ProjectLiveGreen

It’s never too late to learn about the many ways living green can save on your taxes. Well, technically it is for your 2009 tax return, but these credits listed on Pays to Live Green should give you a heads-up for next year. Either way, when living green often means paying more for still-alternative energies, it’s refreshing to know that the government is giving money back to the people. If you’re one of those who took advantage of these on this year’s tax return, bravo, and thanks for helping keep the environment safe for the rest of us.The government offered an outstanding tax credit to those who upgraded their heating and air conditioning system to an Energy Star-rated system. The credit was equal to 30 of the system’s price (with a 1,500 cap). Upgrading your system will also save money in the long run when you see your monthly energy bills go down. Energy Star air conditioners are generally 14 more efficient than normal, while ES heating pumps are anywhere from 8-20 more efficient than what you may already have. (more…)

Due to the massive global consumption of valuable fossil fuels for energy, scientists and energy specialists all over the world have been striving to come up with an alternate source of clean usable energy. While no one has found a perfect replacement for fossil fuel consumption, there are many clean energy sources available for everyday use.For example, wind can be converted into useful energy through the use of wind turbines for electricity, wind mills for mechanical power, wind pumps for water draining, and sails for ship transportation. The main problem with using wind as an energy source is people’s “NIMBY” mentality. NIMBY, or ‘Not in my Backyard’, refers to people refusing to allow the construction of wind farms because they are not aesthetically pleasing. There are also geographic limitations on wind energy’s powersit can only be effective in windy areas. (more…)