http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com Energy Efficiency and Alternative Fuels Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:43:44 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en So the prospect of generating electricity for your home from free wind energy has become too irresistible, and you're ready to start looking seriously at the different wind turbines available. You don't know it yet, but soon you're going to be awash in marketing claims, engineering specifications and industry jargon ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/wind-energy-terms-concepts With gasoline prices reaching record highs, saving just 10% on gasoline costs would feel like getting a raise in pay. Yet you can easily save 10% and much more by following a few common-sense tips. Fill Up Before You're Empty When the needle hits E, you lose the luxury of filling ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/save-money-on-gas If you're planning on installing a new heating and cooling system for your home, seriously consider a geothermal system rather than a traditional forced-air gas-fired furnace or electric air conditioning unit. Geothermal heating and cooling systems are roughly twice to three times as efficient, and can even be used to ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/geothermal-heat-pumps What is Energy Star? Energy Star is a program run by the U.S. government's Environmental Protection Agency that is dedicated to helping consumers improve their energy efficiency. The program has many facets, but there are four main areas it addresses: Consumer products. Any new product that you might buy that uses electricity, ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/energy-star What To Look For in a New Washer and Dryer It is important to compare the energy efficiency ratings of different washers before purchasing a new one. Front-loading units are better than top loading because they use less water (especially hot water) and spin more effectively. This means your clothes will be drier ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/energy-efficient-washers What You Need To Know About Home Solar Power There are three types of solar cells: single crystalline, multi-crystalline, and amorphous silicone. Single crystalline cells are the most common and most efficient type of photovoltaic ("PV") solar energy cell. These PV cells are guaranteed to produce at least 80 percent of ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/solar-energy Types of Alternative Fuel and Hybrid Vehicles There is an impressive array of alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles currently on the market and in development. They fall into the following categories: Flex-Fuel Vehicles Propane/Natural Gas Powered Vehicles Biodiesel Powered Vehicles Hybrid Electric Vehicles Fully Electric Vehicles Fuel Cell Vehicles Each type has its own unique advantages and disadvantages ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/alternative-fuels Regional Climate and Microclimate When considering how to improve home energy efficiency through landscaping, the first thing to take into account is your regional and local climate. Four regions occur in the United States: temperate, hot-humid, hot-arid, and cool: The second factor affecting the climate surrounding your home is microclimate. Many things ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/energy-efficient-landscaping Driving Strategies The cheapest and easiest way to improve your fuel economy is to change how you drive your existing car. Air conditioning. As a general rule, if you are driving under 40 miles per hour (MPH), it is more fuel efficient to turn off the air conditioner and roll down the ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/improve-fuel-economy Perform A Home Energy Audit Before starting your home remodeling project, it's a good idea to evaluate your current energy use so that you can identify the areas that need efficiency improvements. You can perform your own energy audit or you can hire a professional contractor to help. If you are going ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/energy-efficient-remodeling