DIY Life

So you're fed up with your monthly gas and electricity bill? Or you're building a new abode and you want to get off on the right track with controlling how much utility power you have to buy from an outside producer?

What you need are alternate sources of energy. There are several ways to do this and you're free to mix and match in order to reach your energy freedom goals. No, I'm not recommending that you do any strip mining for coal in your backyard or install a nuclear reactor. (Might be a good idea, though.)

Choices for alternative energy sources

When it comes to providing some or all of your own energy sources, you have options, and the viability of these will vary according to where you live. Live out on the open plains? You're a good candidate for windmill type power (wind energy).

Saving energy is important to the environment. Even the government is starting to get on board, recently passing a bill that will phase out incandescent light bulbs by the year 2014. And the buzz is that your energy bills will drop by approximately 70 percent from simply switching light bulb types.

Gives a whole new meaning to "changing a light bulb," doesn't it?

It seems to me that if I can save that much on my energy bill, then perhaps I should be looking for another type of bulb before the year 2014 comes around.

In my ongoing mission to conserve energy (and thereby lower my electricity bill), I'm always looking for ways to tweak my energy efficiency. Some of these cost money initially, but my favorites are the ones that are almost free. Check this one out.

My garage/wood shop is of the attached-to-the-house variety as I described in the recent walk-in-pantry article. Because of the way the house is located, the exterior brick wall gets a lot of afternoon sun, which is quite fierce in the summer. The bricks absorb the heat and relay it into the garage. And of course, it used to make the AC work very hard to cool the kitchen area.

My solution? I attached some lattice to the brick and planted some English ivy in a 10" terracotta pot at the base of it. It really likes the lattice and had not issues with climbing up it. It's also starting to spread to the non-lattice area by setting its creepers into the mortar. I did this about three years ago; it's not an instant fix. But once it takes off, it acts as a natural insulator and really looks great!

How energy efficient is your home? If your heating bills are out of control and your environmental impact is worsening then it's time to do a self check on your energy usage. This DIY home energy audit is a detailed, 9 step approach to evaluating and improving upon your energy consumption.

Getting to know your energy bills is the first step. You can't notice patterns and set goals if you don't know what you're spending and why. Once you know your bills you can start to work to bring them down. The full instructions explain how to examine your heating and cooling equipment along with your appliances. Looking for and repairing air leaks and energy sucks will make a big difference. You'll also want to replace your bulbs, and be mindful of light usage. Lastly, gauge your results. How have the changes impacted your energy bills? What changes can you continue to make? If you want added information or a more in-depth energy audit, this web based audit tool will be perfect.

Review the 9 step audit process and make changes around the house. You'll notice a savings on your energy bills and you'll lessen your environmental impact.

Making a real effort to live more conscientious of the environment and our impact on it cannot be an individual movement. So many of us make the effort on recycling day, but don't talk to our children about what we're doing or get them involved in any way.

I firmly believe that for a family to be successful in their green efforts, it has to be a family effort. So, where to start? This article at ivillage gives suggestions for how to get your children involved in the practice of living green. They break it down by age, giving a real idea of what each age can understand and how they can participate. Here are some examples of what each age can do.

October 15 has been chosen as Blog Action Day, a day when the blogging community seeks to unite in voice for a common cause. The declared focus for this year involves our earthly environment and how we bloggers can aid in spreading the word about things we can all do to improve our stewardship of our world's resources. While the debate on "global warming" has been muddled to the point that the concept is now being called simply "global climate change," with scientists pointing at every conceivable cause, one core reality remains clear. That reality is the truth that our earth is a finite resource, and has always been deserving of our best efforts to take good care of it.

My Blog Action focus today is about "getting off the grid" via solar power, mainly because that's a pet concept of mine. The reason is simple: every volt of electrical energy that can be generated and utilized without involving existing utility structures reduces demand for exhaustible fuel reserves. So, in pursuit of reducing your dependence on commercially generated electrical power, here's a simple guide to solar-powered battery chargers, and other solar devices that you can buy or build yourself.

Every Wednesday is tip day at The Happiness Project. This weeks tip has a DIY spirit and will appeal to those of you who want to naturally boost your energy. She suggests 9 ways to do that in the next 10 minutes. My favorite tip is number 3, act with energy:

We think we ACT because of the way we FEEL, but often we FEEL because of the way we ACT. Trick yourself into feeling energetic by moving more quickly, pacing while you talk on the phone, and putting more energy into your voice. Also, research shows that when people move faster, their metabolism speeds up.

It's time to ditch the excessive supplements and energy drinks and start using natural foods to increase energy and elevate mood. It doesn't take much, and you'll be feeling better and have more energy to take on your next project. Kick-start your day with these 11 mood-lifting foods:

1. Milk
2. Chocolate
3. Whole grain rice or pasta
4. Mackerel
5. Broccoli
6. Coffee
7. Turkey
8. Liver
9. Blueberries
10. Brazil nuts
11. Any food that tastes good

Check out the full article for details on these foods and reasons why they are each beneficial. Add some of these to your daily diet and you'll immediately notice an improvement. These incredible stress busters will have the added benefit of tasting great. After the break I'll point you to some meal ideas that easily include these 11 mood lifting foods into your diet.

According to the U.S.Department of Energy, there is a checklist of items which you can look at around your house to determine if you are doing your fair share to support your home in its energy conservation program. You see, your house wants to save energy. If you could ask, it would tell you so.

Houses which have higher efficiency rankings also have fewer problems related to mold, mildew, rot and decay. An energy efficient house is not as prone to moisture damage caused by condensation as a poorly insulated house is. When thinking about water damage to homes, flooding is the first major cause, leakage from above is second and condensation due to poor insulation runs a close third.