4 Tips to Investing in Renewable Power Sources

Saving money on energy bills is important for everyone. By installing a simple and programmable thermostat, electric bills can be cut by as much as 10%. Over the past few years, more and more people have started to look to renewable energy sources for their power suppliers and as an investment opportunity. If you are interested in either option here are some tips to help you along that path. 

Tips for Renewable Energy Investment 

It is cheaper than people think. Tapping into these to get electricity is becoming easier and easier for people and power suppliers. Solar and wind panels are already being installed on homes and are being used on larger sites. India and China already use renewable energy to power some of their factories. 

Power companies are becoming leaders in using renewable energy. A growing number of companies are looking into renewable energy as a way to fend off any problems that might arise due to fluctuations in the price of power. They also see this as a way to reduce their dependence on government entities. They recognize that any power interruption will hurt their bottom line so they are taking action before governments do. 

Developing counties are where the action is. In countries like the United States, the power grid is pretty stable. The same cannot be said in large parts of the world. The constant threat of a black or brown out has lead many areas to look to renewable power suppliers. That means they are investing heavily in finding and perfecting technology used to create electricity. 

Renewable energy is popular. While some people around the planet may not be as "gung ho" about the prospect of moving from carbon based power to renewable energy sourced. In ares where power suppliers often experience is unreliable, having a backup plan is essential. People see the need for cheaper and more reliable power sources now more then ever. 

People in the United States use about 13 times the power we used in 1950. This has caused a number of new energy suppliers to come into the business of electricity procurement and distribution. This is partly due to the fact that we use appliances and devices that use a lot of power. Our beloved air conditioners can take up nearly 20% of our energy consumption. 

It may be hard for some to grasp how renewable power sources are the future of electrify; but it is imperative for companies and individuals to continue to learn more about these renewable power sources so that we can embrace the newer technologies in our homes and businesses.

Green Energy Gets Smart

It was so many decades ago that there were approximately 2.5 billion people on the planet, and of that number, approximately 152 million lived in the United States. Citizens of the U.S. expected a strong power supply to keep their refrigerators cold, their air conditioners humming and their radios and TVs going. The power infrastructure was expected to accommodate the constant ebb and flow of energy consumers on-again, off-again mindset, and the power companies understood that they had to move quickly to fulfill that demand as well as grow to meet the coming demand. 

Since then, the U.S. population has grown to approximately 320 million, and the amount of electricity use has also grown greatly even as a plethora of companies have and continue to conceive and improve consumer goods requiring electricity. In 2013, American energy consumption was measured to have been more than 13 times greater than what was used in 1950. The power grid has grown as well, and while it sometimes has some hiccups, the huge consumer and commercial use it maintains is constantly being improved. 

The amount of electricity consumption in the U.S. will give one a jolt: in 2014 alone, about 3.8 billion kilowatt hours were used to power American residential, commercial, industrial and transportation. The load this puts on power companies is significant, of course, and 36% of the use was consumed by residential use. As such, this is where much of the advancement in power use, savings and measurement may be found. 

Within the residential use of electricity, power companies have determined that most of that use is for heating, lighting and air conditioning. Nearly as much as those three are refrigeration and some appliances (such as TVs and other entertainment equipment) account for a significant amount of the electricity consumed. It has also been determined that somewhere around 40% of the electricity goes to laundry appliances (primarily clothes washers and dryers) as well as computers and computer peripherals. Nevertheless, advancements in appliances’ use of power continues to be a focus. These days, the average American refrigerator is 20% larger but costs 60% less than those sold in 1975, and it uses about three-quarters less energy. 

In the commercial sector, the single biggest use of electricity is for lighting. This amount of lighting covered is so vast as to seem invisible to us until we think about how our world would be if lighting were cut off. Street lights, parking lots, the bright exterior lights on buildings and the significant amount of lighting required to keep stores, offices and parks well-lit. Even small, seemingly little-used spaces require constant lighting: elevators, closets, walk-in freezers, dressing rooms, stairwells, underground parking lots and bathrooms are all examples of places that we each use but a few minutes of the day but because of safety reasons require near-constant and bright lighting. In time, alternative electricity for your business will be a big part of the typical business plan. 

Despite the great use of power in America, it is not constantly being increased in large amounts. Improvements in the efficiency of appliances, economic downturns and consumers’ careful use of energy consumption has contributed to a slight decline of power between 2008 and 2014. Smart meters are one aspect that helps power companies to understand when consumers’ power demands are at the highest, lowest and between the two. Approximately 50 million smart meters have been installed in U.S. homes, a figure which represents perhaps 43% of American homes overall. Smart meters also cut down on the energy required to read meters, which is significant when one thinks of the fuel, manpower and vehicle maintenance needed for power companies to get this done. 

Alternative power companies have entered the field over the last few decades and continue to improve market share as well as contribute to energy savings via green energy appliances, programmable thermostats, housing improvements and smart meters. There will also be newer and more easily acquired alternative energy sources that will allow consumers to choose energy sources that best fit their lifestyles.

10 Easy Ways You Can Conserve Energy Today

Feeling the heat of summer electricity costs every time you open a bill from the electric company? You’re not alone. Between the costs of electricity generation and growing environmental awareness, people all around the world are looking for ways to cut down on their usage and see some energy savings. Fortunately, energy conservation doesn’t have to mean giving up modern comforts. Here are 10 easy ways you can start reducing your energy usage today:

1. Get a Programmable Thermostat

Air conditioning actually accounts for the largest portion of U.S. residential electricity use at 19%. But you can use about 10% less energy for cooling (and heating) by controlling temperatures with a programmable thermostat.

2. Replace All Your HVAC Filters

Inefficient HVAC systems have to work harder to keep your home comfortable. Replacing filters is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to give your system a boost. You should also ask your electric company if it offers any incentives for putting in high-efficiency systems.

3. Don’t Let the Sunshine In

You might want to soak up the sun this summer, but the same doesn’t go for your house. Insulated drapes and blinds can keep the sun from heating up the interior of your home. Long term, you might consider painting your house a light color and planting shade trees in order to reduce energy spent on summer cooling.

4. Install Low-Flow Shower Heads

Water heating is another major energy expense in most homes, accounting for 14 to 18% of utility bills. Use less hot water by installing a low-flow showerhead -- it will take literally minutes to do.

5. Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water

For the same reason, you can save quite a bit of energy by washing your clothes in cold or warm, rather than hot, water. Even if you do only two loads of laundry per week, you can also save around 500 pounds of CO2 from being released each year by doing so (that’s if you have an electric water heater; the figure is about 150 pounds for a gas water heater).

6. Embrace Line-Dried Laundry

Especially in the summer, many light fabrics don’t need to go in the dryer. You can get a folding drying rack for clothes if you don’t have space for an outside line.

7. Fill the Dishwasher All the Way

Don’t run the dishwasher until it’s full -- it will use the same amount of resources whether it’s washing five plates or 50. You can also turn off the drying cycle and allow dishes to air dry, which can shave around 20% off your dishwasher’s electricity usage.

8. Seal Around Your Windows

Caulking costs less than $1 per window, and can make a big difference when it comes to energy losses.

9. Unplug Battery and Device Chargers

Many chargers continue to draw power even when not in use, so it’s best to only plug them in when you’re actually charging something.

10. Cook Dinner on the Grill

Instead of cooking inside during the summer -- which will produce extra heat that your air conditioning will need to tackle -- grill outside. It’s more fun anyway.

Want to do even more concerning electricity conservation? Ask your electric company about smart meters that can help you accurately track your usage.

7 Simple Strategies for Making Your Pool More Energy Efficient

With hot summer weather descending over most of the country, you’re probably feeling pretty grateful if you have a pool. But that feeling may be diminished every time you open up a bill from the electric company. The good news is that there are many energy solutions that can help you to reduce your pool’s energy usage and keep your electric company bills under control. Here are seven simple strategies for energy savings when it comes to your pool:

Get a Pool Cover

You might think that a pool cover only matters in the cooler months when you’re heating your pool (just as water heating is an expense inside your home, accounting for between 14% and 18% of your utility bills, heating water for the pool can be very expensive). But in addition to regulating temperature, pool covers help to reduce evaporation; because of all the energy that goes into cleaning and treating water, having to constantly top up your pool actually uses quite a bit of energy.

Install a Windbreak

Wind blowing over the surface of your pool can be a major cause of both evaporation and heat loss. By installing a fence that also provides a windbreak (either with screens between the posts or taller landscaping), you’ll achieve both safety and energy efficiency goals.

Schedule Your Pump

One of the easiest ways to see an energy reduction with your pool is to schedule your pump to make sure it runs for only as long as it needs. The amount of time will depend on the size of your pool, but the goal is to have all the water circulate once and only once daily.

Use LED Lighting

Make sure all the lighting in and around your pool uses LED bulbs. These last many times longer and draw far less electrical energy than traditional or CFL bulbs.

Turn Down the Temp

You know how you can save around 10% on heating and cooling costs in your house using a programmable thermostat? That goes for the pool, too. Make sure your pool temperature is set lower when you’re not using it so that the heater doesn’t work overtime.

Skim Regularly

The less debris that makes it to the filter, the less likely your filters are to get clogged and lower the efficiency of your system. Try to skim daily (and keep in mind that a cover will also keep leaves and dirt out of the pool).

Buy the Right Tech

Sometimes, energy efficiency simply comes down to newer, better technology. Having a high-efficiency pool pump can lead to savings you’ll notice on every single electric company bill, winter or summer.

Did you know that as of 2013, U.S. electricity usage had gone up by 13 times since 1950? Share your tips for reducing a pool’s energy usage in the comments.

5 Easy Ways to Trim Down Your 2015 Electric Bills

You may have already made some New Year’s resolutions regarding your relationships with your waistline. But January is also the perfect time of year to think seriously about energy solutions and resolve to make energy conservation a priority in the coming months. After all, that’s a resolution that can benefit not only your pocketbook, but the entire planet. There are some energy-saving tips you’ve probably heard over and over; for example, you can reduce your heating and cooling costs by about 10% when you install a programmable thermostat. But there are plenty more ways to cut down on energy use without sacrificing your quality of life. Here are five ideas to get you started: 1.     Slay Power Vampires You may have invited energy-sucking vampires into your home without even knowing it. In the context of power usage, a “vampire” is an appliance that draws power even when it’s not in use. Having these various devices on in stand-by mode can increase your power usage by up to 15%. One easy way to shut these devices down completely is to hook them up to a plugstrip you can easily switch off. 2.    Upgrade Your Bulbs This one is about as easy as it gets in terms of energy solutions. Change out the incandescent light bulbs in your house for compact fluorescent ones. As long as you look for “soft white,” you won’t get that industrial feel. If you really want to go high tech, consider investing in LED bulbs. 3.    Let the Sunshine In Take advantage of helpful weather, and shut bad weather out. That means opening up blinds and curtains to let the sun warm your home when you can, and making sure wind and cold can’t get in. You may want to consider a professional energy audit, which can let you know what areas of your home are losing energy or letting the elements in; you’ll save money in the long run. 4.    Use Appliances Efficiently The energy used to heat water in your home probably makes up a significant portion of your utility bills -- 14 to 18%, on average. Wash clothes in cold water, and only run the dishwasher when it’s full. If you or your family members tend to lose track of time in the shower, putting a timer in the bathroom (or even a small hourglass that can attach to the shower wall with a suction cup) can ensure that shower lengths stay under control. 5.    Scour Your Electric Bill Take a good look at your electric bill. It’s possible that you’re living in a deregulated energy market, meaning that you can choose an alternative electric supplier.  You can even deepen your commitment to renewable energy by selecting a provider that uses green energy sources. What other energy solutions should people consider for the new year? Add your ideas in the comments.