Installing energy efficient globes is one of the most cost effective and easiest options available for a good green home. Some companies had even traditionally given out energy and water saving "packs" for people to try out. Nowadays, these energy saving globes are available everywhere - so the question becomes, which light fitting is right for you?

Eco Home Tip # 36 - The lowdown on CFL - Compact Fluorescent (CFLs) are the most common energy saving fitting. CFLs use just about 20 percent of the energy required for the same amount of light from an incandescent globe and last 10 times as as long. All in all, a CFL will help reduce the cost of lighting your home by as much as 60 %.

Eco Home Tip # 37 - Keep your CFLs close, if shaded - a British study last year revealed that CFLs produced a small amount of UV radiation when used unshaded and in close proximity. Open globes were of note, which "encapsulated" globes were considered safe. So if you're using a work lamp with a CFL, keep it shaded of opt for an encapsulated globe instead.

Eco Home Tip # 38 - Recycling your CFLs - The typical CFL contains a minute 4 mg of mercury sealed in its glass tubing. Some manufacturers have lowered its CFL mercury content to as little as 1 - 2.5 mg. Handle your CFLs with care and take advantage of recycling programs for CFLs to keep mercury from ending up in landfill.

Eco Home Tip # 39 - Leading by example with LEDs - Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are another popular energy efficient lighting option, especially to replace halogen globes and downlights in your home. The small cluster of diodes can be arranged in a number of configurations and sizes to suit your home. LEDs have been traditionally found in electronics including clocks, and have a variety of uses in terms of producing a broad spectrum of bright coloured light. LEDs are the perfect substitute to the more heat intensive halogen globes and last for over 50,000 - 60,000 hours and uses 70 percent less energy than standard halogen globes. LEDs are also mercury free.

Lighting a home can account for as much as 20 percent of a home's energy use. Energy saving lights are simply a bright idea for your green home.

Looking for more eco home tips and ideas? Visit the Green Pages directory for more great eco home tips and ideas!

Firstly, please insulate your home properly. Close up space among doors and windows tightly. Then fix any breakdown storm windows. Please be sure to check loft for wind too. If the cold cannot enter so you will not use heating. You can check if there are still be any holes by lighting a candle near doors and windows. Let's check if the candle is effect by a wind or not. Then you can seal any holes you see.

You can set up a few high degree of thermostat in summer and a few lower in winder because you will not see something happen for a few degree change except your electricity charge. You can reduce up to 10% on heating and cooling energy by just 5 degrees change.

Who would have ever thought that we would need to be aware of the energy draining habits we have been doing for years? This new change is as bad as quitting a bad habit such as smoking or being a shopaholic!

How are we going to remember to turn the television off, turn the lights out when leaving a room and unplug electronics each night? When we get the utility bill, I'm sure that will be a huge reminder...ouch! This may mean we are unable to buy that newest designer handbag...torture!

Other things that will help save money would be to replace your old doors and windows with new energy-efficient ones. But you say "Wouldn't that be too expensive?" The government is now offering tax credits of up to 30% or $1500 for installing these. There are a few other good reasons for doing this. First, you'll receive a tax credit from the government, while enjoying immediate significant savings each month on your energy bill. Not too shabby for a one time investment. You won't get any returns for last years' outdated shoe collection!

Paying the window company to install these energy saving windows and doors will help the economy by keeping people working! Keep in mind these windows must need to have a U-factor rating of .30 or lower for maximum efficiency and to be qualified for the credit.

Another energy saving strategy that will earn tax credits is new home insulation and roofing. Air conditioners, boilers and furnaces can meet the energy guidelines if they were installed no earlier than 2009. Solar water heaters qualify if half the energy generated comes from the sun. The solar water heater must be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC). The water from these solar water heaters must be used in the dwelling and not for swimming pools or hot tubs. I wish they would revise those qualifications!

Letting go of that gas guzzling Hummer might be a little hard to do, especially trading it in for a Hybrid car or SUV! You may have to think about the space and the power you lost when you start driving your Hybrid, but you'll have quite a bit more money in your wallet for...well, paying down credit cards? This would be the smartest thing to do the savings; not too exciting, but smart!

Earn from $250 to $3150 with a tax credit from Hybrid purchases made after December 31, 2006 and on or before December 31, 2010. The tax credit amount depends on the fuel economy and the weight of the vehicle. This will be phased out from each manufacturer after they have sold 60,000 qualified vehicles and will be gradually reduced after that over the course of another year. Note: even if you buy a gas or diesel powered vehicle, certain models will be eligible for a tax credit.

Remember the good ol' days when we could drive around in muscle cars and fill up on $20.00? Well maybe you don't, but with this new economy and implementing new energy saving strategies, we will learn to enjoy the more basic things in life. There's a good possibility we will see people coming together. We might be coming together at the newest thrift shop!

A collaborative effort may be just what we need to boost excitement into the minds of homeowners. Large companies use something called ?Performance Contracts? to acquire financing for Energy Conservation Projects. A Performance Contract is usually provided by an ESCO, to a large business entity. Applying Performance Contracts the same way an (ESCO) Energy Service Company does to big-business, could be a worthy option. Performance Contracts are offered to municipalities, school districts, stadiums and other corporate entities; but not to private residential homeowners. Unfortunately, millions of energy savings dollars could have already realized, if Performance Contracting was extended outside Corporate America. Is this just another case of ?The Big Business Advantage??

To understand if there is an advantage, you need to know a little about what Performance Contracting (PC) is. Performance Contracts essentially guarantees ?a minimum amount of energy savings? from the installation of energy efficient equipment and energy conservation strategies. Energy savings are derived from a detailed Energy Audit, which reveals where energy savings should be applied. The audit also reveals energy savings strategies along with a given ?Pay Back time, for each strategy. The ?Pay-back? demonstrates length of time it takes, to get a return on their investment. A simplified example of a Pay-back is; lighting retrofits will cost $6,000 and will save $2,000 annually. Therefore; the payback will be 3 Years ($6000/$2000) = 3, meaning, it will take 3 years to pay down the cost, the (4th year + )is ?pure savings?.

There are many other advantages, such as energy monitoring. It is to the ESCO?s advantage to monitor the saving because they have ?guaranteed? the savings. The ESCO also assumes responsibility with a ?Promise? or ?Guarantee?. The promise goes something like this; if Company X does not see X amount of savings during a given amount of time, we will pay you the difference! Furthermore, the cost/debt of the Energy Retrofit will be covered by future energy savings. To give you an example; company X is a Convention Center with badly needed equipment upgrades. Company X is also spending 20-30% more energy than necessary and for a Convention Center that could equate to millions of dollars of additional cost. However, Company X can?t afford the project from its current operating budget. See any similarities to homeowners? Fortunately, in enters the ESCO that can not only help secure financing, but, PM the installation, repair, service and track energy savings for the project. The icing on the cake for the Company X is the? Performance Guarantee?!

So, why is it good for Residential Markets?

o Financial cost is the main reason that most energy strategies are not done in the residential market.

o The effects of Global Warming from Green House Gases are largely dependent on how much pollutants humans make and how much energy we use. Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, resulting from petroleum and natural gas, represent 82 percent of total U.S. human-made greenhouse gas emissions. When we reduce energy and pollutants, demand and supply is also reduced.

o A National Research Council study dated May 2001 stated, ?Greenhouse gases are accumulating in Earth?s atmosphere as a result of human activities, causing surface air temperatures and sub-surface ocean temperatures to rise.

o According to (EIA) Energy Information Administration, statistics show that Residential Carbon Emissions for 2005, was 5,956,978,731. If we treat residential market like the business market we have a chance of saving a minimum of 15% Carbon Dioxide Emissions from our homes, only. The Presidents Global Climate Change Policy projects an 11% reduction in Carbon Dioxide, which is inclusive of all industries.

o Reducing our dependence on foreign oil. According to the (NRDC) Natural Resources Defense Council, we spend more than $200,000 dollars/ per minute -- $13 million per hour -- on foreign oil. This is $13 million dollars with Zero payback.

o An investment in consumer Performance Contract financing would result in a payback of 20-30% in energy cost. Those savings could go back into our pockets and trickle down to our economy.

o Finally, efforts have already been made towards Performance Contracts and the Residential market. The Department of Energy and HUD have put together a collaborative effort to make public housing more energy efficient. The collaborative effort, referred to as ?Energy Performance Contracting for Public and Indian Housing? is a recipe book detailing the benefits and procedures of Performance Contracting. The Guide Book was originally printed in 1990, nearly 18 years ago.

Audits are usually done by C.E.M.s. Certified Energy Managers.

No matter what your needs are or how big your home you can find products for great prices that will make a drastic impact on the cost of running your home. Truth be told, saving money and energy will prove to be a lot easier and more affordable than you ever imagined. Of course, there are some basic cost cutting techniques such as shutting off your hot water and turning off lights, but let's focus on some of the goods that you can invest in. These products will cost you a little in the short term but save you tons in the long term.

Some of the options that are available to you include low energy lights, electric blankets, solar power, low energy lamps and even bio bags. All of these products can do their part in cutting your energy consumption and in turn reducing your monthly bills. Imagine giving yourself the ability to not only save money but know that you are making a difference when it comes to the health of the environment.

Now that you are aware of just a few energy saving options, you have you can begin to do some more research and find the products that will benefit you the most. Many online retailers have a vast selection of goods that you can discover, learn about and then incorporate in your every day lifestyle. I am going to let you in on a little secret that the major companies don't want you to know. If you can find some ways to reduce your energy use and increase the amount you create, you can often be entitled to a monthly payment from the major companies themselves. That's right, not only can you decrease the cost of your bills, but using the right energy saving or generating products can allow you to make money.

The benefits of energy saving goods are undeniable, but you should not just run out and start investing right away. If you truly want to maximize your savings then you will want to make sure you find the best deals when it comes to these energy cutting products. There is no doubt that you will be able to find a number of retailers on line, but you should do your best to find and take advantage of some of the incredible offers that might be available to you. With a little time and smart shopping, you will be well on your way to saving money on your initial investment and saving wads of cash long into the future.

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Flex Strip 300 SMD LED Ribbon 5 Meter 19 White

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