Posts Tagged ‘Cost’
Watch this video for a demonstration of “How To Save Money By Eliminating 10 Things You Don’t Need”. To complete the task, you will need:
Self-discipline
Sacrifice
Open-mindedness
Get started with the first step: Stop buying unnecessary paper products. Use cloth napkins, mop up spills with dishcloths and rags, write shopping lists on the back of junk-mail envelopes, (and stick your coupons inside).
For the complete guide, go to http://www.howcast.com/videos/237568-How-To-Save-Money-By-Eliminating-10-Things-You-Dont-Need
Also check out Howcast for other do it yourself videos from BARKBARK and more videos in the General Personal Finance category.
How can you contribute? Create your own DIY guide at http://www.howcast.com/videos/new or apply to the Howcast Emerging Filmmakers Program at http://www.howcast.com/filmmakers/apply
Duration : 0:2:23
Intelligence for Your Life. Here are some helpful tips to help you to save your money.
www.tesh.com
Duration : 0:2:14
If you are researching home wind energy as a source of power for you and your family, it is a smart idea to first check if it is practical for your situation. These systems can be expensive depending on what you are trying to do so you have to make sure that you can recover your investment. It does not make a whole lot of sense to install a home wind sytem that will take 40 years to pay off what you invested into it.
Before you really take the plunge and invest in a home wind energy system, there are a couple of things that you need to think about. No matter what type of system you set up, it will have it’s own particular requirements so you need to make sure that your situation can meet these demands.
Before you do anything, you have to determine if the region you live in will have good wind resources available. Particular parts of the country are in general more suited for wind energy than others. If you live near any offshore location, these are considered the best areas. The worst region for home wind energy is the Southeast United States.. The Govt. has a website with wind resource maps that will show you how your area stacks up to other locations. Even though you may live in an region that is not considered ideal, you can still possibly employ wind energy it will just be a little more of a challenge.
You must also see if the wind that is open can be harvested properly in your region. You must be able to put up a tower that is above the tree lines and any buildings close to your property. If you have many tall tree lines, these will block the wind and you will not be able to generate adequate energy. If you live in an open area such as a vast field or farm, you will be in a ideal situation to generate wind energy.
Another component in determining if home wind energy will be viable for you is your local, state and federal tax incentives. Depending on the expenses of your particular wind system, you could get a good tax reduction. You need to search your local and state laws and regulations because each state generally will be different in some way.
With the ongoing energy crisis going on in the world, it is worthwhile to check into alternative energy sources such as home wind energy. Before making any final conclusions though, make certain that you take all of these things into consideration. Expenses can be significant for a effective system and you want to be sure that you will come out ahead in the long run.
Do you want to know how much does solar power cost? With the economy being in a mess, and the cost of commercially available power sky rocketing, it’s enough to drive you crazy. Solar energy is one of the few things that are freely accessible right now to the mankind and it can be tapped to generate electricity and save $1000s of dollars in the long run on electric bills. No matter where you live in the world, there is a solar system for you at a price that you can afford.
Portable Solar Power Cost
Portable units can be taken for a camping or a similar outing. A small and compact version which would cost around $120 is good enough for charging a mobile phone or an I-pod. A slightly larger system that would cost up to $1000 will enable you to run a small television or a radio on your outings.
Solar Heated Pools
Do you know heating a swimming pool for summer would cost you as much as heating your home throughout the year! That’s a significant amount of money to be spent on power. With the advancement in technology a couple of pool options are available for pool owners. A solar pool cover is the simplest of the lot and can be used in sync with a solar pump. The price of these would set you back by anything within the range of $2000-$4000.
Solar Hot Water
A solar water heater works on the principle of pre-heating the water up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit before it passes onto your normal water heater thus reducing the amount of energy your heater uses. A typical solar water heater would cost approximately $4600.
Off Grid Solar Power
If you’ve got a cabin in the woods or you just had enough of paying those electric bills, you can choose an off grid solar power system. These systems function independently and are best suited for remote areas that have little to no utilities available. The solar power cost of these units starts at around $1500 and can be as high as $5000.
Grid Tied System
It’s preferred by maximum homeowners today. Using it you will stay connected to your local power company’s grid. It’s going to be benefiting you in two ways; firstly you will never stay without power in case there are prolonged periods of no or little sunlight. Secondly, your power company might purchase the extra energy that you would produce. Isn’t that great! Saving on electric bills and along the way getting checks from them!
If you are on a budget its pretty hard to purchase a solar power system, as these cost way too much. No need to despair, do you know you can make your own solar power system? Using raw materials that can be easily found at the local hardware or electrical store you can make the same ready made solar power system for yourself…for less than…drumroll please….. $200!
Just look around for a good DIY guide that will show the exact steps that you need to follow to make your own solar power system. Prefer to go with one that has videos included with it and free 24X7 online technical support.
Remodeling is a year round business these days, and home contractors are available to help you prepare for the cold season, plan for fall projects, and make the most of those frigid days indoors. As the fall season comes upon us it is time to make those winter time preparations to keep you warm and to save on those winter time energy bills.
Where to Start
As winter time approaches and the cold sets in, it is vital that you make preparations to stop those drafty areas in your home. Starting with the windows is one of the most important areas to save on energy cost. Most windows leak air over time. Make sure to caulk around all areas of the window inside and out. By caulking you will eliminate cold air drafts entering the home which causes the heater to continue to run. Make sure all glass in the windows is not cracked or missing which could cause cold air to seep into your home. If you have wooden windows make sure the glazing around each pane of glass is not missing or cracked. If you do not have insulated windows, check with your local home supply company to see if and insulation panel or film that can be inserted on the interior side of the window is available. Most companies carry this product.
Check the Doors
Doors are a main problem when it comes to drafts. Over time doors tend to sag or the weather stripping wears out and causes leaks or air drafts. Check around your exterior doors to make sure you do not see daylight entering the home while standing inside your home with the door closed. If daylight is present from the interior, it is almost certain that air is leaking into or out of your home. Make sure to replace any weather stripping around the door and that it seats firmly to the weather stripping once closed.
Check the Furnace
If you have not called a HVAC specialist to do maintenance on your furnace for some time it is very important you do so to make sure the unit is running efficiently. As air passes through these units and dust builds clogging the evaporator core. This is what cools and heats the air circulating in your home. If clogged your unit will have to work double time to keep up with the changing temperatures or may not work at all. Changing the air filter monthly is required, but over time dust will still build up on the interior of the unit.
Your Home Exterior
Walk around your home and check for cracks on any area of the wall surface and corners. Make sure all corners and angles are properly caulked. Allowing air to enter into the home from the exterior will make utility bills rise. Apply caulking to all areas where you suspect air could enter the home from the outside.
Attic Insulation
Check your attic insulation and make sure is has not settled over time. Attic insulation tends to compact after so many years of use. If your attic insulation does not measure approximately 10” thick, you should consider applying more. Insulation is a very important part of keeping the temperature in your home stable. The lack of insulation will cause your HVAC system to work hard to maintain a certain temperature on your home. By applying more insulation you can save on utility costs.
Find More Home Improvement Tips at http://www.buildorrepair.com
Ricky Gaspard
The more you read and learn about solar power, the more you will understand just how much does solar power cost. Solar power is a free natural source of energy from up above, it’s a gift of God, we call it the sun and it is for everyone to use. When solar energy hits the earth it brings us heat, warmth and a sense of well being, it spreads over the earth’s surface evenly. Just like we capture the sun’s rays into our car in the summer when the windows are closed, and we open the windows to let the heat out, solar panels are doing a similar job capturing the rays of the sun and converting it into electrical charges useable to heat our homes, power our appliances, heat your water, run your air conditioner, TV, DVD and a lot more. Unlike gas or oil heaters that you continue to pay monthly in order to have power or gas heat in your home. Solar power does provide heating, cooling and ventilation, free of charges. How much does solar power cost in a long run, nothing and you may not know this but the electrical companies will pay you money for having your meter run on the opposite direction.
Greenhouses operate with the same principle having glass or clear plastic all around it attracting and capturing the sun and not allow it to escape causing the greenhouse to stay very warm for the plants to grow effectively.
A home solar power system can cost you around $3,500.00 and more depending on many things, like the size of your home, the amount of appliances used, the size of your family, the amount of electronic components used and much more. There are some very good step by step guides with videos out there to help you build your own solar power system even if you know nothing about solar power. I have come across one package on the internet that claims that you can build your own home solar power system for about $200.00, now that is amazing and hard to believe. Think of all the money you will be saving and all the nice things you will be able to afford for your home with those savings and much more. You shouldn’t ask yourself how much does solar power cost but rather ask yourself how much money will I save ?
In time, solar energy helps to heat your home naturally without worrying about the high electrical bill at the end of the month. and without depending on a company to supply it for you. Solar energy is found wherever the sun is shinning.
The decorations of your reception hall are extremely important. However, a piece of fact here is that you may need to spend a lot of money in order to make the decorations perfect.
Of course you may think that you will not need to spend any money if you do not decorate the reception hall. However, this will be quite unrealistic. You have spent so much time to make your wedding perfect. You should also try to make your reception hall perfect. This is why you will need to try your best to decorate the hall. Yet, there are still some ways for you to save money. We will try to discuss all these money saving tips in this article.
The first thing you need to do is to know what you want. You will need to have a basic idea about the decorations. When you have a basic idea, you can create a checklist for all the things you will need in order to decorate the wedding hall. Remember to list the items based on the priority. You may need to take away the less essential items if you do not have enough budgets. One example is your centerpiece. You will need centerpieces anyway and this should be of quite high priority.
In order to save money, you should consider decorate the venue yourself. As a matter of fact, you can always save money by doing the work yourself. However, you will certainly need to put the effort if you are going to decorate the venue yourself. Taking your centerpiece as an example again, you can create the centerpiece yourself. You will also need to choose some less expensive materials. If you can do so, you can save quite some money on the centerpieces.
It is also very common for brides and grooms to use flowers to decorate the reception hall. If it is possible, you should not go for the option of fresh flowers. It is usually more expensive to use fresh flowers to decorate. You may want to go for the option of using artificial flowers. In fact, you do not need to purchase the artificial flowers. You may even be able to rent them. Renting the items will be a lot cheaper than purchasing them. And you will be save a lot of money by renting the artificial flowers.
As a matter of fact, you should try to be creative when you are doing the decoration work. You do not need to stick to what you usually see in a wedding. You can collect some used materials to decorate your reception hall. In this case you will not need to spend money on these materials. For example, you may collect some empty glass bottles and you can use the bottles to decorate your venue. One example of utilizing the bottles is to create a sculpture with them. By doing this you will be able to have inexpensive yet extremely unique wedding venue decorations. However, you may need to work quite hard in order to do so!
Magic Jack a USB device allowing you to send and receive phone calls through your computer’s broadband connection.
The Magic Jack device is plugged into your computer’s usb port and the other end into your phone.
Selling for an initial fee of $39.95 plus shipping and handling.
The first year of phone service is included with the purchase price.
Thereafter, service is renewed each year for only $19.95.
You can purchase up to four additional years at a time for $59.95.
Its’ Competitor
Its biggest competitor in-terms of price may be Skype, but which does not offer 911 service.
Another problem with Skype is that security may be a big issue. These concerns are apparent when one browses the Skype user forums. There are several instances where Skype accounts have been hacked.
The Cost And Savings
If you do a lot of long distance calling voip (voice over Internet protocol) services tend to be cheaper than traditional landlines even with unlimited calling plans.
Savings are even greater if you pay per minute charges for long distance calling.
Broadband phone providers like Vonage, Verizon, Packet8, Net2Phone and AT&T will run upwards of $200 yearly. Magic Jack is just a pittance when compared to these providers.
Some broadband phone services also require additional equipment, activation and/or cancellation fees.
Magic Jack does not require additional equipment or any contracts. If unsatisfied with the service you may cancel at anytime without penalty.
Installation
Set-up is relatively simple. The USB device will install itself.
Select the phone number of your choice.
Setup 911 service and call forwarding if desired.
Features Include
* Three-way(conference)calling
* can be used with a headset or house phone
* Caller ID
* Call waiting
* Call forwarding
* Voicemail
* Telephone number not listed in directories
* Free phone number
* Do not disturb
* Free 911 service
* Free 411(directory Assistance)
International Calling
When traveling internationally you can still enjoy the convenience of unlimited free calling from your Magic Jack phone number to all locations in the US and Canada.
About The Founder
David Borislow inventor of the Magic Jack device and founder of Ymax communications corporation, a U.S based competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC).
Borislow has over 20 years in the telecommunications industry and winner of the J.D Power and Associates Award.
It is reported that David Borislow provided most of the funding for Magic Jack by investing $17 million from his own pockets.
Reviews
Having tested Magic Jack, I found the clarity of incoming and outgoing calls were amazingly clear on both headset and house phone.
Voicemail access once you set-up a password was easy.
You can set-up Magic Jack to ring as if it were a house phone.
Dial from your keyboard or telephone.
If you are off-line calls will automatically go into voicemail unless you have set-up call forwarding.
Switching between headset and telephone were simple.
Looking Towards The Future
At this time Magic Jack is only available online. However, there are plans to make it available in retail stores.
Although Magic Jack maybe newer than some of the older Voip providers, it is a service well worth looking into.
With the commitment of its inventor and continual upgrades, this company appears to have plans to be around for the long haul.
As with any new service there may be imperfections that will improve as system upgrades continue. However, for the price, Magic Jack may turn out to be a tough competitor for some of the more expensive Voip providers.
If the high cost of heating have you worry this winter, now you can stop worrying, there are simple steps to bring down these high energy cost, you don’t even have to replace your windows and doors, or buy a new heating system. Here are five low-cost and simple ways you can do to cut your heating costs this winter.
1. Make certain that your heating system is in good repaired and running expeditiously by hiring a qualified heating professional to check it out for you. You can also save money by replacing the filter yourself every month doing the winter heating season.
2. Enwrapping your hot-water tank with an insulated blanket so the water stay hot longer. This way your hot water heater won’t re-cycle as much and heat the same water over and over again. You can save additional energy by lowering the thermostat on the hot water heater setting to 120º F. At this temperature it will slows mineral buildup and cut down corrosion in your hot-water tank and pipes. Your water heater will function at its maximal efficiency and therefore last a bit longer.
3. Replace your older thermostat with a programmable one. This way you can keep warm when you are at home and lower to a cooler temperature when you are at work or not at home.
4. Seal off all gaps on windows and doors. You can use weather stripping, caulk, insulated curtains, and or a window kit to stop your heated air from escaping outdoors.
5. The US Department of Energy report that a normal American home’s energy loss through the attic can be high as 45%, add more insulation to your attic so that it has at the least 12 inches. The actual amount of heat lost will depend upon where you live. Therefore, houses in colder climates call for more insulation. The added insulation will keep you home cooler in the summer as well.
Instead of worrying about your utility costs, use any, or all of these simple energy saving steps to take control and cut down on your utility bills this winter. You will be able to heat your home and have a more comfortable home to live in year round.
Solar power energy systems are not inexpensive. That said it’s important to compare them within context of other types of home improvement projects. Home buyers and realtors view a solar photovoltaic or solar hot water heating system as a significant value-added improvement – similar to adding a deck or remodeling your kitchen. Plus unlike a deck or kitchen remodel, you also gain one-up on your power bills. Here are some foolproof ways to estimate the cost of a solar photovoltaic or solar thermal system and to figure out if a solar energy system makes sense for you.
Six Easy Steps To Estimate Cost of a Solar Power System
Solar power energy systems are not inexpensive. That said it’s important to compare them within context of other types of home improvement projects. Home buyers and realtors view a solar photovoltaic or solar hot water heating system as a significant value-added improvement – similar to adding a deck or remodeling your kitchen. Plus unlike a deck or kitchen remodel, you also gain one-up on your power bills.
Solar power systems often get an additional financial boost as well: many jurisdictions and utilities across the USA offer attractive financial incentives to drive down the upfront capital costs associated with a solar power system.
Here are some foolproof ways to estimate the cost of a solar photovoltaic or solar thermal system and to figure out if a solar energy system makes sense for you. Let’s start with a home photovoltaic (PV) system.
Step 1: Estimate your home’s electricity needs
To get started, it’s good to have a sense of how much electricity you use. You’ll have a better point for comparison if you find out how many kilowatt hours (kWh) you use per day, per month, per year. Your utility bill should include that information.
Of course, the utility bill will also display your costs and many utilities include a graph that displays how your monthly energy use/cost varies throughout the year. That helps you estimate where your highest energy use is and at what time of year.
New Home Construction
If you are constructing a new home, then you’ll need to estimate your demand based on the type of equipment you plan to install and your home’s square footage. The pross call this “your load”.
To figure out your anticipated load, create a table to record the watt use for each appliance. Each appliance – be it a water heater, electric light, computer, or refrigerator – should have a nameplate that lists its power rating in watts. Or you can get the information from the manufacturer’s website.
Some labels list amperage and voltage only; to obtain watts multiply the two together (amperage x voltage = watts). In another column, record the number of hours each appliance is expected to operate. Then multiple the watts and hours together to estimate watt-hours used per day. Since it’s hard to anticipate all electric loads (it may get tedious scouting out every toothbrush and mobile phone cell charger), you might want to add a multiplier of 1.5 to be safe.
Step 2: Anticipate the future
In 2005, average residential electricity rates across the USA ranged from about 6 to nearly 16 cents per kilowatt hour depending on where you lived. Average retail and commercial electricity rates have increased roughly 30% since 1999 and the upward trend will likely continue especially as costs for the coal and hydropower used to generate that electricity rise as well. So think about your home electricity needs and present and future cost in relation to one another.
Step 3: How much sun do you get?
The Florida Solar Energy Center has conducted a study to examine how a 2-kW photovoltaic system would perform if installed on a highly energy efficient home across the continental USA (http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/publications/html/FSEC-PF-380-04/).
The study accounted for all factors that impact a PV system’s performance such as the temperature effect on the photovoltaic cells, the amount of sun peak hours in various regions, and the efficiency of inverter to convert solar derived energy from DC to AC.
As the study implies, solar photovoltaic systems work just about anywhere in the US. Even in the Northeast or in “rainy Seattle”, a pv system can pencil out if designed and installed properly. In New York or New Jersey, a one kilowatt system should produce about 1270 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, in Seattle, a one kilowatt system should produce about 1200 kilowatt hours per year. In the Southwest, of course, those ratios will be much greater.
Solar contractors in your area can help determine the best size for your solar photovoltaic system.
Step 4: Size your system
In general, solar photovoltaic systems sized between 1 to 5 kilowatts are usually sufficient to meet the electricity needs of most homes. One advantage of grid-tied systems is that you can use solar PV to supplement or offset some of your electricity needs; therefore you can size your system to match your budget and always add to the system later if needed.
Also as a side note, here’s a rule of thumb to remember to help you estimate the physical space your PV system might need: one square foot yields 10 watts. So in bright sunlight, a square foot of a conventional photovoltaic panel will produce 10 watts of power. A 1000 watt system, for example, may need 100 – 200 square feet of area, depending on the type of PV module used.
Step 5: Know your rebates
Many states and local jurisdictions offer rebates, tax credits and other types of incentives to homeowners for installing residential photovoltaic and solar domestic water systems. To view a comprehensive database of the incentives available for renewable energy visit http://www.dsireusa.org.
At the Federal Level, you can take advantage of a 30% tax credit (of up to $2,000) for the purchase of a residential solar system at least until December 31, 2008.
Step 6: Run the numbers
Although the cost for a solar PV system will depend on the size of the system you intend to install, your electricity rate, the amount of kilowatt hours you expect to generate, and the state/local rebates/tax credits that may be available, the formulas for calculating the returns are pretty much the same.
For those who appreciate having the formulas, use the ones listed below to do a quick ballpark estimate of how much a solar photovoltaic system might cost you.
Retail Price for Solar Photovoltaic System
+ Building Permits
- $2,000 Federal Tax Credit
- State or Local Tax Credit or Rebate
- Utility Rebate or Other Incentive
= Net Investment
Kilowatts of electricity generated from PV per year
x Kilowatt hours used per year
= Annual Kilowatt energy from the PV system
Annual Kilowatt energy from the PV system
x Current Residential Electricity Rate
= Annual $$ Saved
Yearly Excess PV Energy Produced
x $$ credit applied per watt
= Annual Value from Net Metering
Of course, a more accurate assessment can be made by a pro. Work with a solar power contractor to size and price the right system for you. As is true with any major purchase, don’t hesitate to ask for several bids from different contractors.
Many solar power providers will provide you with a comprehensive estimate. Helpful information to know includes:
- Total cost to make the system operational (labor cost for design and installation and equipment costs)
- Equipment (Make and Model)
- Warranty info
- Permit costs, if needed
- Tax, where applicable
- Federal tax credits
- State or local jurisdiction tax credits or rebates
- Utility rebates
- Expected Renewable Energy Certificates or Net metering credits
- Expected operation and maintenance costs
- Projected savings
Solar Thermal (also called Solar Hot Water)
Solar thermal systems capture the sun’s energy to heat water and are one of the most cost-effective renewable energy systems. They are used to heat hot water tanks and/or a heating system. A solar pool heating system is another type of solar thermal system designed specifically to heat a pool or hot tub.
Generally it’s worth investigating the economic viability of installing a solar hot water system if you have an electric water heater with utility rates of at least 5 cents per kilowatt hour and have tax credits or rebates available. (It may even be worth changing out a gas-powered water heater if your costs are at least $8/million BTU).
The formulas for costing out a solar water heater system are similar to estimating the cost for installing solar PV system. Many solar energy professionals can help you determine what system might work best for you.
Heating Your Swimming Pool with Solar Power
Although few jurisdictions provide financial incentives for using solar energy to heat a swimming pool or hot tub, in general, using solar power to heat your pool is a “no-brainer” from a return on investment standpoint.
The electricity used to heat a pool during the swimming season often amounts to the same amount of energy that homes-without-pools consume over a year. Combining a solar thermal system to generate heat for the pool with a solar thermal pool cover to retain the heat generated can further maximize efficiencies and extend your swimming season.
Most installers recommend that a solar collector used to heat a pool is sized at roughly half the square footage of your pool surface area. Solar thermal panels typically last 10 – 20 years and come with a 10-year warranty.
How long it takes to break even on the cost of your solar power pool system depends on where you live. In California or other parts of the Southwest, you’ll break even in 1 to 3 years but places as “far north” as Canada, a solar pool heating system pencils out over a slightly longer period of time.
