If your electric bill is anything like mine, it’s been skyrocketing lately. Oil prices are rising, gas prices reflect it and our heat and air conditioning follow like lemmings over a cliff. My friends have all mentioned the same thing.

We’ve heard for years now of ‘going green’ or the ‘green revolution’ but rarely of existing homes that have been outfitted with solar water heaters or panels to ease their electrical burden even though it has been on the news. I look around my neighborhood and surrounding areas and have yet to see even one. I know I’m not alone when I state that it would be nice to get some kind of help with our electric bills.

I had been curious to find out how easy it would be to go solar. I would love to have a zero dollar electric bill or even better, sell electricity back to the energy company. How much nicer it would be to receive a check in the mail every month instead of a bill.

It sounds like a dream. Going green and living “off the grid” have been just that until now. My curiosity led me online where I found a website called http://www.EcoEarthMall.com. A FREE energy audit was advertised as being a phone call away.

As easy as picking up your phone? Less than an hour later I had answers to my questions and even explanations that made sense.

Josh was terrific! He asked for figures from my last few power bills to gauge my energy needs. Through satellite imaging he calculated my roof area, which told us how many panels were needed and what type. His number is (888) 674-1112 extension 84.

Josh sent me a sixteen page report via email and patiently explained everything on it, and even some things that weren’t. He has information on rebates and tax credits, how much you can save over the lifetime of a solar system and even how much you can save the environment.

I now know that for less than 30k I can reduce my power bills by almost 75%! The cost is so much less than I expected! Between my states’ Solar Energy Systems Incentives Program, the Federal Tax Credit impact and MACRS Depreciation my bill will be reduced by over Fifty thousand dollars.

In addition to the low cost of Solar, my impact against the environment will be much less. Over the next 25 years I will save the planet 409,000 air miles or 672,542 automobile miles. It’s the equivalent to planting almost Eight Thousand trees!

My system will pay itself off and increase the value of my house. It’s wonderful to know that there is an answer. I’ll go into more information on my system in the next blog and steps I will have gone though as well.

Do you have questions about home solar? Please email your questions to info@ecoearthmall.com and ‘appear’ in our blog! Thank you.

Part of our lifestyle at EcoEarthMall.com is to ‘go green’ as much as possible, this includes reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. Rather than using a gas Trimmer and Edger, we suspected the battery operated Worx might be the answer. We bought the new cordless WORX GT 2-in-1 Trimmer/Edger two months ago after seeing the infomercial on TV.

The Worx? I love it! I couldn’t be happier with it. At first our sidewalks and driveway were a little over grown by tough St. Augustine grass runners and the trimmer is a little light for work that heavy. After doing the heavy trimming by hand it is now a breeze to come back with the WORX and give it a fresh cut and trim.

When switching users the Worx is highly adjustable to different body types and sizes. It weighs only 6 pounds and is light enough for anyone to use. It really does adjust with just a twist and pull, no tools are necessary when changing operators.

The Trimmer is light weight, easy to handle, adjust and switch modes to the Edger and back. As an Edger, it is a breeze to use. Cutting a straight line is not difficult at all. I have found that by working the edger back and forth a few inches at a time in heavier growth, it helps to give a cleaner, straighter cut.

The WORX 18v battery has enough power and strength to do my entire front and back yard on one charge. I did notice that after using, the battery may be warm. It needs to cool a bit before the charger will start the charging process. Still, it was nice not to have to run to the gas station, then mix gas and oil in a heavy trimmer like my old one.

The line feed works just fine and the manual release is very easy to use to lengthen the working line. It was great not having to ‘bang it on the ground’ to release line.

All in all, this tool is very easy to use, and adjusts to virtually any user. It does not over strain or wear me out which is a very nice plus. Everything is just as advertised, it’s lightweight, charges in 1 hour, is highly adjustable and the charge lasts through a lot of yard work. It performed above and beyond my expectations.

I think the WORX Combo Kit, found at: http://worxoutdoortools.com/ would be a fantastic deal with three yard tools, the Trimmer/Edger, Blower and Hedge Clipper that are included. Each tool uses the same battery. Unfortunately I didn’t see this when I made my purchase or I would have gone that route.

My future plans are to install a solar power panel on my shed and have a charging station for this and other batteries so that I can further cut my home energy use. My goal is to reduce my carbon footprint as much as possible and using the Worx is a great start. We plan to purchase their Hedge Trimmer, Blower and Lawn Mower. I will let you know how that goes as well.

But, how can I help?

With energy costs on a constant rise and income seemingly on a downward spiral, solutions must be found to reduce our energy bills. Reliance on oil, coal and other sources causing enormous greenhouse gas emissions are poisoning our air and warming our planet. Solutions must be found that not just reduce our utility bills but reduce our carbon footprint as well.

As an individual I found myself thinking the same thing over and coming up against a wall of ‘buts’. ‘But I can’t afford it’, ‘but I don’t have the land for a windmill’, ‘but easement trees block the one side that solar would work on’. Hundreds of thousands of people will say ‘But I rent’.

I’ve found that even though you rent, don’t have the land for a windmill or, in my case, easement trees block the solar receiving side of my house, there are solutions, information and answers.

I can still buy LED light bulbs to replace my incandescent and CFL lights. My home has 48 light bulbs, I counted after learning that the average household has between 50 and 100. I can still replace a bulb or two each month with LED bulbs. It may take time and money but in the end over a ten year period I stand to reduce my bills by $6,538.08, that’s nearly $55.00 per month using http://www.neutralexistence.com/shop/7w-earthled-zetalux-led-replacement-bulb/ these bulbs.

I can and will buy solar powered, motion detection flood lights for the outside of my home. I have three of them for security and illumination. I also have a pole light out front which will be replaced with solar as well.

I can and did buy a Worx Two in One trimmer/edger, it runs with a rechargeable battery. A later blog will be about buying and using the Worx.

I can and will buy small wind turbines like the ones found here on my site: http://ecoearthmall.com/aff.php?a=dw They are small and can be mounted any where. They are also made of recycled plastic, are portable and can be moved with you from home to home.

I can and do recycle metal, plastic, paper and glass. I use cloth shopping bags and when I forget, I always reuse the plastic bags I get from the store. So yes, you can help in more ways than one. Follow the steps I am and we’ll both save a lot of money in the long run.

You know, I think I’ll look into a solar water heater next.

Fort Dix is Going Green

President Barack Obama is keen on green. He would like to see more energy efficiency in all aspects of American life. Now, he can drive onto Fort Dix, New Jersey, and see the government in the action of going green.

Two buildings on post are now solar powered. At a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday morning the installation commander Col. Patrick J. Slowey and Maj. Gen. William Monk III, commanding general of the 99th Regional Support Command, revealed the panels. U.S. Rep. John Adler, D-3rd of Cherry Hill; Jean Fox, president of the state Board of Public Utilities; and representatives from Honeywell International who installed the panels were also present.

The panels will help Fort Dix meet the Energy Policy Act of 2005. It requires at least 7.5 percent of annual energy consumption at federal facilities come from a renewable source by 2013.

The solar panels are part of an ambitious $17.6 million project to decrease Fort Dix energy consumption by nearly 10 percent and water usage by more than 5 percent.

Converting the two buildings, the Army Reserve 99th Regional Support Command Headquarters and the post’s Strategic Deployment Site Building will have the same effect of removing 3,200 automobiles from the road or powering 75 homes, reducing greenhouse gasses by 33 million pounds per year.

The temperature-controlled equipment storage warehouse now has the addition of solar panels on the roof. The panels will power the buildings with excess power being redistributed to the grid.

For more information on solar power and energy efficiency visit http://www.ecoearthmall.com

Solar on the Go
Did you know that the sun provides over 35,000 times the total amount of energy that humans use every day? Solar energy is the most abundant, reliable, and cleanest form of renewable energy on the planet. With the rise energy costs, and increased environmental awareness, solar power is quickly becoming a feasible and affordable energy option for home use, but the best part about the sun is that it follows around even when you leave your home. That creates virtually unlimited potential for mobile solar applications such as RV Solar Kits and Solar Back Packs. Mobile solar gives you the freedom to go more places and do more things without having to sacrifice the use of your favorite comforts and conveniences. Plus, solar battery charging can play a very important role in any traveler’s precautionary emergency arsenal.
The Turn Back Your Meter Team &
www.ecoearthmall.com