Living : Tech :

What generates more energy than your double espresso?

09.20.2007

Submitted by tmeronek on Thu, 09/20/2007 - 12:01am.
The Bite:
Just look up. Rain or shine, tapping into the sun to serve your energy needs is an easy way to cut your energy costs as well as pollution. And just in case you're lacking a rooftop to call your own, solar panels aren't the only way you can take advantage of the brightest energy source around.
The Benefits: 
  • A clean, renewable energy source. One hour's worth of the sunlight that hits the earth provides more energy than we humans use in a whole year.
  • Smaller bills. With the right system, you'll never pay another electricity bill, and in some areas, you can even receive credit for excess energy you send into the grid.
  • Lower and lower costs. The price of solar is dropping. Plus, federal and state tax deductions and rebates can slash up to 75% off the cost of a new home system.
  • Valuable real estate. Solar-electric systems increase a home's value by $20K for every $1K reduction in yearly energy bills. That's a lotta Ks.
Personally Speaking: 
Never one to miss out on a great deal, Heather's in the process of installing solar panels on her roof with the aid of California's awesome solar tax rebates.
Wanna Try: 
Billionaire Biter?
Budget Biter?
  • Citizen Eco-Drive Watches - hundreds of watch styles with solar batteries that charge using indoor or outdoor light ($66-$1,050).

Biter Brainiac?
  • FindSolar - learn how much cash solar can save you, and find local installers.
  • Vote Solar - join a non-profit that promotes solar power.

Reviewed by alternative energy expert Adam Browning.
Michael Gross and Steve McCardell

Cocktail Fact

The world's largest solar-power farm, set to start producing power in 2008 in Fresno, CA, will cover 1 sq mi.

Bang For The Bite

If 10,000 Biters install solar panels to fulfill their home energy needs, we'll avert the CO2 pollution caused by 8,105,263 espresso machines in a year.

3 comments
Bookmark and Share
  Email This

Tips Like This

 

Other Related Content

 
Leah  on April 13, 2009 at 11:25 AM 1
This is something I'm TREMENDOUSLY interested in. Every time I find out you can recycle something or do something like this, there's no way to access the services in my area. COME ON PENNSYLVANIA! We have trees & pretty wildlife~ why don't we want to preserve that! Ok, now that I'm done ranting... Anyone ever gotten solar in their home that isn't super rich? I don't have a ton in the bank, but I'd REALLY like to try and get set up with a panel or two within the next few years. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!
jkljkl  on September 26, 2009 at 02:11 AM 2
http://www.outletlv.com ">louis vuitton bags are located in all major cities such as Shanghai, New York, etc, you may travel to these cities and get one for yourself. Nice articles, but I am not clear about the point you mentioned about how to distinguish fake and real louis vuitton and modonna.
zz  on November 13, 2009 at 09:08 AM 3
Never one to miss out on a great deal, Heather's in the process of installing solar panels on her roof with the aid of California's awesome solar tax rebates. games adventure games

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <font> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <p> <br> <img>

More information about formatting options

 

All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.