Take Advantage Of The Sun & Nature

It isn't difficult to utilize the sun to help with easing the cost of your power usage. It will help by using the natural heat and light. You will use less power and be more sufficient. This will save your family money in the long run.

• Orient you buildings to take advantage of the sun and to protect your home from the cold winter winds. You can plant a living "fence" to help with this if you have to. Plant a row of evergreen trees to keep the cold wind away.
• Be sure to have as much insulation in your home as possible. This will also help in the summer by keeping the heat out and in the winter will hold the heat in.
• Think about adding a sunroom to your home. You can vent the heat into the home during the winter and in the summer vent the heat outside.
• Use the natural light during the day. In the winter open the curtains and let that natural light and heat into the house.
• Think about adding brick to the outside of your home. This really helps with controlling the temperature. 
• Use hanging plants and overhangs to cool the home in the summer. 
• Plant your own food garden in your yard to save money on food costs. 

• Have a rain barrel to catch water to use to water your garden and yard. My son also used our rain barrel to wash the cars. Great way to save money on water.

There are many ways to use nature to help you keep your utility bills low.

Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook: Your Complete Guide to Living beyond the Grid with Renewable Energy Technologies and Sustainable Living

COMMENT BELOW WAYS THAT YOU HAVE USED NATURE TO REDUCE ENERGY COST........

Going Off-Grid

We are very close to going totally off-grid. Have a piece of land lined up , a camper, and a truck. We will be all set. We have been looking for Solar Power items online and are going to have to get a Composting Toilet. We will be ok with that. The place we are looking at has awesome cell phone service and we will have the solar power for lights etc. I can't wait! In my mind we are already moved. It will be so great to live off the land and be free of utilities. Have a home where we can have freedom!

Security LIghting

My step-son just moved out into the boonies and has no security lighting at all! When the sun goes down it is pitch dark. So, we are getting him one of these Sunforce 82156 60 LED Solar Motion Light to help him out a bit. With being out there all by his self most of the time and then having his kids on the weekends , they have to have something out there to at least give them a bit of lighting outside and to let him know if someone walks up to his house.  Plus, if the power ever goes out , he will still have this light. I think that would shock someone who might walk up onto the house , if they know the power is out , and it is pitch dark. They would walk up there thinking that they could get in and BAM, this would light up and make them think twice about it!!