How To Decide if Wind Power Is Right for You
By Sean Leviashvili | MainStreet.com

The temperature is rising, so is your electric bill.

While gas prices have been the most obvious financial strain of the summer, averaging $4.10 per gallon, electric bills are no bargain.

Gasoline, with few alternatives, remains an inelastic product, but is that the case with electricity? To paraphrase Bob Dylan: The answer, my friend, could be blowin’ in the wind.

Through it is still a relatively new market, providers and distributors of small and residential wind turbines, or wind generators, are seeing a higher demand for their products. “In the last year I’ve seen the business roughly double in size,” says Mike Bergey, president and co-founder of Bergey Wind Power, in Norman, Okla. “And I don’t see that slowing down.”

Small wind turbines, which are capable of producing up to 100 kilowatts of electricity (enough electricity to run close to five refrigerators for a month), resemble windmills and use wind to create energy. That energy is transmitted to a location connected through a foundation that is installed (beneath) the device.

The long term benefits of acquiring a small or residential wind turbine eventually take form in lower electric bills. But is the product right for you? If only for aesthetic purposes, you have to ask yourself: “Do I want a 60 foot windmill in my backyard?”

(On that, Bergey, along with Andy Kruse, co-founder and senior vice-president of Southwest Windpower, a provider of small wind generators, recommend potential buyers have at least one acre of land to move forward with a residential wind turbine installation.)

If the answer is yes, and the space is there. Here’s what you need to do:

STEP 1 – GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR ELECTRIC BILL

The first step entails reduction of electricity use in your own home. As a potential buyer, you are expected to reduce the amount of electricity you use and become more conscious of how you do use your electricity. “We want to help consumers already use electricity efficiently,” Kruse said. “We don’t want indifferent people to jump out and want these things.”

STEP 2 – LEARN WHICH WAY THE WIND BLOWS

These devices don’t come cheap. They start around $12,000. You may ask yourself if the money you save on your electric bills will amount to the money you spent on the wind turbine. “If you live in a state where electricity is very expensive, such as Alaska, Maine, or Hawaii, the payoff would be great, and would only take a couple of years,” says Kruse. “If you live in a state where electricity is not as expensive, the payoff may take up to fifteen years.”

Also, consider the wind speed in your area. An average minimum for local wind speeds of 10 MPH is required for the device to be effective. “Depending on your state’s wind speed, you can save anywhere from $100 to $300 a month on your electric bill,” says Bergey.

STEP 3 – SEEK OUT STATE REBATES

The typical payments run in terms of cash transactions, but a number of customers pay through home equity loans, says Bergey. At the same time, both companies’ websites provide a list of states that provide rebates on the turbines. (These states include, but are not limited to, Oregon, California, New York and Illinois.) “In states with active markets, there is a substantial rebate available in the 40-60% range,” says Bergey.

STEP 4 - LAY THE FOUNDATION

Installation takes about two days, according to Kruse and Bergey said. The first day is dedicated to laying the foundation and arranging the transmission. The second is to put the turbine up. And then you are off and spinning!

And while both Kruse and Bergey understand that the turbines have an expensive initial cost, the long term benefits will prove beneficial, they say. “Many feel like installing turbines doesn’t make a lot of economic sense at the moment, but it will in the future,” says Kruse. “As long as supporters keep driving momentum, we can make it more economical.”

With the summer temperature rising alongside fuel costs there seems to be a renewed interest in solar power. Maybe as a nation we’ll reach that critical tipping point! Here’s an excellent article about the fiscal benefits of solar power by our partners at TheStreet.com.

Added bonus: a link to Find Solar’s installation cost and potential return on investment calculator.

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Solar Power’s Great, but Is It Worth It?
by Jeffery Strain

With energy prices at all time highs, should you be looking to solar power to help your pocketbook?

When it comes to politics, there aren’t many issues where more than 90% of Republicans, Independents and Democrats can agree — but that’s exactly how things stand when it comes to developing solar power.

According to a recently released SCHOTT Solar Barometer report, 91% of Republicans, 98% of Independents and 97% of Democrats believe it’s in the vital interest of the U.S. to develop solar power.

Companies such as BP (BP - Cramer’s Take - Stockpickr), First Solar (FSLR - Cramer’s Take - Stockpickr), Trina Solar (TSL - Cramer’s Take - Stockpickr), Canadian Solar (CSIQ - Cramer’s Take - Stockpickr) and LDK Solar (LDK - Cramer’s Take - Stockpickr) are working to propel alternative energy even further, but there’s a household angle, too.

With energy costs taking more and more out of paychecks, many people are asking whether it makes financial sense to invest in a solar power system for their home to lower their electric bill.

The answer depends on a number of factors.

Start-up costs: The biggest deterrent for most homeowners is the initial cost involved when installing solar power. It can range anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000 or more to install a solar power system depending on the size of the house and how much power you hope to generate.

Due to the large initial costs, solar power needs to be viewed as a long-term investment where it will take years to recover the costs involved.

Incentives: The incentives offered by your local utility and state can make a big difference as to whether or not installing a solar power system will make financial sense.

Harness the sun to harness your wallet - continue reading here.

Oh, the excitement in politics right now! Who watched last night’s political speeches? McCain looked like he was speaking to a group collected in a high school gym. The new Democratic nominee, Barack Obama, rocked a stadium!

Two hot-button items on both of candidate’s agendas are healthcare and the environment. What did the Geezeo community say about these issues? Our survey results continue. How do your views align… or run off the rails?

Geezeo members stated: “In response to current health insurance conditions, I have:”

Gone without regular check-ups or procedures, agreed 40%
Worked while ill, agreed 35%
26% stated they went without health insurance and
21% went without necessary medical

Or, to put it another way…30% agreed with all four statements!

This surprised me. Based on my personal experience, it seemed that far more people go without health insurance. Not that 30% answering “yes” to all four questions is a shining testament to healthcare for all…

What about the energy situation, voted by our community to be the most critical economic issue?

In response to the current energy situation, I have:

75% said: Driven my car less/walked more
30% stated: Started a carpool or increased reliance on public transportation
65% reported: Switched to energy-saving light bulbs
39% mentioned: Upgraded to a higher-efficiency major appliance

I was pleased by these results, but clearly, more must be done.

(Side note: I’m guessing now is a good time to upgrade to an energy-saving major appliance…some retailers are really starting to sweat and are offering great deals!)

Yesterday’s guest post by blogger Thicken My Wallet, “How High Energy/Fuel Prices Will Change Life as You Know It” is a must read.

How do these results match with your behaviors? Discuss in Geezeo forums such as “Gas Prices!” or groups like Green Trees and the recently-formed group, Carless Crusaders.

Are we entering the much-debated state of “Peak Oil”? You’ll recall that’s the state where the world’s reserves are officially leaning toward the “E” side of the dial. Maybe, maybe not… One thing is certain: gas prices are likely to continue going up, not down.

The average Geezeo user spent an average of $72.38 on purchases labeled “gas” last month.

How does that impact your wallet now? Here are six tips to help you with your “gas problem”:

1. Combine trips. Plan your errands so you do them all at once versus multiple trips and multiple miles.

2. Eliminate trips or carpool. Reconsider the expense of public transportation versus what it will cost you to drive. Or, consider where you can walk. Even in less pedestrian-friendly areas, you can find ways to walk. Even walking between parking lots can save some cash and give you some exercise.

3. Fill your tires. Properly-filled tires allows you to get the best gas mileage.

4. Change your oil and replace your air filters. Again, keep your car in the best working order. These tips cost a little up front but will save you in the long run.

5. Empty your trunk. Many people use their trunk as extra storage. You’re paying more for gas for every additional, unnecessary pound of weight in your trunk. Clean it out!

6. Find the best price online. Sites like GasBuddy.com allow you to find the best price in your area. Just don’t drive a considerable distance out of your way to save a few cents…

What gasoline usage tips would you add? For example, if you have a yard and use a gas-powered mower you might consider switching to an old-fashioned human-powered machine.

Can “going green” give you more greenbacks? Here are some earth-saving, and wallet-saving tips courtesy financial planner David Bach (the guy who made “latte factor” a phrase).

• $50 per year on your energy bill by buying an EPA “Energy Star”-rated washing machine—and cutting your water use by 7,000 gallons a year at the same time

• $72 a year on your water bill by turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, installing low-flow showerheads, and buying a dual-flush toilet (conserving 9,200 gallons of water)

• 30% on energy bills by getting an energy audit (reducing CO2 emissions by 9,545 pounds a year)

• $798 a year in gas by keeping your car well maintained (while keeping 5,800 pounds of CO2 out of the air each year)

• up to a third on many groceries by buying in bulk (helping reduce the 80 million tons of packaging that ends up in landfills each year)

• $40 annually by switching to recycled toilet paper (if we all did this, we would save 19 million trees a year) and $45 over the lifetime of a light bulb by switching to Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFLs)

• $94 a year on electric bills by buying a $35 power strip and eliminating the energy drain known as “phantom load” that accounts for 5 to 15 percent of your monthly electricity bill

• $8,580 a year by ditching one car completely

• $215 a year by using public transportation instead of a car for just one errand a week (if we all did this, we would collectively reduce carbon emissions by 149 million tons)

Just think what would happen if you invested the difference… for more similarly-themed ideas, check out Bach’s book: Go Green Live Rich.

Happy Earth Day! Discuss your earth-friendly, wallet-friendly tips at the Geezeo group Greentrees.

photograph: Lisa Solonynko

It seems like every spring and summer for the past 3 years a wave of disbelief over gas prices sweeps the nation. The feature stories on our favorite news programs all go something like this:

Reporter to everyday working man: Gas is now $2.50 a gallon. How will this impact your lifestyle?
Working man to reporter: The price of everything is going up. It’s getting harder to make ends meet. I guess I’ll try to drive less.

Production Note: Replay this footage when gas hits $2.75, $3.00, $3.50.

So this year the price of gas is expected to reach $4 a gallon. In parts of the west it already has. Why do so many people still seem surprised? Oil is a finite resource. Prices may fluctuate but the trend will remain in an upward arrow. That means bitching and moaning isn’t going to help. The government can’t save you. The only solution is to take action on changing your consumption habits. Luckily, the right thing for your wallet is usually also the right thing for the environment. Whether your motivation is saving money or saving the planet, you get points for both. Woo hoo! Hit up your Cheap Drinks group buddies and celebrate the greenest St. Patrick’s Day ever.

I found a cool resource at StopGlobalWarming.org. You can join their virtual march and use the Carbon and Cash Savings Calculator to find out what impact small changes can have on your wallet and the environment. According to the calculator, I reduce carbon output by 7,950 lbs. a year and save $2,500 by leaving my car at home 5 days a week. Public transportation actually costs me a little more than gas right now. I’m really saving the money on parking. But I had no idea the environmental impact of my choice was so huge.

Cooking and eating at home is a big money saver. Did you also know that greatly reducing the amount of takeout foods you eat can save 24 lbs. of carbon a year? One of my goals for the year is to break the habit of buying books and use the library more often. That should save me roughly $300 a year. According to the calculator it will also decrease my carbon output by 30 lbs. So yeah, I’ve been meaning to go green. In my desire to save the other green I’ve been making a difference without even knowing it. What changes have you made that are good for your wallet and the planet?

Hey- group Greentrees, I expect to see some comments on this.
Been Wasteful? Confess your sins on Geezeo Money Confessions.

So, all you hear about lately is “Going Green”…and I was thinking the other day…I am really bad about recycling when I’m at school. Since I go through so many Poland Spring water bottles a day…I was like ya know, one of my new years resolutions is to start recycling more, I mean it REALLY isn’t that hard, I’m just being lazy! So, I was looking for other ways that people and I guess the world is going green and I came upon this really interesting blog…I though these things that the author talked about were funny/interesting/and show a whole new outlook on things! So take a look, you may learn a thing or two and decide to go green like myself :o)

What kind of gift is the one that keeps taking?
And one you’d actually want give to someone?

Last week we discussed a way to give during the holiday seasons. Here’s a gift idea that keeps taking.

What is it? A $15 subscription to Greendimes.com — its a service that takes away your excess junk mail…for the rest of your life. That’s right: $15 gets you a lifetime subscription. This includes all the housing moves you might make, too. And, as a bonus they plant one tree a month for the first year you’re a member.

Now, okay: I admit, I’m a bit biased here because I use the service. So I can assure you it works. They monitor your name and continually remove it from all those junk mail lists. And, you can also add the names of former residents at your dorm, apartment, or home and they’ll get rid of that mail, too!

So why give the gift that takes? We all know that mail comes from trees and is hauled around in gas-guzzling, green-house-gas-making vehicles to get to your mailbox. It’s just not cool to get the last resident’s issue of Fingerhut again and again if you’re a good, environmentally-minded citizen.

Two people on my list got subscriptions. Here are some added benefits:

+ You don’t have to pack or mail anything
+ You don’t have to wrap anything
+ You don’t have to plant the trees they throw in
+ Everyone dislikes junk mail — it’s a surefire hit

…and oh yeah, it’s easy on the budget, too. Goodbye, junk mail!

Interested in the intersection of environmental and financial concerns? Join the Geezeo Greentrees group!

Here it comes! So-called “Black Friday”. That’s the first Friday after Thanksgiving and traditionally the largest shopping day of the year.

So are you going to pile in the car and go get yourself some deals?

Nuh-uh. Not me. Keep me far away from the crazy crowds, thank you. There just aren’t deals good enough. I’ve become more of a “order online or go at off-hours” kind of shopper.

Which brings me to two seemingly unrelated topics: parking lots and mac computers. The first you’ll probably be searching for in vain. The second you’ll probably have on your holiday list, in some sort of Apple form (ipod, mini, laptop, or iMac, non-naughty listmakers?)

Salon posted an interesting article about…. parking lots. Specifically, that many parking lots are built to hold the huge traffic days like Black Friday. What are the economic and environmental costs of free parking? More interesting than you’d think. Makes me think twice now on the rare occasions I pay for parking.

And macs? You don’t have to look far to find Apple fanatics. While Geezeo here is an equal-opp tech shop, I’d say there are more hardcore Mac fans. And why not? Macs are awesome! But have you ever considered the economic trade-offs of buying a mac? Sure, they cost more at the onset. But: they hold their value longer, too. In this brilliant article the issue is solved once and for all… Macs are cheaper.

Which brings us to an interesting phenom happening right now. Yes, right now as we digest those big heavy holiday meals: the development of an economy where almost all goods are liquid and as a whole we move toward “auction culture”. An article and book review of “Future Shop” not to miss right here.

Happy Thanksgiving!
(Now, go set up a Geezeo account, check your budgets…its holiday shoppin’ time!)