If you took the initiative last year and performed energy-efficiency projects at your house, or even went the extra mile to put in solar panels or solar hot water heaters, you are by now reaping the rewards of lower energy bills and more money in your pocket each month.

If you did these projects, you may not know that these projects can save you even more money when you prepare your 2009 tax return this spring.  President Obama and the Government have enacted several new credits this year that will result in bigger refunds.

The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA, better known as the Economic Stimulus), contains new or expanded tax credits for energy efficiency and renewable projects.

The Stimulus Bill contains provisions that provide for a uniform credit of 30 percent of the cost of qualifying energy efficiency projects, such as beefing up your insulation, or installing energy efficient windows or energy-efficient air conditioning or heating systems.

ARRA also increased the limit that can be claimed to $1500, up from $500 in the previous law, enacted in 2007.  The law did increase the standards for what products qualify for the new credits, so make sure that the products you installed qualify under the new rules.

In addition to the credits for energy efficient projects, the law also increased the allowances for alternative energy installations, such as solar panels, solar hot water heaters, small wind turbines, and geothermal heat pumps.  You are now allowed to credit 30% of the cost of these renewable systems, with no cap.

Tax Credits for Business Owners

If you are a business owner, you may not know that the tax credits for renewable energy projects do not only apply to individuals; credits can also be claimed by businesses.

Previously, the Government had allowed tax credits of 30% on the investment in renewable energy projects.  ARRA now gives businesses three choices to claim incentives: the 30% energy investment tax credit, a production tax credit of up to 2.1 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), or a 30% cash grant.  The grant can only be claimed on facilities that start construction by December 31, 2010, and these facilities must be in operation before 2014 or 2013 for wind projects.

So, if you have taken the time and spent the money to install energy-efficiency or renewable projects, make sure you get your full tax credit and get the biggest tax refund possible

For outdoor Christmas lights, here is a comparison of traditional C-7 bulbs versus traditional mini-lights versus LED mini-lights.

C-7 Incandescent Bulb

Energy Used* (in kilowatts – kW)                                     540 kW

Cost per kW (U.S. average of 12-cents per kWh)            x 12 cents

Total Cost of Energy for the Season                                  $64.80

Traditional Mini Light

Energy Used* (in kilowatts – kW)                                    68.85 kW

Cost per kW (U.S. average of 12-cents per kWh)            x 12 cents

Total Cost of Energy for the Season                                  $5.51

LED C-5 Style Light

Energy Used* (in kilowatts – kW)                                    13.608 kW

Cost per kW (U.S. average of 12-cents per kWh)            x 12 cents

Total Cost of Energy for the Season                                  $1.09

*Energy used is based on burning 600 lights, 6 hours per day, for 30 days.

As you can see, the LED mini-lights cost approximately 80% less than the traditional mini-lights, and even less than the incandescent bulb.  And keep in mind that these numbers are based on only 600 lights; if you have a major display of Christmas lights, plus your tree inside your house, your savings will be significantly higher.

So if you are in the market for new lights, seriously consider LED lighting; they might cost a little bit more up front, but will last much longer, and have the potential to save you hundreds of dollars over their life.  That sounds like a pretty good deal to me… And if you don’t want to spend the money to replace all of your old outdoor string lights with new LED lights, I would offer this suggestion: whenever you need to replace a string of lights, buy LED instead of the old style.  That way you can convert your lights to energy-saving LED over time, and not have to front the cost for all new lights at once.

The article from the California Energy Commission goes on to say how California’s State Christmas Tree, which is in front of the Capitol in Sacramento, is decorated with 6,500 ultra-low-wattage LED lights.  These lights save 95% (95%!) of the energy that would be used by traditional incandescent bulbs.   LED lights—the lights of the future

Decorating your house with Christmas lights is one of the cherished traditions of Christmas for many people.  Many neighborhoods all get into the spirit and make sure the whole neighborhood is decorated with thousands of lights.  The parade of families driving through these neighborhoods is as much of a tradition as presents and Christmas hams.

So, whether you are planning on just the traditional Christmas tree lights, or if you are planning on an elegant outdoor light display, what are some things to think about that can make this year’s displays better than ever?  One place to start is with LED Christmas lights.  These new lights are brighter, last longer, and use substantially less energy as the traditional light bulbs.

LED stands for light emitting diode.  LEDs are part of the new wave of lighting technology, and along with compact fluorescent (CFL) lights are the lights of the future.  The inefficient standard bulbs that we have grown up with will soon be a thing of the past as we change out all of our bulbs to save energy, money, and the planet.

LED lights used to be rare because they were much more expensive than traditional bulbs.  As with many technologies, however, the cost of LED string lights has come down significantly, and they are no longer the expense that they once were.  And these LED lights save so much electricity that some electric companies are even offering to give you a free string of LED lights if you will turn in your old strings of Christmas lights.

Whether you are planning a simple or extravagant Christmas light display, here are a couple tips to keep you safe and unhurt.  The first is to never overload a single power socket with too many strings of lights.  Plugging in too many strings of lights into a single socket can short out the socket and cause sparks, or at worst, a fire.  It is a good idea to use a power strip to regulate the load on the socket.  But always make sure the power strip is plugged directly into the outlet—never string power strips together.

The second (and last) tip is to be careful when using ladders to put up your lights.  Always put your ladder on flat, level ground where all four legs are solidly on the ground.  Keep your body between the rails of the ladder (don’t lean over too far,) and whenever possible keep both feet and at least one hand firmly on the rungs.  There is no reason to get hurt trying to celebrate the season

Flood lights are used for various things. Whether you own a mansion and want to increase the security of your whole estate, or you are working on a film set, you will need to get different types of outdoor flood lights. These are all designed for a specific purpose and you have to find the best one for your circumstances.

When you go out to the store to look at the best outdoor flood lights you can get for outdoor use, you will have to keep in mind that the sales person cannot help you with certain things. Here are things you have to think about first:

The area you need the outdoor flood lights for. You have to take down the measurements of the space you want the lights to cover and also how bright you want that area to be. You should also take into consideration your budget regarding outdoor flood lighting and the electricity requirements that you might need. One good option for bright light and low energy usage are compact fluorescent, or cfl outdoor flood lights.  You need to know where and how the lights will be installed and understand the ranges and angles needed for the area you want lit up.

When you are looking for security you will have to worry about the range of the light, the sensitivity and the brightness and hue of the colored outdoor flood lights. If on the other hand you want to light up an area of your garden for an effect, then you might want a more widely angled light that creates a nice atmosphere.

In these tough economic times, everyone is looking for ways to save money. Households across the country and around the world are cutting back on the non-essential things in their life. And at the same time, there is a growing push to go “green” and to save the planet. Fears of global warming, high and unstable oil prices and supply, and even political unrest are all driving the United States and the rest of the world to alternative sources of energy. Unfortunately, the traditional view is that alternative energy costs more than fossil fuels, and it is very hard to pay extra when money is tight.
So, what if I told you that you could help save the planet and your wallet at the same time? It doesn’t seem like it makes sense, but it is possible. A combination of new and less-expensive solar products, along with state and federal rebates and tax credits, can make clean solar products cost-effective.

Solar Panels for Your Home

Solar panels, also known as photovoltaic panels or PV panels, are what most people think of when they hear the word ‘solar energy’. These panels connect directly into the electrical system of your house and supply energy when the sun is out, which lowers the amount of energy you buy from the electric company, which lowers your bills. And they are totally clean, which is great for the planet as well. The current market has caused solar panel prices to drop dramatically, and tax credits from the federal government and states, and rebates from utility companies means that you can put PV panels on your home for less than ever before. These projects are now paying for themselves in about 10 years, and after that you get free power for 15-20 more years! And if you produce more electricity than you need, some utility companies will even buy the extra power from you. Check with your local utility for details about their solar program.

Solar Hot Water Heater

Did you know that the energy it takes to run an old, inefficient water heater for a year can create as much pollution as two cars? A new solar hot water heater solves two problems: you save money on your monthly electric or gas bill because you no longer have to pay for the energy to heat your water (because it comes from the sun), and it also reduces pollution. That is a win-win situation. And the new tax credits for installing solar hot water heaters mean that the project can pay for itself in just a few years.
There is no better time than right now to take advantage of falling prices, tax credits, and rebates to install green, clean, efficient and cost effective solar projects in your home. Putting a solar hot water heater and solar panels in you house will save money on utility bills in the long run, and will also reduce pollution, which will help you do your part to save the planet. Go Solar

Before placing the solar lights, make sure that they are placed where there is at least partial sun, because that is the way the lights generate their power. You can install this lighting yourself. Look at your space and decide where to place your lights. You can place them around a raised garden area, along the pathways, or place them going up the trees in your space, just be creative about it.

You can purchase wire bases shaped like animals or garden gnomes, and you can wrap the solar lights around these wire bases. These are not only beautiful, but very whimsical too. Some people make their garden look like a fairy tale, and you can do the same thing. The wired bases are very popular during the holiday season to freshen up the landscaping.

The two types of solar garden lighting that I am talking about are the staked type, and the rope type. The staked solar lighting is used to illuminate the pathway, or to light the perimeter of individual garden areas. The rope solar garden lighting is flexible and you can wrap this lighting around things like trees, or water features. You can place the rope lighting in places that the staked lighting cannot be placed.

With winter almost upon us (and already here in some parts of the country!) many people are wondering what important things they need to be doing with their lawns and gardens to prepare them for the cold winter and also prepare them to be as productive and Healthy when spring comes.  We have put together the following Top 10 list of things that you can do to make sure that your lawn and garden will weather the winter:

1. Don’t let fallen leaves stay on your lawn—rake them up!  Leaves left over the winter can kill your lawn.

2. Dig up small annuals and any herbs that you want to keep through the winter and put them in a pot.  These plants are not strong enough to make it through the winter.  Do this and you can re-plant them outside in the spring.

3. Remove all summer plants, debris, and weeds.  Weeds love to release their seeds in the fall, and this can leave you with a lot more weeding to do in the spring when all the seeds begin to grow.  Put plants (but not weeds) in your compost pile.  Throw away the weeds, along with any diseased plants.

4. Put a layer of compost over the soil.  This will nourish the ground over the winter, and it will be primed and ready to grow when spring comes.

5. Don’t fertilize or prune plants.  This can lead to new, fragile growth that will be especially hard hit by the cold.  The only exception is to prune dead branches, especially those that might break off when laden with heavy snow.

6. Water all of your trees and shrubs, especially evergreens, so that they have enough water to last the winter.  In spite of snow, winter winds can really dry out these types of plants.

7. Trim any perennial plants down to 2-3 inches above the ground.  Don’t worry–as long as the roots are healthy and in good shape, they will come back strong after the winter is over.

8. Clean and organize all of your tools.  This is the best time to get rid of old or broken tools so that you can start next season out with the right ones.   And don’t forget to drain and coil your hoses; any water left in them will freeze and expand, which can damage the hose.  If you live in a snowy climate, make sure to move the snow shovel to a place you can get to easily!

9. Fertilize your lawn with a fall mix.  These fertilizers are specially formulated to help the grass retain food and stimulate root growth, both of which help it survive the winter and be ready for a great start to growing season in the spring.

10. Plant spring-blooming bulbs, such as tulips.  Be sure to get them in the ground while it is still workable before it freezes or turns to mud with fall rains.  You will be rewarded with beautiful blooms to welcome spring!

If you love being outside as much as I do, you are probably already looking forward to spring.  Follow these 10 tips, and you garden will be ready to go when the snow melts

With all of the talk these days about climate change, global warming, and droughts, many people are looking at ways that they can help the environment and conserve our precious natural resources.  Especially in drought stricken areas, homeowners are looking at their lawns, yards, and gardens in a whole new way.  No longer are they competing to see who can have the biggest, greenest lawn on the block; now the new trend is to see who can have the least amount of grass, most rocks, and save the most water.

On the surface, I support this trend.   I think taking out unnecessary grass and plants that require a ton of water is a good thing.  But maybe I am just a little old fashioned—I like the way a nice green grass lawn looks!  I really am not a fan of the yards that are just plain rocks or gravel strewn about with no care for how it looks.  The homes that I think look the best have a good mix of colors, plants, and yes, even a little grass thrown in there for good measure.  And if it is the new fake grass or a native grass that doesn’t need a lot of water, then that is just fine with me.  But some of my best memories of being a child were playing out in the back yard on the lush grass.  I just don’t think I will ever be able to give that up!  What do you think?  Can you live in a house with no grass at all?  Are you a fan of the rock/surface of mars look?

The use of solar lights for pathways has increased in popularity over the past few years. They are very easy to install and affordable. The lights run off of batteries that are encased in the unit. This unit protects the battery from harsh weather conditions so the lights do not have to be removed in the winter.

When the sun shines the batteries are charged and the solar light shines until the battery runs dead. This is usually long after the need for light in the area has passed.

Many people are expanding their use of these lights beyond pathways and steps. Individuals who have very large gardens and wish to have lighting that surrounds their garden are finding that solar lighting gives them the light that they want without the need to install electrical conduit and outlets.

Sets of lights are now being manufactured that are attached to a single solar battery. The battery has a solar panel on top and is placed in an area that receives sunlight. A cord runs from the battery to the lights. Many people have found that with the larger battery their lights stay aglow longer.

A benefit of solar lighting is that one can move them easily. When garden lights are placed in areas using electrical conduit they are more difficult to move without extending the electrical line.