How to Take Advantage of Green Technology: Green Technology Articles: Eco20/20

How to Take Advantage of Green Technology

Although the current trend towards "green" technology is nothing new to most societies, many people might still feel alienated and perhaps even a bit confused about this development. Conservation efforts have evolved far beyond the aluminum can recycling and compost piles most people are used to. To a lot of people, all this "environmentally conscious" stuff can seem like a lot of work without much reward! However, did you know there are plenty of ways you can improve your daily life while simultaneously benefiting the environment? It's true! Here are some of the ways you can improve your life while taking care of your home planet:

Generate Your Own Wind Power:

Especially in rural areas, self-sustaining power sources such as home wind turbines are becoming increasingly popular. Wind generators are especially suited to flat, windy areas such as deserts and prairies. The more the turbine spins, the more power is generated, which is used to either power a building directly, or charge a battery for use when the winds are not particularly strong. Here are some benefits to using a wind generator:

* Wind generators have the potential to greatly reduce your energy costs.

* In the United States, utility companies are required by federal law (specifically the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, or PURPA) to buy surplus energy from small wind generators. In ideal conditions, not only can a wind generator save money, but it can potentially provide a small boost to your income!

* You might think having a large wind turbine in your backyard could drive down property values. However, there are various studies that not only disprove this, but show the exact opposite!

* Wind generators produce no pollution (or noise!), and can reduce carbon emissions from power plants by thousands of pounds each year per generator!

Sound great? Well, before you run out to save the world (and your wallet) with your very own wind generator, you might want to be aware of a few drawbacks:

* They're Expensive: A common home wind generator could cost around $10,000 to $20,000 dollars. Although some federal (30% of the cost of installation) and state tax incentives could lower this cost significantly, it is still a sizable investment, and should be carefully considered as such.

* They're Location-Dependent: Not only does someone need a decent amount of space to place a wind turbine tower, but some locations may need to deal with zoning regulations. Also, you might not live in a place with enough wind to make the generator cost-effective. You probably won't see these being built in cities or suburbs.

Despite the potential drawbacks, generating your own power can have enormous benefits. As with any investment, however, it is important to conduct your own careful research before making any decisions.

Save Paper by Going Digital:

This one can be particularly easy while having a powerfully beneficial impact. If you're reading this right now, chances are you have all you need to significantly reduce your paper clutter! There are currently many global initiatives to reduce paper usage in order to conserve our forests. This means that thousands of companies across the globe are turning off their fax machines and sending their forms, bank statements, and other documents, digitally. In fact, many companies are starting to even legally accept digital signatures; meaning there are very few, if any, documents that must be physically printed anymore. Many companies offer to send your statements and bills digitally rather than through the mail, while some even provide customer incentives for using this method. Digital files on your computer are also easily archived and searchable. No more perilous expeditions through the filing cabinets! (The best kind of paper-cut is the one that never happened.)

Those Silly-Looking Curly Light Bulbs:

Compared to standard incandescent light bulbs, compact fluorescent lamps (or CFLs) are a vast improvement. Although they initially cost more than standard incandescent, they last years instead of days, use about a fourth of the energy used by incandescent, and produce more light. All while emitting 90% less heat (wasted energy). This is definitely one of the easier ways to save both the environment and your hard earned money at the same time. Unfortunately, CFLs contain a small bit of mercury, which means they cannot be thrown in the trash when they go out. However, many retailers will happily recycle them for free.

Hopefully these tips will help you put some much needed change in both the environment and your pocketbook!