Looking for saving money tips on utility? One way to save money on electricity is by installing your own home solar power. Find below another great saving money tips.
Home Solar Power: Save Money With Your Own Home Solar Power System
Author: WChurchill
Home solar power systems convert sunlight into electricity through the use of solar panels. For an average home about ten watts per square foot of electrical energy will be gathered per day. This will vary depending on a number of factors including panel size and type, amount of sunlight, and length of time direct sunlight is available.
A home solar power system will cost considerably more as an initial investment, but will be very cost effective in the long run. There are two main reasons for considering home solar power. First, of course, is the saving on your electric utility bill and secondly is the fact that solar power is renewable and environmentally friendly. There are NO polluting side effects.
There are 5 main components of a home solar power system that is connected to the electric grid. If you choose to be totally off-grid, it will also be necessary to have a storage battery to store excess energy your system generates.
• Solar panels
• Power converter
• An electric panel
• A utility meter
• The utility grid
• A storage battery unit (for off grid)
Solar panels are normally placed on the roof of your house, but may also be placed in any area that receives direct sunlight. Either installation must be placed to receive as much direct sunlight as possible. The solar panels convert sunlight into DC power.
The power converter is necessary to change the DC power into AC power which is what you receive from an electric utility. AC or alternating current is what household lights and appliances use.
The electric panel brings the power from the power converter to the breaker box. It is then distributed to the lights and outlets in the house.
In an on-grid system the electric utility meter handles excess power from your system, causing your electric meter to run backwards when your system is supplying power to the utility grid. If you use this you receive credit from the electric utility that is applied against what you need from them when your home solar power system does not cover your usage.
And the last component in an on-grid system, the utility grid, will supply you with electricity during the night, on cloudy days, and when you need more electricity than your home solar power system produces.
If you will not be connected to the grid system -- whether by choice or because the location is remote and not supplied with electricity, you will also need a storage battery unit to store the excess power from your home solar power system for use at night.
Is a home solar power system right for you? Maybe. Even though the initial costs are higher, the payback may well be worth considering. If you are building, remodeling, or even refinancing your home, the cost of home solar power can be included in the mortgage. Also, keep in mind that both state and federal governments offer attractive tax incentives when you install a home solar power system.
And best of all – wouldn't be GREAT to never pay another electric bill ?
Renewable energy - Free energy -Green energy
Why wouldn't you do it if you have the opportunity?
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_519793_27.html
There are a handful of saving money tips on our archive. Feel free to browse there or simply find saving money tips according the their categories on the right sidebar. Happy surfing and reading!
Home Solar Power: Save Money With Your Own Home Solar Power System (saving money tips)
Air Conditioners - How to Cut Running Costs in Half (saving money tips)
One way to save money is by managing the way you use your air conditioners. Find below a great saving money tips on air conditioners. Hope you enjoy this saving money tips. Happy reading!
Air Conditioners - How to Cut Running Costs in Half
Author: Ethan K. Roberts
In today's world, most people have invested in one form of an air conditioner or another. We have either window air conditioners in our homes or central air conditioners. They keep us cool in the extreme summer heat without fail; however, have you ever set back and looked at the costs of running an air conditioner? When compared to the common household fan the amount of electricity required to run an air conditioner is phenomenal.
When using an air conditioner there are many different factors that can directly affect the cost of running it. These factors include the geographical location of your home, where you live and the amount of work the air conditioner has to do greatly influence the cost. If you live in an area that has mild summers and extremely cold winters, obviously your air conditioner will not have to work as hard. However, if you live in an area, that has warm winters and boiling summers the air conditioner will have to work double time to maintain comfort.
The difference in weather conditions from year to year will affect the costs as well. This is basically geared towards the difference in costs per year. One summer might be cooler than the next, which will lead to a greater bill.
The efficiency rating of your air conditioner plays an important role in the amount of electricity used. Most all appliances in today's world are rated, when you purchase an air conditioner it will have a tag telling you the amount of electricity that appliance uses. Look for air conditioners that use minimal electricity, which will save you money each year. If you have a model that is 10 years or older, it is definitely time to consider a new one.
Another important factor is the size of the air conditioner versus the house-cooling load. All air conditioners come in different sizes, and each will state the amount of space it is designed to cool. For example, an apartment could do with just one or two window air conditioners, while a three-bedroom house could not. Closely consider the amount of space you need to cool when considering an air conditioner. While larger air conditioners will cost more money, it will typically save you money in the long run on usage.
The setting on your thermostat greatly effects the cost. A higher setting will result in the air conditioner running less, while lowering the setting will cause it to run more often. One electric company suggests keeping the thermostat above 78 degrees. This can save you 10 to 20% on cooling costs.
Finally, the local cost of electricity influences the general cost of running your air conditioner. This is something you have no control over, however, you can control your own cost by saving energy.
Here is a general look at the difference of running an air conditioner vs. running a Ceiling or oscillating fan, at medium speed.
Running a central air conditioner that is three ton (and of average efficiency) for 8 hours per day for 15 days per month, with the average rate per kWh (kilowatt per hour) being 0.17, the average cost per month for the air conditioner alone will be $97.92. Amazing isn't it? This does not even include washer, dryer, lights, refrigerator, or stove, only the air conditioner.
On the other hand, running a ceiling fan or oscillating fan at medium speed, for 8 hours per day, for a full 30 days, at an average rate per kWh of 0.035 is only $1.43. With this comparison you could run 68 � fans for a full month before you would reach the cost of the central air conditioning unit.
There are many other things you can do to lower you electric bill. Things such as, inspect, clean, or replace your air conditioner filters monthly. When you are not in your home, raise the temperature on your thermostat, keeping in mind pets when you do. Lower the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees, wash only full loads in your dishwasher or clothes washer, and use the energy saving cycle on the dryer.
Other steps you can take include, replacing incandescent bulbs with fluorescent lamps, this could save up to 75% on lighting costs. You should also caulk all windows, doors, and pipes to prevent air leaks in or out, use weather stripping around windows, doors and pipes as well. Have your ducts tested for air leaks; leaking ducts can reduce the efficiency of your air conditioner by up to 20%.
Ethan K. Roberts writes on a variety of topics not limited to air conditioners. Also available are more articles about central air conditioners and portable air conditioners.
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_28434_27.html
Find more saving money tips on the right sidebar or simply browse our archives. Happy digging for saving money tips!
Save Money & Energy at Home (saving money tips)
Saving Money Tips - Save Money & Energy at Home
Saving money is the game now if you really want to bank on a good future for you and your family. This is one definite way to ensure that you make yourself able and ready for whatever big plans you have ahead, be it getting a new house, buying a car, sending a kid to college or even a grand vacation.
There are many ways to save money. It can range from setting aside a portion of your monthly paycheck or avoiding the little temptations for you to spend. Make it your goal.
Start at Your Own Home
- Saving money should be part of your way of life to make it most effective. It is best that the effort to save be shared by everyone in the family.
Little Efforts
- Do not drive if you really don’t have to. If you can, just take a walk or take the bus. Riding the bike can also be very good for your body. Have a car pool with friends or neighbors. You can also suggest doing errands together like doing the grocery store.
- Avoid the little temptations that may come your way. It is naturally fine to reward yourself after a hard work every now and then, but do stay away from splurging. Cut back on your expenses.
Use Less and Save Energy
- Electricity - Turn off appliances that are not used. Turn the TV off if the show is not worth it. Close the refrigerator after getting what you need. Use lower wattage bulb for rooms that do not need much lighting. These will definitely add more data to your savings!
- Water - Check for any leaks in your pipes. Always make sure that the faucet is not dripping. Avoid long showers. Use a glass when brushing your teeth instead of leaving the faucet on.
- Phone – Choose a provider that has savings plans especially for long-distance calls.
- Gas - Have your car tuned up so you can save on gas. Get membership benefits also from stations. Fill up the tank when the prices go low. You can also do a research on gas saving cars if you have to purchase a new one. Turn off the air conditioning. If there is no need for that, simply keep the windows open. Enjoy the ride and the cool wind.
You may not realized this before, but your household’s basic utilities can actually be your key to saving more money. This has a two-way benefit. You get to save some dollars for your family. You also contribute in addressing the energy crisis.
Want more tips? Pull out more saving money tips from our archives.
How to Save Money on Utilities (saving money tips)
Saving Money Tips - How to Save Money on Utilities
Expenses on utilities contribute to most of your household bills. Did you know that you could save a lot of money through your utilities? Here are some saving money tips to help you do this:
1. Identify which appliances consume much electricity and contribute the most in making the electric bill cost that much. You can save hundreds of dollars annually by enrolling in a home management load program that offer a 100-dollar savings in a year on electric utility hour rate programs. This will help you lower your electric payments and will teach you on home energy conservation.
2. It is recommended that you have improved appliance efficiency. The heating system appliances are the ones that consume too much electricity. The refrigerator and the water heater consume that much energy as well. Make sure to check these items regularly to ensure their efficiency. A well-maintained appliance will sustain its performance and will give you it's accurate use of electricity.
3. Always remember to give your furnace a tune up at least twice a year. You have to cover the water heater to insulate it and give your refrigerator coils a cleaning at least twice a year as well. You may also set a timer for the heater to have regular flow of electricity whenever it is in use. You may call your utility service to check if there is a low rate offered during any specific time of the day.
4. You may also save money by lowering your heating bills. You may set your thermostat down three degrees to make you save 3 percent on your bills. You may even save more by not using it while you are at work or you can even turn it lower during nighttime when you are asleep. This can help you conserve electricity and save more money.
5. You may want to lessen your long distance telephone calls to lower your telephone bills. If it is a need to call a very important person, you may call during weekends and night hours. Telephone companies offer a lower rate for long distance calls during those times of the day. The best alternative to save money is by using the Internet to communicate with your friends and relatives instead of the telephone.
6. You may want to consider lowering your water bills in order to save money. Check if there are leaks so that you may fix them immediately. You may put a water saving shower head to lessen the use of water when taking a shower. You can use a big container to stock water in the bathroom as an alternative rather than using the shower in the bathroom.
