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Save Money, Decrease Energy Usage, and Take Advantage of Tax Credits
In the past few months the world price of crude oil has risen from around $33 per barrel to over $60 per barrel, during a time of historic economic lethargy with very little growth in worldwide energy demand. Imagine what world energy prices will do once the economy gets back on its feet and the world goes back to work!
Now that we have seen what can happen to energy prices, you need to learn how to protect your family from future fluctuations in energy prices and possible supply disruptions. This may be the perfect year to finally undertake those projects you have been contemplating to decrease your reliance on the utility company to keep your home warm (or cool) and lighted.
Once you have access to a home solar or wind power system, you can begin to receive financial benefits on your invested dollars and also increase your energy independence. And, if you do most of the work yourself, your investment will look even more profitable.
The economics of home renewable energy systems are increasingly positive as the initial investment costs decrease and energy costs rise. And, in the United States, you can now utilize the recently restored and expanded renewable energy tax credits.
Since laws and tax regulations are subject to change, you should consult with your tax advisor before claiming energy tax credits, but following is a short summary of the credits available as of May 2009:
- A federal tax credit up to $1500 for 30% of the cost of adding insulation, installing new windows, caulking cracks, and other expenditures for "tightening up" your house to conserve energy. This tax credit is applicable to those investments you make by 12-31-2010.
- A similar credit and deadline for investing in more efficient heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems for your home.
- A federal tax credit with no cap for 30% of costs incurred by 12-31-2016 for investments in renewable energy systems for your home, including solar thermal, solar electric, wind power and biomass fuel systems.
- A federal tax credit for purchasing diesel, hybrid and electric cars.
If you are handy and want to increase your energy independence and save money in the process, you can build your own home scale solar and wind energy systems for your home or business. Visit the following link for a review of three excellent DIY home energy systems how-to kits: Home Renewable Energy Systems instruction kits reviewed.
Will my Zone alarm firewall stop windows genuine advantage accessing the internet?
As yet I still don't have windows genuine advantage on my PC. I don't have a problem with it checking my copy of Windows (my pc is from Dell, so should be genuine!) but I do however consider WGA an invasion of privacy (apparently it connects to the net to send back "reports" on your activity). My Zone alarm firewall always notifies me when something on my PC tries to connect to the net, and I then have the option of denying access if I so wish. Does this also apply to WGA? Does anyone have WGA and a Zone alarm firewall, and if so does the option still come up of allowing/denying internet access for WGA? Thanks in advance
I can't recall if Zonealarm picked up Wga - probably not; I took proactive steps to remove the wga notification tool altogether by using Remove wga which is free here
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Uninstallers/RemoveWGA.shtml
note this doesn't affect windows genuine advantage, merely its ability to call home
Android malware: Threat or FUD? (Slash Gear)
Android faces an exponential growth in mobile malware, according to
researchers, with a 472-percent increase in rogue Android Market apps since
July 2011. Increasingly complex apps are taking advantage of loopholes in the
Android platform's security to gain root access and grab user-data, Juniper
Networks claims, going on to send premium-rate messages unknown to the user or
[...]
Spb Mobile Shell 2.0 on an HTC Advantage
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