A Quick and Easy way to Start Getting Power from Alternative Renewable Energy Sources

Thinking about using more alternative renewable energy sources in your home or apartment? If you own a home, then there are several options for using the best in alternative energy. However,  if you’re a renter, then there aren’t that many options for decreasing your carbon emissions from electricity. There is one effective method available for alternative renewable energy sources to many renters, and it’s so easy that even homeowners may want to consider it.

By joining a utility-based alternative renewable energy sources program, you can sign up with a third party electricity provider who uses alternative renewable energy sources. There’s nothing extra to install; the green energy comes from the electric grid like all other forms of electricity, and you simply pay for whatever you use. And since it’s still your local electricity provider that’s feeding energy into your house or apartment, your bill will still come from your regular electricity provider. You may end up paying more for your electricity from alternative renewable energy sources. Depending on the service and where you are, it could be between 1-4 cents more per kilowatt-hour.

So how can you find out what providers for alternative renewable energy sources are in your area? If you live in the US, the Department of Energy has an Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy site that lists green power programs for each state. By most accounts, the sign up process is easy.

In most cases, the alternative renewable energy sources used are wind power or hydroelectric power. Biomass alternative renewable energy sources are also gaining popularity. Some providers may even let you choose the type of green power you’d like to use.

Tips for Living Green: Reuse Common Household Items

Do you recycle your paper bags, glass jars and plastic food containers? Great, but you can still do more to help reduce the never ending garbage problem as well as some packaging that is not environmentally friendly. 

Here are a few tips for living green for reusing common household items as suggested by The Cleveland Women’s Journal West Edition (Feb-Mar 2009).

• Baby Food & small food jars – These small jars with study lids are great for storing spices, keeping fingerpaint, small nails or thumbtacks organized. 
• Aluminum Foil – Foil tips for living green is to simply rinse and reuse. Other tips for living green is to wad up the foil to clean baked-on food inside pans. You can also layer used foil and cut with scissors to sharpen the blades.
• Paper bags – While these bags are more eco friendly than plastic bags, paper bag tips for living green include covering student textbooks, organize other recycling, costumes for kids and can be used for cooling cookies instead of waxed paper.
• Socks – Sock tips for living green include using them as dusting rags especially when you are only left one of the pair. Other useful tips include filling the sock with rice, sew the end, warm in microwave and use as a heating pad. Make a tug toy for your dog by tying knots in the sock or fill with catnip for your kitty.

Remember these tips for living green before you throw the items in the trash or recycle bin.