Welcome to cut your electric bills, a new blog where we’ll share tips, tricks, articles and videos on how you can reduce your power bills.

Our main focus will be on how you can tap free, renewable, green energy right at home to drop your electric bills. Yes, it really is possible to make your own electricity at home!

Stay tuned and thanks for joining us!

Technorati Tags: cut your electric bill, e, solar power home, wind power hom

just curious, I am alone 3/2 1500 sq home pay about $80-$90/ mo. I cut off electric water heater except about 3 min before I use bath. I think mine is still high. I hardly use any wasted electricity. TV, Computer, Oven, phone / camera battery charger, clocks, thats about it..

$ 10 per month…. India…

Solar homes. Many people talk about them, although few in the U.S. do more than talk. They are said to reduce utility bills. Some say a solar home cuts utility bills drastically. Some are able to sell excess power back to the power grid. Savings are not automatic, however. Steps must be taken to make the solar home efficient; to conserve the electricity that is produced.

Ways to conserve solar photovoltaic power in the home must be found. The home owner must actively seek out ways to make those photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof as efficient as possible. Photovoltaic power is free, but it cannot be generated in unlimited quantities. It is important to take measures to use it to best advantage.

Of all the ways to conserve solar photovoltaic power in the home, the most important is probably replacement of power-gobbling electric appliances. Home lighting can also be changed to conserve solar photovoltaic power (PV power). Finally, power usage can be reduced by making every person in the solar home conscious of conservation methods.

12 Ways to Conserve Solar Photovoltaic Power in the Home

1. Shop for energy-efficient appliances and home electronics for your solar home. Most products in this category carry EnergyGuide labels. These labels give an estimate of the products’ energy consumption or energy efficiency, and show the ratings of similar appliance models. In the U.S., appliances and home electronics that meet strict Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) energy efficiency criteria carry Energy Star labels.

2. Replace an electric water heater in a solar home with an energy-efficient propane or natural gas heater. Connect the new water heater to a solar water heater system. The sun will preheat the water, and the new unit will have less work. Wrap the water heater with thermal wrap to retain heat.

3. Replace the solar home’s electric furnace with an energy-efficient propane or natural gas unit. Install a solar panel air heater to reduce the work load of the new furnace. If you are building a new solar home, consider passive ways to heat the floors and air, further reducing the workload.

4. If the solar home is in a hot, dry climate, use an evaporative cooling unit in place of an electric air conditioner.

5. Check weather stripping around all windows and doors. Seal cracks and openings. Stopping air leakage in and out can improve indoor climate control in every season.

6. Insulate the solar home well. Insulation will keep heat or cool air from escaping. It will also keep outdoor cold or heat from entering readily.

7. Use heavy, insulted drapes and window shades/blinds in the solar home to keep out hot or cold air, making cooling and heating units work more efficiently.

8. A serious solar home owner can save even further by using a solar oven for cooking whenever possible. Especially good in hot climates or summer months, a solar oven will cook food with solar energy, and avoid heating the home. Money is thus saved in two ways.

9. Control of computer usage is another of the many ways to conserve solar photovoltaic power in the home. Monitors should be turned off whenever the computer will not be in use for 20 minutes or more. The CPU and monitor both should be turned off when the unit will not be used for 2 hours or more. Power down or sleep modes should be set.

10. Replace light bulbs with Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs. If every U.S. home replaced just one light bulb with one of these bulbs, we would save more than $600 million in annual energy costs. To the solar home owner, such savings are vital.

11. Maximize your use of daylight, turning on lights only when necessary. Use windows to advantage, and install skylights where possible.

12. Landscape your property to block the heat of summer sunlight, permit winter sunlight. Deciduous trees near the solar home will shade windows in the summer, and let warming sunlight through in winter months.

Ways to conserve solar photovoltaic power in the home are not limited to these twelve, but if these alone are used, the increase in efficiency will be tremendous.

Anna Hart
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/solar-home-conserving-pv-power-172506.html

Installing a home solar power system in your residence is good for the environment. A typical 10 KW system over the 25 year lifetime eliminates more than 400 pounds of nitrogen oxide which produces smog, eliminates more than 1000 pounds of sulfur dioxide which creates acid rain and eliminates more than 200 tons of carbon dioxide which contributes to global warming. Above all government is giving tax incentives to install home solar power to consumers to reduce carbon footprint.

Requirement

Home solar power systems can be installed on almost all homes except for a very small home which have less than 120 square feet of roof. The largest of the system requires about 1000 square feet of roof. The system requires direct sunlight and it works almost everywhere. If there is not enough space on roof or if there is a problem of direct sunlight then it can even be installed on ground or some other elevated space. In most cities you require building permit to install home solar power system to your building. Your dealer and installer know how to obtain the necessary permits. You will also require permission from the utility company since this system works with your current utility.

Working of the System

Home solar power system is installed on the roof where the solar energy is transformed into direct current (DC) power. Then this DC power is converted into alternating current (AC) power for residential use. This generated AC power is then used around the house to run all the appliances like refrigerator, television, electric lamps, computers etc.
At night this home solar power system will not work. During night time you sill need to draw power from local utility. Most of the home solar power systems are interconnected with you utility. Your utility would provide power as usual at night and during day when your electricity demand exceeds that produced by your home solar power system. In case of cloudy days the home solar power system generates less power. Part of the power produced by your home solar power system during the day time is used to charge the batteries which provide power for your critical loads in the event of a power outage, day or night.

Home Heating

There is a misconception that home solar power can heat a home, which is not true. The system is used to convert the solar energy into electrical energy and this energy is then used to run your appliances, lights and other electrical devices. If you have electric heater in your home then you can use this system to heat the home which is rare. There are other technologies which convert solar energy into heat but this home solar power system is not used for home heating.
Home solar power systems don’t have any moving parts and solar modules are also tough. Components may last many years without problem.

Other Advantages

In addition to the direct savings through utility cost, homeowners have one more advantage and that is the property resale value. For every dollar saved annually in utilities the value of the house is increased anywhere from 10 to 20 dollars.

Junaid Mohammad

As we look to make better use of our energy usage in the home, whether is is because of rising energy costs, the threat of government regulated rationing of energy usage or because our environmental conscious is prodding us to do something to help the environmental crisis we find ourselves in, solar power for home owners has become a serious contender to meet our alternative energy needs.

On the Internet these days you can find a number of good diy solar power for home owners guides. These guides contain easy to follow instructions (both written and on video) that show you how to build your own solar power system at home and how you can get the benefits of “going solar”.

The benefits of diy solar energy include:

• Its free, apart from the initial purchase of materials (around $200), solar power is free energy and panels require very little if any maintenance (aside from a good clean from time to time)
• Its renewable, whilst the sun shines brightly above us we are not going to run out any time soon.
• Its clean, solar energy is a very clean power source, with no emissions or pollutants given off in its production.
• Its easy, to make your own solar power system at home, using materials gathered from your local hardware store.
• Its fun, assembling your own solar solar power for home owners kit is a fun and educational project you can get the whole family in on.
• Freedom, no longer will you have to watch your energy consumption, leave the lights on! it doesn’t matter as solar energy is clean, renewable and  free.

Investing in a solar power for home owners guide is the perfect way to get expert instruction in a simple to follow format to have your homemade solar power project up and running in  not time. The guides retail for around the $40 mark and represent excellent value for money when you take into account the massive saving you will make be including solar energy in your homes power usage.

Be one of the first to cash in and jump on this ever increasingly popular trend of solar power for home owners and do your bit for the environment as well as save some cash. Click the following link to find out more about Solar Power For Home Owners

Like most things released in this format there are some products to avoid, [Click Here] for a review on the best DIY solar power for home owners guides available on the web

Jon Elsdon
http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/solar-power-for-home-owners-741107.html

When deciding whether to buy a home, often the first thing that needs to be considered is how much can you afford. Determining how much money you have and how much you can borrow is often a deceptively difficult question to answer.

The internet and your local community are littered with banks and financial institutions that are set up to lend buyers money. How much you’re able to borrow for a home loan will depend on factors like your income and your credit report score.

If you find that your credit report score is too low for the loan you wish to obtain, you may be able to use a credit repair service. But, beware because there are a lot of predatory companies involved in credit report repair.

A good resource for Florida home loans for Florida credit repair is: The Federal Trade Commission.

Some banks and lending companies can pre-qualify a buyer so that when they find the property that is right for them, they can produce their prequalification letter/certificate to the real estate agent and this lends credibility to the buyer’s offer – making it more likely to be accepted by the seller than an unqualified bidder.

If you contact your financial institution they may be able to help you with the pre qualification process.

There are often significant costs associated with a home purchase that less experienced buyers can overlook:

A fee to have the property surveyed.

The property must be assessed and this charge often falls on the buyer.

Local property search to ensure that the title is free of liens.

Mortgage broker will charge an administrative fee for handling the transaction’s paperwork.

Lead and asbestos surveys.

Expenses associated with lead and asbestos abatement.

The cost of installing gas, electric, phone and cable can often be a fairly significant and overlooked fee.

The realtor’s fees are also something we shouldn’t forget. These are often negotiable, so it can help to persistently ask the realtor to take a lower cut to help facilitate the transaction.

If the property fails to close and it is your fault, these fees are often non refundable. Your realtor may also ask for a “good faith” commitment of several thousand dollars to prove that you are serious about the property.

This fee may also not be refundable.
Another factor in addition to the mortgage that should be considered is the monthly costs of maintaining and keeping the property up. These costs may include:

Monthly heat and gas bills

Property tax- this is usually included in the cost of the loan payment as part of the escrow.

Monthly water bill

Insurance costs- if you have a loan, this is usually included in the cost of the loan payment as part of the escrow.

anonymous
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/do-i-have-enough-money-for-the-home-i-want-72082.html

With new High Definition technology and Blu-ray about to replace DVD’s, it’s about time you get rid of that old tube TV you got back in 1990, and upgrade to an HDTV. When going from a big bulky tube TV to a nice slim flat screen HDTV, there are a couple things you need to know to make sure you pick out the best one. Picking out the wrong HDTV can not only be bad for you home, but your wallet too. Here are some “need to know tips” when buying your first HDTV.

LCD, Plasma or DLP?
That is right! There are 3 different types of HDTV on the market right now. Which one you choose is completely up to you, but picking the wrong one can make you want to run right back to that big box you used to call a TV. So lets go over the pros and cons of each type.

DLP (Digital Light Processing)
If you are looking for the biggest TV possibly then DLP is what you’re looking for. DLP’s are usually over 50 inches and run all the way up to 73 inches. They don’t hurt your pockets either, a 61-inch LED backlit only runs about $1900. It is an unwritten rule that if your looking for a set over 50 inches you go with DLP. They have great blacks, so bad contrast is not a problem. If you pick up an LED-backlit model, they are better on color accuracy and have a longer life span then a light-bulb-based DLP.

Now don’t get me wrong, these TVs are not perfect. The biggest thing to think about when buying a DLP is placement. With DLP the viewing angle must be spot on. If you are sitting directly in front of the TV, the picture can’t be beat. If you are sitting in your favorite recliner off to the side or your kids are sitting on the floor you won’t be able to see anything. So if you buy a DLP you need to think about where it is going to be placed.

Furthermore DLP TVs can be lighter then a plasmas or LCDs, they are bulkier and will not work with wall mounts. So mounting a DLP on your wall is out of the question.

Plasma
The major reason to think Plasma is that it beats any overpriced LCD in blacks, blur-free motion, and contrast. Plasma can also be found in any size you can find an LCD, usually between 32-50 inches. Plasma HDTV’s have quickly become the most popular type of HDTV. Old issues of burn-in and short life span are no longer a problem. Newer plasmas have a life span of about 60,000 hours and have new technology to prevent burn in.

A bad thing about Plasma is that they use a crazy amount of energy. They use about twice the amount of power that an LCD would. They are also a tad bit heavier and a little more expensive then a LCD. When buying a Plasma TV you really have to think about how much your willing to spend for a TV and keep in mind your electric bill.

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
If you are looking for a HDTV that is 42 inches or smaller, then LCD is your default choice. They are a lot lighter and thinner then any other HDTV made today. They are also much cheaper and use less power, but remember you get what you pay for. If you have a very brightly lit living room, then LCD is your best bet. They tend to be the brightest. An LED-backlit LCD can give you almost Plasma like picture but are way over priced.

LCD can’t deliver on blacks or contrast like a Plasma HDTV can. When you are looking for an LCD be sure to check for response time. 6ms is as low as you would want to go and unfortunately that is what most LCD response times are. You want and try to look for a 4ms; it will be a little pricier but would help with motion blur.

720p vs. 1080p
Here’s the thing when it comes to 720p or 1080p. Picking between the two all depends on how big the HDTV is, and how far away you plan on sitting. If you are going to buy an HDTV 40 inches or under, you most likely can’t tell the difference. Anything bigger then 40 inches you have to be thinking of how far away you will be viewing your TV. If you picked up a 42” 1080p you should be sitting six feet away for the HDTV, seven feet for a 50” 1080p set. If you plan on having the HDTV further away then that I would think about picking up a 720p HDTV at a cheaper price.

Extras
Now that you have you an HDTV picked out; there are a couple more things to take into consideration. HDMI cables are a must! An HDMI cable brings that high definition signal to your TV and can greatly cut down the amount of wires you have tucked away behind your TV.

If you buy your HDTV at a Best Buy or Wal-Mart they are going to offer you a warranty. Don’t bother! Plasmas and LCDs have a low risk of breaking. Most of the time, things that do go wrong can be fixed under the manufacture’s warranty.

Stand or wall mount?
If you want to take the easy, but more expensive route then grab a nice stand. If you go for the wall mount you’ll need to be careful. Weight plays a big part in this. With mounting to a wall, you have to bolt into wall studs. If these studs don’t hold it could result in a television tragedy. If the studs do hold then the only concern is finding a place to hide all the wires hanging from the TV. I recommend the stand; it’s safer and easer.

Often overlooked is transportation. If you pick up your new HDTV form a department store, remember that the box your TV comes in is much larger then the TV itself. So seek a friend or relative with a truck or van if necessary.

Frank Bilotta
http://www.articlesbase.com/electronics-articles/things-to-know-about-the-hdtv-youre-about-to-buy-1321050.html

The hot topic nowadays around the globe is “scarcity of power”. As a country moves towards the peak of development, so also does its demand of power. Reports show that there are many homes using electricity more than that used by a small industry! It is because, in the modern, digital lifestyle, each and every appliance like television, computers etc demands huge amount of electricity. However we live in a modern world and hence the usage of these power hungry appliances are inevitable.

The fact is that every positive improvement in the society will have a negative impact on natural resources. But in case of power, there are many alternate sources available in nature. Solar energy is a very good substitute for conventional power generation. The reason being, solar energy is clean, has no pollution effects and doesn’t use any fossil fuels. The most interesting aspect being solar energy can be generated in home.

How about having your own power station on your roof? It is quite simple and beneficial by using solar power. To start with, solar water heaters can be used in homes instead of old conventional methods, thereby reducing your utility bills and also conserving natural resources like fossil fuels. The solar panels called the photovoltaic cells which can be conveniently placed on the roofs of homes converts sunlight directly into electricity. This electricity obtained by the conversion of sunlight meets all the home’s electricity needs. “Hence it acts as your own power station. “Cool power from hot sun”.

A lot of people have tried the usage of solar power at home and found it beneficial and safe. The hot fact is that more than 10,000 homes in United States completely use solar energy to power up their homes. The ill fact is that enough sunlight falls on the Earth’s surface every hour to meet the globe’s energy demand for an entire year, but the same is not utilized and is wasted.

Still not convinced about the positive effects of solar power in home? By replacing conventional electric water heaters with solar water heaters, one can cut water bills up to 50 percent. And the important fact is, the price of photovoltaic cells, according to the department of energy has fallen by 200 percent in last 30 years. Don’t worry if your solar power unit generates more power than need for you. There are many utility power grids ready to buy the clean power for a higher price.

The bottom-line is, by installing a solar power generating unit in home, the home owner will never have to pay an electricity bill; instead he can become the supplier of clean electricity to the country and “save the Earth from energy crisis”

Joe Cline – Austin Real Estate Broker
http://www.articlesbase.com/remodeling-articles/solar-power-power-from-the-roof-421556.html

Check cards and credit cards are great. They allow you to spend your money more easily, and also give you more freedom to buy what you want and need, without worrying about how much money you have when a credit line is involved. However, there is something to be said for the prepaid debit card. It’s a great money management tool, whether you have another debit or credit card or not. The glory of the cards is that you can load them with only the money that you want to spend on a particular expense, and then you won’t risk over spending. You can also use them to pay bills online, so that your personal bank account information isn’t put at risk.

Most websites are very secure these days, but identity theft is still a problem. With so many companies accepting online payments for utilities and other bills, having a card with less risk of loss on your end. Think about it like this. If you pay your electric bill online for $125, and someone hacks into the site or your computer and steals your information, you could risk losing everything in your checking account or having your credit card maxed out. This is a rare occurrence, but wouldn’t it make you feel better to put that money on a prepaid debit card and spend it as you need to? Then, when the money is gone, if someone steals your information and tries to use the card, you can simply cut it up and get a new one, with no loss to your financial situation.

Many people think that prepaid debit cards are reserved for those who can’t get other cards or for kids who are being taught financial responsibility. The truth of the matter is that there are so many uses for prepaid debit cards that it doesn’t matter who you are or why you use them, because there is something for everyone. When they first appeared, prepaid cards had high fees for loading money onto them and maintaining certain balances. However, there are now many cards to choose from that are completely free, including ATM withdrawals and adding funds.

If you’re looking to restore your credit, prepaid debit card companies have made this an option, as well. There are many cards that have credit building programs built into the card, so that when you use it properly and manage it well, it helps your credit rating over time. It won’t work as fast as a credit card would, but it’s better than nothing when you’re limited as to your options. Overall, prepaid debit card services are great for anyone who wants more control over their money or need a way to spend wisely without carrying around excessive cash.

Thomas Hartwell
http://www.articlesbase.com/personal-finance-articles/why-everyone-needs-a-prepaid-debit-card-729569.html

If your account balance has cut short and financial problems are ascending day in day out then apply for No Fax No Credit Check Quick Approval Payday Loans and obtain hard cash without any barricade. privilege of No Fax No Credit Check Quick Approval Payday Loans that are: the borrowers don’t need to hoard the documents to fax and don’t need place collateral in the process of availing loan, because No Fax No Credit Check Quick Approval Payday Loans are unsecured loans that carry a bit higher rate of interest than other loans. No Fax No Credit Check Quick Approval Payday Loans are the best relief for those people who are suffering with bad credit history, they can also get cash without showing their credit rating to any one lender of No Fax No Credit Check Quick Approval Payday Loans. No Fax No Credit Check Quick Approval Payday Loans offer amount on the borrower’s monthly income and repayment capacity, if the borrower is full time employee in any service and get amount up to $1000 or more, besides this, lenders of No Fax No Credit Check Quick Approval Payday Loans can ask the borrower to fulfill few requirements such as the borrower should be more than 18years, he should be a USA citizen and should have an active checking account. If the borrowers are succeeded to qualify these formalities, he can get amount in ranging from $100 to $1500 within few hours on the sameday. The rate of interest is a bit higher than other sorts of loans because No Fax No Credit Check Quick Approval Payday Loans are small short term loans for the repayment period of 2-4weeks. If you are in need of urgent cash to hamper out such problems like pay the medical bill, electric bill, pay off the previous debt, dream vacation, small home put right, car fix up, coming festival expenses etc then apply online for No Fax No Credit Check Quick Approval Payday Loans and search well over internet for picking out a right lender who provides you a single online form to fill few details as contact number, account number, name, business etc and stubs formalities are completed by the lender, after verification the lender transfers amount into the account of borrowers within few hours or the next business day. The prime task of the lenders is to satisfaction to borrowers, that’s why a lot of lenders are attached with No Fax No Credit Check Quick Approval Payday Loans to deal out cash.

Jonesh Taylor
http://www.articlesbase.com/loans-articles/no-fax-no-credit-check-quick-approval-payday-loans-getting-up-to-1500-without-bestowing-collateral-528447.html