So you are in the market for a Solar Panel System for your home? While it is pretty much everyone’s dream to take their house power off the grid, it is even more important to have an “Energy Savings Makeover” first before calling up the Solar Panel Contractor to assure you are needing as little electrical demand as possible (that you can live comfortably with that is). Here are some energy saving changes to make before taking the plunge into a costly solar panel system for your home.

1) Are you still using those energy draining incandescent light bulbs? Incandescent bulbs are old school and can consume from 60 watts up to 100 watts each in a typical household. Did you know that there are really great light bulb alternatives called LED Light Bulbs?  There is a 7 Watt LED Light Bulb for example that is equivalent in brightness to a 60 watt incandescent light bulb and a 13 Watt LED Light Bulb that is equivalent in brightness to a 100 watt. So just think.. if you have 5 – 60 watt bulbs (total of 300 watts) and 5 – 100 watt bulbs (total of 500 watts) in your home that’s a total of 800 watts for the 10 light bulbs.  Now let’s replace them with LED Light Bulbs and see what we get… 5 – 7 watt LED Bulbs (total of 35 Watts) and 5 – 13 Watt LED Bulbs (total of 65 watts) that’s a total of 100 watts compared to 800 watts! See where I’m going here? So as the very first step, I would recommend replacing all of your household light bulbs with LED Light Bulbs although the price may be higher than CFL’s and incandescent bulbs, some of the main benefits that out weight the cost difference are that LED’s have a life expectancy of 50,000 hours (approx 20 years), they have no harmful chemicals (CFL’s have mercury!), and they are cool to touch.  Changing your bulbs is a must no matter if you are definitely getting a solar panel system or not.. who wouldn’t want to save on their electric bill?

2) The other thing that many do not realize is that there are a bunch of little energy draining devices around the home that are still draining electricity even when they are turned off while we are at work or sleeping! Electronic devices like DVD players, Game Consoles, TV’s, Home Theaters, Computer accessories such as printers, monitors etc draw what’s called “phantom power” which is usually for the purposes of keeping a clock going on a DVD player or providing a quick start up operation for a game console.. Not to worry, no need to throw your money down the drain paying for it on your electric bill. For the TV and it’s surrounding accessories (DVD Players etc..) there is a cool energy saving gadget called the TV Trickle Saver which turns all of your devices off automatically when you turn your TV off and vise versa.  Here is a cool animation of how it works:  How it works.  There is another similar product but for a Computer and all of it’s accessories like the monitor, printer etc..  it’s called the PC Trickle Saver.  Another cool energy saving gadget is the SensorPlug Motion Activated Electrical Outlet.  It does pretty much what the name says..  you plug it into the wall, plug in a table lamp for example then as soon as the sensor on the outlet senses movement, the lamp will come on.. as soon as motion is no longer detected, the lamp goes off.. it’s as simple as that..  Just think about how often you and other family members leave certain things on that would better if turned off when not present in the room..

3)  Other energy sopping culprits are heat and air conditioning.   You turn your heat or a/c on and it slowly fills spaces throughout your house from room to room. Did you notice that I said “slowly” ?  There is a solution though.. a few different air flow boosting products like the ThruWall Room to Room Fan or the EntreeAir Door Frame Fan.  If you have the older floor registers then there is also a fan for you – the Equalizer EQ2 Register Booster Fan.  All of these air circulating fans move tempered air to where you need it and faster than waiting for the air to just reach various rooms on its own.  This means using less of your heat or a/c system which means less power consumption.

And just a suggestion to those who really want to see the how much difference making all of the above the changes effect their electric bill,  there is a device called the Blueline Power Cost Monitor.  The PowerCost Monitor is a wireless energy monitor for your home. It can tell you at a glance how much electricity your home is using from moment-to-moment and in total. Why wait for your electricity bill when you can see what you are spending on electricity as you spend it! 

So these are just a few things to consider doing before getting an estimate on a solar panel system for your home.   You will find by doing an ”Energy Saving Makeover” first, that a solar panel system will end up costing you significantly less money.  (I doubt most Solar Panel Installers would tell you this).   So there you have it folks.   Don’t forget to checkout all of these and other energy saving products at EarthTechProducts.com that you could purchase for your home to make your move to a more energy efficient lifestyle easier.  If you have any questions about any of these energy saving gadgets, contact an Earthtech Products Representative at 877-548-3387, they are always happy to help.

Got a 1996 vehicle or newer?  Do you have any idea the MPG you’re getting while you’re rollin around town?  Well wonder no more because there is a nice solution for those who want to know so you have the chance to improve your MPG by not being such a lead-foot anymore!  No, really.. and Kiwi MPG is more than just a way to see your miles per gallon used.  You can also see how many dollars your trip cost you.   Pretty cool for those who like to clock everything like when your boss sends you on errands all the time and never gives you gas money   The really cool feature of this device is that you can find out what’s wrong with your ride when the “check engine” light starts illuminating on the dash.   How many of you have taken the trip to the mechanic just to have that annoying light turned off and it was something dumb like an oil change needed soon warning (isn’t there a sticker on the wind shield for that??).  Well, this cool tool will let you get the code of the problem and let you reset the check engine light!  I think by saving just one visit to the auto mechanic will pay for the cost of this cool little device.  

Get it at Earthtech Products by clicking here

Till next time my Earth-Techies!  Check out my next review where I will be taking a look at the BlueLine Power Cost Monitor.

A device that teaches you how to drive green, save gas and reduce CO2?  Wow that’s impressive. With Kiwi’s various menu options, you can learn how to drive green, compete with yourself or with others to obtain the highest ”Kiwi Score” by driving greener, check your MPG (miles per gallon) information in greater detail than what’s currently displayed in most vehicles,  and the best of all it doesn’t stop there!  With the Kiwi you can also check your engine – Kiwi becomes a scan tool in the “Check Engine” mode. If your vehicle has an engine check light illuminated, Kiwi can identify the cause of your engine trouble code and clear the light.  How cool is that?

This great device has a super easy installation – Just connect the Kiwi to your OBDII port located under your steering column and wallaaaaah! Works on any vehicle 1996 and up.

You can find the Kiwi Gas Saving Device and much more information by clicking here.

So you have a shed or a garage outback with no electricity and have been procrastinating about having electricity run to it because of many different reason.  Let’s face it between it being a project in itself, running electricity to your shed or garage costs lots of money, adds to your electric bill.. and who wants to deal with a contractor anyway?

Well, with the new emerging solar techologies out there it’s now possible to have a nice functional situation for your shed or garage without the high costs for running electricity to it. 

So if its lighting inside your shed or garage that you’re looking for then consider a Solar Shed Light which provides light inside your shed or garage with the convenience of a pull string.  Basically the Solar Panel mount attaches to the outside and and the light gets mounted inside then walla your done!  You can get a Solar Shed Light for under $120 at EarthtechProducts.com.

If you are looking for some light on the outside of your shed or garage on those nights where you need to run out there for a tool or something then check out the variety of Solar Powered Security Motion Lights that range from $65 – $114 depending on the brightness that you are looking for.  These lights are triggered by motion and are completely solar so no maintenance is needed.  You simply mount the light in the location of your choice and mount the solar panel in the best location of sun light.  The solar panel comes with a nice length of cord so you have the ability to mount the panel in the right place.

If you need some power for running some tools, a radio, or charging other small electronic devices then you can take a look at the Solar Laptop Charger & Portable Power Kit 200 Watt. Despite it’s name Solar Laptop Charger Kit, It can actually do much more than that since it has a built in inverter that allows you to plug in any small 110 v appliance via the 110 v outlet.  This unit comes with a foldable solar panel and a power pack 200.  You can basically have the foldable panel outside and run the line from the solar panel inside your shed or garage and connect it to the power pack 200 and your all set.  what’s great about this set up is that it is portable so you can take with you camping, fishing, hunting, or anywhere else that you need remote power.  The Power Pack 200 comes with attached jumper cables and a 250 p.s.i. air compressor (those could be useful )

There are also great alternatives for venting your shed or garage with using Solar Shed Vents.  Whether you need exhausting or intake these solar vents really work great.  Prices for Solar Vents start at around $99.

So now you know that there are some great alternatives to running electricity to your shed or garage..  so what are you waiting for stop procrastinating!

See the Solar Shed Light

See Solar Security Lights

See the Solar Laptop Charger & Portable Power Kit 200 Watt

See Solar Vents & Solar Fans

Here is the perfect eco-friendly gift… The Companion C1 Radio is more than just a radio, it’s a Crank Solar Radio, Flashlight & Cell Phone Charger!  This great little companion is perfect for those who like independence to utilize the power of the sun or human power instead of buying batteries.

You can find the Companion C1 Radio at Earthtech Products for only $34.99.

The Vers 1.5 iPod Speaker & Alarm Radio:

So far the coolest & stylish looking iPod dock system I have seen.  Not only does the Vers 1.5 iPod Speaker & Alarm Radio come in various amazing finishes but it has many nice features such as a Precision digital AM/FM tuner, Energy efficient class D amplifier, 15 watt full range speaker, Dual alarm – AM/FM radio or iPod, and other great features.  So you ask “What is an Energy Efficient Class D Amplifier”?  The class D amplifier in Vers is 80% more efficient than other amplifiers, meaning it uses about half the power to produce the same sound and volume. Class D amplifiers generate less heat as a result.  Measuring in at 8.27″ (W) X 6.89″ (D) X 5.67″ (H), this nice compact iPod player makes a fasionable space saver.   Comes in the following finishes: Cherry, Natural Walnut, Dark Walnut, Bamboo, Black Gloss and White Gloss.  Definitely a nice gift for the holidays for the music buff.  :)

See this great iPod Dock Speaker & Alarm Radio at Earthtech Products for $199.00

When a home owner considers purchasing a solar panel system for their home there is usually some hesitation because of the high costs associated with having a solar panel system installed.  There are more affordable solutions such as starting small with a easy expandable grid tie solar panel kit system.   

Grid tie solar panels for the home generate energy from the sun and feed that electricity into your home, selling any excess back into the grid to offset your power bills. Grid tie solar panels for the home are the easiest renewable energy system to install, own and maintain. They have no moving parts, no regular service requirements and make no noise. Solar Grid Tie Solar Panel Kits come with everything you need to start generating your own energy; Solar Panel, mounting system, and built-in grid tie power inverter.

Everything with solar electric grid tie systems are plug and play, leaving lots of room for easy expansion. All you need is a 240 VAC power line run through a disconnect, then to the location where the panels are to be installed, and everything after that simply plugs in. If you ever want to add more power simply purchase additional kits, mount and simply plug them into your existing Solar Grid Tie Solar Panel Kit and your set to generate even more power.

If you are interested in starting a solar panel system for your home the Solar Grid Tie Residential Solar Panel Kit – SGT-160 at Earthtech Products is a great way to start. Whats cool about this grid tie solar panel kit is that it comes with everything you need to install it and has a inverter built-in to the panel.

See the Solar Grid Tie Residential Solar Panel Kit – SGT-160 at Earthtech Products..

The future of affordable, renewable residential energy is wind. You’ll be amazed by the wind power you can harness for your home or boat with the following wind generators and turbines. Wind is the future of tomorrow! Depending on the model, a small residential wind turbine with a rated capacity of 1.8 KW and a rotor of 12 feet has the ability to produce an estimated 400 KWh when the wind is breezing at a mere 12 mph. Wind generators and turbines are also designed to last, e.g. Southwest Wind provides estimates of 20 years on some of their products. Think of the favor you’ll be doing Mother Nature when you buy into wind!

The Air-X builds upon what has made AIR the world’s #1 selling small wind turbine. The new technology used in the Air-X was only previously found in mega-watt-class wind turbines.

The AIR-X is an ideal product for the person that needs a little power for basic appliances such as TV, radio and a few lights.

Our customers found this item to be most useful for applications such as alternate power for remote cabins, remote monitoring stations, telecommunication towers, and many more applications. The alternate power applications are endless. The AIR-X uses a new microprocessor based technology that results in an increase in performance, battery charging capability, and reliability. Additionally, “flutter” noise from the machine has been reduced.

The controller allows for peak-power tracking of the wind by optimizing the alternator’s output on all points of the cubic curve and efficiently delivers the energy to the battery. The turbine’s smart controller allows it to actually control blade rotation speed thus eliminating the buzzing noise commonly found with most small wind turbines.

See this Wind Turbine at Earthtech Products

12V Wind Up – Crank Cell Phone & Device Charger: Included 12V cigarette Lighter adapter is universal with all your devices! Perfect for cell phones & iPods.
All you need is the travel charger cigarette lighter adapter for your iPod, cell phone or other small device, plug it into the cigarette socket adapter of crank charger and your ready to go! 

The FreeCharge 12V Personal Energy Source is a lightweight, durable and efficient power supply for mobile phones, iPods and other electronic devices, powered by winding a hand crank, it is independent of conventional power supplies and batteries, enabling the user to make and receive calls at any time, even with a flat phone battery.

The FreeCharge consists of a generic base unit and interfaces to the handset through a cigarette lighter socket. The charging protocols are matched to individual handsets by plugging a cigarette lighter charger specific to each phone (not supplied). With a comfortable and sustainable winding effort, the FreeCharge will adapt its output to match the requirements of the recipient device via the cigarette charger.

Regulated to deliver the same voltage output as an automobile while cranking, the FreeCharge 12V provides a portable power supply for a wide range of applications using up to 12 volts.

FreeCharge is equipped with an LED charge level indicator that illuminates when the crank handle is turned at an optimum speed, however charge and talk times will vary between phones and cigarette chargers.

Internal mechanical components are specified to industrial standards for repeated use and long life.

See this 12 Volt Wind Up Cell Phone, iPod & Device Charger at EarthtechProducts.com

Not only are LED holiday lights 10 times brighter than regular lights they are also energy efficient using 90% less energy. Unlike regular christmas lights which burn out easily or malfunction when one bulb is out, these LED lights will last more than 50,000 hours and will not be affected by any one malfunctioned bulb. More importantly LED Lights are cool to the touch and are safer. The smarter, safer and more energy efficient Christmas Light choice is clearly LED Lights.  So go ahead and dress that yard up without feeling eco-guilty

Multi-Color Strawberry LED Christmas Lights Sale Price: $27.89   Multi-Color Raspberry LED Christmas Lights  Sale Price: $27.89 Multi-Color Mini LED Christmas Lights  Sale Price: $23.89

See more LED Christmas Lights and Holiday Decorations at EarthtechProducts.com