For two years now I have been recycling my paper, aluminum, glass, plastic and also composting. Also I have a garden from which I share vegetables with my family and neighbors.
Gardens really save a lot of money. I estimate that my lettuce will by the end of September have saved almost $1,000--just in lettuce (those bags of lettuce are now $2.88) With the tomatoes, rosemary, basil, zuchinni, beans and squash I will have saved almost $5,000 in food. (seeds are relatively cheap) Not all of these savings are mine since I give away 3/4 of what I grow, but what we do for others we do for ourselves.
As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm hoping in the next two years to be living off the grid in the middle of the Dallas Metroplex here. I've been researching solar power for my home for several months. This week I came across an interesting business model for getting solar panels for your home, but I'm not too impressed (provided that I understand it correctly).
Details follow if you are interested:
This is how it works: 1. A company (I'm sure there will be more than one) will set up the solar panels for a deposit of $500. Then you use them for a flat rental rate that will not go up for 25 years. Thus you can lock in your electric rate for up to 25 years. You can figure out your rate, which will be the same or less than what you are paying now, using the SolarSavingsCalculator
If you decide to back out at any time during your rental agreement all you would lose is your security deposit (usually $500 for a basic home, which you do not even pay until after the company is sure they can install solar energy at your home and you have approved the plan). After 25 years, you get back your deposit with interest. If you move during this 25-year period, the company will move your solar panels (once) for free, or you can sign the agreement over to the new homeowner (making this an excellent selling feature for your home).This is an arrangement that is certainly superior to being at the mercy of your local utility services--have guaranteed rates at today's prices for 25 years, but I like the idea of paying for the panels myself and getting it free after five years or so of paying off the panels. (I think that can be done so I'm still researching.)
If you want to see how a solar system for a home works go to this link. then at the bottom of the page is a box with a check How Solar Energy Works. Click on it and there is a slide show. This is the best explanation I've found.