information.
by
Travis
18. December 2008 07:33
Residential taxpayers in California who take out a loan to purchase and install energy efficient products and equipment can sit comfortably, knowing that 100% of the interest paid on that load is tax deductible. More specifically, the deduction is for loans from a publicly-owned utility company for the purchase of energy-efficient heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, lighting, solar, advanced metering of energy usage, windows, zone heating products, insulation, and weatherization systems. If you are a customer of a publicly-owned utility company who does not offer customer financing, you may still be able to deduct interest from a home equity or home improvement loan used to purchase energy-efficient products and equipment. While this is all true for California residents, do not hesitate to contact your local city or state agency to find similar savings in your area.
by
dale
16. December 2008 14:30
While you may or may not be aware of the potential tax incentives for "Greening" your home or business, it is time that you listen carefully. The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 that was passed recently, extended and/or amended many consumer tax incentives that were originally introduced by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. So, what does this mean for you as the consumer? Be sure to visit www.energy.gov to find out more information for yourself, but to put it simply, this means that by purchasing or installing various energy and fuel efficient items, such as windows, insulation, solar panels, doors, vehicles, and many others, you could be eligible for both tax breaks and, perhaps, some utility or state rebates. So, while positively contributing to your environment you could potentially save a ton of money! Don't waste another minute and do your research today to start saving your money now!
by
dale
12. December 2008 08:26
Hardwood flooring is in and it's the new rage in homes today. It has been around for years and nothing has changed, so it still looks great in your home. It makes your home warm, pleasant, and inviting. But what has changed is the demand for this type of product. Demand has increased by at least 40% in the last five years. There is a great solution for this rising demand: Bamboo Flooring. It comes in all shapes, colors, sizes, textures, and distressed looks. Bamboo is the fasting growing natural material on the earth. Some species have been measured at growing 4 feet in only 24 hours. Bamboo can be harvested every 3 years without causing damage to the surrounding environment, which makes this the best material for your wood flooring choice. Typically trees such as the ones used in conventional wood flooring take 30-50 years to regenerate in mass. In the meantime, there is less oxygen produced, less carbon dioxide consumed, and major consequences from land clearing, all negative environmental effects. So the next time you consider purchasing hardwood flooring, put bamboo flooring at the top of your list. www.calibamboo.com
by
dale
11. December 2008 10:25
Be sure to install caulking around all the openings on the outside of your home. This includes all windows, doors, dryer vents, electrical outlets, telephone cable boxes, cable TV boxes, electrical boxes, pipes, and any other openings on the exterior of your home. One thing to remember when looking for air leaks is that you want to make the air inside your home stay inside. If you do not, you will be heating or cooling the outside with any air leaks. Caulking is the best remedy to fill these small holes and stop the heat / cool loss. Caulking can be done by yourself and save you as much as $200.00 per year in energy bills. A good sign that you have an air leak is the appearance of any light coming in from the outside. No matter how big or small the leak is, the bottom line is that air leakage in the form of hot or cold air is a waste of energy. A tube of caulking will run you around $4.00 per tube and the caulking gun will cost around $2.00. I think we can all agree that this would be a great return on your investment. Try this web site for more information: www.dap.com
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