Do You Really Need to Print That?

I adore my hubby, but one of my "pet peeves" is that he prints SO many things that could just be read on the computer screen, and either bookmarked or "saved" on the computer hard-drive for future reference.

A computer itself is a costly investment, but it's become part of the way we live, and one of the good things that can come from it is the saving of paper. Many books are in eBook form now, and it's really helpful for your pocket book, and for the environment if you think twice before you print. And when you DO print, be sure to throw your paper away in with your paper recycling...you are recycling, aren't you?

Pennies Saved: To Numerous to Count!

Solar Energy, Power from the Sun

We don't have access to a lot of sun on our property, as there are quite a few trees, but driving about and seeing solar panels on homes, and seeing lighting that can absorb the sun by day that will light the light by night is fascinating. It's not new, but one of many ways to produce energy other than oil that we should continue to explore...and exploit! Here is a nice simple article how it works.
(picture from freefoto.com)

What is Solar Energy? How it Works and Why

By: Xavier Tikadar

Solar energy is radiated from the sun through forms of heat and light, this powers the Earth's climate and sustains life. Today’s technologies can make use of this energy resource. Simply, solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electric power. The technologies that are used to convert the sunlight into power are called photovoltaics, there are also other technologies that have been used such as concentrating solar thermal devices but a lot of the experimental devices such as thermal converters, solar chimneys and solar ponds have also been used.

Solar energy is a much safer and energy efficient way of creating electricity, the use of solar energy has now become an important component to consider when designing a building. This is what thermal mass is used for; because it preserves the heat that the sunshine delivers to the building and can then transfer that heat into electricity. There are also solar water heaters which are a much more efficient way of heating swimming pools, and are a great idea for large hotels and sports pools, which use up a lot of the earths non renewable fuels.

We also use solar power in agriculture, in particular greenhouses, in case you've always wondered what they are for, now you know, because they grow specialty crops, which are difficult to grow out side in the normal atmosphere, instead, the greenhouse uses the photovoltaics, which cause the plants to photosynthesize, which causes them to grow faster and stronger. There are also photovoltaic powered water pumps for grazing cattle. There are also evaporation ponds which can work in the city and in the country; they are used to harvest salt and clean streams of contaminants.

In the poorer areas of the world, solar distillation and disinfection techniques produce potable water for millions of people. Also for families, and large buildings, family scale cookers and larger solar kitchens concentrate sunlight for cooking, and in the more industrial work places, more sophisticated concentrating technologies magnify the rays of the sun for high temperature material testing, metal smelting and industrial chemical production. A range of prototype solar vehicles provide ground, air and sea transportation.

How do the solar power technologies work? Here is an example:

The simplest form of solar energy collection is the FLAT PLATE COLLECTOR, this is a long flat rectangle which ideally would be fixed on to a roof or building in a sunny area.

Dark metal plates absorb and preserve the heat. Coils of tubing are looped throughout the collector, next to the metal plates with air, water or an anti freeze solution circulating within them. The heat is transferred into the coils and thus the fluid/air as it circulates through the tubing. The air or fluid is either used immediately (as hot water or to heat a room, pool, etc.) or it is transferred to a well insulated holding tank for later use.

These are capable of reaching temperatures of 82 degrees Celsius which is great for heating water or a room.

Author Resource:-> Xavier Tikadar is the http://ecoswitch.com/tags/renewables/ solar panels expert at EcoSwitch The environmental social network.


Article From Selling With Articles

Buying a Water Conserving Toilet

The past couple of weeks we have been going through the expensive process of having a new septic system installed...definitely not one of the most "penny pinching" experiences in our life, but maybe one that makes me glad we've pinched them in the past. It's necessary to keep the environment around us clean, especially when you consider our home is a lake front cabin.

For years we have had an old toilet that takes forever to flush, and uses I don't know how much water to get the job done. So, we have "treated" ourselves to a new "bathroom throne" that will reduce the amount of water used with each flush dramatically...and has the power needed to get the job done quickly.

Since our water is from our own well, we are pretty self-sustained, but every now and then, when I see the huge bill to put in the septic, I wonder whether being hooked up to our towns sewer system would be a better idea. What do you think?

One way or the other, the reality is that sometimes you have to sacrifice some of your hard earned money to care for the things around you.

Soap Scraps in the Bathroom

What do you do with those little, thin pieces of soap that are left over at the end of the bar? The bar of soap that is! My husband has a way to save a penny or two...rather than throw the piece away, take your new bar, use it, and while it's still a bit soft, "stick" that thin leftover piece to it, after it dries, it will become part of the new bar.

I never thought of doing that before I met my hubby, and wonder how many pennies we've saved in our 29 years of marriage? And how many I wasted before I met my dear hubby?

Update 10/30/08 - I found the following video showing how to use soap scraps to make soap, enjoy!

Penny Pincher Weekend Outings

I hope you're enjoying your weekend. This year with gas prices going up and down, thankfully down at this typing, but still quite high, I find myself looking through our small, free (yes, free, we don't buy newspapers) local newspapers for local things to do in our area.

There is quite a bit that we can do and enjoy for very little money within a short distance of our home. For the next couple of months there is a Renaissance Festival in a nearby County, there are Lantern Tours (walking historic trails with candle-lit lanterns) at a local historic site as well as battle reenactments, there's a Shakespeare play performed outside not far from us each summer. Have to start keeping my eye open for that, we bring our own chairs, light dinner and drinks. There are music events in parks, and at a nearby botanical garden, wine tastings, live entertainment at a local church, and the list goes on.

Depending upon where you are, and how active the people in your town are in providing activities to enjoy, you may not have to go far to have some fun on the weekends. Enjoy!

Does Food Shopping Online Save Money?

Up until I started working outside the home a year ago last February, I shopped the traditional way, putting together my list, looking at the weekly sale flier for the best prices, checking my coupons, and out the door to walk the isles.

When I started working, I decided to give the internet shopping service our store has a try. I like it, it makes the "store" much smaller...one of my pet peeves is that stores are too big, too many choices! All of the things I usually buy are saved in my "Master List" to refer to each week, and I just check off the items needed...yes, I have a few choices on the list of some of my favorite items to make sure I'm getting the item in question on sale. The only downfall if you can call it that is that I'm charged $12.00 for my order which I go and pick up, I don't think that's an unreasonable price for the time someone spends putting the order together.

But I'm not working outside the home now, and trying to justify shopping online...does the amount I save by not wandering the isles and being tempted by this and that item make up for, or exceed, the $12.00 I spend to have my order picked and packaged? I'm hoping so.

Empty Veggie Bags & Paper Towel Rolls

Everyone who shops in the produce section of the store comes home with their veggies in those nice, clear plastic bags. Everyone uses paper towels. What can you do with an empty paper towel roll or two and those vegetable bags after you have emptied them into your fruit basket or refrigerator?

Take the bags that are clean and not wet from whatever was in them, and twist them around a finger or two, releasing all the air from them, and then stuff them into the empty paper towel roll to save the for future use. It's amazing how many will fit into one empty paper towel roll. Put them away where you store your other paper products, or any other convenient location.

This helps protect the environment because you are re-using not one, but several things that you would normally throw away.

Are Water Powered Cars an Answer?

I have a small Volkswagen Cabrio convertible which is great right now with gas prices as they are, and don't travel much, currently working from home, contemplating a part-time job out of the home, but in the local area soon.

But the thought of a car that runs on water had be curious enough to read a few articles on the subject, here's one of them, a bit long, but good!

Why Not Water Powered Cars?

By: Ray Subs

Gas prices are outrageous and there seems to be no end in sight. There are several solutions, but none of them are good long term solutions. We could ignore the environmental effects and drill for oil right here in our own country, but would that really decrease the cost of gas? We could car pool, use mass transit transportation, ride bicycles, walk more, or even buy cars with better gas mileage, but there are too many people who don t have the luxury of being able to take advantage of some of those solutions. Take the farmer for instance. He can t car pool, trucks are not known to be the most gas efficient on the road, transit transportation is not available, and riding bicycles or walking is just out of the question. So what can we do to decrease our personal dependency on gas?

Of course there is an option or two we have not considered. One is to buy a hybrid car or convert your current vehicle in to a water powered car. There are many benefits to owning and driving a hydrogen or water powered car. They will save on the environment because the do not produce or emit as much carbon dioxide as the gas powered cars. It has been reported by those who are currently driving water powered cars gas mileage has increased by 100 . Water powered cars look exactly like the cars you drive now; they don t look any different. In a line up with gas powered cars you will have a difficult time distinguishing the difference between the two types of cars.

Water powered cars make very little noise while running and driving down the road. If you were to pass one you would be able to tell it from the gas powered model because there is no vibration and the motor runs much quieter. Many consumers in order to save on the amount of gas they purchase are buying the new hybrid model cars, which run on water or electricity. You may have some skepticism regarding water powered vehicles, but there are truck drivers who have converted their trucks to run on water because of the savings on fuel cost. If it weren't for freight truck drivers, this country would be in a bind. If the products cannot come to you, then you would have to go to the products. Diesel is higher than regular or even super unleaded gasoline at the stations. If truck drivers are able to save money by converting their trucks to water powered, you will have a better chance of finding the products you need on the shelves in the stores.

So if you are looking to beat the cost as the gas pumps, you are left with two options, which are to buy a hybrid or converting your gas engine to a water powered engine. You will find the cost of converting your current vehicle to be much cheaper than buying a hybrid. They have kits on the market, which are designed for you to convert your vehicle from gas to water. When looking for a kit, make sure you purchase the kit from a reputable dealer. The kits are easy to install and they can be taken out to revert the vehicle back to gasoline should you see the need.

So, if you are tired of paying the price at the pump, then look into converting you vehicle to a water powered vehicle. You will be doing your part to save the environment and drastically reducing the price you are paying at the gas pumps.

Author Resource:-> Ray Subs works with Water Powered Cars as a public relation consultant, more information can be found at http://www.waterpoweredcars.com

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Welcome to my Blog Redo

Welcome to a redo of my blog...I am starting all over again because I was using a free blogger xml template made by someone who was somehow able to get links into my header and after trying numerous things, could not find a place to remove them. So changed the name a bit, changed the look, but have the same url. I look forward to sharing what comes so naturally to me that I don't even think about it much...in fact, I have spent years cutting corners and saving in so many ways, and it comes SO naturally, that I take it for granted.

I headed out on my own many years ago at the age of 21 with nothing at all but a couple suitcases and boxes, moved from place to place and finally settled in an inexpensive apartment, paid my own way through college, married and had children, continuing my frugal habits to this day, so I've got lots to share with you.

I do have to get my posts from the previous blog over here, but will try to put some new ones in between, so come back soon!