FUELCELL-MAGAZINE.COM http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 Saving on Energy http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com/2012/01/27/saving-on-energy/ http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com/2012/01/27/saving-on-energy/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com/?p=12 Looking at http://www.texaselectricityproviders.com/ is a great way to find out more about the best energy rates in your area but do you know what to do if you’ve already signed a contract and you’re trying to save money on your monthly energy costs? Here are a few ideas from our readers:
Start to conserve: It’s good for the environment and for your wallet – do what you can to conserve energy at home to cut your bill. Things like unplugging electronics and turning off extraneous lights go a long way in cutting your bills.
Get Energy Efficient Appliances: If you’re due for an upgrade now’s as good a time as any to invest in energy efficient products. They may cost more upfront but they can really save you in energy costs over the course of time.
Talk to your Provider: If you think your rates are too high, talk to your current energy provider about what you can do. Payment plans and set rates are some great options and at least you’ll be on record as having issues with the company’s payment policies.

]]> http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com/2012/01/27/saving-on-energy/feed/ 0 Saving on Energy http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com/2012/01/27/saving-on-energy/ http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com/2012/01/27/saving-on-energy/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com/?p=11 Looking at http://www.texaselectricityproviders.com/ is a great way to find out more about the best energy rates in your area but do you know what to do if you’ve already signed a contract and you’re trying to save money on your monthly energy costs? Here are a few ideas from our readers:
Start to conserve: It’s good for the environment and for your wallet – do what you can to conserve energy at home to cut your bill. Things like unplugging electronics and turning off extraneous lights go a long way in cutting your bills.
Get Energy Efficient Appliances: If you’re due for an upgrade now’s as good a time as any to invest in energy efficient products. They may cost more upfront but they can really save you in energy costs over the course of time.
Talk to your Provider: If you think your rates are too high, talk to your current energy provider about what you can do. Payment plans and set rates are some great options and at least you’ll be on record as having issues with the company’s payment policies.

]]> http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com/2012/01/27/saving-on-energy/feed/ 0 Maximizing Natural Heating and Cooling in Your Home http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com/2011/06/20/maximizing-natural-heating-and-cooling-in-your-home/ http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com/2011/06/20/maximizing-natural-heating-and-cooling-in-your-home/#comments Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com/&p=9 The high cost of energy in our current economy is driving families to find more ways to reduce their energy costs. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to use energy more efficiently by maximizing natural heating and cooling in your home. Energy usage can be drastically reduced in some cases by merely taking advantage of natural heating and cooling methods. Here are some tips for taking advantage of natural methods to reduce energy usage at home.

Natural vegetation can compliment energy savings in both hot and cold seasons of the year. Strategically planted trees and shrubs can provide shade in the summer and a windbreak in the winter. Watering your landscaping in the cooler morning and evening hours can save on water consumption in addition to providing evaporative cooling in the middle of the day.

Simple living changes can be implemented inside your home to make best use of natural warmth during cooler seasons and utilize natural cooling in warmer seasons. Sunshine can be let in by opening drapes during the day and conserved by closing them later in the day. Similarly heat can be blocked in summer by using drapes to insulate windows from the sun’s rays. Making sure air leaks are sealed will optimize your efforts.

]]> http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com/2011/06/20/maximizing-natural-heating-and-cooling-in-your-home/feed/ 0 What to Look for in a Fuel-Efficient Vehicle http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com/2011/05/26/what-to-look-for-in-a-fuel-efficient-vehicle/ http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com/2011/05/26/what-to-look-for-in-a-fuel-efficient-vehicle/#comments Thu, 26 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com/&p=8 With gas prices soring, many people are looking to purchase vehicles that are going to ease their pain at the pump. This can come in the form of hybrids, electric guitars, or just more fuel efficient vehicles that don’t guzzle gas like they are dying of thirst in a desert. Your budget is going to dictate what you can and can’t get, but here are the differences.

The term fuel efficient usually refers just to smaller compact cars. These cars are designed with lightweight parts, and optimized engines to push the distance of their fuel efficiency ratings. So you’ll want to look into the how many miles per gallon the car gets.

A popular term you’ve heard is hybrid. These cars use both petroleum, and hydrogen gas for their chemical reactions. These are the most popular fuel efficient cars on the market, because they get on average twice as many millage out of their gas, with the same amount of power as most cars.

Lastly, the electric car. This one uses no gas, and runs off electric batteries. They are very expensive, and offer the weakest engines, but they also are the most CO2 friendly, with hybrids coming in second.

]]> http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com/2011/05/26/what-to-look-for-in-a-fuel-efficient-vehicle/feed/ 0 Why Buying Organic is Better for your Local Environment http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com/2011/05/19/why-buying-organic-is-better-for-your-local-environment/ http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com/2011/05/19/why-buying-organic-is-better-for-your-local-environment/#comments Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.fuelcell-magazine.com/&p=7 Organic foods are better for your health and physical fitness for many reasons but the most important is the benefit that organics bring to your own local environment. Your surroundings whether inside your home or outside in the community directly impact your wellness. When there are pesticides and additives such as artificial colors and flavorings in your foods those things inevitably end up in the waste your household produces and then slide into the overall environment helping to poison the world for everyone.

The main reason that purchasing organic products is helpful for the environment, though, is that as organics become profitable more producers will go to organics. This means that the pesticides and artificial fertilizers that cause such havoc in the aquifers and waterways will be reduced, which in turn will lead to healthier waters for everyone. When the wetlands and rivers are allowed to do their jobs of keeping the environment filtered naturally all the members of the community are healthier, whether those members are human, animal, or plant.

Buying organic products for yourself is a way for you as an individual to do a part in the effort to make our world a healthier place to live. We only have one, let’s take care of it.

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