Monday, September 28, 2009

Yearly Equivalent of One Parked Car

There is a house in our neighborhood that has Solar Panels. I did not think it was attractive at all. Is Going Green suppose to be attractive? As a women I like things to look a certain way. Inviting , neat and traditional. Solar panels on the sides and top of ones home does not meet my specs. Here is where I have to lay aside my specs.
Hubby says "I have two people coming over to give estimates for solar". It seems that our house is in a good location. All the panels would be located on the roof. Since we are higher then the other houses , they would almost be invisible. One could only see them in a car at the top of the hill. Even then it would not stand out so they say. We can choose our color and number of panels. Now comes the cost part.
For a 230 rated power , which is 14 panels the cost is about 20,000 dollars. The state has a grant program which they give back about 3500.00. Our county has a tax credit program which will give us 5000.00 credit. The Federal government has a tax grant which will pay us back 30% of the original system cost. All that means is our bottom line cost will be about 5500.00 dollars. Now there is a Renewable Energy Credit known as REC. It is like owning a piece a stock in the solar energy market. In today's market it is about 300.00 dollars per 1 REC. Our system has 3 REC's. Each year we can sell them. Some companies will buy them up front However they can only buy so many months, you always own the stocks. If we were to sell our REC for 120Months that would lower the net cost to about 2500.00 dollars. Whew, that was a lot to soak in! I still want to know how much we would save in the long run. With repairs and maintenance would the cost be less? What about the Green issue, does that out weigh the cost saved?
Research states that pounds of Carbon Dioxide Emissions reduced with our Solar Electric System in a 25 year period is 330,050. Now the equivalent number of miles driven in a typical American car would be 365,792 Miles or 14,631 miles per year. That is like Parking one car for the 25 years. As you can see the Green effect is great.
My questions for you, Do you have Solar in your home? If you don't would you consider it?

Friday, September 25, 2009

Aloha Friday - Preventions


This is the start of Flu and Cold Season.
Your Question:
What do you do to Prevent the flu or cold for getting hold of you?

I drink immunity drinks. One thing we drink is Crystal Light Immunity- natural Cherry Pomegranate. Another thing we do is eat foods rich in antioxidants. I posted an article about that"Stay Away Flu! I have Antioxidants".

Please linkup so we can visit your blog. This link is only for Aloha Friday Participants. There will be a return link to check your link. Don't forget to leave your answer.

If you would like to see other links or join in Aloha Fridays, the link is the Meme Photo at top. This Meme is sponsored by An island Life

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Stay Away Flu! I have Antioxidants.

Some people would not agree with me on this subject,Antioxidants. I am a believer in them. You see I take antioxidants in pill and food form. I have for many years. I will eat food that are high in Antioxidants during the Flu season. As far as sickness goes, it has not been much. I might get a snuffle or cough now and then however, I seldom get a long term sickness.
One thing we all can eat are Berries. Blue berries are my favorite, 1 cup a day will keep the doctor away for me.
As I have stated in previous post, Cancer Prevention is high on my staying healthy platform. Cells can become damage and then just refuse to die off, causing a cancer to grow. Science has still not gotten a grasp on this process. However they have found ways to prevent this in some cases. One natural way is antioxidants. What they do is Protect the Cells from the damage that the Free radicals cause. Free radicals are what cause the molecules to become unstable. Unstable Molecules usually cause the sickness. These Free Radicals can enter our bodies in many ways, by food, smoke, and air.
Antioxidants are found in many substances
These include:
  • Beta-carotene
  • Lutein
  • Lycopene
  • Selenium
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin E

All the substance are found in these foods.

  • Fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Nuts
  • Meats
  • Poultry
  • Fish

  • Eating healthy natural Fresh food is the key in my opinion. We are such a fast food nation that we forget it really doesn't take long to cook a meal with fresh ingredients. By eating out less and taking antioxidant one can dodge the sicknesses of today.
    As far as cancer prevention, We are still working on that. However if I stay healthy and watch what goes into my body I might be able to dodge that also.
    Antioxidants are the key in my mind. Stay healthy you all and take your antioxidants.

    Monday, September 21, 2009

    Painting the Green Way.

    With all the hype about health care I think it is wiser to look at your home environment. Is your home as healthy as it can be? Could one make it better?
    A few years ago I learned that Volatile Organic Compounds also known as VOC in paints can cause cancer, liver and kidney diseases. It can be a trigger mechanism of asthma attacks, sore throats and other upper respiratory problems. Because my family was affected by cancer this became a big ordeal. Last year I had to paint the Living room, the paint I chose was Freshaire it has No VOC in it.
    VOC are the ingredients that are used in Coloring the paint. Sometimes they use formaldehyde and benzene in the paint to extend the self life and color.... here is a little note for you to chew on...They have stopped using Formaldehyde in labs due to the cancer causing effects of breathing it in. Now the pigment chemicals used in the paints can include lead, cadmium and chromium. That so called fresh paint smell are the VOC emissions from the volatile chemicals. Some of them are diethyl phthalate and dibutyl. Now one can choose to breathe that in and take the risk of problems in the family down the line. Or one can search for alternative solution.
    The paint used in the home can be a good start for turn around your home environment. Last year when we painted the living room, there was no smell. I found the paint went on great and looked good. Even though the color choice is limited, the fact that it was healthier won out. It won't be long before there will be more color choices.
    You are probably wondering how it has held up. Well, this year we had to replace our thermostat. It was smaller than the other one. I need to touch up and paint, grabbed the paint out of the garage and painted. You could not tell I had. The color was the same and there was no smell. I had to tell hubby I painted and be careful.
    It is now time to paint another room. I will be using the same paint, different color, as the living room. We will never use regular house paint again. I wish for my family to live healthier and cancer free for a long time. Using the No VOC paint is a start in making a home healthier.
    This is one more Green thing in my home.

    Don't just take my word for it check out the reviews for Freshaire.
    Want to find a paint color or learn more about the Freshaire paint click on photo.
    Need more info on VOC here is a link US EPA

    Friday, September 18, 2009

    Aloha Friday -Going Green

    Every Friday we share a question, easy one. We travel to other bloggers to answer theirs. It is a lay back day. You can join in visit An Island life for more fun.

    Hubby change all the light bulb in the house to green technology one. I posted about it earlier this week.
    My Question:
    Do you have energy saving light bulbs in your home and do you like them?

    Wednesday, September 16, 2009

    Sleeping Good?

    We have had a sleep number bed for about four years. Hubby has found his number and he has slept well for all those years. I on the other hand have not pinned down my number. I have scoliosis and believe it is harder for me because of it. I like a firm bed..He likes a soft bed.
    It is said to live a long and healthy life one needs at least 6 to 8 hours of quality sleep. I only can sleep a total of 3 hours in the Sleep Number Bed. After that I am hurting bad.
    We have been looking at new beds, so I can get back in my bedroom and get a healthy sleep. Places we have looked, Sleepy's. Mattress warehouse, Ikea. Brands; Serta, Beautyrest, Tempurpedics as well as others. We are looking at the Simmons beautyrest NXG 250. It is a firm but with some foam allowing some softness.
    Every thing I have read lately stresses that it is very important to get the sleep one needs to reduce the stress. All these years I have been stress because of the Number bed! Whew, now I can blame it on something other than just old age,ha ha.
    Do you get quality sleep? How many hours do you get? How is your Mattress?

    Monday, September 14, 2009

    I Did it Monday

    My Meme Mania is the home of I Did it! - Monday.You are invited to participate and to register your participation at My Meme Mania.Come, join us.

    Today I manage to get my daughter off to school, Hubby to the airport and bake 4 loaves of bread. Of course I lost a set of keys, still haven't figured out where they could be. I really need to take that memory pill or eat the chocolate bar,hehehe. You know the one, Dark Chocolate good for the memory.
    On the weekend I got to see Critter, my g-nephew. He sang in a bi-lingual church service connected with the school he attends. He was great... 5 years old and he did sing and sign! We play awhile after church and had some food. He lives in the DC area so It was about a one hour drive for us. I do like getting to see the family. We go to the same church, but it is large over 10,000 people, so I do not always get to see them.

    Saturday, September 12, 2009

    Help me..save my sight!

    Hubby loves to change out all our light bulbs to the Led's and fluorescent.While daughter and I were on vacation he replace every light in the house. Even though I want to save on energy they do not give enough light. The Fluorescent bulb take a while to get bright, so in the kitchen they will not do. On to the Led's, those are just bad. No brightness at all and one can not read by them. For our fans, he likes to use the fluorescence. When our daughter turn them to dim and hum is not pleasant. she want them out. In the bathroom it is the timing issue again, length of time to get bright. Now today hubby says get use to it, that all you will be able to purchase soon. Help Me!!! I need Bright light, instant and no humming when dimmed. Did some research and found one needs to get a Fluorescent dimmer switch. Now we will have to change out all the dimmer switches in the house. We only have ten, and at 70.00 a piece I think I will have to wait until we need to change them out. What type of light bulbs do you use?

    Friday, September 11, 2009

    911..More than just a Phone Number!

    LEST WE FORGET!




    Tuesday, September 8, 2009

    Lighhouses Gone Solar


    While on a lighthouse cruise the lighthouse keeper told us that most lighthouses are now run by solar power and are not maned. Today's technology allows the lighthouse functions to be run remotely.



    Was able to take a photo of Thomas Point Lighthouse solar panels;



    See the Solar panels?
    You can enlarge the photo to see them closer.

    In the olden days the Keepers used fire/flame to light the search light. Today they can use an LED equivalent to a 100 watt light bulb. With using the solar panels it provide enough electricity to last through the night. Each lighthouse marks the entrance to the inlet waterways. Guiding the ships and boats away from or toward the land.

    Monday, September 7, 2009

    YERT-Power From Our Roads?

    There are people out there that a thinking and creating New ways to store and provide Power. Or are they New? Some of the ideas are not New just need to be implemented into life. While we look at ways to use the energy resources we have, we need to (as a consumer) be willing to pay a little more at first. I stumbled upon this while surfing the web. watch it and share your thoughts.



    On August 25 2009 the government awarded 100.000 dollar to Solar roadways of Idaho. They are to build a prototype. Here is a quote from the document.

    The Solar Roadways will collect solar energy to power businesses and homes via structurally-engineered solar panels that are driven upon, to be placed in parking lots and roadways in lieu of petroleum-based asphalt surfaces.

    The Solar Road Panels will contain embedded LEDs which "paint" the road lines from beneath to provide safer nighttime driving, as well as to give up to the minute instructions (via the road) to drivers (i.e. "detour ahead"). The road will be able to sense wildlife on the road and can warn drivers to "slow down". There will also be embedded heating elements in the surface to prevent snow and ice buildup, providing for safer winter driving. This feature packed system will become an intelligent highway that will double as a secure, intelligent, decentralized, self-healing power grid which will enable a gradual weaning from fossil fuels.

    Here is the Link to read the rest of the press release.
    What a breakthrough if this works . What are your thoughts?

    I Did it Monday


    To join us in the blog fun on Mondays go to My Meme Mania. Clara started this one for those to share their accomplishments on Mondays. What have you or someone else accomplished now or in the past?

    This weekend we went to the Maryland Renaissance fair and to Annapolis Maryland. We bought some things and I used my own bag. Then at the restaurant in Annapolis, our left overs were put in recyclable containers. Even though this is just a small detail, it is the beginning in my families going green lifestyle. My hope is that friends and owners will be awakened to our environment needs. It would be nice to be a more Greener thinking Nation.

    Tuesday, September 1, 2009

    It's In The Bag-1st Month Update

    Here we are one month in using cloth bags. How did I do?
    Well in the beginning I used the bags for my groceries. However I forgot to bring them into the mall. I would say I did better than I use to. I'm still working on not taking any plastic bags from merchants. I will tell you it is hard. Looking them in the face and say "I will not need your plastic bag" is intimidating. It is much easier at the grocery stores. Why it that?
    I think the malls merchants should be better at accepting "I have my own bag". Instead I got strange looks and one store said you can put this bag in yours. So, I will be bold in my task this month and let you know next month how it went. How did you do?

    If you are new and want to join this Shopping Green "It's in The Bag". The goal is to stop accepting plastic bags. Less Plastic bags in the Land fills and Oceans will make our land healthier and save animals . Did you know it takes 1000 years for a plastic bag to decompose? You can read the first post Here . Join us on this life changing goal.