found Sunday, February 12, 2012 at nptelegraph.com

Gov. Dave Heineman is waging an important battle to make Nebraska more competitive when it comes to attracting businesses to our state. As part of that effort, he appeared last week before a legislative committee to defend elimination of the inheritance tax, which it is estimated would reduce state revenues by $40 million to $48 million per year.

Heineman’s proposal was met with strong opposition at the hearing from county board members, county health workers, sheriffs (including our own Jerome Kramer), and surveyors, from around the state.

Kramer, who recently moved into a new county jail and sheriffs office, told state legislators that he has “no more rabbits to pull out of a hat” to make his budget work, and reported a 125-percent jump in jail inmates in the last seven months.

Kramer said he never hears people complain about inheritance, but he hears complaints all the time about property taxes.

That may be the case, but the sheriff should also know that difficult decisions and creative answers are better solutions than magic tricks. These solutions have been forced on private enterprise for years.

Heineman’s tax cut package, which is Legislative Bill 970 in the current session, would also reduce individual and corporate state income taxes by $131 million, in addition to eliminating the inheritance tax. The governor said the cuts are necessary to improve the business climate in Nebraska. The state recently moved up from 45th best to 30th best in a Tax Foundation rating of business climates, and “That’s good progress,” Heineman said, “but Nebraska is still in the bottom half of all the states.”

Joining the county officials and sheriffs in opposing the inheritance tax elimination were AARP, the state teachers union, the Democratic Party, and advocates for children and the poor. The all-too familiar charge was made that the cuts would benefit the rich more than the middle class, although it was estimated that if passed, the income tax cut for someone making $75,000 would amount to 11 percent, while someone making $100,000 would receive a 7 percent cut.

It has become painfully obvious over the years that any effort to do something about Nebraska’s notoriously high taxes will be met in Lincoln with loud screaming and the audible gnashing of teeth from those who favor the status quo. Around the state, however, we suspect taxpayers are saying, “Finally, someone is doing something about this problem,” and cheering the governor on.

The time has come to tackle this problem, and we applaud the governor for his efforts.

Proven advice for the spectacular wedding you’ve always dreamed of without breaking the bank

Do you want your wedding to be memorable but don’t have a “money is no object” budget? Wedding specialist Sharon Naylor shows you how to trim down your costs without compromising your dream wedding. This proven bestseller includes creative secrets to saving on the wedding gown, cake, rings, catering, and more.

A true force for change, Gary Hirshberg has been at the forefront of movements working for environmental and social transformation for 30 years. From his early days as an educator and activist to his current position as President and CE-Yo of Stonyfield Farm, the world’s largest organic yogurt company, Hirshberg’s positive outlook has inspired thousands of people to recognize their ability to make the world a better place.

In Stirring it Up, Hirshberg calls on individuals to realize their power to effect change in the marketplace – “the power of one” – while proving that environmental commitment makes for a healthier planet and a healthier bottom line. Drawing from his 25 years’ experience growing Stonyfield Farm from a 7-cow start-up, as well as the examples of like-minded companies, such as Newman’s Own, Patagonia, Wal-Mart and Timberland, Hirshberg presents stunning evidence that business not only can save the planet, but is able to simultaneously deliver higher growth and superior profits as well.

Hirshberg illustrates his points with practical information and advice, as well as engaging anecdotes from what he calls `the bad old days’ of his yogurt company: how a power outage left him milking cows by hand, how a dumpster fire revealed the need for better packaging, and his camel manure taste test challenge to a local shock jock. He also describes hands-on grassroots marketing strategies — printing yogurt lids with provocative, politically charged messages, handing out thousands of free samples to subway commuters to thank them for using public transit, and devising the country’s first organic vending machine — explaining how these approaches make a much more powerful impact on consumers than traditional advertising.

An inspiring book for business owners and managers as well as anyone interested in saving the environment, Stirring It Up demonstrates how companies can work to save the planet, while achieving greater profits and satisfaction, and how we can all use the power of conscious consumption to encourage green corporate behavior.

Simultaneous pressures to reduce costs and increase student achievement have never been greater than they are today. Not only is cost-cutting essential in this era of tightened resources, argue Hess and Osberg, but eliminating inefficient spending is critical for freeing up resources to drive school reform. This provocative book brings together a dynamic group of authors scholars, consultants, journalists, and entrepreneurs who offer fresh insights into an issue no school or district can afford to ignore.

Stretching the School Dollar: How Schools and Districts Can Cut Bill and Save Money While Serving Students Best

Contents Include:

Saving Money During A Recession: Mission Impossible?
How Self-control And Saving Money Will Benefit You
A Frugal Lifestyle
Just A Few Changes
Is Being Frugal Worth It?
Comparing Prices Can Bring Sweet Bargains
Save Money On Your Purchases By Taking Advantage Of The Rebates Offered
Don’t Pass Up The Value Of Using Coupons
Savvy Online Shopping
Why Discount Coupon Codes Can Be Beneficial
Taking Advantage Of Online Coupon Codes
Rental Car Coupon Codes: Learn How To Save Money
Overstock Coupon Codes – Your Way To Great Savings
Catalog Coupon Codes: Making Online Shopping More Comfy
Low Or No-cost Gift Ideas
Save A Fortune On Food
Being Paid To Shop
Rapid Debt Reduction In 3 Simple Steps
One Simple Way Of Consolidating Credit Card Debt
Keep Them Handy: Budgeting Tools That Work
Ten Practical Tips That Save Money
Saving Money By Renting
Once A Month Cooking
Healthy Eating With Little Money
Organic Food Coupons: Why You Should Use Them And How To Find Them
Eating Healthy On A Budget
Vegetarian On A Budget
Discover How To Buy Coffee For Less
Save Money Using Old Home Remedies Medicine
How To Save Money On Your Crafting Supplies
9 Ways To Organize Your Events On A Shoestring Budget
Solar Power For Homes Not Just For Rich People
Home Energy Saving Devices
My Airfare Secrets Learn How To Fly Cheap
Simple Vehicle Maintenance Can Save You Money On Gas

Frugal Living – How to Save Money Every Month – Simple Budgeting Tips

Most people going through divorce are faced with an overwhelming number of financial decisions. Here’s a book packed with information on how to save money before, during and after a divorce. Reveals how to keep attorneys’ fees low, save money on alimony, divide assets fairly, save money on taxes, and more.

Smart Ways to Save Money During & After Divorce (Smart Ways to Save Money During, and After Divorce)

If you follow just the no-cost and low-cost tips in this book, you will save over $2,000 and prevent the emission of 25,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) every year!

A new edition of our classic book with updated information on hybrid cars and a bold new cover.

Gallup polls indicate that 70 percent of Americans are concerned about global warming. You Can Prevent Global Warming converts this public concern into positive action, providing simple, everyday things you can do to minimize global warming-and save money at the same time!

The book contains 51 topics, but there are actually hundreds of tips and suggestions within the book that will help you address this global problem. Whether you are one of the nearly three-quarters of Americans who consider themselves environmentalists or you’re interested in practical ways you can save money each year, these straightforward tips will make this one of the most important and useful books on your bookshelf.

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Sustainable Excellence: The Future of Business in a Fast-Changing World

“Dr. Cynthia Koelker gives us the inside scoop on how to save money at the doctor’s office and still get great care. Even if you have insurance, 101 Ways to Save Money on Health Care will still help you save your hard-earned cash.”
-Elizabeth Cohen, MPH, CNN senior medical correspondent, author of The Empowered Patient

For over twenty years, Ohio-based family physician Dr. Cynthia J. Koelker has made it her mission to help people lower their health care expenses. Now, in 101 Ways to Save Money on Health Care, Dr. Koelker shares her insider tips and information so that you too can save hundreds (even thousands!) without sacrificing your health.

101 Ways is loaded with simple, easy-to-understand tips on topics that everyone will find useful, including:

* How to save money on brand name drugs
* How to cut costs for chronic problems-from asthma to allergies
* How to ask for a hospital discount (it’s easier than you think!)
* Ways to save money on glasses and contacts
* What websites you can trust to give you the best health information

Whether you are uninsured, or just looking to save money, this invaluable guide will show you how to stay healthy and hold onto your hard-earned dollars.

101 Ways to Save Money on Health Care: Tips to Help You Spend Smart and Stay Healthy

Cataracts and age-related macular degeneration are the most common vision-threatening eye diseases. Both interfere with vision and may lead to blindness. Yet many natural supplements, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, play important roles in protecting eyes. This “User’s Guide to Eye Health Supplements” explains how these and other nutrients can reduce your risk of eye disease.

User’s Guide to Eye Health Supplements: Learn All About the Nutritional Supplements That Can Save Your Vision (Basic Health Publications User’s Guide)

This CD contains Bill W. speaking at the NCAA Spring Conference in 1951. He talks about his personal story of recovery from Alcohol and the early days of AA. This CD comes with a money back guarantee for sound quality. If you’re not 100% satisfied with the quality of the recording we’ll gladly refund your money or send you a new CD. This production comes from Sonic Serenity in partnership with the Don B library. Over the past 20 years, Don has collected one of the largest tape and CD libraries in the Western United States. The purpose of the library is to restore the original history of the AA program from the early 1930s through the 1970s. We buy CD and Tape collections and we’ll gladly take any donations. This CD has been digitally re-mastered to eliminate as much noise as possible. We feel it is of the highest quality, and we are sure you will agree. Whether you are in AA, NA, OAA, SAA, we believe you will really enjoy hearing one of the founding members of our society talk about his personal experience, strength, and hope. Our mission is to provide the public with easy access to the original teachings of the founders of the AA program. Our primary purpose is the preservation and recording of the great oral history of AA, and we respect the great traditions of anonymity that helped AA grow. Acknowledgements: We would like to thank the following people for their contributions and unyielding support: The Albert O Collection The Bill and Arbusto O. Collection The Bill and Diane C. Collection The Dr. Bob House Collection The Jenn A Collection The Mark S. Collection The Mike A Collection Anthony I. Jeaneen T. Steve S. Ray G. Roger Russ D.

Bill Wilson – Speaking at NCAA Spring Conference, San Francisco – 3/20/1951

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Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Processes contains the technical detail necessary to understand the engineering principles that govern renewable energy application at many different levels. Focused on the fundamental mechanisms and processes that underpin energy management, it provides students with the foundation for all energy process courses. This text is organized according to the main forms of energy – heat engines, hydrogen energy, energy from the sun, and wind and water energy – with an introductory chapter of basic energy terms. From fuel cells, electrolyzers and processes for hydrogen production to biomass and windmills the author provides the most thorough examination of all aspects of renewable energy processes.

* Examines the fundamentals of some non-traditional energy processes and illustrates the best way to implement these processes in our modern world.

* Appropriate for all students and professionals studying the basic mechanisms of renewable energies.

* Clear theory and physical examples of all principles relevant to the study of renewable energy.

* Written by an internationally recognized pioneer researcher

What you can do for yourself concerning your health, god will not do. It’s up to you to do it now. Most diseases are caused by unhealthy lifestyles, poor diet, lack of exercise, stress, and inadequate sleep. This book, based on best-selling author Dr. Don Colbert’s life message, reveals seven fundamental principles that will enable people to walk in and enjoy the health God intended. Dr. Colbert explains the body’s vital need for: • Water • Sleep and rest • Living food • Exercise • Detoxification • Supplements • Coping with stress Colbert, who conducts comprehensive seminars in churches based on the subject of this book, presents a noncondemning, lifegiving approach to optimal health. His well-respected life plan outlined in The Seven Pillars of Health will help people make healthy choices one day at a time!

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Beginning with concise discussions of each of the food groups, along with the newly redesigned food pyramid, Ed Miller looks at all aspects of health and nutrition in this accessible and informative book. Fun facts about different foods are included throughout to keep the reading upbeat and clear distinctions are made between healthy and not-so-healthy meal choices. Readers will learn about nutrients, how to read foods labels and what it means to count calories. Readers will also learn how to develop healthy habits, such as making time for breakfast, tips for packing the best lunch, and the benefits of having a sit down (versus fast food) dinner. Overviews on food illnesses and disorders are included as are the importance of sleep and exercise. With Edward Miller’s comprehensive writing and clear format, making healthy choices truly becomes easier.

The Monster Health Book: A Guide to Eating Healthy, Being Active & Feeling Great for Monsters & Kids!

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573 Ways to Save Money: Save the cost of this book many times over in less than a day!

There are many ways to conserve resources, some are simple and easy but don’t do a lot others will make a bigger impact but can be costly and time consuming to implement.

You can use wind power and/or solar power to provide additional electricity to your home. While it would take quite a few turbines or solar panels to supply all the electricity needed, every little bit will help.

If you’re not quite to the stage where you want to start installing turbines and solar panels, there are still some simple changes you can make starting today.

Here are a few easy to follow, simple to do, suggestions:

1. Turn off lights and other electricity using appliances when not in use. Even on standby mode t.v’s and DVD players use electricity. If you aren’t using them for extended periods of time unplug them.

2. Keep all filters in your furnace and air conditioners clean. A dirty filter cuts down on efficiency dramatically which means your unit will work harder and use more electricity.

3. Use nature as much as possible. When it’s warm and there is a nice breeze, shut off the A.C. and open your windows. In the winter allow as much sunlight into your home as possible, but make sure to keep that sunlight out in the hot summer months.

These tips are simple, and commonsense, but they will help you with saving energy and you can start today.

It’s actually a little astonishing that more people aren’t using turbines to generate electricity for their homes. It’s free, it’s easy, it’s effective and it’s completely green. Wind is the ultimate renewable resource.

These turbines don’t have to be the huge monstrosities you see in the field. Even a small turbine can help you save on your energy bill, though it won’t be enough to provide enough electricity for your whole house.

If you have several turbines set up and you generate more electricity than you need it can be stored in inexpensive batteries to be used later, so on days when it’s not windy you can use your ‘saved up’ electricity.

Any excess electricity can also be sold back to electric companies: wouldn’t that be nice for a change, your utility company paying you instead of the other way around!

Building your own turbine is not only easy, it’s inexpensive. There are many places where you can go to get easy do-it-yourself manuals that will walk through the whole process from start to finish. You can easily recoup the small investment in just a few months.

Another advantage is that you don’t have to worry about someone hitting a utility pole three blocks away and knocking out your electricity. You have much more control over your own power.

If you want to go green while you save some green consider building wind turbines for your home. You can save yourself a ton and gain huge in the bragging rights department!

The obvious advantage of using any type of renewable energy sources are that it will save you money will decreasing the negative impact on the planet.

We are becoming increasingly aware of the consequences of some of our lifestyle choices on the overall well being of our planet, and we’re starting to look for ways to change. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be hard.

Simple changes can go a long way. If you have been playing with the idea of building and installing your own turbine to power your house, you couldn’t have picked a better time.

Due to advances in technology the parts that you need to build a smaller and more effective turbine, can be bought in your local hardware store or online.

Of course you will still need a step by step, easy to follow guide that will walk you through the process, but these too are readily available either online or offline.

The materials needed to build a small turbine for your home can be purchased for a few hundred dollars. Building the unit shouldn’t take more than a few days.

This little bit of time and effort can pay off big. Homeowners have used this method to lower their utility bills significantly, some by as much as 80%.

All in all, now is an excellent time to build your own domestic wind turbines and help save the planet and save some of your hard earned money. There is more than one meaning to ‘going green’!

Once the economy turns around, and it will eventually, we can all be doing great if we keep on using the money saving habits we started using when things were bad.

If you want to cut your electric bill now, and in the future, building your own wind turbine can help. It’s a simple project you can easily do in a weekend.

A wind turbine is just a more high tech version of a wind mill except now we can convert the energy from the wind into electricity and store it for later use.

Turbines come in different sizes and shapes, you aren’t just stuck with a huge windmill in your backyard. As a matter of fact, many of them can be mounted directly to your roof. Two of my neighbors have recently added them.

You can easily build your own turbine and it won’t cost you more than a few hundred dollars. The parts, and instructions, are readily available online or off. You don’t need any special skills or knowledge either.

One small turbine probably won’t generate all the energy your household needs on a daily basis, but it can cut your electric bill significantly. Many homeowners have seen a savings of over 75%.

Using wind power to save money on your electric bill is an easy, inexpensive thing you can do starting now. Make it your weekend project, build your own wind turbine.

So now that you know you don’t have to miss out on a chance to save money on your electric bill by building your own wind turbine, now what?

Now it’s important that you know a little about wind turbines and what you can expect and what you can’t expect.

A simplified explanation of how a turbine works is that it takes the energy of the wind, converts it to electricity, and stores the electricity for later use.

A small turbine will obviously make less electricity than a large one. In order to generate enough electricity for an average home using a small yard sized, or roof sized, turbine you would need more than one. You would probably need three or four.

Many people wouldn’t want that many turbines on their roof or in their yard, your neighbors probably wouldn’t love the idea either! But the good news is that while one small turbine won’t generate all the electricity you need it will generate enough to save you a considerable amount of money on your energy bill.

Some people save upwards of 80%. Since the turbine is inexpensive to build and with the savings you’ll get it is still worth your while to build your own turbine even if it won’t generate enough electricity to completely free you from your utility company.

Save money and save the planet all by using wind power. It’s not hard to do and it can give you a real sense of satisfaction, not to mention a bigger wallet!

Harnessing the power of the wind requires the use of a wind turbine. These are specially designed to capture the wind, convert it to electricity, and store it.

Wind turbines don’t have to be the huge fan looking things you see in the field. As a matter of fact, they come in a lot of different sizes and shapes.

More people are making their own wind turbines and placing them on their roof or in their yard as a way to generate some electricity for their own use and save some money on their electric bill.

You can easily do this too. There are manuals available that will walk you through the process of building your own turbine, inexpensively and easily. Many times you can build one for less than a few hundred dollars.

You do need to have realistic expectations though. One small turbine won’t generate enough electricity to completely power most homes. It can provide some savings since you won’t have to buy quite as much electricity but unless you have very small electrical needs, or you build several turbines, you probably won’t be able to completely un hook from your utility company.

By all means learn how to harness wind power for your household electrical needs. It can be fun, rewarding, save you money, and save the planet. What a great combination!

It really doesn’t matter what topic you pick, there will always be some people who agree and some who disagree. And that’s fine, as long as they discuss the facts and not just throw around their opinion and make it seem as though it’s fact.

Using the wind to power turbines for home use is one such debate. There are many people on both sides of the issue, but you need to make up your own mind.

Here is a list of some of the pros and cons, you decide:

Pros

1. Building a turbine for your home is cheap and easy.
2. Using wind power is free.
3. Wind power doesn’t pollute.
4. Wind power is renewable and efficient.

Cons

1. Wind power isn’t a constant. You won’t have wind every day.
2. The technology, while improved, still isn’t 100% efficient at converting the wind into energy and storing it.
3. A lot of people aren’t going to want to build their own turbines and buying one is very expensive.

For most people I think the pros probably outweigh the cons. For a small investment you can save quite a bit on your electric bill, but the decision has to be yours.

As you can see there are good arguments for and against using wind energy to supply your electricity needs. It’s up to you to decide what is best for you, your home, and your lifestyle. I hope this list helps.

Now I don’t want to give the impression that this form of energy is the do all, end all to your electricity needs. While it is a fantastic way for the average home owner to cut their electric bill by up to 80%, you do have to keep a few points in mind.

First of all, you will likely need more than one turbine to generate enough electricity for your home. Of course that will depend on the size of the turbine you have, and your electricity needs. But generally speaking a homeowner will need several small turbines to generate enough electricity so they can kiss their utility company goodbye.

Another consideration is where you live. Everyplace gets wind but some places, say Chicago, get more. If you live in a location where you don’t get a lot of wind, maybe you have a lot of trees, or you live in a valley, you won’t get as much out of your turbine.

On the other hand, since a wind turbine can be built for a few hundred dollars and since many homeowners see a significant savings from just one turbine, it might still be worth your while to invest in this environmentally friendly, completely renewable, free energy source.

It can be a great family project to construct your very own wind turbine. The kids will learn to appreciate the environment as they grow up.

For anyone who is concerned about the environment, as well as their own financial health, utilizing wind energy can be a very cost effective way to help the planet and yourself.

Using the wind to run equipment has been around a long time. Remember the old windmills from hundreds of years ago? Fortunately for us technology has improved to the point where we can not only generate electricity from wind we can also store it for later use.

You don’t really need to know how it all works in order to benefit from it. Most of us don’t have a clue how our computer works but we still use it. The basics are that the wind is captured by the turbine and than stored.

Wind turbines come in all shape and sizes. Obviously the bigger the turbine the more electricity you will be able to generate.

There are many sources available today that can easily, and cheaply, show you how to build your own wind turbine, step by step. Many can be built for less than a few hundred dollars.

If you have a lot of property, and time, you could build your own little wind farm and possibly generate enough electricity to power your own home without having to buy any electricity from your utility company.

For most people though, one or two small turbines to generate a little extra power is all they’re really looking for and this can be done easily.

So if you are interested in saving some money, helping the planet, and even have some bragging rights, you can use wind energy today. It is quick, cheap, and easy to make your own wind turbine for use in your home. Start today and you can be saving by tomorrow.

Whether you choose solar, wind, or a combination of the two you can actually make money by using these renewable sources of energy.

Here is a list of 3 different ways you can put money back in your wallet using solar and wind power energy:

1. The first, and most obvious, is cutting your utility bills. Whether you choose to build your own solar panels or wind turbines, both of which can be done easily and cheaply, you will be providing more of your own energy. That is less you have to pay for. Even if you aren’t able to fully supply all of your homes energy needs every little bit can help.

2. Government tax incentives. By using solar and wind, as well as other renewable energy sources, you can receive a tax credit.

3. Depending on how many solar panels or wind turbines you install you might actually be able to generate more energy than you need to run your home. Any excess energy that you produce can actually be sold back to the utility companies.

Not only can you save money, you can get your local utility company to pay you for supplying electricity to their grid. Cool, huh?

If you choose to go green and use green energy to help power your home make sure you keep the above points in mind. It’s a great thing to save the planet, but to be able to make money while saving the planet is even better!

The answer is: it means trying to be more Earth friendly in the choices we make like cutting back on chemicals, pesticides, and using less harmful energy sources, and it can save you money when you use alternative energy sources.

Many people immediately think of solar power as the renewable energy source of choice, and it’s a good choice, but there is a relative newcomer: wind power.

Not that using the wind is really all that new, windmills have been around for centuries, but only now are they moving from the huge turbines to smaller varieties for home use.

Wind turbines do come in sizes small enough for your backyard and even your roof. Not all of them are designed like the traditional windmill shape either. Some almost look like a modern art sculpture.

If you want to go green and save money you could easily build your own wind turbine for a few hundred dollars in a few days. The materials that you’ll need can be bought at your local hardware store.

Once you have the parts you will need an easy to follow guide that can quickly and easily walk you through the process of building your own wind turbine. These are also readily available at your local bookstore or online.

Remember that while building one small turbine probably won’t be enough to supply all your home energy needs, it can cut your utility bill significantly.

If you are interested in going green, you couldn’t have picked a better time. Technology has advanced to the point where we can make our own wind turbine to help supply some of our electricity needs.

There are many types of alternative sources of energy. Some of the most common and well known are: wind power and solar power. You could use one or a combination of both. Here are a few pros and cons of each source of energy.

1. Wind power. You’ve probably driven by a huge field of giant wind mill looking things. These windmills are called wind turbines. They create and store electricity. The good thing about this source of energy is that it’s free, abundant, and completely ‘green’.

The bad thing about turbines is that you will need a lot of them to power your home and they do take up quite a bit of room.

2. Solar energy. Solar panels convert the energy of the sun into usable electricity. The pros of solar energy is that it’s clean, renewable, and free.

The cons are that you need sunlight so some climates won’t provide as much electricity as others and you will need many solar panels in order to get a lot of energy.

If you can ever get to the point where you can generate more electricity than you need you can actually make money by selling your excess electricity back to the power companies. It would be nice for a change to have them pay you, wouldn’t it?

The bottom line is that using some of these alternative energy sources can help you lower your utility bill, help out the environment, and if you have enough room you could actually generate enough electricity to go ‘off the grid’ entirely and not have to pay for electricity at all.

There are many sources of renewable energy for you to use. Most of them can be inexpensive to start up, though there will be some initial expense and it will take time, usually only a matter of months, to recoup your initial investment.

Two of the most common sources of renewable energy for home use are solar and wind. Both can be set up fairly easily by you.

To generate power from the wind a wind turbine is what you would need. These look like windmills and they come in all sizes, and even shapes. The wind is turned into electricity and can be stored in a battery for later use.

The downside is that in order to generate enough electricity for your home you would need a lot of turbines, and we are not at the point yet where we have a efficient means of storing and converting the energy.

Solar energy is another great way to save some electricity costs. These consist of panels on the roof, or wherever they will get a lot of sunlight, and they convert sunlight into electricity. As is the case with turbines you will need a lot of panels to provide enough electricity to run your home.

Both of these sources of energy are real and viable for home use. Don’t expect to get completely off the grid just by putting up a turbine or two and some solar panels, but you can expect to save some money.

As technology advances the storage and conversion methods will improve too making these forms of alternative energy even more cost effective than they are today.

The government is encouraging energy savings in many ways by offering tax credits. Homeowners can receive credits for: adding energy efficient windows and doors, buying energy efficient appliances, and installing wind turbines.

The amount of the tax credit varies but for a turbine it is 30% of the total cost of your turbine. If you buy one and hire someone to install it that can cost you anywhere from $600-$12,000 depending on the size of the turbine.

A 30% tax credit is nothing to sneeze at with that type of expenditure and it can go a long way to help you recoup some of that initial investment. That doesn’t even take into consideration the money you’ll save on your utility bills.

Of course, as with anything, there are those that say you are wasting your money installing a turbine. They consider it a vanity project. But there is ample evidence that installing your turbine can actually generate up to 60% of your homes electric needs. That can be a significant savings on your utility bill. I don’t know about you, but I don’t consider that a vanity project!

If you’ve been playing with the idea of installing a wind turbine at your home, you might want to make a move so that you can benefit from the governments tax credit. Installing a turbine will not only enable you to take advantage of the tax credit it will enable you to save considerable amounts of money on your energy bill not only now but forever. Think of how much money that would turn out to be…

Of course there are many things you can do pretty much anywhere you go, including school.

1. Drive less. For many college students they don’t have a choice since they can’t have their car on campus anyway.

2. Recycle. Don’t throw away those pop cans (or beer cans), you can easily recycle them along with papers, cardboard,etc.

3. When you finally have a little money to go to the grocery store take, and use, reusable bags. If you forget your bags at least recycle the bags you get from the store.

Another thing you can do in your dorm room to help the planet is using solar power for your laptops, cellphones, PDA’s,etc.

Companies are now making solar powered backpacks and briefcases that you can use the recharge your electronic devices. They will get a charge just by be carried back and forth to classes. You don’t even need to do anything out of the ordinary.

To find a complete listing of what’s available just go online and do a search. You’ll be amazed at the number of companies that have these types of solar powered items.

The point is that even though you have no control over where the thermostat is set or other options while living in a dorm, there are still many going green steps you can continue to take. You don’t have to stop saving the planet just because you’re getting an education. Being environmentally aware should be life long habit.

Recycling, driving less, tuning up your car so you don’t use as much gas, all of these things can help. It is small but if everyone did them the outcome would be enormous. These are the simple day to day changes anyone can easily make. It will not only help the planet it will also save you some money.

Things like using alternative sources of renewable energy like wind and solar power are also things you can do that will help the planet and save you money. The difference is that these things are a little bigger in scope: they will make a bigger difference and they will take a little more effort to implement.

So I guess that means you have to decide for yourself what are you ready for, big changes or small changes?

If you’ve chosen to go big here is a little you should know about solar and wind power.

You can make your own home sized wind turbines and solar panels. A small wind turbine will cost around $200 to build and can be put together over a couple of days. You can mount it on your roof or in your yard.

Solar panels can also be built for home use relatively cheaply in a fairly short period of time.

Unless you have a lot of panels and/or a lot of turbines you won’t generate enough electricity for your household needs, but you can still cut your utility bill considerably.

It doesn’t matter if you choose to start off big or small…just start going green today. You’ll save yourself some money and even help out the planet.

The good news is that you really have a lot of options. There are many things you can do that will help you keep your utility costs under control. Some of these options are bigger and will generate more savings than the others, but using one, or all, of them can help cut your bills significantly.

Many of these things can be started today for little or no money. So check out the list and take control of your utility costs:

1. If you can afford it, have your furnace unit checked out by a professional. If it’s in top condition it will run better and won’t use as much electricity.

If you can”t afford to have someone come in you can at least clean or replace your furnace filters. Do this as often as recommended by the manufacturer. This is an inexpensive way to help your furnace run more efficiently and save you money.

2. If you have the money, replace old, drafty windows. You could be eligible for a tax credit if you do this. If you can’t afford that right now at least invest in some window kits that will help block out drafts, some insulated curtains or blinds, and some caulk. These inexpensive fixes can go a long way to making your windows more energy efficient.

3. Add some insulation to your home. If you can’t afford that try to at least plug up areas around doors, windows, and utility openings in your walls by using expanding foam. This foam is about $6 a can and can help make your home less drafty which will not only make it more comfortable, it will also help you cut energy bills.

I decided to do a little research on the subject, here’s a little of what I found out:

I don’t pretend to fully understand how it all works, but basically a wind turbine will convert the energy from the wind into electricity. That electricity can be used immediately or stored for later use in inexpensive batteries.

To build a small household wind turbine should only take a day or so and will cost a few hundred dollars. Most of the supplies can be bought right at my hardware store or online. There are manuals available that can walk me through the whole process with step by step directions.

One turbine won’t generate enough electricity to completely run my home but it will generate enough to help me save quite a bit on my utility bill. Many people are saving around 80% off their electric costs.

If you have a lot of land you could build several, larger turbines and actually generate more electricity than you would need and then sell that electricity back to the utility companies. They would actually pay you for electricity!

Combining a wind turbine and some solar panels would really boost the amount of electricity you can generate all on your own.

The technology for storing and converting electricity is constantly improving and it won’t be long until we can get even more electricity from our one wind turbine.

This is a little of what I’ve learned about using wind energy. I hope it helps you decide whether or not using the wind to save on your utility bill is the right option for you.

To be honest using the wind to help cut on your electric bill can be as simple as opening your windows and allowing the cool breeze to flow through. If you could just avoid using your air conditioner once or twice a week the savings could be significant.

If, on the other hand, you were thinking a little bigger and wanted to harness the wind to generate your own electricity, that can be done fairly easily as well.

Wind turbines convert the energy of the wind into electricity which can be used immediately or stored for later use. They can be large or small and they even come in different shapes, they don’t all look like giant wind mills.

You can build one small enough for your backyard or one that can be installed on your roof. These smaller turbines can be built for a few hundred dollars in just several hours.

One word of caution, though, one small turbine won’t produce enough electricity to run your home. It can help cut your electric bill by supplying some of your electricity needs, but it won’t completely cut you off the grid. Even so, many homeowners are seeing savings of around 80% on their electric bills.

It doesn’t matter if you want to use wind power in a big way, or a small way. Either way will help conserve resources and save you some money so it’s worth it.

It really doesn’t matter if you want to ‘go big’ and build your own home wind turbine, or go a little smaller and use the wind to save a little money. Either way you can harness the power of the wind and put it to work for you.

Using the wind on a small scale can mean putting up a clothes line and letting the wind dry your clothes, or opening up your windows and let the wind help cool and freshen your house. These are about the simplest things you can do to harness the power of the wind.

If you’re looking for something with a little more ‘punch’ you can use a wind turbine to generate electricity for your home. You could build your own for a few hundred dollars or you can buy one for a few thousand dollars.

A wind turbine designed for home use is quite small and many can be mounted right on your roof. There are even different designs so if you’re not a fan of a huge wind mill looking thing in the backyard, you do have options.

On average a home turbine will save you about 80% on your electric bill. That is significant especially if you remember that you will see that type of saving for as long as you keep the turbine.

So if you want to put wind power to work for you, now is a great time. You’ll save yourself some money and help the environment at the same time.

While it’s true that many people will say that installing your own home wind turbine is a waste of money, the evidence seems to suggest that’s a wrong assumption.

A homeowner can save, on average, up to 60% off of their utility bill by installing a wind turbine.
That’s alot and can add up especially over the years.

If you’re thinking that turbines are ugly, big, monstrosities, you might be pleasantly surprised to learn that they can come in different sizes and even different shapes. Some of them are even pretty and look like modern art sculptures!

The cost of a wind turbine can vary greatly depending on the size and whether you buy one or build one. Obviously, as with most things, if you hire someone to do it for you or you buy a pre-built turbine it will cost you more. Most turbines sell for anywhere between $600 all the way up to $10,000.

If you build your own, on the other hand, it will cost a few hundred dollars on average and take just a few days to build.

Either way, if you build your own or buy one, you may be eligible for a tax credit of up to 30% of the cost of the turbine. And with a projected utility savings of up to 60% you’ll be able to recoup your investment fairly quickly.

It really doesn’t matter which route you choose, build your own or buy one, either way it’s a smart move to use wind energy to help you save money as well as be kind to the planet. It’s the ultimate win/win.

No matter what paper, magazine, or t.v. show, you look at you’ll see something about becoming more environmentally friendly. There’s so much information in fact that it can get confusing and overwhelming. Don’t let it get to you. There are dozens of simple things you can do today, that will save you money.

Just keep your car tuned up, your tires inflated, clean the air filters on your furnace, let the sun come in during the cold winter months, etc. These are simple changes that can add up and you can start today.

If you are in a position to make some big changes, changes that will take some time and cost some money, you should consider building and using your own wind turbine. This can help you cut down on the amount of electricity you have to buy up to 60%. That will add up to a huge savings, now and in the future.

You can buy a wind turbine for anywhere from $600 and up. That is a viable option but with such a big upfront expenditure it will take you longer to recoup your investment. You may also be eligible for a tax credit of up to 30% if you go this route.

Or, you could build your own turbine in a few days for a few hundred dollars.

It doesn’t matter which option you choose, by installing and using your own wind turbine, not only will you be going green, you’ll be saving green too!

If you enjoy going sailing, you simply hoist the sail on your ketch or a much bigger sloop and off you go. As a matter of fact wind power was the only power known to mankind for thousands of centuries. Then when you stop and think about it, when you were just a kid, you found yourself using the blowing breeze to cool yourself down. In fact the only air conditioner for everyone was the wind.

Now thanks to new technology, not only can you use the breeze again for cooling your home, but you can use it to furnish the majority of the electrical power you need to run the lights, appliances, heating and air conditioning units in your home.

If you noticed I used the term new technology above, but really this technology has been around for more years than you and I can count. Do you know what it’s called? Sure you do, the “Windmill”,