The new residential Small Wind Turbine Federal Tax Credit for Energy Efficiency is a large credit with many advantages.

• The old tax credit was capped at $2,000.
• With the new one one you can claim 30% of cost, up to $500 per .5 kW of power capacity, for a new system.
• It expires 12/31/2016.
• This Federal tax credit works well when coupled with a state rebate program. Combine this with state rebates like those in California or New York and you have a sweeter deal.
• Moderate sized 10 kW wind power systems cost over $50,000.
• The rebate has a nameplate capacity limit of no more than 100 kilowatts.

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GeoThermal Heat Pumps are devices which transfer the heat from the Earth and utilize it to warm your house in a energy efficient manner.

A reminder that there is a Federal Tax Credit for Energy Efficiency on Qualifying GeoThermal Heat Pumps, with no cap. If you have been thinking about replacing these items, you might as well upgrade now and save some money.

For 2012, the Federal Tax Credit for energy efficiency for GeoThermal heat pumps is 30% of the cost (including installation/labor costs), with no upper limit . (2010 Federal Tax Credit information) Read the rest of this entry »

Reusable Shopping Bags & Types of Reusable Shopping Bags

Using disposable shopping bags means more trash for the nation’s already stuffed landfills. It takes valuable resources to produce these bags and if shoppers could stop using them, it would greatly help the Earth’s environment. As we have noticed in many parts of the World the use of reusable shopping bags is catching on.  Hopefully what this means in the future is that we may no longer have a need for single use paper and plastic disposable bags. One reason reusable bags are becoming more popular is because there are many types of them from which you can choose.  They are made from a variety of materials and come in many styles, colors and designs. Quite simply, using reusable bags is a simple and fashionable way to go green.

If you really want to be “super green”, choose an organic cotton reusable shopping bag. The cotton used for these bags is grown without the use of pesticides or other harmful chemicals or farming processes. The production of these bags has a low impact on the environment, as does the packing and transport of the bags. They come in a variety of sizes, styles and are a great material choice for a reusable bag.  The bags are strong and can hold more than plastic disposable bags, so you can use fewer bags. Every so often you will want to throw them in the washing machine and or hand-wash them, so they do not collect harmful bacteria and germs.  Basically though, they are easy to care for.

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Housing accounts for 20% of total US energy use with heating a cooling consuming a whopping 44% of residential energy use.

Home Energy Audits or Home Energy Assessments can help pinpoint energy problems in your home and offer you fixes that will save you energy and money. These professionals should provide you with analysis of your home, a list of items that need fixing, the cost to fix them, and the estimated cost savings.

We recently had a Home Energy Audit done, to comply with the Energy Upgrade California Rebate Program. Being environmentally conscious, we wanted to ensure everything in to save energy.

SDI Energy Audit November 2011

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The Federal Tax Credit for Energy Efficiency – Wood Stoves, Pellet Stoves, Fireplace Inserts expired in 2011. The President chose not too extend this tax credit. Local energy utility companies like PG&E have their own energy efficiency rebates. To find out if rebates or other incentives are available in your area, visit the ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder.

What other rebates are available?

Delta County, Colorado has a rebate. Other areas have change-out programs.

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The Federal Tax Credit for Energy Efficiency – Water Heaters expired in 2011. The President chose not too extend this tax credit. Local energy utility companies like PG&E have their own energy efficiency rebates. To find out if rebates or other incentives are available in your area, visit the ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder.

Be sure to check out our reduce water heater use, water saving tips and ways to save energy.

The 2011 Federal Tax Credit

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There is currently a scare over toxic ingredients in Bubble tea or Tapioca pearl tea that originated in Taiwan and is now available throughout Asia and in many American Asian communities. The problem originated in Taiwan because chemical firms sold clouding agents and jams using plasticizers that were used by some firms serving this drink. It was also found in other foods including dietary supplements, energy drinks, juices and jellies. Possibly carcinogenic and reproductive problem producing chemicals DEHP and DOP were present in these tainted items. The fraud for one company started way back in 1996.

Passion fruit juice, mango juice and lychee juice produced by Possmei were on the DEHP contamination related recall list. The company also supplies bubble tea ingredients, causing the scare.

The emulsifier is usually not added when making tapioca balls- a main ingredient of bubble milk tea — making contamination unlikely they stated.

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Now that most people have accepted CFL light bulbs instead of traditional incandescent bulbs, a new technology, LED Lighting, is threatening to add a new wrinkle.

LED Light Bulb Advantages

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Doing more with your router – Extending wireless range – Antenna Upgrade

If you are buying a new wireless router to get better wireless coverage or range, consider repositioning your current wireless router in a different spot and adding a 3rd party wireless antenna. We bought a 9dBi gain wirelss antenna than cost less than $10 and increased our wireless coverage.  Moving a Cable/DSL modem and/or Wireless router to a more centrally located room is cheaper and more green than buying a new wireless router. Mounting your wireless router high on the wall will maximize its range, although it may be a bit unsightly.

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New rebates have been added for 2012.

Utility Company Georgia Power has a bunch of programs and incentives to help save energy and money.

• Have Georgia Power haul away that old refrigerator energy hog for FREE and get $35.
• Up to $400 Rebate when you switch your gas furnace to an electric heat pump. Exp 3/31
• $525 rebate when replacing an existing gas water heater with an energy-efficient electric Marathon water heater. Exp 12/31
• Up to $700 in rebates for whole house improvements

Questions, call Georgia Power at 1-866-446-9250.

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