In 2007, IBM announced plans to build an $86-million green data center that would add 80,000 square feet to its data center, according to The Environmental Leader. The initiative started as a result of consumers demanding a green center and from signing a huge financial agreement with a large account.

IBM has invented new green methods that are being put to use in its new green data center. Some of the highlights of the project are installing computing systems that make the energy usage more efficient and cooling systems that require less electricity to operate. Instead of the computer system running continually, the new system monitors the needs of data center and organizes the power supply for those computers that need the most energy and allows the others to run idle or sleep mode. Some cooling systems simply take the cold air from outside and pump it into the building. The construction of the building is designed to be as efficient as possible, reducing IBM’s overall carbon footprint by purchasing green energy, using sunlight for heating and the outside air for cooling.

Instead of building new data centers, IBM has taken some of its pre-existing centers and completely renovated them, saving 95% of the original structures. Twenty percent of the materials used to renovate the green data centers are from recycled resources such as old scrap metal, reusable wood and other recycled construction materials, reducing the carbon footprint by as much as 50%, according to The Register.

In even greater efforts, IBM is committed to using green electricity to power its green data centers, such as wind and solar energy. IBM is moving in the right direction and setting the standard for the rest of the digital world by using less electricity, using recycled materials and preserving the earth’s natural resources.

According to a study covered by The New York Times in 2008, “Giving people the means to closely monitor and adjust their electricity use lowers their monthly bills.” This study, conducted by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory of the Energy Department, recorded data over the course of a year from digital thermostats attached to water heaters and clothes dryers in 112 homes. Homeowners could access the controls via the Internet.

After a year, it was concluded that, “Over a 20-year period, this could save $70 billion on spending for power plants and infrastructure, and avoid the need to build the equivalent of 30 large coal-fired plants.” With such promising factors in mind a means to monitor your energy consumption is surely taking hold. If you are interested in reducing your bills and helping the planet by keeping an eye on energy usage, there are plenty of ways to cut back.

Invensys Controls, a global technologies company that combines cutting-edge technology and industry knowledge in order to maximize efficiency and optimize processes, supplied the monitors attached to the test subjects’ appliances. Invensys’ website promotes energy-efficient thermostats like those made by Robertshaw. But, for those of you really looking to get down to the nitty gritty, or perhaps those who crave even more knowledge, websites such as energyguide.com offer tools that help any and every homeowner or renter learn exactly how much energy they use and what to do to be more efficient and lower their bills.

From this website a curiously green-thinking person can analyze their own energy usage, shop for the most energy-efficient products or even find a contractor for a heating and cooling upgrade. In fact, the Energy Guide website even offers easy-to-use surveys that help analyze your energy usage differently for your refrigerator, washer, dryer, thermostat, lighting, water heater or even a total heating or cooling system upgrade.

So, the next time you feel totally comfortable without knowing your energy usage, remember, ignorance isn’t bliss; knowledge is power. And, the next time you want to save 10-15% on your home energy bills, be sure to look into finding a better way to monitor your usage. After all, little behavioral changes are the best way to make a big impact.

Want to further your energy reduction? Unplug your electronics when not in use.

Photo courtesy of ESPN

Let me repeat: NASCAR plans to go green! Well, sort of.

The plans at Pocono call for a system comprised of a whopping 40,000 photovoltaic panels to be installed on what used to be a parking lot across the street from the track. The raceway’s president, Brandon Igdalsky, ensures that “the solar farm is expected to generate 3 megawatts once it is completed in spring 2010” and “the project is expected to cost $15 million to $17 million but [will] more than pay for itself over time.”

Whereas the typical NASCAR fan might not be too keen on going green, Igdalsky favors this solar panel system for its economic benefits. When energy bills of up to $500,000 annually threatened Pocono’s pocketbook, Igdalsky and others came to the same conclusion that eco-advocates have been arguing for years: Sustainable energy is smarter and cheaper in the long run.

For the time being, we can ignore the fact that NASCAR estimates put the average fuel consumption of a single season in the realm of 288,000 gallons, and instead appreciate that earth-conscious energy plans are being implemented in some unusual places. We can turn a blind eye to the fact that roughly 300,000 fans drive (usually from long distances) to witness races 40 times a year in order to appreciate this one track’s push for green energy.

Don’t get me wrong, having a NASCAR venue adopt a sustainable practice in any way is a victory for supporters of green thinking, but let’s put this in perspective. When the amount of fuel consumed just by the racecars in one NASCAR season could allow an average car that gets 30 miles per gallon to drive 12,000 miles a year for 600 years, it seems silly to welcome NASCAR into the green movement so readily.

That being said, the contact info for the Pocono Raceway is a great place to check out if you like this decision. Some positive reinforcement might just encourage NASCAR to adopt more eco-friendly practices. Who knows, maybe Pocono’s plans can be the catalyst to dramatic green changes to this sport down the road.

Old jeans can keep you warm this winter.

Staying warm and cozy at home during the winter doesn’t start with cranking up the heat. Instead, take a look at what’s inside your walls to make sure you have the right insulation to keep your home properly heated and in tip-top energy-saving condition.

Drafty old homes require constant heat and jack up heating bills because of inadequate insulation, but an upgrade can make a huge difference. One solution is to use a more earth-friendly option such as recycled denim. UltraTouch by Bonded Logic Inc. is one brand of denim insulation, containing 85% post-industrial recycled natural fibers. The denim used in UltraTouch insulation is sourced from scraps from the manufacture of blue denim jeans and leaves nothing wasted.

UltraTouch’s denim insulation can be used for interior and exterior walls as well as ceilings. It is effectively used for sound absorption, meets the highest standards for fire and smoke ratings and also resists microbial growth. It does not contain any harmful chemicals, irritants or formaldehyde, and therefore has no VOC or off-gassing concerns. It also doesn’t itch like traditional insulation does, nor does it require any dust masks when installing.

Bonded Logic Inc. boasts a zero-waste manufacturing process — it shreds any edge trim that does not pass quality control and returns it to the raw material supply, keeping 200 tons away from landfills each month. UltraTouch is LEED certified in optimizing energy performance; air quality performance; low-emission materials; and using recycled content, local materials and rapidly renewable cotton. The product also qualifies homeowners to earn eight different tax credits for energy efficiency.

The pellet stove heats your home while saving you money.

I don’t know about you, but my electric and gas bills have both increased in the last year. Although I live in Florida, I’m interested in finding the most eco-friendly options for heating my home. To my surprise, there are some great options that are perfect for people living in the dead of winter in Wisconsin or the crisp winters of Texas.

In my unofficial research, I found the most affordable way to heat your home and support sustainability is a pellet stove. Pellet stoves are very much like wood burning stoves, but they use small pellets made from wood that would otherwise be thrown away (like sawdust). Pellet stoves are more energy efficient and they are able to heat your home with less fuel. The best part: They emit a minimal level of pollutants (much less than the power plant making your electricity). The average-sized home can stay warm with one pellet stove, and they cost between $1,200 and $2,500, depending on the size.

Another eco-friendly way to heat your home is with the sun. This type of solar energy, called space heating, doesn’t convert the sun’s rays into electricity; instead it uses the heat from the sun to heat the air in your home. These systems can heat up to 80% of a home, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Obviously, this system doesn’t produce any pollution, making it a very attractive option. It is 100% clean energy. These systems are pricier, costing about $20,000 for a 2,000-square-foot home.

There are affordable ways to cut the dependence on your local energy source and begin making a difference in your home. Most eco-friendly heating systems have a hefty upfront cost, but they can be much cheaper in the long run. Heating your home can be earth friendly, just like the rest of your lifestyle.

Bikram Choudhury, who CBS describes as an Indian yogi with an all-American approach, has been turning up the heat in “hot” yoga studios everywhere. Coincidentally, and appropriately for this case, the CBS article, titled, “Hot Yoga Burns Bright,” spends most of its time talking about the health benefits of the set of 26 postures and two breathing exercises in intense heat. But, the 105º heat, which “loosens the body and allows the muscles and tendons to go farther and stretch even more,” is nothing to brag about from an environmentally sustainable standpoint. To turn up the heat that much makes not only for an expensive utility bill, but also for an environment begging for other resources just to make it to and from each workout, according to TinyChoices.com.

In a sarcastic, candidly written firsthand account, a first-time Bikram yoga student writes about practicing during a heat wave. Complaining that not only was the disposal of several bottles of Vitamin Water imminent, but the heat alone also caused concern for how much energy was being used to keep people this hot and, and later to cool them off.

“First observation: It’s freakin’ HOT in that studio… And in order to heat the studio to the required 105 degree F temperature, you can bet our (mostly) coal-fired power plants are working overtime,” the author recalls.

In the spirit of fostering the yoga spirit of taking care of one’s environment, a Bikram yoga studio in Fort Worth, TX, made it a point to announce on its main Web page that it has installed energy-saving equipment, reducing its energy output, and subsequently its bill.

“Yoga teaches us to conserve our energy in our body and the results expand outward,” the statement reads. “With the use of this device, we have cut our electricity bill by 33%.”

Still, some students remain skeptical of anything about Bikram yoga’s heated rooms being sustainable.

“Once I realized how resource-intensive this practice is, I got kind of confused, and sad,” the Bikram yoga experimenter from TinyChoices.com continued. “In order to practice Bikram yoga, you need a highly heated room, a towel to absorb the dripping sweat, a washing machine (for your clothes, towel and mat) and a shower immediately afterwards + another towel.”

Despite a laundry list of cons against the use of such extreme output of heat, the heat is said to cleanse the body in a way that makes up for the extra energy that it uses. According to YogaWiz.com, the benefits of a heated room help to achieve a deeper stretch and those extra toxins are sweated out. YogaWiz goes so far as to claim that the whole experience can become a (healthy) habit.

“As a matter of fact,” YogaWiz noted, “the benefits of the heated room become addictive and you come to embrace them!”

So, what is the bottom line of acceptability for this energy-soaking type of yoga? While it may be a sustainable stretch, it seems that — as with many other formerly energy-zapping appliances and systems — improvements are starting to be made. So, don’t sweat it.

As a renter, I had no say in the appliances that went into my apartment. I can’t really complain — all the appliances they chose are very nice. But, I have a feeling they aren’t as energy efficient as they could be, and that may be costing me money.

Let’s take a look at three major appliances in my home — appliances that most of you have in your homes as well — to see how much money I would be saving if my landlord had chosen items with the Energy Star label.

1. Refrigerator: The Energy Star refrigerator calculator says I’m spending nearly $100 per year to power my refrigerator — ouch! If I had an Energy Star fridge, that figure would be closer to $80 per year.
2. Dishwasher: According to the Energy Star website, Energy Star dishwashers use about 30% less energy than standard models. I’ll estimate the annual cost of powering my dishwasher at $50 (I use it sparingly, so I figure it must cost me about half what my fridge does). So, that means I could be spending closer to $35 if I had an Energy Star dishwasher.
3. Washing machine: Again, the Energy Star website says its washing machines can cut energy use by more than a third, compared to regular machines. I have a small model, but it gets a lot of use, so I’ll estimate its annual electric cost at $75. That means I could be spending closer to $50 if my landlord had gone the Energy Star route.

The bottom line: $20 + $15 + $25 = $60 I could be saving on electricity each year if I had those three Energy Star appliances in my apartment. Hey, that ain’t nothin’! And, of course, Energy Star appliances also use less water and are better for the environment overall. So, when I own my own place one of these days, Energy Star appliances are definitely something I would consider.

If you were to install enough panels to power your entire house, it would take on average 10 years to pay back. Taking this approach would completely eliminate your electric bill because most full-service panels come with a backup battery in case of an emergency.

One approach many people have taken is to install solar panels to alleviate a portion of their electric bill. This is a more affordable approach and can be worked on little by little. As the funds become available, you can continue to add panels until you’ve achieved full coverage.

Solar energy is the way of the future. If you’re interested in the best way to save the planet and your wallet, then seriously consider solar panels for your home. There are sites that claim you can make your own solar panels for less than $200, but I’m not that confident to take this on. You can check out these sites to find out more on purchasing panels or making them yourself: homemadepowerplant.org, affordable-solar.com and solarhome.org.

So, I recently moved into an apartment with central air conditioning.

By the way, if you just thought to yourself, “Where were you living before, a park bench?” then you obviously don’t live in New York City, where central air is a luxury.

Anyway, I got central air, and it was exciting! Not only is it less of a hassle and easier to control (thermostat, I’ve missed you all these years!), but it has also, somewhat surprisingly, saved me a little money. I was expecting the amount I paid per square foot on electricity to go up — the convenience of central air has to come at a price, right? Check it out: I can flip one tiny switch and all the rooms in my apartment will cool off instantly. And they’ll stay at whatever temperature I want, for as long as I want, without threatening the lives of anyone walking on the sidewalk outside my living room window!

But, sure enough, my electric bill is slightly lower per square foot now than it was when I lived in an apartment with a window unit (which, I have to add, was a new Energy Star appliance). Several sources on the Internet confirmed that my case is not a fluke. Apparently, the energy efficiency of central air conditioning systems versus window units is anything but cut and dry and depends on a ton of factors, including how your air conditioning system is engineered and how well insulated your home is.

Obviously, I’m lucky, and I don’t take it for granted. Thanks, central air!

These items may seem like insignificant sources of energy, but they still raise your electric bill while you’re on vacation, sleeping or at work. It’s a common misunderstanding that just because a device is turned off it isn’t using too much electricity. Unfortunately, many people believe this. They are constantly using energy for no purpose, and the amount of energy they’re using is significant.

According to the Department of Energy, “Standby energy accounts for anywhere from 5 to 10% of an average home’s annual power usage. Convert that percentage into dollars, and you’ve got around $4 billion in wasted spending across America every year.” This is a staggering amount of wasted energy, considering that much of the world’s hunger problem could be solved with U.S. vampire energy cost.

You’re probably wondering which appliances and other electronics are the worst culprits. Let’s take a look. The number one culprit in your home is most likely your television and everything hooked up to it. A plasma TV, if left off for an entire year, would cost you about $165. Your cable box would cost around $10 and your VCR/DVD player would cost you around $3 a year in “off” mode.

Here’s a list from PCWorld.com of common household vampire appliances:

• Desktop computer: $6.20
• Laptop (fully charged): $2.06
• LCD computer monitor: $1.03
• Wireless router: $4.13
• DSL modem: $5.16
• External USB hard drive: $2.06
• Computer speaker system: $5.16
• Inkjet printer: $4.28
• DVD player: $3.60
• Powered subwoofer: $15.50
• Microwave oven: $2.48

The most obvious way to kill the vampire in your house is to simply unplug electronics when they’re not in use. It is important to unplug virtually every appliance in your house to save on wasted energy, especially if you’re going on vacation or a short business trip. Getting in the habit of unplugging a device after you use it can have a huge impact on your wallet and the planet.

If you don’t want to be bothered with unplugging and plugging everything around the house, you can purchase vampire-smart power strips. These power strips monitor the amount of phantom power the plugged-in appliances are using, and if they remain idle, the power strip will cut off power to them. These power strips cost around $30-$50 depending on the model. You could also purchase a cheap power strip and simply plug it in and switch it on whenever you want to use your devices.

Another way you can put an end to phantom power is to purchase eco-friendly appliances. There are many companies that are manufacturing common household items with the built-in ability to shut themselves off or limit the amount of energy they use when idle. You may want to check out www.lowimpactliving.com for more detailed information on eco-friendly appliances.

No matter which way you look at, it’s a no-brainer to start unplugging your inactive appliances. You will save tons of money every year on your electric bill and you’ll save pointless greenhouse gases from being created. Confront the vampire in your house and put an end to its electric-sucking evil today.

Just for kicks, count the amount of light bulbs you’re currently using in you house. I’ve counted mine, and I use 18 light bulbs on a daily basis in my house. On average, switching to a CFL light bulb saves you between $20-$35 over the lifespan of each bulb. That means in my situation, I will save between $360 and $630 simply by getting rid of traditional light bulbs and using CFLs.

These light bulbs are more expensive upfront, but save lots of money in the long run. You can do what my wife and I did — as a traditional light bulb would burn out, we would switch to a CFL. Little by little, we converted our entire house into energy-efficient lighting. Of course, there is the option of ransacking your house and trashing your old light bulbs, but if you don’t have the money to do so, and then take care of switching them little by little.

People have likely been harnessing the sun’s rays to heat water for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. And, incredibly, solar water heaters have been commercially available since the 19th century. What sets modern solar water heater systems apart is that they can blend into almost any home. Many models resemble skylights, lying flat against a home’s roof.

Most home solar water heaters utilize solar thermal energy, which simply means that energy from the sun heats the water (as opposed to converting the sun’s rays to electric power, which would be needed to power an entire building). Although there are many types of solar water heaters, they all perform three key functions: collecting, transferring and storing energy. A solar collector is mounted on the roof, usually facing south, and as the sunlight passes through the collector’s surface, its energy is absorbed by rubber or metal. The rubber or metal material holds the heat, while a special glazing on the surface of the collector prevents the heat from escaping (much like a greenhouse, or a car in a warm parking lot). At that point, circulating fluids transfer the energy to a storage tank, where it heats the water. The water is then held in an insulation tank until it’s needed. A typical solar water heater produces about 80 to 100 gallons of hot water per day, though the effectiveness of the systems can vary depending on geographic location and system design.

The most obvious benefit of installing a solar water heater is that it can save money on energy bills. Installation and other upfront costs can run anywhere from $4,000 down to $1,000 (even less if you construct your own system). Compared to traditional water heaters, which usually cost a few hundred dollars, solar water heaters may seem expensive. But, of course, the savings are found in the long term. Operational costs for most solar water heaters are almost nothing, and the systems themselves usually last for decades. So, after an initial investment of a few thousand dollars, you’ll be guaranteed virtually free hot water for many years to come. What’s more, the government now offers a tax credit of 30% (up to $2,000) of the cost of installing a certified solar water heater, so there’s even more of an economic incentive to set one up.

Another clear benefit of heating your water with the power of the sun is environmental; according to some analysts, the amount of carbon dioxide produced annually by residential water heaters in North America is roughly equal to that produced by all of the cars and light trucks on the continent. So, if even a small percentage of the people who live in areas where a solar water heater is feasible actually installed one, it could make a huge dent in the nation’s carbon footprint.

For more information on the many different types of solar water heaters, visit the U.S. Department of Energy website.