alternative energy can save you ($$$) and the environment!
with all the technology we use today—computers, TVs in every room of the house (if you have your own place or are at home, anyway…), stereos, etc. one of our most expensive utility bills comes up to be, with no surprise, our electric bill!
but what if you could reduce that amount, just by shopping for a different kind of product? (this sounds like an infomercial, and I apologize...)
I’m not talking about the $20,000+ solar panels that only the well-off can afford... think a little smaller. at first, I didn’t think any kind of solar powered appliances would help, but we never really think of how often we use even the smallest of appliances!
I came across this idea of solar powered appliances when I found this really cool water powered alarm clock from thinkgeek.com! it seems that solar powered gadgets are more popular in the UK though, and therefore some of the neatest gadgets are only available in Europe. :’-(
here’s a list of some of the gadgets I have found that seem to be useful! you can easily spend hundreds of dollars on solar powered equipment… but not only can these things save you a good amount of money in the end, they are good for the environment, too! yay! :-)
this list will probably be updated and added to over time. it's organized from cheapest (top) to most expensive (bottom of the list!). if you feel like contributing, please email me at budgetlife[at]gmail[dot]com. in addition, if you have any experience with any of the following products on this list, let me know! thank you!
Solar Powered~
Outdoors
- Glow In the Dark Pebbles - $9.99
- Solar Rock Light - $29.99
- Renaissance Lantern with Flickering Light - $29.99
- Solar Floodlight with Heat and Motion Sensor - $79.99
- Above Ground Solar Pool Heater - $249.99
- Solar Grill - ~$250.00
- Solar Mobile Phone Charger - $17.90
- Solio Universal Hybrid Charger - $89.95 - $99.95
Alarm Clocks
- Water Powered Alarm Clock - $12.99
- Water Powered Multifunction Alarm Clock - $22.99
Watt’s Up Pro - $129.99
Do-It-Yourself!~
there's even a tutorial on energyrefuge.com that tells you how to build your very own solar power generator for around $350 (depending on the materials you buy.). check it out here! just a little warning, i don't know how safe this is if you don't know what you're doing...
if you don't like the idea of messing around with materials of an electrical capacity, consider buying a solar power generator kit from go solar. :)
they range in price from $427 to $1252, depending on how much power you want it to provide your household. the even higher end ones are $2,000 and up. i'd wait on those... they are reasonably priced considering the savings on your electricity bill, but not everyone can dish out that kind of cash.
you can start small with the portable solar generators and work your way up!
if you're interested in more DIY solar projects, check out this nifty little website: http://www.builditsolar.com/.
i hope that's enough to keep you busy and researching for a little while. ;-)
my next entry will probably be about energy saving for your space if you're not too fond of or can't do the solar idea... so stay tuned! :-D
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