| Have you noticed the price of gasoline creeping | | | | before the end of 2010 on these things qualifies |
| up again in your neighborhood? Did you receive a | | | | for a 30% federal tax credit, up to $1500. |
| notice recently from your utility company outlining | | | | After your home is well insulated and you have |
| their plans for rates increases coming soon? At | | | | cut your energy use through intelligent |
| the end of 2008 we were all breathing easier as | | | | conservation, you should consider having a green |
| crude oil prices plummeted and gasoline fell below | | | | power system installed. Solar power for home |
| a buck and a half, but since then oil has risen over | | | | electricity and heat, and small wind generators are |
| eighty percent and gasoline is back to the | | | | all sources of green energy that are making more |
| mid-two-dollars range. Gasoline prices are visible, | | | | economic sense as energy costs rise. |
| but seeing what your home energy use is costing | | | | In general, solar thermal applications such as for |
| you takes a little more effort. This is the year to | | | | heating water and supplementing your space |
| take control of your personal energy use. | | | | heating will pay your investment back faster than |
| While we wait for Detroit or Tokyo to come up | | | | photovoltaic or wind energy projects will. The |
| with electric cars and more fuel efficient fossil fuel | | | | advantage of wind power and solar electric power |
| engines, there are things you can do right now to | | | | is that you can actually sell energy back to the |
| stop paying so much of your income for energy. | | | | power company when you produce more |
| With new federal tax credits, plus special | | | | electricity than you use. Besides that, solar panels |
| incentives in many states, you should invest this | | | | and wind turbines look really, really cool! |
| year in cutting your personal fuel bills. | | | | With the added incentives of tax credits, these |
| Start with the most cost effective things first. | | | | investments can give you a better return on your |
| The money you spend to upgrade your home's | | | | capital than most other investments you can |
| insulation and to repair leaks around doors and | | | | make in money market funds or the stock |
| windows will be paid back in just a few months of | | | | market (unless you are really astute or really |
| energy savings. Plus, any money you spend | | | | lucky!). |