Renewable Energy Tax Credits

With the recent Economic Stimulus package passed into law, you can now get tax credits for energy efficient home improvements. This generally includes improvements for energy efficient furnaces, water heaters, solar power, windows, etc. The lifetime cap is currently $1,500, which can reduce the expense of big-ticket items like solar panels or tankless water heaters.

If you are looking at solar power, you have a couple of options depending on how much money you have to spend or how handy you are. Here are some tips:

• Hire a Contractor: There are multiple companies getting into solar power installation. Until recently, it was prohibitively expensive to install and only for the wealthy. Costs have reduced significantly in recent years, and with tax credits it's available to more homeowners than ever. Just like you would for any other large home improvement, do your research, shop around and get multiple estimates.
  
• Do It Yourself: Believe it or not, you can build your own solar panels. There are many inexpensive guides out there and it's easier than you might expect. Many guides also recommend building your own windmill as a power supplement for prolonged cloudy days or added energy. If you make enough power, your electric utility will actually give you a credit on your bill!

You can find a comprehensive list of all the tax advantages here:

http://digits.hrblock.com/taxtalkandblogs/stimulus/stimulusfaqs.php

Solar Generators

The sun shines on the earth each and every day for free, yet we rarely use its energy. Instead we extract our energy from the ground hidden from it's view. In these times of depleting resources and increasing prices, solar energy proves to be the most beneficial and the most economical power solution. We can't afford to wait until the next oil price shock, oil worker strike, or oil producing nation conflict. Building alternative energy sources will save cost now and well into the future.

The most common use of solar energy is to generate electricity. You can run all the electrical appliances and electronics in your house. Solar generators also store electricity in cells that you can use at night. For cold weather you can keep your house warm With solar energy heating systems. Lastly, if you have a little patience you can use a solar cooker. A typical solar cooker can cook food for a family of five. Believe it or not, a solar cooker does not limit itself to boiling -- it can also bake and roast.

A solar generator converts solar radiation into electrical energy. The sun's light is converted into electrical energy by solar cells (also known photovoltaic cells). The return on investment of a solar generator is very fast, making electricity available cheaply. It also limits government dependence for electricity (as well as other governments). In today's environment and economy, it is only prudent to evaluate alternative energy sources.

You might ask "Why use solar power?" Solar energy emits no harmful gases or pollution. Best of all, it makes use of a free energy. Over time the solar generator pays for itself with free electricity. It also ensures that you have a consistent supply of power -- you still have power if a power line is cut. Lastly, it's easy to maintain yourself. You might also be asking yourself, "What if it's cloudy and rainy?" -- the solar generator stores power for later use.

Eliminate your power bill with solar and wind power. Get the step-by-step guide at http://www.homegreenelectricity.com/?tid=blg001