Be Eco-Wise with LED Lights

 

W

ith more and more people concerned about the environment, building and decorating green has never been more popular. One of the easiest ways for homeowners to limit their environmental impact is to consider replacing the lighting inside their home. 

Incandescent bulbs waste energy and burn out quickly, and when the more energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs outlive their usefulness, they pollute the earth with the toxic mercury they contain. A new lighting revolution is giving homeowners an innovative option. 

The LED Difference

Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology provides homes with beautiful illumination while reducing the negative environmental impact of traditional bulbs. Here’s why it is fast becoming the leading eco-friendly choice:  

¨ LED lights are long lasting: 20 times longer.
LED provides uncompromising light that will last 20 times longer than a traditional incandescent bulb and five times longer than a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL). You may never have to change your bulb again because each light is estimated to last 50,000 hours. 

¨ LED lights use less energy: 85 percent less.

Incandescent and fluorescent bulbs consume substantially more energy than LED’s. You can easily observe this based on the amount of heat they give off. LED options generate almost no heat and consume a whopping 85 percent less energy than incandescent and 50 percent less than fluorescent. For example, eight LED retrofit replacement bulbs consume only 96 watts and provide enough light for an entire room. 

If every U.S. homeowner replaced one incandescent bulb with an LED, it would have the same effect as having 4 million fewer cars on the road. 

¨ LED lights produce less waste: No hazardous toxins in your home.
Because the LED lights last so long, there is less waste going into landfills. Unlike compact fluorescent bulbs, these lights do not contain dangerous mercury. You won’t have to worry about disposing of the bulbs properly or having toxins in your home. 

Adding LEDs to Your Home

Homeowners are using LED lights anywhere they have 6-inch recessed cans installed. Check GreenHomeExperts.com for options that will seamlessly fit into the architecture and lighting needs of any home. LED retrofit replacements are easy to install and can be screwed into existing recessed lighting fixtures. Some existing fixtures or housings may require minor modification. Although you may want to hire a handyman to help with installation, many homeowners are able to complete the task themselves. An expensive electrician should not be required. 

Visit www.GreenHomeExperts.com to help green your home and save money with high quality, energy-efficient LED lights.

- Courtesy of ARA Content

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Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!  Be safe and enjoy!

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Tips for a Green Holiday

We love to share articles we find.  Here’s another one by B. Kaiser at Legal Zoom about Tips for a Green Holiday

No matter what you celebrate, the holiday season is a time for family, friends, and merriment. This time of year involves a lot of shopping and gift-giving, but before you make your shopping list, take into account the realities of our changing environment.

You’ve heard a lot of buzz about “going green” and “living green.” Living a green lifestyle means being conscious of the energy used in producing and consuming everyday products and making an effort to reduce waste when possible. You don’t have to track your carbon footprint on a daily basis to be green; small changes can have a big environmental impact.

The holidays are the perfect time to start thinking greener. According to a report from Use Less Stuff, Americans throw away 25% more waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day than any other time of year.

Here are 5 ways to think green this holiday season:

1. Holiday Cards

This is a very easy way to do your part for the environment. Look for holiday cards printed on recycled paper and try to avoid the ones with lots of embellishment (foil coatings, shiny stuff, etc.). Those usually can’t be recycled. You may want to reconsider buying holiday cards at all. Try sending e-cards to friends and family as an alternative to printed cards.

2. Christmas Tree

Getting a tree for the house? If you opt for an artificial tree, you can store it afterward and use it again next year. If you choose to get a real tree, get a live one that can be planted at the end of the season or make sure you have your cut tree composted after the holidays. Visit earth911.com to search for a recycling center in your area.

3. Lights

Traditional holiday string lighting uses a lot of energy and there are some technical drawbacks. For example, if one light in a strand goes out, so do all the others. Solve both problems by opting for LED holiday lights instead. LED lights use anywhere from 90% to 95% less energy than traditional bulbs and can last a lot longer overall. Plus, even if one of the LED lights burns out the others will stay lit. Whichever type of lighting you use, reduce your energy consumption—and your electric bill—by turning off the lights before you go to bed.

4. Wrapping Paper

For your gift wrapping this holiday season, look for wrapping paper made from recycled materials or buy paper that doesn’t have glossy foil or metallic coating—just like holiday cards, that type of wrapping paper is harder to recycle. If you really want to go green, try getting creative and use alternatives: the comic section of the newspaper, old movie posters, fold-outs from magazines, and even maps can be used to wrap gifts. Have the kids decorate brown paper grocery bags to use as wrapping paper—they’ll have a blast and you’ll be reducing waste.

Another option is to use fabric gift bags, which are reusable. Or if you’re an avid shopper, make a unique and fashionable statement by digging into your collection of paper shopping bags and using them to wrap gifts.

5. Dinners and Parties

Holiday entertaining can produce unnecessary waste, so think of ways to reduce wherever possible. One idea is to use washable and reusable dinnerware, such as glass plates or acrylic glasses. For your cans and bottles, provide easy access to recycling bins and encourage your guests to recycle. When decorating, use materials that are reusable or recyclable. And for food, consider buying locally grown produce and serving organic foods and wine.

It’s easy to be environmentally conscious this holiday season—small changes make a big difference. Just keep an eye out for recycled materials and energy efficient products, and you’ll start the new year off with a clean green conscience.

For more ways to have a green holiday season, check out 42 Ways to Trim Your Holiday Wasteline at use-less-stuff.com or download the EPA’s Holiday Waste Reduction Calendar—a tip a day from November 22 to January 1.

Happy Green Holidays!

Make Life Easier Offline

Most of us are already hip-deep in online efficiency tools like shared calendars, code libraries, and rss feeds; here are 30 simple ways that you can make your life (the real one) easier:

http://www.wisegeek.com/how-can-i-make-my-offline-life-easier.htm 

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Budget Pitfalls

Parking Tickets
If you get a parking ticket, pay it immediately before the fine doubles or triples.

Unread Magazines
Cancel the subscription if you don’t have time to read it!

Unused Food
Before heading out to the grocery store, check your cabinets to see what you can make with what you already have.  You probably have enough for several meals without leaving the house.

Late Fees
Get organized and pay your bills on time so you aren’t charged any late fees.  Open an account at SEFCU.com and set up iPay to make it easy!

Unused Phone Services
Take a good look at your next phone bill.  If you don’t really need call waiting, three-way calling, or caller ID, ask the phone company to cancel those services.  You could save $15 or more a month.

Adapted from SEFCU Money Clips, Fall 2008

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Don’t Get Squeezed: Learning to Live (happily) on a Tight Budget

With high gas prices, the winter heating season upon us, and a growing concern about the stability of the economy, developing a plan now for tightening the belt on your budget could pay off in the long run.  Cutting back doesn’t always have to mean drastic changes to your lifestyle.  Check out some tips for saving money…and living better on a budget!

At the pump
Just a few years ago you wouldn’t have dreamed of paying $60 (or more!) to fill up your gas tank, but today it has become the norm.  Before selling your car and moving to Zimbabwe, try some of these ideas to save money – and your sanity!

• Visit www.GasBuddy.com to search for the lowest gas prices in your area.
• Keep your engine tuned and tires properly inflated to the pressure recommended by the manufacturer.  Properly inflated tires can save as much as 3% on your car’s fuel economy.
• Walk, ride a bike, or carpool when possible.

Rethink entertainment
Although it’s a great way to enjoy your free time, entertainment expenses can play a large part in your budget.  When money is tight, it pays to be a bit more creative in how you spend your money.  Consider some of these suggestions:

• Check out an entertainment guide to see what free events/converts are in town.
• Head to the museum or library.
• Schedule a movie night a home.

Mealtime
Because of increased production and transportation costs, grocery bills are also on the rise.  Since food bills are a major expense for families, reducing costs in this area can have a big impact on your budget.  Here are some simple ways to cut back that can help you save hundreds of dollars a year.

• Brown bag it – eating out is expensive.
• Skip the gourmet coffee shop and make your coffee at home.
• Buy in bulk – as long as you are going to use the food, buying in bulk is usually cheaper in the long run.

Use it or lose it
One of the biggest sources of wasted money is on services that you don’t even use.  Look at your expenses for the last three months and if there are services that you are paying for – but aren’t using – ditch them and use the money for something else.  Here are some of the most common offenders:

• Gym memberships
• Extra cable TV channels
• Movie rental programs

Adapted from SEFCU Money Clips, Fall 2008

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How Much Does That Cost?

Vending machine snacks?
$260 per year

A cup of coffee a day?
$365 per year

Bottled water at a convenience store?
$365 per year

Unused gym membership?
$480 per year

Weekly manicure?
$1,068 per year

A pack of cigarettes a day?
$1,660 per year

Daily lunches out?
$2,350 per year

TOTAL SAVINGS:  $6,543 per year

Adapted from Financial Finesse

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Working For Sustainability: Clean Energy, Green Jobs and Global Warming Solutions

Tonight’s the big night for clean energy and green jobs in the Capital District. We already know that clean energy is the solution to our weak economy and unemployment crisis, and tonight’s the night that we’re going to bring this message to the people with the power to lead us towards a brighter and greener future.

Working For Sustainability:
Clean Energy, Green Jobs and Global Warming Solutions

IS TONIGHT AT 6:30 p.m.

New York State United Teachers Building
800 Troy Schenectady Rd
Latham, NY 12210
click here for directions

The green economy is at our fingertips. According to a new report released yesterday, the potential for green job creation is higher than we ever suspected. We have the potential to create 130,000 jobs in New York and 2 million jobs across America in just 2 years! New York is ready for the green economy and tonight we’re going to learn all about our workforce development plan.

Listen to us on WAMC’s “Vox Pop.”

tonight’s speakers:
Bruce Herman, Deputy Commissioner of Workforce Development, NY State Department of Labor
Ed Murphy, Executive Director, Workforce Development Institute
Lava Thimmayya, Workforce Development Institute
Jeff Jones, New York State Apollo Alliance
Norreida Reyes, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter
Richard Cataldo, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Barbara Warren, Citizens’ Environmental Coalition

There will be panel discussions on Workforce Development Potential in the State of New York and Clean Energy Policy and Global Warming Solutions. There will also be opportunities for audience participation and public comments for the benefit of the decision makers who will be in the audience.

WHEN: September 10, 2008
6:30pm – 9:00pm

WHERE: New York State United Teachers Building
800 Troy Schenectady Rd
Latham, NY 12210

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Organizing Busy Work and Family Lives

Would you like a free Web Computer?

Imagine having your own free Web Computer.Your Web Computer lives in the internet and can be accessed from anywhere. Your files are automatically backed up and your hard disk never fails.

Your Web Computer comes with a rich set of applications. All of them are pre-installed and automatically updated to the latest versions, and they can be used from any device that has a web browser.

“What about my PC?” You may ask.

You don’t have to give up your old PC. In fact, it’s one of the devices you can use to access your new Web Computer.

But unlike your PC, your Web Computer can’t be lost or stolen, it won’t break or become obsolete in 18 months, and even after you turn off your PC, your Web Computer still keeps working on your behalf—exchanging data, displaying web pages, and providing icalendar and RSS feeds to friends, family, and coworkers.

Sound good? Wait, there’s more…

 

Imagine having as many free web computers as you need. You can have one for your office, one for your family, and one for each of the important groups in your life.Each group has its own shared file storage and a suite of group productivity applications. While we’re at it, let’s imagine automatically networking all of the web computers you use so you can easily share info among all the groups.

Stop imagining. It’s here. We call it AirSet.

Learn more.

Another great idea brought to you courtesy of Virtually Yours 9-2-5.

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