Toilets can range from $100 up to as much as a self cleaning toilet from Japan for $3,000,   There are multiple different kinds of toilets; pressure assisted, gravity, vacuum, and dual flush.  With so many choices we are just going to give you (the consumer) an average priced toilet versus the water efficient toilet.

The normal toilet:

Highline® Comfort Height™ The Complete Solution™ elongated toilet with left-hand trip lever

Complete Solution toilets are built for convenience and efficiency, providing everything you need in one box as they include the toilet bowl, toilet tank, toilet seat, wax ring, and floor hardware.

• 29″L x 19-5/8″W x 30″H
• This model features Ingenium® technology which provides 3.5-gallon performance in a 1.6-gallon package
• NOTE: Complete Solution toilets do not include a supply line as the length needed varies per installation
• Part of The Complete Solution™ Toilets
• RETAIL AVAILABILITY ONLY

I was having an interesting conversation with a friend last night about home energy consumption. He pointed out–insightfully–that people would likely control their power use at home more strictly if they had a better tool for management.

Step one is knowledge of what, when, and how much power is being used.

Step two is setting goals and finding the perfect power position.

Step three is utilizing a robust control system to meet those goals.

Maybe he should be writing this post because he turned me on to a neat concept technology that does just that: Current State. This concept comes from thegreenergrass.org and it seems quite useful…and powerful.

Here’s the description from their page:

“How it Works

1. Order the system online, specifying the number of Plug-Ends needed.
2. Install Current State software on your mobile device.
3. Attach Plug-Ends to powered devices around your house.
4. Sync Plug-Ends to software, giving each powered device a descriptive name and confirming its location within your house.
5. Use Current State to remotely monitor your energy usage, control your devices, and set up automatic timers.”

Imagine monitoring your Baltimore home’s power output while on a business trip to Austin, TX, with the ability to shut off energy-sucking outlets at the click of a button. Now that is control that’ll save you money.

C.O.

One of those types would be pedal powered energy.  A lot of people like to work out right?  You are creating so much energy when you work out, why waste it?  THIS guy has created a pedal powered generator.  We think it is an awesome idea.  People who work out, whether it be treadmills or stationary bikes or even stair steppers.  We know, some of you have a Nordic Track stored under your bed that you got and forgot about.  How awesome would it be to generate your own energy.  Think about it.

HERE is a CNN article intended to make you think.  Think about the things you do that use energy.  Watching T.V., computer, xbox.  It all uses electricity.  Like CNN’s first line, what if you had to cycle for a specified time in order to do some of things that are mainly for entertainment.  Are those things important enough for you now?

Lastly, we want to show you a video of what a simple pedal powered generator looks like.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgRFPpZGx8Y&hl=en&fs=1]

Here are some tips to help your wallet this winter:

• Turn your water heater to the warm setting (120 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Make sure your water heater has an insulating blanket.
• Consider replacing incandescent lights with compact fluorescents (CFLs), which can save three-quarters of the electricity used by incandescents.
• Check the age and condition of your major appliances, especially the refrigerator. You may want to replace it with a more energy-efficient model before it dies.
• Clean or replace furnace, air-conditioner, and heat-pump filters.
• Rope caulk very leaky windows.
• Collect your utility bills. Separate electricity and fuel bills. Target the biggest bill for energy conservation remedies.
• Insulate hot water pipes and ducts wherever they run through unheated areas.
• Seal up the largest air leaks in your house — the ones that whistle on windy days, or feel drafty. The worst culprits are usually not windows and doors. They’re utility cut-throughs for pipes, gaps around chimneys, gaps around recessed lights in insulated ceilings or unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.
• Install a clock thermostat thermostat to lower the heat automatically at night.
• Schedule an energy audit (ask your utility company or state energy office) for more expert advice on your home as a whole.

If the prices of Natural Gas and Gasoline does not make you want to learn to be indepedent, we don’t know what will. Why should we as American’s continue to pay in order to live? These large companies have made millions of dollars while the Average American sweats everytime they fill up at the gas station and when their energy bill comes for their homes.

If you are ready to Make a Stand, look for future articles, titled “Projects you can do to Make a Stand” which we will provide How Tos in order for YOU to be able to start Making a Difference.

So, you do your part, right? Possibly, but paper and plastics are still the most thrown away item in the dumps. According to Wikianswers; “The packaging that you buy makes up 80 percent of most household trash.” Think about it for a second, when you buy a package of turkey at the store, do you take the plastic and the paper product and recycle it? Or, how about when you buy grabage bags, so you take the box that they come in and recycle it? We think that the majority of people don’t think about that stuff. That is why we are here, right? “Take a stand, make a difference” ring a bell?

So, let’s take a look at what you are all reading this post for….the $$$$

Instead of putting your cans and bottles at the curb(if your county has that option, save them. It takes a little extra time to take a gargabe bag or two full of cans and bottles down to the recycling company. They DO still pay. Boxes, boxes, boxes. Boxes are typically good strong cardboard. Why not take all the cardboard you get from packages, moving supplies, etc down and make a couple dollars. When you go shopping at your grocery store, ask them if they purchase bags back. If they do, you are going to the store anyways, why not make a little change while going. Toner cartridges…Staples if offering a “reward” for any information regarding the where-a-bouts of toner cartridges. What about your old jeans that don’t fit. You could sell them, or just donate them to a thrift shop. These are all forms of recyling. Now, you may not be the Bill Gates of the dumpsters but, you could make money AND feel good about what you are doing.

HERE is a post about making money off recycling newspaper.

HERE is another way to make money recycling.

Scrap Metal Recycling, click HERE

For those extra ambious money makers, you can certainly do THIS

Even Entreprenuer.com has some tips on making money with Recycling.

What about you? Have you taken a stand? Have you made a difference?

Tell us about it…we would like to hear how you made a difference, or maybe you profited off it…

Let us know

Take a Stand

Let’s get right down to the nuts and bolts of things though.  We would do some actual calculations but it will take some average electric bills plus, how much your state will give for putting power back into the grid, or net metering by solar power.  We will have net metering via other alternative energies later today.

If you are interested in making some money, you can look at this site to get you interested in it, and possibly get you motivated.  That is a buisnessweek article about pioneers getting their foot in the door and how much they made by selling power back.  Remember, it all depends on where you live, because some states do no give a lot of money for net metering.  Here is a website that you can click on each state and it will show you what the actual incentives per state is.  Some of the more liberal conservationist states(i.e. California, Washington, etc) will give a much larger incentive then others.

Take a stand, Make a difference

Hypermiling is the idea that no matter what type of vehicle you drive, you can get better fuel economy.  If you take the time to read the Wiki page, there are some dangerous ways to do it, and they are against the law, which we don’t condone, but, the thing we are focusing on is the idea.   Dare to be different.  Why let a large company control what and where you go.  We are so used to just following the herd, the large companies look at us as cattle.

Stand up for yourself and what you believe in!

Don’t be a part of the herd

drving… is of course the number one consumption.

What about those who can’t or don’t want to get out of the car they are currently in.  Let’s look at something a little less thought about.  Where else do you use gas?  Look in your garage.  Let’s see, I have a hammer, a junk car that I swear I am going to fix someday, a lawnmower, a ladder, a workbench, a weed eater, and some garden tools.

Have you looked into an electric powered lawnmower?  What about an electric Weed Eater?  Sure, all the pros and cons say that the portability isn’t there.   We need “FREEDOM” when we cut our grass.  We don’t like to be attached to cords.  Do you know that now you can get a lawnmower that is electric and is cordless?  Besides,  is  having a cordless lawnmower something that ,we as Americans, is more important than money in our pocket?  What is more important to you?

electric powered lawnmowers information page

A list of electric lawnmowers for sale

Gas powered Lawn mower Some of the nicer lawn mowers are the same price as the electric powered ones.

Some people are saying, if we buy an electric lawn mower will it help THAT much?  In the times we live in, every gallon of gas saved means less consumption, which means WE control the demand, which means WE set the price.

Take a stand, and do what you can.

Tomorrow, Gas saving tips while driving…