Category Archives: energy savings

A Guide to Self-Sufficient Living

Turn your lawn into an edible garden

Environmental concerns, uncertain financial markets and general burnout from overwork and consumption have created a recent surge of interest in self-sufficient living. Who among us hasn’t daydreamed of living off the grid in an efficient, mortgage-free house, generating everything we need to sustain ourselves, unfettered by the bills, pressures and responsibilities of modern life?

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without” was a common credo just two generations ago, when most women knew skills such as sewing and food preservation while men routinely handled home repairs and chores such as changing the oil in the family car. Modern conveniences and consumerism have largely replaced our society’s self-reliant spirit, creating an endless cycle of spending, overextending and debt—and accompanying stress and dissatisfaction.

Self-sufficient living can be labor-intensive, but the tenets are simple: Slash expenses, eliminate reliance on fossil fuels and municipal utilities, and maximize what you grow and produce. The good news is that even if you’re a suburban homeowner or an urban apartment dweller, you can take steps toward a more independent lifestyle.

Read more: http://www.naturalhomeandgarden.com/green-living/tips/self-sufficient-living-zmfz12sozmel.aspx#ixzz24Tjyich8

Disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

City of San Diego Outdoor Water Conservation Rebate Program

The City of San Diego’s year-round Residential Outdoor Water Conservation Rebate Program offers cash incentives for the installation of water-wise devices.

City residents who live in a single-family home, duplex, townhome or condo that is served by an individual water meter can participate.  They can receive up to a $400 rebate for a smart controller, which automatically adjusts irrigation times depending on the season and weather.

A residential customer can also get a rebate of up to $480 for installing a micro-irrigation systems.

Get more info and more rebates at: http://www.sandiego.gov/water/conservation/residentialoutdoor.shtml

Disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

 

 

Sacramento Skylight Maker is Ahead of the Energy Curve

As entrepreneurs look for ways to capitalize on the national movement to cut energy use, an established south Sacramento firm is succeeding with an old technology.

Rising prices for electricity and stricter building codes have driven up sales for skylight manufacturer Sunoptics after three decades of more moderate growth.
“We’ve been growing at approximately 40 percent a year since 2007, right in the middle of the biggest recession since the ’30s,” said Grant Grable, a company vice president.

Will skylights add value to your home?  Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com for your value questions.

Sunoptics has manufactured energy-efficient skylights at its facility off of 47th Avenue since 1978 and now includes Wal-Mart Inc. among its clients. The company’s design is simple, but it promises to significantly reduce energy costs for clients.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/30/4600988/sacramento-skylight-maker-sunoptics.html#storylink=cpy