Are you interested in adding solar energy to your home? You can spend thousands of dollars on solar panels, thin film, inverters, batteries, water heaters, etc.

But solar doesn’t have to be expensive.

If you’re building a new home, or remodeling an existing one, you needn’t spend a great deal of extra money to take advantage of the power of the sun. Incorporating the principles of passive solar design will make your home easier to heat and cool, and keep you more in touch with the natural cycles of the day and year.

Passive solar heating is older than humanity. Just watch your dog or cat seek out the sunniest spot in the room – or a shady place under the fence when the day gets hot. He knows instinctively how to keep himself comfortable using the sun.

A passive solar home uses smart design rather than mechanics to stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. If you’d like to incorporate passive solar into your home, keep in mind the five elements of passive solar design:

1. Orientation – In the Northern Hemisphere, the sun tracks from east to west across the southern part of the sky in the winter. Position the house so the longest side faces the sun to take full advantage of passive solar heat.

2. Windows – Large windows on the southern side of your home allow sunlight in to help warm the building. When you’re aiming for passive solar heat, keep north windows to a minimum. They don’t let in much direct sunlight anyway, and that way you’ll also be avoiding drafts from the coldest winds. In very hot climates you might want to keep sun-side windows small and open up the shady side to keep the building cooler. Many passive solar homes feature angled glass on the sunny side to capture a greater portion of the sun’s heat.

3. Shading – Even in cool climates you’ll have some hot days. And you’d be surprised how warm a passive solar living room can get on a bright sub-zero day. Window shades, curtains and awnings keep the sunlight from overheating your passive solar home on sunny days. With the sun higher in the sky in the summer, awnings and roof over-hangs alone can often effectively cut the solar heat in the summer.

4. Insulation – In passive solar design, you want to let the sun’s heat in through windows, and then keep it from escaping. It’s essential to have plenty of insulation wherever you don’t have windows – especially in the roof. It’s also a good idea to have insulated shades or curtains to help prevent heat loss at night.

5. Thermal mass – the biggest problem with passive solar heat is that you only get it when the sun is shining. It’s important to include heat-retaining material in your home’s passive solar design. Materials like stone or concrete soak up the heat when it’s plentiful and help keep the home from overheating when it’s warm. They also act as a heat “battery,” slowly releasing heat as the building cools. It’s especially good to locate these materials where the sun will hit them, like in the floor.

Cultures around the world have used passive solar design for thousands of years to keep their buildings warmer in winter and cooler in summer. You can, too! It’s a smart way to build energy-efficiency right into the structure of your home.

Being a Redneck is more a matter of where your heart lies than where you happen to be at the moment – as you well know if you’re still dreaming of your little piece of heaven.

Many of us have had to scrimp and save before we could afford to buy us a piece of land. If you’re still aspiring to the country life, here’s a savings plan that could help you get your homestead a little faster – and cut your carbon footprint, too.

You know all those little things you could – and should – be doing to save energy?

Well, get up off your donkey’s rear end and start doing them! But don’t just do it to feel superior. Actually track (as best you can) how much you save, and put that money in your homestead savings piggy bank. (Or put it on your mortgage payment – you’d be surprised how much faster you can pay off your loan by adding just a few extra dollars a month.)

Here are a few places to start:

Air sealing – according to Energy Star, air leaks can account for 25-40% of your energy bill. That’s a lot – and a lot of money that could go towards saving for your homestead. So break out the caulk and the weatherstripping!

Your commute – How much do you spend a week on gas? Figure it out. Then, if you live 3 miles or less from work, start walking or riding your bike as often as you can. Ditto goes for those little trips to the store. Plunk the difference into your homestead savings account. (Bonus: all the extra exercise will help prepare your body for country life.)

Hang your clothes to dry either outside or on lines strung in your basement or attic. Figure about 30 cents a load. It may not seem like much, but every bit counts and a year’s worth of dryer loads could add up to more than you think!

Insulate your hot water pipes and storage tank. Pipe insulation and an insulating jacket for your water heater are inexpensive and easy to install, and can cut your heat loss by up to 75%. Just don’t start using more hot water because it’s costing you less – that won’t help you save for your homestead!

How about it? Or have you already started? What are some energy-saving tips you can pass along that save money, too?

Go ahead and post. Who knows, you might just be helping out your future neighbor!

Green homes are gentle on the environment and save energy for the home owner. This video gives a great introduction to green homes and green building practices.

Solar power and wind power are a lot sexier, but there are a number of small changes you can make in your home to save yourself money month after month.  By making your home more energy efficient you can save hundreds of dollars a year on utilities and related costs.

• Put a timer on your hot water heater. If you’re like most folks, chances are you’re only home using hot water in the mornings and evenings, so all you need are a couple hours of hot water at each end of the day to cover almost all of your hot water needs. Why waste all that extra gas or electricity – not to mention money – keeping that tank of water hot all the rest of the day and night?
• Buy Energy Star certified appliances, or similar energy efficient appliances – including dishwashers, washer/dryers, ranges, humidifiers/dehumidifiers, heating and air conditioning systems, and more. The cost savings you’ll get on monthly bills more than makes up for the purchase cost.
• Replace all your light bulbs with LEDs or compact florescents. They use less electricity for the same wattage of light, and they last longer than conventional bulbs.
• Look into financial incentives you may be eligible for through your local, state, or the federal government for making certain energy efficient improvements to your home. For example, some electric companies pay you to buy the surplus electricity you generate with your solar panels.

Lastly, an energy efficient home is also one that runs as an energy-efficient household. That means:

• turning off lights when you leave a room and turning off the television, computer, or other appliances and electronics when you’re not using them
• minimizing trips to town by bundling errands together and carpooling to save both on gas costs and wear and tear on your vehicle(s)