Earth Friendly

Fossil fuels can be costly, and they are not renewable sources of energy. So what forms of energy are available that can potentially save the U.S. from going bankrupt? Number one on the list is wind energy…have any guesses for the other six that made the list? Go HERE if you need to peek.

How much do you know about solar powered cars? They’re definitely an alternative for our future, but the practicality of them is still questionable. It’s more likely that you’ll see prototypes of solar powered cars than being able to drive one. However, the Toyota Prius does have a solar panel on its roof.

The best thing about solar energy is that once you spend money installing the solar panels, the energy is free. Although there is a window of opportunity for sunshine, being able to collect free solar energy during specific times is better than going broke for gas. For more information about these cars, check out the following article: Facts on Solar Powered Cars.

It’s a shock to the system when it gets cold outside, which is probably why you are inclined to turn up the heat. However, you will probably be even more shocked when you get your electric or gas bill. There are ways you can limit your use by dressing warmer while you’re in the house. Wearing warm sweaters or shawls, you can keep the chilly air away from your skin. It also helps to make sure all windows and doors are sealed tight. Check to make sure they are all shut, and if you have damaged seals, place towels around them to keep the cold air out. You can also keep the rooms you rarely go into closed and put a space heater in the family room or bedroom.

Something you use every day is your alarm clock. If you are like me and have trouble waking up in the morning, you might have several alarm clocks set. Most likely you have it plugged into the wall and have batteries in it as a back up just in case the electricity goes out. What if I told you that you wouldn’t have to worry about backing up? What if I also told you that you could save electricity by using a different alarm clock? Bedol has created a water-powered alarm clock, which can wake you up and reduce your consumption of electricity. Salt has to be added about once a week, and this digital clock comes in a variety of colors.

The days are starting to get shorter and shorter. Before we know it, there will be darkness at 4:30 pm. I have to say that’s the worst feeling when you wake up to darkness, go to work and leave work in darkness. You wonder where the day has gone and why you feel like going to bed so early. And there is another reason to appreciate those long summer days, because it meant that you didn’t have to use electricity until 8 or 9 pm. For now, while the sun is still out in the late afternoon, let in the light and reduce the amount of electricity you use.

Thankfully, we didn’t fall through the rabbit hole and enter another dimension or fail to exist when the large hardron collider was turned on today. The experiment was setup in an underground bunker below the Swiss Alps, and it was a success. The scientists were able to beam protons around the track. While this doesn’t sound impressive, there’s potential for this experiment to show how the planet was created in the first place. The next step the scientists have planned is to manipulate the protons and make them collide, which would potentially duplicate the Big Bang Theory. Until the next experiment comes, I’m sure we’ll all be waiting with baited breath. I must admit that I was a little worried that this contraption could create a black hole big enough to swallow the Earth. You never know what can happen when you attempt to manipulate Mother Nature.

Photo Credit: Made available by www.nytimes.com.

Have you ever noticed that when the sun is brightly shining through your windows, you get sweaty pretty quickly? It’s easy to forget that the sunlight is so powerful. Even when you close your blinds to block the sunlight it can help make a difference in the temperature of a room. A unique way to help cool your home even more is to install awnings over all of your windows. Awnings can decorate the outside of your house and save you money since you won’t have to use air conditioning as much. If you end up selling your home in the future, the awnings will definitely be a selling characteristic since they’re visually appealing and they help reduce the electric bill.

Photo Credit: Made available by www.absblinds.co.uk.

In light of the energy crisis we are facing, below are some tips on how you can help conserve energy:

1. Turn off lights that are unneeded. Open the blinds during the day and use natural light when you do housework or office work.
2. Remember to turn your computer off when you are done using it. Put it in hibernation mode during the day when you are taking a break, but turn it off before you go to bed.
3. Install motion sensors for lights in and outside of your home. This can prevent you from using lights when you don’t need them.
4. Purchase an energy monitor or get an energy audit done on your house. This can help you determine how much energy you are using and assist you with monitoring how much you are spending on your energy bill.

Photo Credit: Made available by www.flickr.com.