‘Cash for Clunkers’ Appliance rebates start shortly.  Energy Star website has links for each State’s program as each state is different.

In California, we have the $35 million California Appliance Rebate scheduled to start in April, 22 2010 covering:

• Refrigerators
• Clothes washers
• Room air conditioners

Three residential appliance categories were selected to be eligible to receive rebates: clothes washers (rebate $100), refrigerators (rebate $75), and room/window air conditioners (rebate $50). FAQ link. These rebates are in addition to existing rebates offered by California’s utilities or appliance manufacturers

The rebate funds are estimated to last six weeks, so start shopping now. Be sure to recycle your old appliances.

Consumer Reports has a new issue entitled Best TVs with a great review of indoor paints including an independent review and discussion of low and no VOC paints.

Low VOC paints contain no more than 50 grams per liter of VOCs.  At one time indoor paints contained almost 400 grams per liter of VOCs.

The top rated paints were low VOC with zero VOC ones rated lower.  Some of the zero VOC paints that did well in Satin and Flat finishes that we have encountered in the past are Olympic Premium from Lowe’s. This paint is very inexpensive and available nationwide.

BestDealMagazines has 1yr subscriptions to Consumer Reports sold at a steep discount. Normal newsstand price is $77. Use 15% off coupon code in our right side column to save even more.

Wall Street Journal had a good article quickly examining  various promising technology and realistically looking at when they could make an impact.

Nuclear, Carbon capture, Solar, Wind, Algae biofuels, Fusion and electric cars where examined.  It is pretty clear that nothing major is going to hit in the near term.  We really need to conserve energy, put solar panels on our roofs, drive more efficient cars, and push hard on clean technology.

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has recently added the voluntary Critical Peak Pricing (CPP) program that gives lower energy rates on non-CPP event days (non peak days) in exchange for higher rates on CPP event days. (high use Summer days)

You agree to pay higher peak rates of 60 cents a kilowatt-hour on no more than 15 days a year in exchange for a 3 cent discount on all other energy use times.

This is designed for businesses using more than 200 kW per month who can pull back energy use during peak days. The program has resulted in lower bills for some big customers like datacenters.

Credit: PowerGen

The RollerGen Power System attaches to bicycles (Either stationary or standard) and turns Pedal Power into Electric Power for Electronics Devices.  It powers cell phones, MP3 players, GPS units, anything powered by USB, the standard for modern electronic devices. Power is stored in a pocket sized miniature battery that has the dual USB output plugs.

It charges up 30 watts in a short 4-5 miles of riding. The unit fits bikes like a standard rear rack and has a spinning flywheel that contacts your tires. The only downside is that it costs $495.  Hit $99 and they will sell a ton of units.