Thursday, July 02, 2009

The Advantages of Solar Energy in Home Energy Bills

The Advantages of Solar Energy in Home Energy Bills by Shellaine Enfesta

There are so many advantages of solar energy in our home energy bills. You can really make a list of all the advantages but the main advantage is that it gives you saving on your home bills. Another big factor is that you are helping the environment. Some of these devices are in the forms of panels that generate the power and turn it into energy power. The first major advantage is that these panels should last around 20 years or longer, in fact many manufacturers offer guarantees of 20 years or longer.

Depending on what solar power for residential homes are chosen, the initial investment can range from about $2,000 for a do it yourself home water heating system to much higher for systems that store power in batteries for use for heating, cooling, cooking and lighting as well as hot water. The United States Department of Energy has estimated that in a 100 square mile area in the southwest of the United States receives in on day the total amount of electricity consumed in the daily in the United States. For most of us this is not a reality. High prices for gasoline and home heating oil are here to stay.

Natural resources are not renewable forms of energy this means that many of them are already becoming more and more expensive. The energy in sunlight striking the earth for 40 minutes is equivalent to global energy consumption for a year. It is also compatible with cell phones and other portable electronic devices. Solar energy makes use of the sun's energy. Its unique fan blade design allows it to achieve maximum solar area when in use, and to fold compactly to the size of an average mobile phone when stored.

The storage system is usually created from batteries, not unlike those used in vehicles. Scheer said, the grid owners are the owners of the conventional power companies, and it is normal that they want to give priority to their own production and even block the entry of renewables. Because a system that is not properly installed will not pass inspection by local officials and has the potential to cause a fire, this is a job for a skilled person that is well versed in the engineering involved in home electrical systems. If the area your house is built in gets enough sunlight then it should be possible to run most appliances. This would not only mean that solar power would be saving the environment but also saving people's lives. The surge of interest in the payment system is a recognition that despite generous state and federal incentives, the United States still lags far behind Europe in solar power.

In Gainesville, the new policy has already sparked a rush to put up panels. We project that this energy could be sold to consumers at rates equivalent to todays rates for conventional power sources, about five cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). The decay of vegetation along the riverbed can cause the buildup of methane. There are even designs that can be found that use empty aluminum cans, such as beer and soft drink cans, and old sliding glass doors to create a perfectly functional system at very low cost.

Why should we use regressive taxation to support the most expensive form of renewable energy? In the past few years the cost to produce photovoltaic cells and modules has dropped significantly, opening the way for large-scale deployment.



Get The Facts About Solar Energy and learn more about Renewable Energy as Well as Solar Energy For an Efficient Home Energy Saving go to EfficientHomeEnergySaving.org

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Friday, April 11, 2008

9 Tips to a Successful Renovation/Remodeling Project

9 Tips to a Successful Renovation/Remodeling Project by Crazy Cabinet Guy

Once you have decided that you undertaking a renovation project it is time to start looking for a remodeler or contractor. This process can sometimes take as long as the project itself. Finding the contractor that can not only handle the project, but that you can also establish a good relationship with can be the key to a successful remodel or one of the nightmare stories you hear on the home improvement shows. Below are 9 tips to planning and executing a successful remodeling project.

1. Establish good two-way communication with the remodeler. Without good communication from the beginning, you can most certainly expect problems with your remodeling project. It is important to note whether or not he or she returns your calls promptly, listens to your suggestions, and answers your questions clearly and accurately. A good contractor should always be reachable when needed. By having a good rapport with the contractor, you can effectively and efficiently tackle problems when they arise.

2. Go with the contractor that has the proven track record and the one you trust. Trust is a big factor when choosing a contractor. Follow up with references and go with your guy instinct. Sometimes it is worthwhile to pay a little bit extra up front to get the contractor that you feel most comfortable with.

3. Establish a clear time line for the project. One of the biggest complaints from homeowners is that their remodeling project drags on and on. By establishing a clearly defined time line for the project, and contingency plans if the project runs over it will help keep the remodeler on track and it will give you a benchmark for progress.

4. Get everything in a written proposal. Verbal agreements can be left open for misinterpretation and confusion. By clearly spelling everything out on paper, you can ensure that your expectations and the remodelers plans match up perfectly.

5. Don’t overlook the minor details. There are a lot of little details that need to be settled before work starts. What times of day will they be working? How will he access the property? How will cleanup be handled? How will they protect your property?
6. Flexibility is the key. Very few projects ever go exactly according to plan, so you will need to have some flexibility. Plan on your renovation or remodeling project interrupting your life in some way.

7. Layout a plan for handling modifications or changes. When you are trying to put your personal touches on a project, it is inevitable that there will be minor (sometimes major) changes to the materials or layout. Agree with your remodeler on how these changes will be handled before the start of work. Also understand that changes could affect the schedule and the budget, so it’s important you have all changes in writing.

8. Cover all your bases on the contract. The contract should include these elements: a timetable for the project, price and payment schedule, detailed specifications for all products and materials, insurance information, permit information, procedures for handling change orders, lien releases, provisions for conflict resolution, notice of your right under the Federal Trade Commission’s Cooling Off Rule (your right to cancel the contract within three days if it was signed someplace other than the remodeler’s place of business), and details on the important issues (such as access to your home, care of the home, cleanup and trash removal).

9. Ask for a written Lien Waiver from the remodeler upon completion of the work. If the remodeler hires subcontractors for portions of the work it is their responsibility to see them compensated. In order to ensure this has been done and to protect yourself, ask for a written lien waiver when the work is finished. This document will verify everyone has been paid.



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