Best Money Saving Articles Online

Wood Burning Stove Installation

Mar 10, 2010 Save Money

It is well known these days that wood burning stoves are a great deal cheaper to run than regular oil and gas boilers and are also better for the environment. Whereas conventional fossil fuels cannot be renewed, wood comes from trees which can be grown and replaced more or less forever. So what’s involved in installing one?

Before you proceed be aware that a wood burning stove is little different to a small furnace so check with your household insurer that they are happy for you to install one. Usually they are ok with the idea if you can show evidence that the installation was done by a certified professional - A DIY installation is more likely to result in a house fire.

Next you should work out exactly what size of wood burning stove you will need. The best approach is to consult someone who works in a hearth shop. Have this person visit your property and he or she will help you decide on the best wood burner for the size and space you have laid out.

While it is natural to focus on the wood stove it is in fact equally important to consider the flue, since flues fitted to wood stoves must be lined with material suitable for wood burning. If you are fortunate enough to have a conveniently located chimney you might be able to simply line this with the right sort of material, otherwise you will be looking at additionally installing a new flue.

Once you have had the wood stove installed you need to ensure that there a no flammable objects or materials anywhere within a safe distance. What precisely constitutes a safe distance should be documented in the manual for the stove. Also make sure that any children are also instructed to keep to a safe distance - in fact if you small children or pets you may want to fit a fireguard as a precaution.

Once in use, proper maintenance and regular cleaning will be required for your new wood burner. This is carried out in a similar way to cleaning a chimney. You need to clean out creosote deposits from your wood burning stove for two main reasons. Firstly, allowing creosote to accumulate will corrode the flue pipe. Secondly, it will smell during the summer months, which is hardly pleasant.

An annual major clean carried out by a chimney sweep should alleviate the need to repair your stove. Some products such as the well known Creosote Sweeping Log can help the cause but are ultimately no substitute for having your wood burning stove properly cleaned annually.

To conclude, your best course of action when installing a wood burner is to get professional help on board from the outset. A professionally installed wood stove is both environmentally friendly and a big money saver too.

Check out these additional articles to find out much more about how to choose a wood burner and how to fit a wood burning stove.

Tags: alternative energy, choosing a log stove, energy, heating, installing a wood burner, log stove, Save Money, Saving Money, selecting a wood burner, Wood Burner, Wood Burning Stove, Wood Stove

Homemade Biodiesel Is Indeed The Way Of The Future

Jan 7, 2010 More Saving

Homemade Biodiesel is another great way to make use of otherwise wasted materials. Most people had absolutely no good use for left over, used vegetable oil until now. In fact, in Britain improper disposal of used vegetable oil had become such a serious issue, that many have begun reusing it to create fuel. The drains and pipes of Britain are thanking them by working much more efficiently.

Imagine owning a restaurant that uses a high volume of vegetable oil. The oil has to be paid for to begin with, then once it has been used, it generally needs to be taken away for disposal, which adds additional cost. Or worse, it is disposed of in an improper manner.

Thankfully these folks no longer need to worry about this. In fact, they stand to benefit. These huge amounts of used oil may be saved in barrels and turned into bio-diesel. They can either use it to fuel their car, home, or if they prefer, even sell it.

The word diesel should suggest what may not occur to many. This is appropriate fuel for a diesel engine, and should not be used in a regular auto engine. Some regular engine vehicles may be altered to accommodate this fuel however. It is best to leave this to a professional.

You may also use this newly created fuel for home heating. Imagine the money that will be saved when not needing fossil fuel. Not to mention the work that you will be doing to help the environment.

The use of biodiesel is certainly here to stay. There are simple recipes available at the library, and on the internet. Just remember to follow directions carefully. Homemade biodiesel will indeed save you a lot of cash, while helping the environment.

Did you know that there is homemade biodiesel? That’s right, you can make biodiesel at home and the Internet is the best place to learn how to go about doing it.

Tags: automotive, autos, biodiesel, Biodiesel Kits, DIY, energy, environment, fuel, homemade, homemade biodiesel, make biodiesel, More Saving

How To Easily Move To LED Lighting

Oct 27, 2009 Save Money

Most people are by now aware that traditional incandescent light bulbs are fast becoming a thing of the past and that LED (rather than CFL) alternatives represent the future of low-energy, low-cost, low-environmental impact lighting. But where to begin?

One option might be to purchase LED equivalent bulbs for all the various lights you currently have but I would caution against that approach. Not only would it turn out to a rather expensive exercise, but you it also greatly increases your chances of having the end result turn out rather badly.

Getting to grips with LED lighting doesn’t happen overnight - this is a completely different technology to incandescent lighting and requires a bit of getting used to before you can get it just right for your own needs. But stick with it and the end result is superior quality lighting that also happens to save massively on electricity costs.

Sound advice then is to begin with an area that either uses a lot of lighting or has the lighting switched on a lot (or simply somewhere you would like to refurbish anyway). In this way, your chances of seeing a noticeable difference with respect to both light quality and running costs are greatly increased.

It’s important to get off to a good start in this way as it will encourage you to then take another step further towards the final goal of switching totally from incandescent to LED. For many, if not most, people then it is the kitchen that invariably matches these criteria - it typically has a lot of lights that get used a lot and refurbishing the lighting provides a relatively cheap makeover.

The typical modern kitchen often uses quite a number of halogen lamps, either mounted on tracks or recessed into the ceiling. These waste a phenomenal amount of electricity as heat and are simplicity itself to replace with retrofit LED equivalents. Just pull the halogen lamp out and push in an LED rated to produce the same level of light. For GU10 LED bulbs that’s it, but for MR16 low-voltage lamps you should also purchase an LED driver to replace the 12v transformers previously used.

The same idea (straightforward replacement) also applies to lights installed atop, underneath and inside wall cabinets. Alternatively, add some lighting to these areas if none already exists since LED strip and miniature spot lights are simple to fit, being both light in weight and flexible with respect to being cut or connected to suit any configuration. A common technique is to accent plinths and covings, or if fitted to a kick board to pick out the floor.

Three key considerations should be borne in mind with regard to LED lighting.

1. Quality counts. It’s only natural to count the cost but what really counts with LED lighting is quality and the two are mostly related. Cheap products may look like a bargain but they won’t perform as well or produce the savings you should expect (recall that incandescent bulbs cost little to buy but ultimately represent a terrible waste of money when you calculate the true “cost of ownership”). Look out for respected brands such as Sharp’s Zenigata or the Cree Evolux.

2. Cost. The real cost of lighting is the price of the bulb(s) plus the cost of the electricity. Over say 50,000 hours, a regular 50 watt halogen bulb will need to be replaced 25 times and cost 1,000 times the price of the bulb in electricity. An equivalent LED will require no replacement and cost much the same to run over all that time as it costs to buy. So over 50,000 hours the true cost of a $20 LED is likely to work out at (20 + 20) $40 and that of a $1 halogen at ((1 * 25) + (1 * 1000)) $1025.

3. Usage. LED lighting is most effective if you use multiple light sources of varying intensity and color ranges. Although very bright, they tend not to project light as far as incandescent lights do, so one of the most common ways to resolve these characteristics is to simply reflect the light off a nearby surface. This produces a diffuse light that fills the space and neatly kills two birds with one stone.

For further information check out these articles that examine the subjects of 12v LED bulbs and 12v lighting in more detail.

Tags: energy, green issues, Halogen Lighting, home improvement, kitchen lighting, Led Lighting, lighting, low energy lights, Money Saving, reduce waste, save energy, Save Money, technology

The Unique Magnetic Energy Generator For Energy Needs

Oct 23, 2009 More Saving

The magnetic properties are utilized by the magnetic power generator to provide free electrical power to the household. This is essentially achieved by utilizing the strength of the magnets on the inside of generator. The major advantage for such an energy source is its permanent type, provides clean output, and environment friendly nature. This sort of energy to power the household energy requirements is almost free of cost using this power generator.

The attractive and repulsive forces present in the magnets of the generator are used to generate the required current for daily needs. This type of generator has the capacity provide efficiency close to 500% on a daily basis and the same has been confirmed by the experts. The best part is that this energy can be distributed in to the household with the use of any other electrical appliances like wires or cables. To ensure that the generator set is running in perfect condition it is important to perform certain diagnostic tests on a periodic basis.

This generator does not cause harmful emissions, extreme heat, or airborne matter to spread into the surrounding environment. It is totally environment friendly and prevents any sort of changes to its surrounding environment. The main advantage of power from magnetic generator is that it works irrespective of any sort of climatic conditions. The renewable sources of energy produce the required power, though the cost associated with these generators is extremely high.

The magnetic power generator prevents excess heat from coming out of the generator and affecting the surrounding environment. It also stops harmful emission from getting into the environment. In case of airborne related pollution, the generator has certain controls put in place to prevent the spread of such particulates into the environment. Another important feature for this generator is that the climate changes do not influence its working capabilities.

Certain high-speed types of magnetic generators are used in a variety of power appliances. These generators are small and extremely efficient while generating power. Another advantage is that they are made of magnetic bearings, which does not require lubrication and have less maintenance issues and costs.

The high-speed version of these generators using magnetic ball bearings is used in many power applications. These high speed generators are very useful while generating higher power levels and the best part is that the magnetic bearings do not require and sort of lubrication thereby bringing down the maintenance costs.

Distributed power applications use this kind of magnetic-bearing technology in their compressors and produce more electrical energy per horsepower as compared to the conventional generators.

Many distributed power applications require the use of these magnetic bearings. These magnetic generators are useful in activities such as disaster management, off-grid location power supply, and control in power generation to local areas. They also produce more energy per horsepower as compared to other generators.

Allow me to introduce you into the secrets of this electromagnetic power. I have spent a lot of time to research every aspect for create this sistem.

Tags: alternative, electric, electromagnetic, energy, Free, Generator, Magnet, magnetic, More Saving, Motor, renewable, technology

Energy Problem - How to Find The Right Solutions For Your Benefits

Oct 7, 2009 More Saving

There are several problems stemming from the use of fossil fuels and great heat generating equipment which provides electricity. The heat generating from this power making equipment in larger populated areas is literally melting the atmospheric make-up which protects the land we live on from vicious storms. The trouble with fossil fuels is like a fossil will be erased from existence shortly. The only thing to do as a whole population is to begin using green energy solutions immediately.

Water is the most important basic of living creatures. Without water nothing will live, including trees, animals, plants, et cetera. That is why it is not a wise choice to use water for automobiles or heat unless it is the water that is cleaned from the ocean. If the water were taken out of the ocean and heated to a boiling point for a certain amount of time the water will be considered distilled, and very drinkable, which can be used to flush out all the contaminations already caused by pollution, in current fresh water supplies.

Heating is one of the leading causes of deadly toxic pollution being released into the air. The exhaust from forced air furnaces that burn kerosene, oil, or diesel fuels release a high amount of carbon which is what adds fuel to the global warming fire. One green energy solution to eco friendly heating is by using the sun. The sun can provide enough heat all year around to heat any size building.

Alas, the electricity subject. Electricity is the cause of most of the waste products that sit in landfill for a long period of time. The newest member to the team of green energy solutions is the zero point energy generators. This generator is safe, can work in under any weather conditions, and can generate as much power as the electric company. This mechanism is also very affordable.

More electricity green energy solutions can happen by installing a wind mill. Wind mills are already in use in the western United States, and are quite helpful to farms. The only reason farms are singled out is because these types of energy makers require more land than other self energy makers. Then all that is needed is a lot of wind, in which we get more wind now than ever.

Plastic and rubber tires are the most difficult products to recycle. The tires are difficult because although rubber can be melted down, there are steel belts inside the layers of rubber that will not form a new rubber substance without problems. The crucial parts to recycle are plastic and rubber, whatever the case do not burn these two substances.

Bug and weed killer are not parts of a green energy solution. The bugs and weeds are all a part of our natural habitat, and are needed to complete the food chain. Pulling weeds is an excellent allowance incentive for kids, and does not harm the harvested vegetable. Dandelions can be made into a tasty adult beverage if mixed correctly.

Green energy solutions are numerous and need applied right now to stop global warming from gaining anymore strength. Global warming has already gained the strength to begin melting glaciers. Think about that.

Tags: alternative, electric, electromagnetic, energy, Free, Generator, green, Magnet, magnetic, More Saving, Motor, renewable, technology

Stop Air Leaks And Improve The Energy Efficiency Of Your Home

Sep 20, 2009 Saving On Home

Summary: Air gets into and out of our homes from a wide range of places. Many of these can be fixed with some simple do it yourself handiwork. Undertake any of these and you’ll start to realize instant energy savings. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, American homes lose energy from the following places (in decreasing order of importance): floors, ceilings and walls (31%), doors and windows (21%), heating/air condition ducts (15%), fireplaces (14%), plumbing penetrations (13%) and all others (6%). Recognize that these numbers may vary based on home type, age, geographical region and other factors.

For some of these problem areas, better insulation or more energy efficient windows or doors may yield significant savings. But, these can be costly. Instead, why not take a few simple steps to eliminate those pesky air leaks?

One of the easiest things one can do is recaulk windows and doors. In addition to eliminating air leaks, this can also eliminate water leaks. To do this, first remove existing caulk (don’t just recaulk over existing caulk). You may need to use a putty knife, a window scraper, other blunt scrapper tool or even a screwdriver to loosen and remove the caulk. Be careful not to gouge the framing. Then clean the entire window or doorframe with rubbing alcohol or other cleaning compound to ensure good adhesion.

The type of caulk you use is really up to you, but it is best to use one which is light colored and paintable.

Choose the type of caulk and color that is best suited to your home and any associated remodeling activity. But in most cases, a paintable, light-colored caulk is what you’ll want. What works for windows and doors, also applies to skylights and any other places where gaps may occur. This can include places where air conditioning, phone or electric lines enter your home. You can now find special cover plates that be placed over the once massive caulked or sealed areas. You’ll still need to seal these, but it looks a lot more attractive.

You should seal any and all air ducts in your attic, basement and crawl spaces. This is a little easier than doing your windows and doors - you can use duct tape here instead of caulk.

You should look for air leaks in your ductwork, especially in your basement, attic and crawlspaces. For this job you can use duct tape instead of caulk, making this a much easier and faster job. However, you can make this easier still and seal those leaks you can’t reach by using an aerosol sealer. These sealers will collect wherever they pass a leak, sealing them without you having to crawl around through your home trying to duct tape them all!

Finally, address weather stripping along the bottom of doors and windows. This can become brittle and/or damaged over time. Sometimes you can simply slide in a replacement piece. At other times you may have to tip out the window or remove the door from its hinges and then physically remove and replace the entire weather stripping unit.

Last of all, leaks around electrical outlets and switches can be sealed. Especially on outside walls, these are common places for air leaks. Before you get started, shut off the electricity. Remove the switch plates and plug covers and feel for air leaks in the space. You can cover these leaks with foam inserts or if desired, a small piece of insulation or spray foam sealant. Once you’ve applied this and it is set, check for leaks again.

These are all easy projects which can stop air leaks, make your home more energy efficient and save you quite a lot of money in energy bills. Best of all, the savings begin as soon as you complete these easy projects; you may wonder why on earth you didn’t do these projects sooner!

About the author: Jerry Dyess specializes in the Texas Electricity segment. He has published many articles on Texas Electric prices.

Tags: energy, Energy Efficiency, home, Saving On Home, savings

Can You Save Energy With A Solar Hot Tub?

Sep 17, 2009 Save Energy

People are interested in the environment and they are looking for ways to not waste energy. The power of the sun is a free source of energy (as the wind is) and people would like to learn ways to harness that power. Solar cells are becoming more and more popular as they become perfected as well as their prices drop.

Anyone looking for ways to save electricity might be looking into buying a solar hot tub instead of the regular kind. Unfortunately though, there really isnt such a thing as a solar hot tub on the market. There are several reasons for this but the main one is that the technology is too expensive. You see, a hot tub or Jacuzzi needs to be kept warm 24 hours a day and the sun is obviously not out that long. Therefore, some sort of solar capability along with a battery and energy storage would have to be made for such a thing as a solar hot tub to work.

Another reason why they dont exist is because there are few places in the country that get enough sun for this idea to be remotely feasible. Demand for such a unit does not exist and so manufacturers will not make something that they cannot turn a profit on. A hot tub that runs 100% of the time on solar power is just not something we will ever likely see.

If you are still interested in the idea of sun heating your hot tub or Jacuzzi, you might look into buying solar cells and attaching them to the power source. For this to have any chance of working you will need to live in a part of the country that gets lots of sun or you will probably be wasting your time though. Also, if you are going to attempt to add solar cells to your tub, you will need to know what you are doing and it is unlikely that a novice would be able to do it successfully.

At this time of heightened awareness of the environment, you might think that some hot tubs would be made to use with sunlight. However, it seems this is not the case and anyone wishing to make their own solar hot tub should do some legwork and research first. Make sure you go to a hot tub dealer and ask what models might be better for such a transformation and they might be able to get you started down the right path.

Are you looking for information on solar jacuzzi heaters? If so, please visit my website Solar Jacuzzi.

Tags: DIY, energy, Energy Savings, Family, home, Hot Tubs, save energy, science, Shopping, therapy

No Waste In This Light Bulb

Sep 16, 2009 Save Energy

Everywhere you turn, people are talking ‘green’. It is fun to watch as products and ideas continue to surface that are helping our planet become less wasteful in energy consumption. Items that we never dreamed could possibly be replaced are now slowly disappearing with new technology presenting, literally, a better light bulb.

The light bulb has been marveled ever since its presentation in 1879 by Thomas Edison. At first an alternative to using kerosene lamps, it was hard to imagine something better than a light bulb coming along. However, today the regular incandescent light bulb is one of the most energy wasting products that there is. Nonetheless, it is also the cheapest product of its kind.

Another type of lighting that gained popularity in the 1920’s was fluorescent lighting and was first used in commercial buildings and garages where more light was in demand. Even though at the time it seemed good, today we know how bad it is for residential use. Some of the many drawbacks of fluorescent lighting, for starters, is the fact that it is filled with mercury. It is also sensitive to temperature extremes, intermittent flickering is common and then there is disposal.

It seems that energy consumption, sometime in the 1970’s, really began to take form and thus the birth of the tungsten halogen lamp or quartz lamp. The light from this bulb is far better than the incandescent light bulb, also needs lower voltage and its life span is much longer. It is becoming more popular only recently with emphasis on energy consumption but before people were not so quick to change, in part, because of the cost.

But now, there is an option that we have all been waiting for. The most awesome and creative discovery of alternative lighting was discovered in the 1960s and is known as the LED. This device is made out of a Silicon element that converts electrical energy into light energy without the drawbacks found in other lighting types. Invented by Nick Holonyak, known as ‘the father of the light-emitting diode’, Holonyak has received many honors for his innovation that is changing the world.

The light emitting diode, or LED, is different from all other light bulbs. LED lights are the same as the red indicator lights on electronic devices which show if it is on or off. What makes these lights different is that LED lights give off no heat or distorted tint, they have no movable parts and have a long life. On top of that, they are also very energy efficient.

At this time it is relatively costly but the final results will show the savings and benefits of using LCD lighting. From flat screen TV’s to street lights and decorative lighting the energy saving LCD will be around for awhile.

Interested in learning more about LED lighting fixtures? I suggest you do some reading here on lighting fixtures.

Tags: energy, Energy Savings, green lifestyle, interior decorating, Led Lighting, light fixtures, Lighting Fixtures, living green, save energy

Tax Credits in Your Home?

Sep 9, 2009 Save Money

Summary: The IRS is offering incentives to make energy efficient improvements to your home. But these come with strings and caveats. Be sure that what you are planning will qualify before you commit to the expenditure.

Uncle Sam is on your side when it comes to offering some tax credits for improving your home’s energy efficiency. Unfortunately, he’s only offering some credits and these come with a handful of strings. Still, a tax credit is better than no tax credit.

One of the first things you need to know is that these credits can only total 30% of your expenditures and can include (for existing homes) metal roots, windows and doors, asphalt roads, insulation, heating and air-conditioning systems, ventilation, biomass stoves, and non-solar water heaters; the credit is up for up to $1500 over a two-year period, for the tax years 2009 and 2010. The credit does not apply to each year. Each adult owner of the home also CANNOT qualify for a separate tax credit each, unless they file their tax returns separately; for example, if they are married or living together and file separate tax returns, they may receive two such $1500 tax credits, in some cases.

There are also longer-term and unlimited tax credits (30% of the cost, with no upper limit through 2016 for existing homes & new construction) for geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, small wind energy systems, solar panels, and fuel cells. However, the tax credit for fuel cells is limited to $500 per .5 kW of power capacity.

Installation costs are only allowed for doors, windows, insulation and roofs.

In addition, you can only claim the tax credit against what you owe in taxes. Therefore, for example, if you owe no taxes after your other deductions, you won’t receive the credit. If you don’t owe enough taxes, you can’t carry the credit over to the next year unless the items qualify for the longer-term credit described above.

However, you CAN claim the unlimited credit AND the $1500 credit if you meet the requirements for both.

You’ll also need to make sure that you qualify for the credit, based upon what you are doing. Check with the manufacturer’s website or the company you are doing business with to make sure you can get what is called a “Manufacturers Certification Statement.” This statement is signed and comes from the manufacturer, and is used to certify that the product does indeed fallen to the requirements for the tax credit. Make sure you receive this statement and the receipts, in case the IRS should request them.

When you file your taxes, you’ll need to include Form 5695 to claim this credit. Make sure you have the latest draft of the form; you should find the energy tax credit notation on line 52.

If you are thinking about this credit as a way of helping to offset the costs of viable energy-efficient home improvements, then you should visit the Energy Star web site to get more information. Check back periodically as the web site managers seem to be doing a good job of keeping information current and addressing questions. The web site’s address is

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index

You might also want to read the IRS rules carefully and check with your tax advisor/accountant, if you have one.

Author: Jerry Dyess has specialized in Texas Electricity for the past 7 years. Get more information on Texas Electric rates.

Tags: energy, home, money, Save Money, tax, Tax Credits

Renewable Energy And The Advantages

Aug 19, 2009 More Saving

The resources that have been used to empower worldwide economies are becoming extinct, causing fighting in the Middle East, and an accelerated international government power trip. The sooner every home owner and business entity makes the decision to begin using renewable energy, the sooner the world will be a more pleasant place to live.

Electricity is one of the privileges that have become a necessity to those that have it. The most common type of renewable energy sources used to create electricity is the sun. This is referred to as solar energy. The second most popular method of generating electricity is by using a windmill; these are expensive and require a lot of land. Then water can be used in the form of a water wheel, but water is becoming more and more in demand. A winning type of energy making equipment does not require any source to function but itself.

When joining the fight against global warming, question the method of heating that is used within the home. Wood burning is one of the safest methods of heat, but this method requires the use of trees. Trees are needed to provide oxygen to the atmosphere. Newspapers can be made into logs by rolling them and submersing them into water, then allowing them to dry. This method resembles the solidness of a log, and burns for a sufficient amount of time.

Diesel fuel is used in the United States by a number of large trucking fleets to ensure the strength of the economy. These trucks burn a petroleum based fuel that creates carbon in excess amounts, polluting the air and the atmosphere. There is a natural type of biodiesel fuel that will operate a diesel engine and does not create any dangerous exhaust fumes. With a few minor adjustments, this fuel can be used as a heating fuel as well for any forced air furnace that uses kerosene.

Gas powered equipment should be transformed into ethanol using motors. Another alternative to lawn care equipment powered by gas is the purchase of battery operated machines. These are not suggested because of the waste created by dead batteries, but ultimately are an alternative to the use of gas.

Anytime a person thinks about getting the waste taken out of the home by a garbage company, only put into the dump what can destroy itself by being broken down naturally. Landfills and dumps are polluting the underground water sheds as well as the air that is needed to survive as a human race.

Another big cause of the existing global warming is the laziness of some people. American hard work with the hands of our forefathers created this wonderful country, and hard work will save this country and possibly the world. Take the video games and the television from the kids and show them how to do things outside. Good old American blue collar labor will assist with eliminating the privileges that are not helping anyone.

All in all, the entire population is going to have to put their political power trips behind, and stand back to look at the big picture. All governments fighting over the use of fossil fuels that do nothing but harm the globe does not make any sense. People are losing their lives and tying up an extreme amount of energy that could be focused on the production and industrializing of renewable energy sources.

Tags: alternative, electric, electromagnetic, energy, Free, Generator, Magnet, magnetic, More Saving, Motor, renewable, technology