Box of Homes

An online article by NewScientist.com offers a rather bizarre twist on the concept of our ecological footprint. Apparently, gas guzzling transportation vehicles are not putting the planet in jeopardy. Instead, it is our family pets and most notably 'Man's best friend', the dog.

New Scientisit even has the audacity to quote information from a new book, 'Time to Eat the Dog'.

According to the authors of the new book Time to Eat the Dog, it takes 0.84 hectares of land to keep a medium-sized dog fed. In contrast, running a 4.6-litre Toyota Land Cruiser, including the energy required to construct the thing and drive it 10,000 kilometres a year, requires 0.41 hectares. Dogs are not the only environmental sinners. The eco-footprint of a cat equates to that of a Volkswagen Golf.

The authors' suggest we should recycle our pets by either eating them or transforming their remains into pet food at such time as when they expire or perhaps sooner based on the tone of this article.
The solution according to those particular authors?
Toss out the dog or cat and adopt a chicken.

Source: NewScientist.com

Solar Roofing Shingles are astoundingly beautiful and offer a bit of relief from the high cost of cooling your home especially in tropical environments. We borrowed the pertinent information from the online provider of these eye popping roofing tiles. That company is SRSEnergy.com

Photovoltaic (PV) systems convert sunlight into electricity, powering everything from lamps to air conditioners in a residential or commercial building.

 

In PV systems, direct current (DC) electricity is produced. Appliances and machinery, however, operate on alternating current (AC). The DC energy produced by the panels is fed into an inverter that converts the DC power into AC power, which then feeds into the main electrical panel that powers a home or business. Any excess generation is fed back into the utility grid.

According to SRS Energy web site, if you desire further information or want to purchase these striking and still functional roofing tiles...

The Solé Power Tile™ is currently available in the U.S. in select West Coast markets through US Tile as an upgrade to the company’s vast array of kiln-fired clay roof systems. SRS Energy and US Tile have combined the timeless style and durability of clay roofscaping with the new-age performance and efficiency of seamless solar technology. Get a Solé Power Tile™ integrated roofscape from US Tile, the most trusted name in authentic clay roof tile, by filling out contact form.

Plus, the U.S. Federal Government offers a variety of home owner rebates on year end taxes. To discover how easy it is for a home owner to apply for federal tax credits within the 2009 and 2010 tax years, Visit this earlier post regarding ' U.S. Government Tax Credits for Home Energy Improvements'.

Tax Credits for Consumers:
Home Improvements
Tax credits are now available for home improvements:

must be "placed in service" from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010

Must be for taxpayer's principal residence, EXCEPT for geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, and small wind energy systems (where second homes qualify)
$1,500 is the maximum total amount that can be claimed for all products placed in service in 2009 & 2010 for most home improvements.

EXCEPT:
Geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, fuel cells, and small wind energy systems which are not subject to this cap, and are in effect through 2016. Must have a Manufacturer Certification Statement to qualify.

Record keeping:
save your receipts and the Manufacturer Certification Statement.

To Claim:
Improvements made in 2009 will be claimed on your 2009 taxes (filed by April 15, 2010) — use IRS Tax Form 5695 (2009 version) — it will be available late 2009 or early 2010.

If you are building a new home, you can qualify for the tax credit for geothermal heat pumps, photovoltaics, solar water heaters, small wind energy systems and fuel cells, but not the tax credits for windows, doors, insulation, roofs, HVAC, or non-solar water heaters. More.
SUMMARY OF TAX CREDITS FOR HOMEOWNERS

Check to see if you have Home Performance with ENERGY STAR in your areas. Adding insulation to your home is covered. Windows & Doors Windows, Doors, and Skylights Before June 1, 2009: Must meet ENERGY STAR criteria

After June 1, 2009:
Roofing Metal Roofs,
Asphalt Roofs All ENERGY STAR qualified metal and reflective asphalt shingles 30% of cost, up to $1,5001 FAQ on Roofs.

Subject to a $1,500 maximum per homeowner for all improvements combined.

Source: energystar.gov/taxcredits

Sometimes technology devices actually do make a humans life easier and Robomow® Lawn Mower is one of them. You can easily handle your lawn care and yard grooming even to the point of automating it. Simply define the perimeter of your landscape and the machine automatically senses the boundaries. Next, pre-program the machine to automatically handle the task of cutting the grass. Built-in sensors recognize shrubs and trees in the yard along with the perimeter wire. The machine will return itself to its own charging station where it remains between tasks. Or simply hit the green "Go" button to start the machine. Check it out