Texas PUC Approves $5 Billion in New Transmission Lines for West Texas Wind

The Public Utilities Commission of Texas approved last week $5 billion for the construction of new transmission lines to help carry wind energy from West Texas to other areas of the state. Texas is already the nation's top producer of wind energy with two of the world's largest wind farms residing in the Lone Star state.

Further development of wind technology in Texas depends on the capabilities of transmitting the alternative energy over great distances. 13 companies will apply through the PUC to begin construction on new transmission lines, marking an important step in generating more power from alternative sources. Updating the transmission capabilities will merit additional generation, which could eventually serve as a model for other states. The the San Angelo Standard-Times has more details on the process awaiting the companies aiming to build additional transmission lines.

Carbon Dioxide Dangers

Recent winter storms have left many across the country without power and looking for alternative sources of heat to stay warm. Unfortunately, this has led to an increase in reports of carbon monoxide poisoning. The National Center for Environmental Health suggests the following guidelines for staying safe:

• Install a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector in your home or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall for daylight savings time. If the detector sounds, leave your home immediately and call 911.
• Don’t use a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove or other gasoline or charcoal-burning device inside your home, basement or garage or near a window.
• Don’t run a car or truck inside a garage attached to your house, even if you leave the door open.
• Don’t burn anything in a stove or fireplace that isn’t properly vented.
• Don’t heat your house with a gas oven.
• Seek immediate medical attention if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning and are experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Early symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Carbon monoxide poisoning is treatable.

For more information on carbon monoxide poisoning, check out the CDC's Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Program.

Looking to Stretch Your Dollar?

I'm always on the look out for ways to save money on everything from grocery shopping to utility bills. While researching money saving tips online, I ran across an article that listed some sites to help you save money by lowering your bills, by shopping with coupons and even a way to teach your children the value of a dollar. Check out the article on On The Money on CNBC.

New $3 Light Bulb Can Save You Money

When it comes to saving money on your electricity bill, energy efficient light bulbs are one of the easiest and fastest steps you can take to make your home more green. And while there are plenty of reasons to put the TV remote and the sandwich down and do this right now, there will be even more reasons to do it in just a couple of short years.

Researchers at Cambridge University have developed a $3 LED light bulb that is 12 times more efficient than the common light bulb you and I use to brighten our homes, and 3 times more efficient than current fluorescent bulbs. While they cost more than your everyday, ordinary light bulbs, these bad boys last up to 100,000 hours. That's six figures worth of hours. If you're trying to do the math, that's about 60 years.

For real. You could buy this light and be a grandparent by the time you change it. Talk about lifetime value. The best part of all of this is that these things could be on the market by 2011. To find out more, visit Daily Mail.

Cheap Electricity Bills Thanks to Green Technology

A Lenoir, TN resident may average somewhere around 41 cents per day for powering her home, but who's counting pennies? And scene...

A Habitat for Humanity initiative that is part of a research project by the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the Tennessee Valley Authority retrofitted 5 residential homes in Lenoir with energy-saving technology. The goal? The ORNL supports a Department of Energy initiative to develop energy-efficient homes, much like what is currently part of the Lenoir research project, that are essential energy neutral—meaning the days of homes burning up 40% of the country's energy could become a distant part of the past.

So rather than focusing solely on replacing fossil fuels, a difficult and mind-numbingly long transition process, research much like the ONRL and Lenoir have managed to apply on a small scale what could grow into a viable national solution for reducing energy consumption. A solution that could have drastic short term affects on the nation's energy demand and outrageous expenses for most Americans. Here is the Department of Energy article if you are interested in more details.

House Passes DTV Delay

The bill to delay the analog to digital TV switch has gone before the House for a second time, and this time the House voted for the delay. As of news reports yesterday, the US will switch to a digital TV signal on June 12 instead of the original February 17 date.

Read more on the vote at MultichannelNews.com.

New iPhone Application from Pinger Goes for Convenience

How about an iPhone application that integrates social networking and your basic phone applications? How about cell phone applications with a twist of convenience? I'm not talking basic Twitter and Facebook that allows you to follow friend updates. I'm talking a multiple communication stream that consolidates your contact list, social networking updates, messaging and dialing options all into one, simple application.

Introducing Pinger Phone, thanks to the video below and The Wireless Way over at BusinessWeek .

Society Needs to Pay More Attention

As a society we've become multitaskers with fancy gadgets that only facilitate our need to do more. It's now very common to see a teen walking and texting or riding a bike and listening to an MP3 player. Even adults text or talk on their cell phones while driving. But can all that multitasking be dangerous?

Well according to this article, Heads Up: Cell Phones Add to Risk When Crossing Street, Study Shows, I read on TechNewsWorld, multitasking makes us more prone to accidents. Read the article to keep you and your family safe.

Bundling 101

If the economy has got you down and you are looking to cut costs around the house, one of the first places you will probably look will be home services like TV, high-speed Internet and phone service. Before you give up your beloved movie channels or downgrade to dial-up, considering bundling your home services to save.

Here are some points to consider before shopping for bundled services:

Know Your Options
Find out what companies service your area. While most households only have one cable company available, don't forget to investigate telcom companies like AT&T and Verizon. These companies either offer their own options or bundle their services with satellite providers.

Become a Bundle Expert
Knowing what to look for can help save you even more. With most providers, signing up for more services equals more savings. In addition to TV, Internet and phone service, bundles also have the option of integrated services like caller ID on your TV screen, which is offered with some phone and cable packages. In addition, triple-play offers often come with more extras, such as free installation and free premium channels. Plus, you are more likely to be guaranteed low rates for a longer period of time with triple-play than when subscribing to services one at a time.

It's All in the Details
Before you make a choice, weigh your options! Don't choose one company over another strictly based on price. If you aren't getting the features or channels that you want, it might not be worth it to save a few dollars a month, especially if you have to pay a fee to cancel your service when you realize you are unhappy with it. Find out which TV providers carry programming you really want. Check your budget and see how much you spend going out to the movies. It may be more cost effective to upgrade your premium movie package and cut back on your theater time! Also, keep in mind that fiber and satellite usually have a termination fees but cable rarely charge them.

These are just a few of the important things you should consider when choosing to bundle your home services. Check out WhiteFence.com Bundled Services section to see what's available in your area to get started.

Fiber-Optic Providers Are Leading Choices for Internet, TV, and Phone Service Bundles

According to a recent report released by Consumer Reports, people looking to cut costs without sacrificing satisfaction for Internet, television, and telephone service should consider bundling with Verizon FiOS or AT&T U-verse. 

The magazine found that Intense competition for cable and satellite customers between AT&T U-verse and Verizon FiOS high-speed fiber providers has driven down rates for bundled services. Bundles of the three services have dropped in price by up to 20 percent in the last year, to as low as $80 a month.

The survey also reveals that subscribers were very satisfied with services from the top telecom providers. Consumer Reports readers scores for Internet, phone, and TV, found that Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-verse were the most consistently satisfying providers.

For more information on the survey, pick up the February issue of Consumer Reports from your newsstand or visit consumerreports.org.