Slowly people and manufacturers are becoming aware of the need for solar energy.

The cars powered by solar are just electric cars that do not need to be plugged in to be charged. Why? They have solar panels installed on the top of them to generate power. These panels collect the sun’s energy and transform it into electricity to power the cars. At present time these cars cannot go far on their solar power.

When the panels collect the sun’s energy, they will then send the energy directly to the batteries for whatever power the car needs to drive down the road right then. The excess power is stored to be used as needed. Right now the batteries will not store that much extra electricity, so these cars can only operate in a limited range.

So right now there is a lot of room for improvement on these cars. They are not as effective as they should be yet. These cars are very promising for the future as the solar technology improves. Solar cars can be our answer to using so many fossil fuels and the carbon footprint we are leaving at present time.

Traditional vehicles are among the top sources for the greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere. In fact they are only beat out by power plants that run by burning coal. What country do you think leads in both of these statistics? You guessed it right, the United States. With pouring carbon dioxide into the air at a rate of over a billion tons a year from cars, and the plants burning coal giving off over 2 billion, the USA is not seen as environmentally conscience to some other countries across the world.

With the way the people of USA use power progress has been slow to adopt alternative sources such as solar energy. However, slowly people and manufacturers are becoming aware of the need for it. The energy companies and car manufacturers though have politicked to an extreme amount for more incentives and legislation. The large vehicles that suck up so much gas are still too loved by the American people and the market.

The cars powered by solar in the USA are small cars and very exclusive. The solar panels alone run over a-hundred-thousand dollars. However, these are extremely advanced in their technology and are the way of the future. These do not give off any greenhouse gases and are very quiet while they work at storing energy.

In other countries some solar cars have made for the general consumer, however, the electricity may not be completely generated in the vehicle though. They are called solar powered electric vehicles or SPEVs. These are used for short-distance jaunts like back and forth to the store or office.

More research needs to be done, but these cars do hold promise because they do not use any fossil fuels. They also take less maintenance as far as tune ups and oil changes. There are no emissions so you do not need to get that checked either. As time goes on better cars powered by solar will become available that will go longer distances.

1. Lessen Water Waste – There are many ways to lessen water consumption in the home without sacrificing material comforts.  First, take more showers instead of tub baths, which will also save on heating costs.  Second, add a 2-liter water-filled bottle into an old toilet’s water tank to lessen quantity of water used with every flush.  Third, use a glass for brushing your teeth.  Every little drops of water helps!

2. Replace Incandescent Bulbs – Fluorescent bulbs do the job of lighting up your home just as well as incandescent bulbs, so replace the latter today.  Plus, you will enjoy the benefits of 75 percent less energy consumption with 10 times longer life with fluorescent bulbs.

3. Install Programmable Thermostat – You will be able to save on energy costs simply because you can program said thermostat to reflect your immediate needs for heating and cooling energy.  Plus, its energy-saving feature adds up in the long run.

4. Install Eco-Friendly Faucets and Shower Heads - Low-flow faucets and shower heads will save on water and, hence, your utility bill. Shower heads are easier to install but replacing your old faucets for a cost will pay for itself.

5. Become a Gardener – Not only will you be able to grow your own organic food but you will also be able to lessen your carbon footprints.  Plus, it does look nice having a small garden to look forward to at the end of the day for exercise and stress relief.

6. Look Into Eco-Friendly Insulation – You can either apply organic insulation such as recycled denim, recycled cellulose fiber and even soy materials or revamp windows using double panes or embrace weather stripping.  All of these options will lessen energy costs while ensuring that you are comfortable in your home.

7. Opt for Low-VOC Products – When undertaking a DIY project involving paint, stains and other chemical substances, opt for the low-VOC products.  Ask the salesperson for assistance, do your research and just take the time to read labels.

8. Make Your Own Organic Home Products – In the same vein as growing your own food to some extent, you can also lessen your consumption of the Earth’s resources and lessen your grocery bill by making your own products for the home.  For example, look into homemade oral hygiene and home cleaning products using common ingredients like baking soda and vinegar.

9. Composting – You will only need a vacant portion of the backyard to make your own compost.  It will definitely do wonders for your garden, not to mention lessen our dependence on synthetic fertilizers.

10. Solar Power – You can always build solar panels for use in water and house heating.  Don’t worry about costs as you can always avail of tax rebates and financial assistance.  Or you can follow the example of Ma Yanjun, a Chinese farmer, who used interconnected beer bottles to harness solar power.

With a little ingenuity and plenty of concern for the environment, not to mention an eye on your energy expenditure, you can live as green as possible.

I happen to know a couple, Pam and Phil, who are both teachers. One is a principal and the other happens to be a really smart English teacher. Of course, they don’t make a ton of money, and they have a baby on the way. Instead of just throwing the idea of solar power right out the window, they sat down, did the numbers, and did a lot of research too. One option they had was to put an entire system on their house and get rid of using coal and the other option allowed them to get rid of coal while paying nothing. Take a guess which option they decided to go with.

The option available is known as solar leasing. If you can’t afford to pay for a system outright, this option allows you to lease the system you need and it makes a great alternative that you won’t want to pass up. Not sure how it works? Here is a closer look.

First of all, you make the decision to go with solar power, which is definitely a great decision for the environment. Then you take measures to contact a company that leases out these systems, such as SolarCity, which works in states including Texas, California, Colorado, Oregon, and Arizona. Then you can ask them if your home is going to be a good fit for solar power. If you end up being a good candidate, then you sign all the paper work and they show up and put in a photovoltaic system on the house and you don’t have to pay. You can monitor it wirelessly and it also has a good warranty. What you pay is a fee on the setup and this fee usually ends up begin less than the electric bill you are paying. The amount stays the same as well for the entire lease life, which can save you money too.

Basically, this is a great option if you want to choose greener solar energy for your home but you don’t have the money. You don’t have to pay anything up front, they install the system for you, and you pay a fee that is less than your electric bill. You are able to kick the cola habit and you cut down on what you pay for energy each month, which is a great benefit. Of course, there are a variety of options to consider when you are considering the transition to solar energy. However, this one is one of the best options and can allow you to have the solar energy you need without the up front huge expense of paying to have the photovoltaic system put in by yourself.

What you need to understand when it comes to energy subsidies is that every form happens to be subsidized. There are not any types of energy, including nuclear, renewables, or any others, that can stand on their own without having loan guarantees, tax preferences, or even research grants on their behalf. Of course, this really doesn’t have to be a bad thing. The biggest questions is which problems are we dealing with when it comes to energy and in order to solve them, what energy subsidies need to be used?

Trying to pin down what really is and is not a subsidy is not that difficult. There really isn’t a definition of subsidy that is accepted universally, according to the U.S. Information administration back in 2008. This makes it even easier for people to get confused on what subsidies are all about. Since there are benefits and costs with all programs from the government, many times the term subsidy ends up getting connotations that are derogatory.

When you keep this in mind, several reports need to be kept in mind which try to calculate the subsidy amounts and their beneficiaries. Back in 2004, several energy worthies that are bipartisan, came up with estimates that ranged between 27-64 billion dollars each year. They included tax incentives, cleanup of sites that are polluted, R&D grants, royalty relief for gas and oil, and oil supply line protection by the military. They did note within their reports that the numbers they came up with were really only estimates.

Another estimate was done by Earth Track about three years later, which was done on the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development federal subsidies. Their estimates were that there is $49-100 billion each year, with conservation getting only 2.1%, about 2/3 going to fossil fuels, ethanol getting 7.6%, 2.4% going to nuclear, and 7.5 percent going to various other renewables. Then in 2008, there were even different numbers that were come up with by the Department of Energy, saying that the total was only about $16.6 billion. Of course, it was made clear that this report shouldn’t be the last word and didn’t include the cap on military protection of supply lines for oil and nuclear power plants.

Depending on policy preferences, subsidies can be described and defines in different ways. Those who advocate renewable energy sources say that the tax preferences that are for the tax codes happen to be permanent tax code provisions, while the ones for renewable energy forces have been off and one for some time. On the other hand, those who are champions of nuclear and coal power feel that the cost of subsidies for the renewables are much higher than the costs for plants that run on a constant basis. So, numbers on subsidies can easily be manipulated and used as weapons for either side of the argument, and it is important that you understand that.

Saving energy and saving money should not be your sole responsibility as parents. Your kids must also learn to contribute in keeping the electric bills down. This way, your effort will not get wasted and at the same time, your kids will learn some good values while growing up.

Because teaching your kids to be energy efficient requires some effort, here are easy to follow suggestions you can do:

Education

Teaching your kids the importance of saving energy should be your first goal. Take note that making them understand the value of being energy efficient is more effective than enumerating the ways to save energy and leaving it at that. Teach them how conserving energy helps the environment. Tell them stories or read educational books about the importance of energy.

Lead by Example

You know very well that kids tend to follow what elders do. Practice what you preach. You may have listed and posted a litany of things-to-do to conserve energy but if you don’t follow them yourself, you cannot expect your kids to follow it too. Do not just tell them to turn the lights off before leaving their room; show them by always turning the lights off every time you leave a room in your house. Education and leading by example are a good combination if you want to make good habits stick.

Make It Fun

Find educational materials where your kids will learn the value of conserving energy as well as the ways on how to save it. Computer software, educational websites, books and television shows that educate and entertain kids would really make a difference on how well they will respond. This is especially applicable to kids from 5 to 10 years old.

Get Your Kids Involved

Family activities should not be limited to eating, playing, and entertainment. Chores can also be a good way to bond with your kids. Manually wash the car (in the rain!), water the plants, clean the table, wash the dishes, clean the house etc. These are some of the things you can do with your kids while conserving energy.

Teach Your Kids According to Their Age

Kids of different ages have different attitude on things around them. If your 5-year son doesn’t know how to turn off the lights before leaving the room, all you need to do is to talk to him well about its importance and showing him that you practice what you teach.

Your 10-year old daughter may require different approach like showing her your electric bill and explaining to her that it will greatly help if she will change some of her bad habits. You are teaching your 5-year old good habits while you are teaching and emphasizing to your 10-year old good habits and responsibility.

Same thing applies to kids of different ages. The point is, make sure that you teach your kids proper ways to conserve energy using an approach suited to their ages.

Energy Saving Tips for Kids:

1. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
2. Always turn the lights off before leaving the room.
3. Turn the computer off after use.
4. Do not hold the refrigerator open.
5. Unplug unnecessary appliance.
6. Use natural light if possible.

Saving energy is not hard, so get your kids are involved. Just like any family activities you do, energy conservation should be fun, educational, and driven by good motivation.