Walt Decherd Blog

Electricity Dependence and Energy Conservation

Electricity Conservation By Walt Decherd By Shelly Wagar

Why are we so dependent on electricity? The answer is simple – electricity allows modern appliances and more convenience in our lives. What would life be like if we went back to the time before electricity? Life was much harder than, and electricity has made modern life possible. The problem with being dependent on electricity is the fact that much of the electricity we use is created in coal powered energy plants. When coal is burned, greenhouse gases and pollution are emitted that cause environmental harm. Going back to no electricity is not a viable option, but we can lower our electricity consumption and find other ways to create electricity using alternative energy sources instead of coal and other fossil fuels. Waste to energy programs are one way that needed electricity can be produced without using fossil fuels, and there are many others.

The basics of electricity production are not as complex as many believe. Electricity can be produced using many other methods besides ones which require fossil fuels. Wind power, solar power, ocean power, and geothermal power are all alternative energy sources which can produce electricity. The basic production is the same though because all electricity starts with electrons, and a conductor which allows these electrons to travel through the material. Without a conductor it is not possible for electricity to travel from one place to another. A generator is used to move the electricity in the desired direction and flow. For electricity to be produced an electrical circuit is needed. Electricity production is possible using alternative energy sources instead of coal or other fossil fuels, and this will give many benefits, including environmental benefits.

Energy conservation efforts must be used to minimize electricity dependence, while using alternative energy sources to create the electricity needed. But exactly what lies behind real energy conservation? Real energy conservation means cutting back on the electricity you use, and making sure that the electricity you do use for necessities is produced from eco friendly alternative energy sources, instead of coal or other fossil fuels. If you have older appliances, replace them with energy efficient models that do not require as much electricity, and make your home as energy efficient as possible. Try to minimize electricity use as much as possible, and use clean sources of electricity.

The benefits of using energy saving light bulbs can help with electricity conservation. These bulbs last ten times longer than the usual light bulbs, and do not cost much more. Energy saving bulbs can help save both money and energy, because they do not have to be replaced as frequently, and they require much less energy to use. In addition less waste goes to the landfill, because energy saving bulbs do not need to be replaced anywhere near as often as traditional light bulbs. These bulbs can be an efficient way to conserve energy and protect the environment from harm, and is just one way out of thousands that you can use conservation efforts to make a difference. Electricity dependence does not mean conservation efforts can not be effective. Protecting the environment, conserving energy, and using alternative energy sources to produce electricity will prevent any energy crisis and keep the environment in good shape.

10 Ways to Promote Water Conservation Around Your Home

Water Conservation Myths By Walt Decherd By Jason Levinsohn

When it comes to water conservation and energy conservation, both categories go hand in hand with each other. By conserving water, we are in fact conserving energy as well. It takes a lot of energy at the water treatment plants to take the water from the sewer and convert it into drinking water. So by practicing a couple of water conservation techniques in your home, you are effectively conserving energy usage as well. In this article, we will discuss ten techniques you can use around your home to help conserve water.

1. Put a brick or plastic bottle filled with water in your toilet tank. By putting a plastic bottle in your toilet tank, you cut down on the amount of water that goes down the toilet every time you flush. Older toilets can hold up to 5 gallons of water. That’s 5 gallons every time you flush. It is not really necessary to have that much water to flush the toilet. Just make sure you have at least 3 gallons of flush water to ensure the toilet flushes properly.

2. Insulate your water pipes under the sink. It is fairly easy to insulate your water pipes under the sink by wrapping some fiber glass insulation around the white pipes. Be sure to wear gloves and a mask over your nose and mouth when doing this because the fiber glass can get in your skin and lungs, and that can be very bad.

3. Check for water leaks by using the water meter on the side of your home. You can find out if you have any water leaks in your home by making a note of the meter reading when you know no one is using the water in the house for the next two or three hours. Come back and check it after a couple of hours and if the meter has changed then you know there is a leak somewhere.

4. Do not leave the water running while brushing your teeth. The dentist tells us to brush our teeth for 2 minutes. Normally it does not take 2 minutes to get warm water flowing in the sink. Get the water warm and then turn it off when brushing your teeth. Trust me; it will still be warm in 2 minutes.

5. Fill the sink with water when shaving. Instead of rinsing your razor off with running water, fill the sink with some water and shake your razor in the sink to rinse it off. This works just as well as running the razor under running water, and will save you a couple of gallons every day.

6. Use your dish washer when ever possible. It seems kind of hard to believe, but you can save water by running your dish washer instead of washing the dishes by hand. This is also true with your washing machine. I’m not suggesting you wash your clothes by hand, but washing your clothes when you can run a full load only will help conserve water usage.

7. Rinse vegetables in a pan of clean water. Rather than rinsing off your vegetables before your prepare food under running water, fill either a pan or your sink with water and dip your vegetables in the bowl of clean water.

8. Put in water saving shower heads and take shorter showers. Nobody wants to here it, but obviously taking shorter showers will help conserve lots of water. Also, many new shower heads help limit the amount of water needed to effectively rinse off your body in the shower.

9. Check your toilet for leaks. It is very easy to test your toilet for a leak. Simply put some food coloring in the toilet tank and wait about 30 minutes. If you see the water in the toilet bowl changing color, you might have a leak in your toilet.

10. Make sure your kitchen faucets and bathroom faucets have aerators. Aerators do pretty much what it sounds like. It adds air to the flow of water coming from the faucet to help reduce Gallons per minute going through the faucet while retaining the rinsing power of the faucet.

Why You Should Invest in Energy Conservation

Walt Decherd Financial Investment Strategies By Dan Bossenbroek

A fluctuating stock market, depressed economy, and a myriad of investment options available make it difficult to determine the best financial investment strategy these days. Even the tried and true investment strategy of purchasing a new house is not a guarantee anymore. However, there is a way to invest in your current property that can ensure you a great return and help raise your position in the home resale market.

As energy prices continue to trend upwards, it makes more and more sense to do what you can to reduce your energy costs. A typical family in the United States spends between $2,000 and $3,000 on utilities each and every year and this does not include phone, cable or internet service. Energy costs in the United States have risen an average of about 5% per year over the past 8 years, and the rate was even higher until the recent sharp drop in prices. Furthermore, this trend is only expected to get worse. Thus, in ten years an average family can expect to pay somewhere in the range of $3,000 to $6,000 a year on utilities.

There is something that you can do to help minimize the impact of increasing energy costs, however, and that is to invest in energy conservation home improvement projects. Remember that the least expensive energy is the energy that you never use. For example, one strategy might be to take $2,000 and instead of investing it in mutual funds or the stock market, invest it in making your house more energy efficient. Some of the most cost effective steps that you can take like switching to LED nightlights, LED and CFL light bulbs and using watering timers and low flow showerheads don’t seem like investments, but they very quickly pay for themselves and continue to save you money year after year. This energy conservation investment could easily reduce your energy costs 15% to 25% or approximately $400 a year. You can even recapture your original investment by taking the money that you save each year and investing it just as you planned to invest the original $2000. In just five to eight years this investment strategy will likely out perform a typical mutual fund, and in just nine to fourteen years it should be worth twice as much.

An added benefit of this strategy is the increase in value or increased salability of your home. Some of the steps that you might take such as adding insulation, a whole house fan or even installing a solar air heater will add value to your home. Most home improvement projects immediately add 70% to 90% of the cost of the improvement to the value of your home. Furthermore, with these green home improvements your house will be much more attractive to a potential buyer, especially when you can show that your utility bills are significantly lower than those of other comparable houses.

Which ever way you look at it; increased investment value, reduced utility bills, increased comfort level, greater home value, or ease of resale, they all indicate that the wise investment is in energy conservation. You probably knew that saving energy saves you money but you may not have imagined that to GO GREEN that you have so many ways to GROW GREEN.

Warehouse Lighting and Energy Conservation

Walt Decherd Energy Conservation By Budda Oliver

Storing an inventory of goods in your warehouse is a business that requires many facets to run properly. You must accommodate for all types of storage needs and provide the equipment to efficiently retrieve the items when needed for shipment. Warehouse management software is needed to keep a detailed inventory of all the stored goods and hire a workforce to operate the business. The large, open spaces of an industrial warehouse require adequate lighting so items are easily visible. Proper lighting will allow workers the ability to navigate through the aisles with no difficulty, therefore reducing the risk of accidents and damage to the stored items.

Adequate lighting is essential in the docking stations of a warehouse. Truck drivers and workers need to be able to see where they are going as they load and unload inventory. In a high volume warehouse where there is a lot of activity, it is essential that the docking area be properly lit so the risk of accidents and machinery running into each other is diminished.

When constructing a warehouse or purchasing an existing one, make sure it has the right amount of illumination. Remember to take into account the types of goods you’ll be storing, because some items are light sensitive and can be damaged by lighting that is too bright. Always keep your employees’ safety in mind. You need to choose lighting that will allow your workers to effectively get tasks done and contributes to their overall safety and security. In some warehouses, and depending on what types of items are stored, the use of skylights is a great way to provide natural light at no cost.

It is imperative to inspect the wiring of your warehouse lighting system. Make sure quality electrical cable is used and no wires are exposed. A short circuit or other electrical problems may cause a fire and damage or wipe out your entire inventory of stored items.

Take into account the amount of lighting fixtures and what type of bulb would provide the best illumination for savings on your energy bill. Fluorescent lighting is a great choice for bright and energy efficient lighting. Fluorescent bulbs last much longer -up to 10 times longer – than standard incandescent light bulbs and use less energy. Fluorescent bulbs produce 70% less heat than traditional lighting, making sure your warehouse doesn’t overheat and eliminating the need for excess air conditioning. This is also important for heat sensitive materials that can be damaged by the extra heat from incandescent bulbs. Remember to stock up on extra bulbs so they can be easily and quickly replaced when need be.