The average household will spend over $1100 staying warm during the winter.  This cost just keeps going straight up.  You can lower your heating costs by 2-5% for every 1 degree lower you set your thermostat. Easily save $200 a year.

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

We realized that we were not setting our programmable thermostat optimally, when we saw some tips that result in lower energy use. We would set the thermostat to heat to my desired temperature of 65 degrees from 6pm to 7am. Many people will prefer 68 degrees, but we like wearing sweaters at home. (Or are so cheap we have to)

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Fall coming and a chill is in the air.  It is time to get prepared for colder and wetter weather. Not only can we make our  home more comfortable, we can save on our energy bill.

1. Conduct an energy assessment or energy audit
2. Get your heater or furnace serviced or upgraded. Replace air filters on heaters and air conditioners.
3. Setup your programmable thermostat
4. Check Your smoke detectors and change their batteries. Install carbon monoxide detectors if you don’t have any. They are now required in certain states.
5. Seal air leaks, add insulation, fix leaky air ducts. Also insulate any exposed outdoor plumbing
6. Clean your gutters and drain pipe
7. Tune your sprinkler system or install a Smart controller
8. Take advantage of the Federal Tax Credit for Energy Efficiency for wind, geothermal, solar, and more.
9. Cut back any tree branches or foliage that is in danger of falling
10. Check and fix your deck for leaks, cracks, and nails in need of repair
11. If you live in the North and have a lawn, it may be time to fertilize your lawn

Going green makes the cold season more bearable and easier on the wallet.

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Solar Panels do not need much maintenance and are pretty reliable. As with anything exposed to the elements, they do eventually breakdown. We will detail our experience with long term solar panel ownership.

Typical Solar Panel Warranty

A reputable solar panel’s performance warranty will typically guarantee 90% power production at 10 years and 80% at 25 years. A solar panel warranty will typically guarantee 10-12 years without failing.

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Last Update: 4/27/2022

Tesla Factory

We recently purchased a Tesla Model S. Much has been written about this excellent electric car—instead of providing a more technical review, we will provide insight gleaned from day to day use of this car in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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Are high gas prices getting to you? Do something about it!

It costs a lot to live in the San Francisco Bay Area. A recent study released in  2012 showed that the average household in San Francisco spends 39.5% of their income on housing and transportation. Those that lived in the suburbs spent even more, probably because they had to drive longer distances. People that lived in Marin County spent 56.3% on housing and transportation, while those lived in San Mateo County spent 53.3%. Finding ways to reduce our transportation costs is very important.

How to Save Money on Your Car

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Last Update: 8/2/2022

Before Considering Recycling

Lets get real, recycling is the last resort for getting rid of waste.  The vast majority of items do not get recycled. Plastics break down into microplastics that pollute our environment and animals. We’ve grown to understand that REDUCE is far more important.

We should instead: Read the rest of this entry »

Introduction

Anyone interested in taking the plunge with an electric car or Plug-in Electric Vehicles (EV’s) needs to investigate their charging options. Adding a charger to your garage can become a several hundred dollar project or several thousand dollar home improvement project. Each vehicle needs a different type of charger system and each house has a different electrical system.

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New TXU Energy rebates have been added.

Utility Company TXU Energy has a bunch of programs and incentives to help save energy, go green, and save money. They serve the Texas area and are the Number 1 Electricity Provider in the State.

• Save $50 on select smart Thermostats
• Sign up for renewable energy in Texas

Questions, call TXU Energy at 1-800-883-6060.

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New rebates have been added.

Utility Company Florida Power and Light has a bunch of cash rebates and ways to go green.

• Energy efficient air conditioners
  – new A/C system that has a minimum SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) of 14
• Save up to $137 a year with the On Call® Savings Program
• Save up to $190 on a new insulation
• Smart Home Thermostat Discount up to $60
• Photovoltaic solar panels.
• Buildsmart

Questions, call 1-800-226-3545.

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New rebates have been added for 2021.

San Diego’s power utility San Diego Gas and Electric rebates are here.  SDGE or SDG&E has a bunch of money saving SDGE rebates and ways to go green and save money.

• $500 instant rebate Electric Heat Pump Water Heaters
• $100 instant rebate Gas Water heaters
• $200 instant rebate variable speed pool pump
• These are Instant rebates at specific stores.

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