POWER-SAVE SOLAR IS SOLAR MADE SIMPLE.

Power-Save Solar Systems Make Going Green Affordable and Easy. Harness the Power of the Sun and Decrease or Eliminate your Electric Bill Today!

Solar electricity is no longer the energy of the future; it's the energy of today! By making solar truly affordable and accessible, Power-Save has made it possible for everyone to reduce or eliminate electric bills and, at the same time, improve the quality of our environment.

Power-Save's complete consumer ready solar systems are designed to simplify the process for the end-user and provide the most cost-effective solar solutions on the market. In many states, government incentives and rebates may offset your purchase price entirely!

by: http://www.power-save.com/solar.html

SOLAR ENERGY

What is Solar Energy?

Solar Energy is light from the sun which grows, warms, and sustains life here on earth. Solar Energy can be converted into Electricity through Photovoltaic Arrays. Photo means light and voltaics means it has to do with electricity. The Arrays are whatever captures the sunlight, most often these are solar panels. This is why solar panels are often referred to as PV (photovoltaic) arrays.


▼What makes a Solar Panel work?
A Solar Panel is made up of many individual Solar Cells. These Solar Cells are made up of a semiconducting material like silicon. Semiconducting is a fancy way of saying that these materials move (or conduct) the flow of electrons. Organizing the flow of electrons into a useful stream gives rise to an electric current. This current can then be used to charge batteries or power DC electronics but not typical AC wall outlets yet. To learn more about inverting DC to AC current see the next question.

Below is a diagram explaining the different layers inside each solar cell and how they conduct electrons into a useful current.




1. Light comes in from the sun and hits the Solar Panel. The Solar Panel is made up of many Solar Cells which now absorb the sunlight. Inside the Solar Cell we find two different semiconducting layers: the p-type and the n-type. The p-type has an abundance of electrons and the n-type has few electrons.

2. The incoming sunlight knocks off a few negatively-charged electrons from atoms in the electron-heavy p-type material.

3. These energized electrons flow through the electron-barren n-type material.

4. This constant one-way flow of electrons creates a Direct Current. The energized electrons flow through a circuit, are made to do electrical work charging batteries or powering light bulbs, and are sent back into the p-type to be energized again.

By :www.energymasters.com

Solar Panels

The utilisation of solar panels is a great way to generate clean and renewable electricity that's capable of powering remote appliances or even partially powering your home or workplace.

There are two main forms of solar cells in existence today and these are "solar electricity panels" and "solar hot water panels". The two different technologies available allow you to either generate electricity or provide a hot water supply.
Solar Panels - Roof Mounted

As time goes by we begin to see new, increasingly efficient solar panel designs. This continues to make the use of photovoltaic power more viable to homeowners and businesses over electricity sources derived from fossil fuel sources.

It's unlikely we will see heavy industry using photovoltaic electricity for quite some time due to the much larger energy demand that industry requires, however, with increasingly efficient solar power technologies becoming available, photovoltaic electricity systems may be able to one day power large industrial facilities.

As the technologies surrounding the use of photovoltaics improve, we are likely to see a much greater, widespread use of solar cells.


Solar Electricity Panels



Solar (or photovoltaic) cells are a very useful way of providing electricity to remote areas where the use of electricity may be essential yet the laying of high voltage cable may not be viable. The best example of the importance of solar energy to provide electricity in remote locations can be found in space. For many years, satellites have been using solar panels to catch the sun's rays to provide power to the equipment on board.
Solar Electricity Panel

Photovoltaic cells can be aligned as an array, as shown to the top of this page. There are many advantages of using a solar cell array with various panels fitted along a mounting system. One of the main advantages is that we are able to combine various numbers of cells to provide a greater output of electricity and this method makes solar electricity a viable option to contribute to powering small homes and businesses. Large scale arrays are capable of powering larger homes and businesses.

The increasing efficiency of solar energy technologies means we are able to purchase and install panels knowing we are likely to receive an efficient means of harnessing energy from the sun's rays to turn into electricity for use in our homes.

It's possible for a household to receive its full amount of electricity from solar energy through the use of solar panels, yet this is unlikely in most cases. The costs involved with supplying a whole house with electricity from photovoltaic panels would be quite high for the average homeowner. The use of solar electricity in the average home is still a viable option to provide a substantial amount of electricity helping to reduce energy bills over the period of operation.

Solar Hot Water Panels


Solar Panels - Providing Hot WaterThe use of solar panels to heat water is becoming increasingly popular around the world due to the cost savings associated with this method.

A good solar hot water panel system is able to provide an average household with around a third of its annual hot water supply. While this may not sound much, it can reduce energy costs by a considerable amount.

Some installations combine both solar hot water panels with solar electricity panels, helping to provide reduced energy costs whilst harnessing a renewable and clean source of energy.

The combination of a solar hot water panel with other renewable energy technologies such as solar panels or a home wind turbine can work quite well in providing a source of cheap, clean, and renewable energy for our homes.

Integration is key for the success of a solar electricity system, so be sure to consult an expert in this field when planning any installation. Reputable renewable energy installation companies should be able to provide advice on the most appropriate solution for your area and personal requirements.


Solar Panel Suppliers

Why not take a look at some of the many different suppliers of solar panels we have featured on the website. Finding an installer can be a difficult task, and we hope you will be able to easily locate a reputable supplier in your local area or country.

by:clean-energy-ideas

How to Save Electricity

How to Save Electricity is a popular question. It involves energy conservation and lessens real dollars and preserves a public resource. Here are some ways to cut energy costs without compromising your lifestyle too much.

Control heating and cooling costs

In some climates, heating and cooling represent the largest part of household energy use. In many climates, running your air conditioner at 78 instead of 72 will earn 40% of your cooling bill. You don't have to freeze or roast to death in order to use less energy and earn money. Here are a few tips:

How to Save Electricity? Make sure your filters are clean. Check with the manufacturer of your equipment or with your utility company to see if filters on your units need to be cleaned.
Don't heat or cool when no one is home. If you are going to be gone for more than a half an hour, you can turn your heating or cooling off or down. Don't turn off the heat in a cold climate because that may result in the pipes breaking.
Supplement your main unit with portable units Running a fan can help you use less air conditioning. Using portable heaters when you are asleep or otherwise staying in one room can mean less use of heat if it means that you don't have to use the main unit.
Try setting your thermostat to run less frequently Turn your air conditioner up a degree or two or your heater down a degree or two and see if you still can be comfortable.
Time your opening and closing of windows and drapes to reduce heading and cooling costs. On cold, sunny days, opening curtains and drapes while leaving windows closed will help you heat your home. Opening the windows on summer nights helps cool your home. Buying storm windows in some climates reduces heating costs.
Check for holes in your roof and in your pipes. This can help reduce up to 10 per cent of your heating and cooling costs.

Get How to Save Electricity ideas from your utility company
Utility companies are among the few businesses who hope that you use less of their product. Most power companies are anxious to postpone construction of new power plants, so they strongly encourage customers to use less power.
Utility companies offer energy audits, tips, and other help for customers who want to reduce energy consumption. Call your local utility or log onto their website to see what they have to offer.

Other tips:

Consider How to Save Electricity by increasing your energy efficiency when buying appliances Appliances are labeled with energy usage comparison tables. Look at these figures. Also, you may be able to buy an adapter to make your older appliances more energy efficient.
Turn off appliances that no one is using Turning off TV's, lamps, computers, VCR's, ovens, and other appliances that no one is using can reduce electric energy consumption. Even turning them off for short periods can produce noticeable results.
See if an alternative energy company is available In California, electrical deregulation is beginning to result in alternative providers of electric power. This is a trend that should increase nationally. See if that option is available to you.
Install low-flow heads in your water closets. Also, check your water heater's temperature and set it for 120 degrees. Putting insulation over your water heater and pipes can also help.
Wash and dry only full loads of clothing or dishes

How to Save Electricity may not make you rich, but it will help you cut down some on your costs and will help prevent blackouts and power shortages in your community.

Are your company's profits being eroded by escalating energy costs? Can you gamble that your energy costs will go down in the future? What are you doing about preparing and protecting your company from spiraling energy costs?

Do you have the knowledge of the dynamic market with the right equipment that will make the 'smart decisions' and make an effective difference in your energy consumption and see your energy bill go down?

Do you know about the latest technologies that you can implement now?

These "How to Save Electricity" questions can be answered by our new Industrial, Commercial & Institutional Energy Efficiency Handbook. This 100+ page book is jammed with practical information on reducing energy consumption, increase Energy efficiency by using modern technologies such as variable frequency drives, high efficiency electrical devices, energy efficient lighting, energy management control systems, metering and management systems, as well as fan, pump and blower efficiency improvements. We will also list Federal, State, utility and Canadian government programs that will reduce your energy consumption and increase your energy efficiency.

By :electricityforum

Clean Your Plate, Save Energy

When you look to conserve energy around your house, you might insulate drafty windows or replace incandescent light bulbs. But a new study suggests that you should focus on your kitchen's trash can. Researchers now estimate that the U.S. throws away about 2000 trillion Btu of energy each year as food waste—a figure equivalent to Sweden's annual energy consumption (Environ. Sci. Technol., DOI: 10.1021/es100310d).

This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that food production accounted for 15.7% of the nation's total energy demand. But the last time the USDA calculated how much food people throw away was 15 years ago. In that 1995 study, the department reported that 27% of food produced in the U.S. went to waste.

Michael Webber and Amanda Cuéllar of the Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy at the University of Texas, Austin, wanted to calculate the energy we lose today by throwing away food.

Using government agricultural data and previous studies, the researchers estimated the amount of energy used at each stage of our food’s life, from farming to industrial food processing to cooking. They crunched the numbers for each part of the food pyramid separately, including grains, dairy products, meats, and fats and oils. To estimate how much food we waste now, they extrapolated from the 1995 USDA data and assumed that the rates increased linearly.

When they tallied up all the lost energy for each food group, dairy was the biggest energy sink; and the sum of all wasted foods accounted for about 2% of the nation's annual energy consumption. Although that seems small, Webber calls it a big deal: In 2007, oil companies extracted about the same amount of energy from offshore crude oil production.

But with relatively low food prices in the U.S., few good solutions exist to prevent people from throwing away energy. So Webber suggests that the USDA start a new baseline study of how much food we waste to help better illustrate the energy consequences.

David Pimentel, who studies energy use and sustainable agriculture at Cornell University, concurs. He thinks that Webber and Cuéllar's energy estimate is a little high, but he's glad they "took a whack at it."

by :pubs.acs.org

SAVING ENERGY

I'm Professor Questor, inviting you to join me on an "Energy Quest." How many ways can you think of to save energy around your house?
California's electricity problems taught us all to think about the energy we use everyday. There's never enough energy to waste!
Many Californians learned to use their energy more efficiently. We also learned how to conserve energy - how to make thoughtful choices about ways we can use less. We learned how important it is to not waste energy, so there is enough for everyone.
Californians "Flexed Their Power" by using energy at different times of the day, by turning lights and machines off when not being used.
If you want to find out why California had its "Energy Crisis," the U.S. Department of Energy has a good background page at:
www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/california/california.html
Are YOU and your family having an energy crisis? You may be if you're wasting energy. How many of these ways to save energy around the house do YOU know?

Change a Light, Change the World

We really can "Change the World" with just one light bulb. The key is that the more people that take this step, the more we can change the world.


Fight the Light!

Don't leave lights on when no one is in the room. If you are going to be out of the room for more than five minutes, turn off the light.
If you know of a light that everyone forgets to turn off, make a sticker or a sign to hang next to the switch that says "Lights Out!" or "Don't Forget!"
Where possible, use compact fluorescent light bulbs. Those funny-looking bulbs produce the same amount of light by using 1/4 of the electricity. Plus, they last for years and years without burning out.
There's one light bulb that firefighters in Livermore, California, never turn off. It uses very little energy and has been burning for 101 years! Find out more about the Centennial Bulb,

Don't Leave Things Turned On

Turn off the TV when no one is watching it. The same goes for computers, radios and stereos - if no one using it, turn it off. Turn off all the appliances at the surge protector/control strip - that four- or six-plug extension chord that you plug all your computer things into. Some devices, like modems or other networking boxes are drawing small amounts of power all the time. Check with your folks first, but the best thing to do is turn them ALL off at the surge protector.

It's a Matter of Degrees!

In warm weather, the thermostat at home should be set at 78 degrees. (Don't do this, of course, if it will cause health problems for anyone in your family.) When no one is home, set the thermostat at 85 degrees. That way, you'll reduce the need for air conditioning and you will save energy. If you have ceiling fans or other fans, turn them on. The blowing air can make you feel 5 degrees cooler, without running the family's air conditioner. Fans use a lot less electricity than air conditioners!
In cold weather, wear warm clothing and have your thermostat set to 68 degrees or lower during the day and evening, health permitting. When you go to sleep at night, set the thermostat back to either 55 degrees, or turn it off. When you leave home for an extended time, set the thermostat at 55 degrees or turn it off, too. That way, your family can save from 5 percent to 20 percent on your heating costs. (Don't do this, of course, if it will cause health problems for anyone in your family.)
Don't Heat - or Cool - the Great Outdoors!
Americans use twice as much energy as necessary to heat their homes. That accounts for a lot of wasted energy!
If you have a fireplace, close the damper when you don't have a fire burning. An open fireplace damper can let 8 percent of heat from your furnace escape through the chimney! In the summer, an open fireplace damper can let cool air escape. It's like having a window open!
Make a map of your home, and mark all the windows, heating vents, and outside doors. Take a ribbon and hold it up to the edges of the doors and windows. If the ribbon blows, you've found a leak! Ask Mom or Dad to seal the leak with caulk or weatherstripping.
Think about your curtains. Keeping the curtains closed on cold, cloudy days helps block the cold outside air from getting inside. Also, keeping the curtains closed on very hot days keeps the hot air out!
In the Bedroom
Turn off your electric blanket when you aren't in bed.
Don't leave on your computer, TVs, radios or games that use electricity when you're not using them.
In the Bathroom
Wasting water wastes electricity. Why? Because the biggest use of electricity in most cities is supplying water and cleaning it up after it's been used!
About 75 percent of the water we use in our homes is used in the bathroom. Unless you have a low flush toilet, for example, you use about five gallons to seven gallons of water with every flush! A leaky toilet can waste more than 10,000 gallons of water a year. Wow!
Drippy faucets are bad, too. A faucet that leaks enough water to fill a soda bottle every 30 minutes will waste 2,192 gallons of water a year.
Another simple way to save water AND energy is to take shorter showers. You'll use less hot water - and water heaters account for nearly 1/4 of your home's energy use.
In the Kitchen
According to researchers who are paid to study such things, a load of dishes cleaned in a dishwasher uses 37 percent less water than washing dishes by hand! However, if you fill up one side of the sink with soapy water and the other side with rinse water - and if you don't let the faucet run - you'll use half as much water as a dishwasher does. Doing the dishes this way can save enough water for a five-minute shower!
If you need to warm up or defrost small amounts of food, use a microwave instead of the stove to save energy. Microwave ovens use around 50 percent less energy than conventional ovens do. For large meals, however, the stove is usually more efficient. In the summer, using a microwave causes less heat in the kitchen, which saves money on air conditioning.
Don't keep the refrigerator door open any longer than you need to. Close it to keep the cold air inside! Also, make sure the door closes securely. There is a rubber-like seal around the door that you can test. Just close the door on a dollar bill, and then see how easy it is to pull out. If the dollar slides out easily, the door is probably leaking cold air from inside.
Is there an old refrigerator sitting in the garage or someplace else at home? Old refrigerators are real energy hogs! An old refrigerator could be costing your family as much as $120 a year to operate. Urge your parents to replace it if they don't need it, and remind them that one large refrigerator is cheaper to run than two smaller ones.
Shocking News About Batteries
Did you know that Americans use an average of about eight batteries a year per person? Wow!
Batteries that are thrown away produce most of the heavy metals - dangerous substances like lead, arsenic, zinc, cadmium, copper, and mercury - that are found in household trash. These metals are toxic. They can be harmful to humans and wildlife. When discarded batteries from our trash wind up in landfills, these dangerous metals can seep into the ground water and eventually into the food chain. So, instead of throwing batteries in the trash, we should all take them to a toxic waste disposal area, if at all possible.
Turn off the toys and games (like GameBoys TM) that use batteries when you are not playing with them. That makes the batteries last longer, and you won't need as many of them.
Forty percent of all battery sales are made during the holiday season. Ask for holiday gifts that do not require batteries.
Ask your parents to buy rechargeable batteries and a recharger.

Outside the House
Remember how saving water saves energy? Use a broom instead of a hose to clean off the driveway, patio or deck - this will save hundreds of gallons of water each year.
If you only have a small lawn, consider getting a manual push mower. It doesn't use any energy except your own. Pushing the mower spins the rotating wheels, which spins the cutter. Consider it good exercise!
Don't use an electric or gasoline leaf blower. Instead, use a rake.
If you need to leave a security light on over night, change the incandescent bulb to a compact fluorescent. It will last months and maybe years and save you energy and money. Some compact fluorescent bulbs even come in yellow so they won't attract bugs.

Think About What Your Family Buys

If you buy things that can be used over and over instead of buying disposable items that are used once and then thrown away, you will save precious natural resources. You'll also save energy used to make them, and you'll reduce the amount of landfill space we need when they are thrown away.
Those same savings happen you buy things that will last instead of breaking right away. Well-made items may cost a little more to begin with, but they are usually worth the money because they last for a long time, and you don't have to replace them.
When your family goes shopping, think about taking bags with you. Only about 700 paper bags can be made from one 15-year-old tree. A large grocery store can use that many bags before lunch! Plastic bags start out as either oil or natural gas. Oil and natural gas are non-renewable resources. This means they can't be reused, and when they are all gone, they are gone forever. And throw-away bags add a lot of pollution to the environment. If plastic and paper bags are used once and go to landfills, they stay there for hundreds of years Some stores offer discounts for people who use their own bags. For every bag reused, they give money back - usually about five cents for each bag.
With your parents, pick a spot in your house to store bags that you get from the grocery store. These bags can be used to carry things to friends' houses or for trash linings. After bags wear out, recycle them.

Other Recycling Tips

Make a scrap-paper pad. Gather pieces of used paper the same size with the blank side up. Find a piece of cardboard the same size as the paper and put it at the back. Staple the whole thing together, and use it as a place to write down grocery lists or things to do.
If every American recycled his or her newspaper just one day a week, we would save about 36 million trees a year. You can save a tree for every four feet of paper you recycle. It takes half as much energy to make recycled newspaper as it takes to make fresh newsprint from trees.
Recycle your newspapers. (Check to see if recycling centers want them tied together or in bags.) Anything that comes with the newspaper can also be recycled (except magazines, which must be recycled separately).
* Recycle your old notebook paper. It is considered "white paper," and makes better recycled paper. "White paper" is writing paper, notebook paper, white envelopes, typing paper, index cards, computer paper, and white stationary.
Cereal boxes, egg cartons, wrapping paper are called "mixed paper." All these things can be recycled. Mixed paper can be made into paperboard, the paper that is used on roofs.
For something fun, download the Recycle Rex Recycling Facts, Games and Crafts Booklet (Acrobat PDF file, 26 pages, 1.9 megabytes)

In Your School
The energy-saving ideas you used at home can also be used in school. Consider creating a weekly "energy monitor" - someone who's job it is to make sure lights are out when there's no one in a room. He or she can also make sure that machines are turned off when not being used. Have your teacher or principal check with the California Energy Commission to see if you school can become a "Bright School."

Links to Other Websites About Saving Energy
• Alliance to Save Energy (www.ase.org)
• California Energy Commission Bright School Program (www.energy.ca.gov/efficiency/brightschools/)
• California Energy Commission Conservation Web Links (www.energy.ca.gov/links/conservation.html)
• Consumer Energy Center - Energy Efficiency at Home, Office and School(www.ConsumerEnergyCenter.org)
• Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network Dr. E's Energy Lab (www.eren.doe.gov/kids/)
• Federal Consumer Information Center (www.pueblo.gsa.gov)
• Green Schools (www.ase.org/greenschools/)
• PowerSmart (tips to save money and the planet - Alliance to Save Energy>
• Rocky Mountain Institute - for Kids (www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid468.php)
• U.S. Dept of Energy Kids Zone (http://www.energy.gov/engine/content.do?BT_CODE=KIDS)
• U.S. Dept. of Energy - Energy Efficiency page (www.energy.gov/efficiency/)

Save hundreds on energy costs

10 things you can do now

You want to save money as well as do your part to combat global warming. But what's the best way to get started? This special section includes the results from our testing and advice from our experts on the products and programs that work to save energy and those that promise more than they deliver.


1.CHANGE YOUR LIGHTS

Energy Star-qualified compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) are required to meet certain standards, one of which is they have to save you at least $30 in energy costs over the bulb's roughly 7,500- to 10,000-hour life. While concerns about mercury content have raised questions about those more-efficient bulbs, they contain only a fraction of the mercury in an old-fashioned thermometer.

But the mercury inside CFLs means you should take them to a recycling center instead of throwing them in the trash. For buying advice on the types of CFLs and tips on the best places to use them, see Compact fluorescent lighting.


2.PROGRAM YOUR THERMOSTAT

Lowering your home's temperature 5 to 10 degrees at night and when no one is home to save energy can slash your heating costs by up to 20 percent per year. Programmable thermostats are supposed to make saving simpler. But confusing controls on some models might actually discourage savings. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, roughly 50 percent of homeowners don't change temperature settings at night. Check our report on thermostats for electronic setback thermostats that work best and have the friendliest controls and displays.

3.BOOST HEATING EFFICIENCY

A new furnace or boiler probably won't save you enough to recoup the $4,000 to $5,000 you'll spend to replace it. Instead, save energy by making your current system more efficient by sealing any cracks or gaps in ductwork and by insulating the ducts. Also caulk any holes in your walls, especially if they penetrate between floors to an unheated basement or attic. Those holes turn walls into pathways that can siphon heated or cooled air from your home. Those simple, low-cost steps can save you up to 40 percent on your annual energy bill now, and you will continue to save energy even if you replace your system later.

4.ADD INSULATION

Improving your home's insulation can save hundreds of dollars a year on your energy bills and pay for itself in as little as two years. Roughly 80 percent of older homes are underinsulated, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Start by sealing large gaps around chimneys, furnace flues, plumbing pipes, ductwork, light fixtures, and soffits in your attic to save energy. Then lay insulation between attic-floor joists and on the hatch or door, or add more if it's already there. Next, seal air leaks in the basement and insulate ceilings in unheated basements and around the walls in heated basements or unvented crawl spaces.

5.SAVE MONEY ON HOT WATER

Insulating hot-water pipes and lowering the temperature on your water heater from 130° to 120° can help you save up to 5 percent on your energy bills. If it's time for a new water heater, save energy by choosing a model with a 9- to 12-year warranty. Those typically have thicker insulation and more powerful burners or heating elements for faster heating than models with shorter warranties. Tankless water heaters claim to save money by heating water only when you turn on the faucet. But smaller, cheaper units probably won't produce enough hot water to serve a typical family. Larger, gas-fired units cost $1,000 or more and are expensive to install because they often require larger gas supply lines and special venting.

6.USE SPACE HEATERS WISELY

Portable heaters could save you money--if you're willing to keep most of your house much chillier and use the heater in just one room to supplement your regular heating. Otherwise, as we say in our space heater report, you're likely to spend more on electricity for several heaters than you would to run your furnace. What's more, open floor plans can make sealing off just one room to save energy impossible.

Kerosene and natural-gas heaters don't use electricity, but they do bring added fire risks and fumes. We recommend limiting their use to camping and emergency heat during a blackout.

7.REPLACE WORN-OUT WINDOWS

If your windows are beyond simple repairs such as caulking and weather stripping, new windows can save you between 10 and 25 percent on your heating bill. But because you'll pay anywhere from $7,000 to $20,000 to replace all the windows in an average house, amortizing their cost can take more than 20 years. Replacing your windows to save energy if they're rotting, don't work, or are ugly is a sensible excuse to reap the energy savings that today's models offer. To learn more, see our report on windows.

8.UNDERSTAND ENERGY STAR

Energy Star appliances are typically more efficient than others and will generally cost less to run. But like the miles-per-gallon ratings for cars, you have to take the energy-use estimates on the label with a grain of salt. Refrigerator lighting and icemakers are among the hidden energy drains not factored into energy-use figures. And special settings, such as the pots- and-pans cycle on dishwashers, often use more energy than the regular settings used to estimate energy use.


9.USE FIRES FOR AMBIENCE

Wood-burning fireplaces might look romantic and feel toasty and appear to save energy when you're near them, but they actually suck the heat in your home up and out the chimney. Glass doors improve the situation only slightly. Ventless fireplaces can be good heat sources, but they reduce the amount of oxygen in your home and release pollutants into the air. Wood- and pellet-burning stoves provide more heat because they're not tucked away in the wall and less heat escapes up the flue. But unless you get your fuel free, you'll probably end up paying more to heat your home.

10.AVOID ENERGY SCAMS

Beware of pitches from door-to-door salespeople or unsolicited letters and phone callers that promise to save energy and big bucks on your heating bill. You could sign up only to find that your monthly bill is even higher due to hidden charges such as switching, service, late, and cancellation fees. So check out the company with the Better Business Bureau. But unless you use lots of energy, those alternative power suppliers are unlikely to save you much money. And even if the offer is legit, read all the fine print.

For more information on greener living, .visit our Energy Saving & Green Living Guide