Green Home House Plans

Evergreen Solar Spruce Line

The Skystream 3.7

How can you prepare for a rainy day? The answer is blowing in the wind.
Small wind electric systems can deliver serious energy. This is just one lesson people are learning all around the world. From remote homes and cabins to rural communications towers and monitoring stations, people are using small wind system to generate inexpensive energy, right where it

How can you prepare for a rainy day? The answer is blowing in the wind.
Small wind electric systems can deliver serious energy. This is just one lesson people are learning all around the world. From remote homes and cabins to rural communications towers and monitoring stations, people are using small wind system to generate inexpensive energy, right where it

GoGreenSolar.com 1.9kW grid-tie PV power systems are designed for use on residential and small commercial buildings. They consist of high quality Evergreen (PV) modules, a Fronius inverter, array wiring, DC and AC disconnects, UniRac mounting structures to secure modules on the roof, electrical drawings, data sheets, warranties and instructions. Solar Electric Photovoltaic starter system can be combined to form larger systems to meet your requirements, in the future. The GoGreenSolar.com starter system can reduce part of your bill, or eliminate higher cost electricity in locations that have progressively increasing rates as consumption increases. The starter kit system gives you all the benefits of utility interconnection and net metering for a low upfront investment. This kit qualifies for rebates and tax credits depending on the state you live in.
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(ARA) - It seems everything is going “green” these days. The good news is that it’s also easier than ever before for your family to reduce its eco-footprint to help the environment both inside and outside of your home.

Let “earth friendly” be your family’s new mantra by adopting a few simple, yet effective tips from Hannah Keeley, founder of TotalMom.com.

Watch Your Waste
The supermarket checkout line is one place where the battle for the environment is often lost. Next time you’re at the grocery store, keep a close eye on the amount of wasteful packaging that’s going into your shopping cart and try to choose eco-friendlier options. For example, instead of individually-packaged single servings, look for larger quantities that can be divided into smaller, reusable containers once you get home. Make your own lunch instead of purchasing packaged meals. Bring a reusable bag to carry your purchases. A good rule of thumb: the less packaging, the better.

Save Your Energy
Conventional energy use goes hand-in-hand with carbon emissions, so do the earth and your wallet a favor by cutting the amount of energy consumed at your home. Simply turning the thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer can save energy. You can cut cooling costs up to six percent for every degree you raise your thermostat in the summer. Another option is installing a programmable thermostat like the American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning Comfort Control that will automatically adjust temperatures throughout the day, ensuring greater energy efficiency in your home, even when you’re not there.

Go Easy on the Gas
Consider setting up a carpool for school or work to save on gas. Consolidate your errands to one day during the week and map out a route that is as fuel efficient as possible. If you feel like you are constantly on the road, you may want to think about dropping a few activities and cultivating the fine art of hanging out at home. Be sure to check out public transportation — a more fuel efficient and inexpensive ride may be right around the corner.

Clean Smart
Chemicals are used all over your home — they make the sink shine, the air smell fresh and the floor practically glow. The majority of these chemicals are not only dangerous to your health but also harmful to the environment. Reduce the amount of chemicals entering in to the water supply by making your own cleaners: simple baking soda is a great scouring powder; vinegar works wonders on glass and mirrors; and plain old Castile soap cleans practically everything.

Don’t Overlook the Little Things
No matter how small you may think it is, any action to help the earth is a big step on the road to being greener. Replace incandescent bulbs with fluorescent blubs. Cut your showers by a few minutes. Wash your clothes in cold water. Cut down on trash by composting your vegetable scraps.

Most importantly, make it a family affair. Teach your children how to care for the earth while they are still young. There are many simple things you can do to go green (not to mention save money), so make it a family adventure and start today.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Hannah Keeley is a lifestyle expert, author and founder of TotalMom.com. Her work has been published in numerous publications and she has been featured on national television programming as the go-to source for moms.

By Travis Guilbeau

As the cost of energy continues to rise, more and more people are looking for ways to reduce their power bill and be conscious of the environment at the same time. While turning off the lights, using Energy Star appliances, and wearing an extra sweater instead of turning up the heat are all great ways to save energy, installing windows that are energy efficient is another great way to reduce your power bill and help out the environment.

But which windows are energy efficient, cost effective, and come in enough different styles that will fit the decor of your home? Here’s a quick overview of some windows that will help cut down on the cost of heating and cooling your home, will look great installed in your home, and won’t cost a bundle to have installed.

Maxuus 10 Glass System

When it comes to top of the line windows, the Maxuus 10 Glass System really does take the cake. This triple pane assembly filled with krypton gas does an amazing job of looking great in your home while keeping your home running at energy efficient levels. The combination of the triple pane construction and krypton gas has resulted in a window that is nearly 10 times more energy efficient than a traditional single pane window.

The key to this replacement window is the low emittance glass that keeps your house warm in the winter by trapping radiant heat, and keeps you cool in the spring and summer by blocking that same radiant heat from entering your home. When combined with an Advanced Easy-Clean system that cuts cleaning time in half, there’s a reason that the Maxuus 10 Glass System is a leading replacement window for those looking for a green solution to their energy bill.

PlyGem Lifestyles Windows

Designed with heavy duty weather stripping to prevent air infiltration and high density insulation filled frames to prevent thermal transfer, the PlyGem Lifestyles replacement window is a great option when it’s time to replace your windows and lower your energy bill all at the same time. Built to reduce condensation, enhance sound control, and provide ultraviolet protection, the PlyGem vinyl replacement windows also come with a lifetime warranty against seal failure and glass breakage that can be transferred to future owners of your home – a great way to decrease your energy bill and increase your home’s value.

With windows that will work with all the rooms in your house, including a four season sun room, the PlyGem Lifestyles Windows are a great choice to lower your energy bill while upgrading the look and feel of your home. What’s not to like about replacement windows that come in a variety of colors, decorative grids, and sizes?

Cut the Cost, Not the Look

When it really comes down to it, getting replacement windows for your home is all about finding the delicate balance between the cost of the windows, the look of the windows, and the amount of money the new windows will save you on your energy bill. There are plenty of windows out there that can save you money on your energy bill, but they either aren’t the best looking windows, or they cost so much to buy and have installed that you don’t end up saving any money even in the long run.

The Maxuus 10 Glass System and the PlyGem Lifestyle Windows offer that delicate balance of energy efficiency, affordability, and a great appearance that will enhance the look and feel of your home. The only thing to do is find a local company that carries them and have them installed so that you can start reaping the benefits of a lower energy bill.

By Josh Allen

Finally, your move is almost over and you have arrived at your new house. Your movers are on their way and now you need to get ready to unpack and get settled in.

Before The Movers Arrive

Prior to the arrival of your moving company, you may want to give your new house a nice cleaning as this will be one of the few times when furniture is not in the way.

Walk through your new home to see if there was anything left behind by previous occupants that you wish to discard of. Look in the closets, attic, basement and other hidden areas of your home. You may have a lot of boxes that you will want to store temporarily, so clear up these areas as storing space.

Be sure that materials you come across in your cleaning process are recycled or reused if possible. Prior to the arrival of your movers is a good time to get acquainted with your local transfer station or recycling center, as you will need their services.

Before your movers arrive, you should give your new house a thorough cleaning by dusting windowsills and ledges, mopping and vacuuming floors, and wiping counter tops. Make sure you use non-toxic and biodegradable products like Simple Green to clean with. You can also, of course, hire a cleaning service to come to your house and make it spotless before your moving company arrives.

After The Movers Arrive

When the movers have unloaded your household items off of the truck, it will be time to unpack and sort everything. If you did a good labeling job, relocate the boxes to the appropriate rooms and do the unpacking from each room. During the unpacking process, make a separate pile of all the recyclable materials, such as the moving boxes, or the packing paper used to protect your fragile items.

If your new home has enough storage space, try to keep the moving boxes in good condition by flattening them and keeping them for future use. Always remember that the more you can expand the life cycle of a product like this, the less resources will be used to create a box in its place.

GoGreenSolar.com 1.1kW grid-tie PV power systems are designed for use on residential and small commercial buildings. They consist of high quality Evergreen (PV) modules, a Kaco inverter, array wiring, DC and AC disconnects, UniRac mounting structures to secure modules on the roof, electrical drawings, data sheets, warranties and instructions. Solar Electric Photovoltaic starter system can be combined to form larger systems to meet your requirements, in the future. The GoGreenSolar.com starter system can reduce part of your bill, or eliminate higher cost electricity in locations that have progressively increasing rates as consumption increases. The starter kit system gives you all the benefits of utility interconnection and net metering for a low upfront investment. This kit qualifies for rebates and tax credits depending on the state you live in.
More Info

High-efficiency photovoltaic module using silicon nitride multicrystalline silicon cells. Ideal for remote telemetry, instrumentation systems, security sensors and land-based aids to navigation. More Info