It's Easy Being Green

Can you believe we’re already sliding into mid-July?  As we hit the hottest part of the year for many locations, the amount of electricity you’re using to cool your home is going to surge through the roof.  With energy costs on the rise right along with gas, it’s going to cost you more this year than it probably has in the past.  But you can put a stop to the waste of energy and the cash flowing right out of your pockets. For every degree you raise your thermostat in the summer,... (more...)

From EERE Network News: Today, solar power generates a minuscule amount of the nation’s energy supply. But that’s changing rapidly, and a new study projects that solar energy will become cost-competitive with conventional energy by 2015.  Solar energy currently provides less than 0.1 percent of the electricity generated in the United States, but a new report finds that solar power’s contribution could grow to 10 percent of the nation’s power needs by 2025. The report,... (more...)

With gas prices still on the rise and holding at record levels, there seems to be a lot of discussion revolving around shortening the work week to only four days.  Some schools in Arizona are considering the move because not running busses one day out of the week would save a tremendous amount on fuel costs.  It would also help out family budgets since they would be driving to school one less day every week.  But can parents handle the extra day of the kids being home to save some money on gas? ... (more...)

The University of Arizona has unveiled their new, completely solar powered car for an upcoming competition.  Apparently it is completely street-legal.  Check out the link below: UofA Solar Powered Car If you liked that post, then try these...Easy Green Tips #4 by Nate on April 21st, 200813.Alice Waters: the mother of slow food by Nate on March 16th, 2009If you're not an avid .AZ Renewable Energy Project Goes Online by Nate on June 19th, 2008Last week, Arizona's newest renewable energy project went... (more...)

Last week, Arizona’s newest renewable energy project went online and started generating enough electricity to supply about 9,000 homes.  Renegy’s Biomass Power Plant is located near Snowflake, AZ.  The plant takes forest waste generated from thinning projects, chips it up, dries it and then burns it in a boiler more than 10 stories tall.  Renegy claims that the process is 98% cleaner burning then if forest crews just burned the slash piles like they normally do.  Plus, we’re... (more...)

Summer is just around the corner and that means things are beginning to heat up.  But, before you flip the switch for that air conditioning and start sucking down electricity like a cool lemonade on a 90+ degree day, take some simple steps to save money and energy.  Making sure your a/c unit has a clean filter will not only cut down on indoor air pollution and allergens in your home but also save you some cash.  Clean filters not only ensure that your a/c is working most efficiently but will also... (more...)

It looks like, at least temporarily, gas guzzling trucks and SUV’s produced by General Motors will be singing their swan song.  Today, GM has announced they will shutter 4 GM plants that produce trucks and SUV’s as sales sag even more as the price of oil continues to climb.  CEO Rick Wagoner also indicated that GM may stop producing the ultimate gas guzzling vehicle all-together: the Hummer.  That would be music to my ears!  Every time I see a Hummer driving down the road all I can... (more...)