One of the best ways to help the environment and reduce carbon emissions is by using solar power. The added benefit is that when you embark on a DIY solar power project, you will also be reducing the fuel costs at home by using less energy reducing your utility bills.

To start a DIY project is not that difficult or expensive. If you invest some time in choosing the right DIY project for you, you will protect yourself from increase in energy prices in the future. There are also government incentives to encourage the development of renewable sources of energy. The US government even offers tax rebates for most solar energy projects.

Have you ever thought of how comforting it would be to know that you depend on one else but yourself for all of your basic survival needs? If so, then you are not alone! Many people are working toward the dream of eco living and becoming self-sufficient and others want to be completely ‘off the grid.’ If you think that it is a big idea that is well beyond your means, it’s time to join ranks with thousands of other people just like you who are doing what they can to make it really happen.

What are your chances of really becoming self sufficient in the near future? Don’t blow it off as something that you cannot afford. First consider what it really takes to live an eco friendly lifestyle.

Let’s turn to financing in this edition of Green Products. Why financing? To go green, someone has to pay the initial costs, and sometimes these costs are high. With some of the current economic challenges, here are some thoughts

First, how is the seller/manufacturer of green products affected during a downturn? Businesses that produce alternative energy/green products are facing the same (if not more) pressure than the average consumer. This means that most alternative energy businesses will be more willing than ever to negotiate price, and may have discounts or incentives in place.

Another opportunity is the new American Recovery and Re-investment Act of 2009. Renewable energy and the development of alternative energy products were given a big boost by removing “cost caps” from the 2008 alternative energy tax credit and green products.

Is your energy bill outrageous? If so, you need to install solar lighting in your home. Solar lighting is a benefit to not only your energy costs, but the earth as well. A lot of people these days are turning to solar energy for not only improving the looks of a home, but increasing the value as well.

Solar lighting inside, and outside of your home is becoming consistently popular these days because of the amount of money using solar energy can save you. If you have outdoor light around your home you have probably seen an extremely large increase in you electric bill since you installed them. Most don’t realize that you typically leave outdoor lighting on about 12 hours a day which leads to a big increase in electric usage.

As the temperature rises, swimming suits and shorts come out of the closet, flip flops get dusted off, and all thoughts of winter are left behind. Summertime means yards work outside, days at the beach, and outside fun with the family. However, the intense summer sun can cause skin damage and cancer, so using sunscreen is a daily necessity, especially during all those outside activities.

The purpose of a sunscreen is to block the harmful UVA and UVB radiation from the sun. This radiation damages all skin types, from those who are fair to those who have a dark complexion or tan easily. In fact, a reliable sunscreen is necessary even on a cloudy day because the cloud layer does not block this radiation. All sunscreens carry a Sun Protection Factor or SPF. The SPF rating shows how the product performs in protecting against UVB radiation. Wearing a sunscreen of SPF 15 daily will help prevent the sun’s damaging effects. It is recommended to apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before sun exposure. During the summer most people flock to the beaches, so some sunscreens are designed to be water-proof or sweat-proof.

There are two types of home solar power systems that can be created to provide energy to the home. They can be categorized as passive and direct applications of solar energy. The passive systems are generally to do with utilizing the thermal properties of the Sun. So water or a room can be passively heated by the Sun. The water can be plumbed into the home to be used for everyday needs. By understanding how hot air moves, a heated room can direct heat energy to other parts of the home to provide warmth. However is going to focus on the direct home solar power systems that create electricity for use in the home.