Don’t buy bottled water – Instead of buying water, get a reusable container and fill it up at home. If you don’t like the tap water, consider buying a filter for it. By not buying bottled water, you will both save lots of money, and save lots of wasted plastic.

Recycle – recycle as much stuff as you can. This means cans, bottles, paper, cardboard, and even clothes, furniture and anything else you can think of. Consider selling or giving your old stuff to a thrift store or goodwill. Also, in some states you can get money back for cans and bottles so look into places that offer that. There are a number of ways to recycle and even to earn some money back.

photo’s by woodleywonderworks and kino-eye

The Sun: a very useful energy source. Photo by lenara

Plenty of people have been looking into installing solar panels in an effort to combat rising energy costs.  When most of these people see the prices of the professionally installed panels they realize it may not be a luxury they can afford. But there is an alternative! There is an easier, more cost efficient way to harness power from the sun and that is to learn how to make solar panels for your self.

Any motivated do-it-yourselfer can learn how to make solar panels for their home, workshop or business.  When compared to the cost of purchasing and installing a pre-made solar energy system, learning how to make solar panels for your energy needs and the materials you need to execute the project are far less.  By learning how to make solar panels for yourself, you have greater control over the size and design of your system as well.

Once you have a quality instructions manual and you have learned what you need to make the solar panels, the supplies are fairly simple to find.  Most can be found at your local hardware store. Items such as plywood, sheets of glass, and a roll of copper wire are are always available.  It is also easy to locate inexpensive solar or photovoltaic cells to use in your project.  Many are available over the Internet or you may have a retailer available locally.  Once you’ve learned how to make solar panels and you have your supplies, it usually takes about a day to assemble a 100-watt panel.  This is the perfect amount of electricity to operate small appliances or a small workshop.

Solar Panles on a house. Photo by The Sierra Club

The most important step is finding a quality manual with detailed instructions for learning how to make solar panels.  In many cases you get what you pay for, so don’t be afraid to spend a few extra dollars on a well-reviewed instruction manual.  Overall, the cost of making your own panels is so low, and the price of the how to guide is minimal so you will still be paying way less learning how to make solar panels on your own than purchasing a professionally installed system.

In no time you can easily set up a home solar powered system that lets you sit back and enjoy living knowing that you are both saving the environment and saving money.

So how easy is it to build solar panels? It can be very easy, so why not try it today?

A solar Home - Photo by Swanee 3

Getting home solar electricity is more affordable today than even a few years ago.  In fact, many state governments are currently offering tax rebates to persons that choose to convert to home solar electricity.  If installing a photovoltaic system to supply your home solar electricity is too far out of your financial abilities, there are also programs available to purchase your utilities from an accredited green energy supplier.  Green energy suppliers offer only utilities fueled by renewable resources, such as solar electricity, hydroelectricity and wind generated electricity.  However, if you made the decision to switch to solar electricity for your home it is important to determine your electricity needs before you start shopping.

The first thing to determine is how much power you will need from your home solar electricity system.  Different arrays and solar panel set-ups offer different wattage outputs.  Take the time to determine your average daily electricity usage.  You want to achieve a number that includes the entire year and affords for the different amount of energy used during winter and summer months (more lights, heaters, air conditioners).

When shopping for the right photovoltaic system to supply your home solar electricity definitely research the quality of the product.  A product offering 13% efficiency and a lifetime warranty will be far more valuable than the panel offering 15% efficiency and a one-year warranty.  Ask neighbors, friends and even strangers currently using home solar electricity, to learn more about the differences in systems.  Sufficient time should also be spent interviewing installers and researching manufacturers as well.

A final decision needs to be made as to what kind of system you would like to use to supply your home solar electricity.  There are generally three types of solar panel systems used to supply home solar electricity.  The first type is a grid-tied system in which your solar panels are tied into your current power meter.  You are using both electricity supplied by your panels and your supply is then backed by electricity from your electric company.  The second available solar panel system for supplying home solar electricity is a grid-tie with battery backup.  With this system you are collecting electricity from you panels, filling your batteries for emergencies and then the excess is sent back to the electric company through your meter.  The final system is a stand-alone system.  Very similar to the grid-tied system with battery backup except that you are completely disconnected or maybe never connected to a major utility provider for your area.

Once you educate yourself on providing your home solar electricity, you are probably ready to start shopping. Remember that although you will have to invest some money to get your system going, in the long run you will save tons of money.

Wind turbines overlooking a green valley: Photo by tassie303

Renewable wind energy is the fastest growing source of power of any renewable energy sources and technologies.  With renewable wind energy, the flow of air turns wind turbines to create electricity.  As the speed of the wind turning the turbines increases the amount of power the turbine produces increases as well.  In areas where winds are strong, renewable wind energy is a smart choice for providing power to homes and businesses.

Even if you don’t live in a windy area, you can still supplement your current electricity supply by utilizing renewable wind energy.  The best part is by using do-it-yourself guides, even the least skilled handymen can build their own windmills and start using renewable wind energy to lower their electric bills each month.  However, if you do live in a particularly windy area you can feasibly generate an abundance of electricity from renewable wind energy systems.

It is also conceivable to build several wind turbines to power your renewable wind energy system.  Most of us have seen the pictures of the wind farms being built to supplement power to whole cities.  This is a little much for a homestead, but even small dwellings can benefit from multiple smaller wind turbines.  In many states, it is possible to sell the excess electricity you generate from your renewable wind energy system back to the utilities companies.

The very best part of integrating a renewable wind energy system into your home or business is the environmental impact.  Renewable wind energy produces little to no pollution, no harmful greenhouse gases and no methane or carbon dioxide-which contribute to global warming.  And of course the savings those homeowners can realize after their initial investment in renewable wind energy is also very large.

Renewable wind energy is a fast growing industry that will become more and more heavily relied on in the years to come. Get ahead of the game and start supplimenting your electricity bill with free energy from a wind generator.

Green wind Power: Photo by Roundtoad

How would you react if your neighbor told you she was going to build wind turbines? Pretty impressed? The truth is that it is not difficult to build wind turbines and many homeowners are taking the challenge to build their own wind turbines as a cost-effective means for utilizing renewable energies.  It isn’t exactly snap-your-fingers and your wind turbines are built, but with the proper plans and a motivated builder you can be building wind turbines in no time.

It is definitely your best bet, before setting out to build wind turbines, to purchase an instruction manual or guide to follow.  Remember that you get what you pay for when it comes to instructions.  Make sure you find a manual that is easy to read with detailed instructions.  There are also many online resources and forums to help guide you through your wind turbine building process.

To familiarize yourself with the basics, before you get started on your project to build wind turbines, there are four basic components to wind turbines.

To build wind turbines you must be familiar with the towers, the batteries, the turbines and the tail and propeller assembly.  The tools generally required to build wind turbines are simple as well, you will need wrenches, a saw and a drill.  There may also be a need for additional tools depending on how much of the wind turbine you will be building yourself.

One part that you will probably be ordering when you decide to build wind turbines is the motor.  The motors on wind turbines do require regular maintenance and oiling for continued efficiency, but this is a small price to pay for the excellent energy these systems provide.  In addition to the motor, you are definitely going to need a good-sized workspace.  Depending on your target energy output, your propellers or blades could get up to 8 feet in diameter (4 ft blades).

It takes a little time and energy to build wind turbines but the benefits are huge. And with the process simplified by many easy-to-read instruction manuals, you could build your own wind turbine and start saving electricity today!

A house in Wisconsin that is completly off the grid (photo by peacefulbean ( goodkarma ))

When you talk about alternative energy and living off the grid, a lot of people feel instantly that they will have to give up most of their modern amenities to live in such a fashion.  Many more think this is an endeavor solely for granola loving hippies, whose modest ways coincide with fewer technologies, TVs, ACs, etc.  The truth is, living off the grid is a possibility open to anyone.  Granted, you may have a larger investment if you are powering three chest freezers and all high-energy appliances, but this would simply mean you need a larger system.

The increased demand for renewable energy technology has led to the development of more efficient and easy to use components to make living off the grid a reasonable option for anyone willing to be mindful of their energy consumption.

Using renewable energy sources to produce electricity is a fairly simple process.  You need a power source, such as the sun, wind or water, from which you will harness a low voltage direct current that is then converted, using an inverter, into usable house current (AC).  Excess current generated by your system is stored in battery banks where it can be retrieved during more high demand times or times when the direct energy source is unavailable.

Living off the grid with renewable power resources is almost completely automated as well.  Except for the maintenance of your batteries, there is almost no special attention needed, other than monitoring your energy use to make sure you do not exceed your supply with your demand.  The key to success in living off the grid is making sure you size your system to meet the demand of your energy needs.

Living off the grid can be an exhilarating experience.  The feeling of energy freedom is like no other and you can be proud of your efforts to combat global warming and best of all, you may never have to worry about a power outage again.

When you talk about alternative energy and living off the grid, a lot of people feel instantly that they will have to give up most of their modern amenities to live in such a fashion.  Many more think this is an endeavor solely for granola loving hippies, whose modest ways coincide with fewer technologies, TVs, ACs, etc.  The truth is, living off the grid is a possibility open to anyone.  Granted, you may have a larger investment if you are powering three chest freezers and all high-energy appliances, but this would simply mean you need a larger system.

The increased demand for renewable energy technology has led to the development of more efficient and easy to use components to make living off the grid a reasonable option for anyone willing to be mindful of their energy consumption.

Using renewable energy sources to produce electricity is a fairly simple process.  You need a power source, such as the sun, wind or water, from which you will harness a low voltage direct current that is then converted, using an inverter, into usable house current (AC).  Excess current generated by your system is stored in battery banks where it can be retrieved during more high demand times or times when the direct energy source is unavailable.

Living off the grid with renewable power resources is almost completely automated as well.  Except for the maintenance of your batteries, there is almost no special attention needed, other than monitoring your energy use to make sure you do not exceed your supply with your demand.  The key to success in living off the grid is making sure you size your system to meet the demand of your energy needs.

Living off the grid can be an exhilarating experience.  The feeling of energy freedom is like no other and you can be proud of your efforts to combat global warming and best of all, you may never have to worry about a power outage again.

A green field showing the beauty of green living

Photo by Philipp Klinger

To truly understand the benefits of green solar energy, you must first understand how solar energy is harnessed. There are two types of green solar energy-thermal and light. Thermal energy is considered passive solar. This type of green solar energy is harnessed through the design and materials used to construct a building. By integrating south facing windows and materials that retain heat, like brick and stone, you can lower your energy needs and build an energy efficient structure. The thermal energy produced by green solar energy is also used to heat water for solar hot water systems. The rays of the sun also produce light and radiation that can be captured by solar panels to create electricity.


The most popular use of green solar energy is for saving money. Although green solar energy systems can come with a large initial investment, they generally pay for themselves in a few years by providing either supplemental electricity or all of the electricity to your home or business. Building your own solar panels, participating in government refunds and net metering, in which you sell unused electricity back to the power company, can reduce the cost of implementing a green solar energy system. In addition, green solar energy systems require little to no maintenance after installation, as most have no moving parts.


There are two key benefits that come with installing a green solar energy system in your house.


First, you save the environment by creating and using your own energy that is completely renewable and pollution-free. Taking such a small step might seem inconsequential to you but imagine if your neighbors followed your example, and then theirs, and then your entire town? If everyone were to start using green energy, we could break our dependence on gas, oil and coal.


The second key benefit is that by using a green energy system for your home, you will reduce, or eliminate your energy bills. How would you like to stop paying for electricity? Or even have the electricity companies start paying you for excess energy? In only a short amount of time your green energy system could pay for itself.


The benefits are clear, so why no look into green home energy options today?

Break away and gain energy independence today

photo by zeynep’arkok

Say goodbye to electric bills and hello to renewable energies.  Solar power is one of the best and most reliable renewable energy sources available.  The problem most novice environmental warriors find is that the cost of professionally installed solar power systems is way beyond their budget and it could take well over 10 years to see a return on their investment.

Never fear, there are alternatives.  The most cost-effective way to take advantage of the power of the sun is to build solar panels on your own.

Sound like too much? If you think that it is to complicated for you, that is just not true.  It is easy to build solar panels with the proper instructions.  Easy enough for kids, teens and adults.  The parts aren’t complicated either.  Most of the supplies you would need to build solar panels are available at your local hardware store or you can purchase a solar panel kit, which will include all the parts you require to be generating your own energy from the sun.  It is possible to construct several small solar panels to power small appliances or small tools in your workshop.  Or for the very adventurous and determined alternative energy seeker, you could build solar panels to service a much larger electric load.

There are many resources and guides available with detailed instructions on how to build solar panels.  The first and most important step is to seek out quality detailed instructions.  Then it is off to your local hardware store to find or order your supplies and next thing you know, or the next time you have some free time, you will be able to assemble and install the system yourself.  Watch out though, the neighbors may start asking you to build solar panels for them too.

Not only is it going to save you money to build solar panels yourself, but you can feel proud that you are doing your part for the environment as well.  Declaring your independence from fossil fuels and making a much-needed impact on the world and in your neighborhood.

Professional solar power systems can cost thousands to be installed and in today’s economy most of us don’t have money to spare. Invest in some detailed instructions or a solar power kit and start saving money today!