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Submitted by ktfinklea on Monday, April 13, 2009.

Inevitable. Unavoidable. Tax Day is quickly approaching. So while you're cramming to finish your return at the last minute check out this post from our friends at Simple Steps to find out how you can save money by investing in the planet.

New Energy Efficiency Tax Credits

Now's the time to invest in energy-efficient home improvements and take advantage of new federal tax credits. Tax credits are available for 30 percent of the cost of qualified windows, skylights, doors, insulation, water heaters or solar panels. Tax credits, unlike tax deductions, are as good as a rebate -- they come straight out of Line 46, the taxes you owe.

You may not be able to claim tax credits for energy efficiency improvements to your home on this year's return (unless you installed a geothermal heat pump, solar water heater, small…

Our friends at Simple Steps want you to demand more efficient lighting and we think you should too! Check out the blog below and then TAKE ACTION and tell the Department of Energy to strengthen lighting efficiency standards!

How much energy could be saved by more efficient lighting? If you're among the millions of Americans who switched to CFLs, you've seen the difference in your electricity bill. But how much energy could be saved with better federal efficiency standards? The numbers are staggering -- a higher standard for just two kinds of bulbs found in offices and homes could save 15.8 quadrillion BTUs of energy by 2048. A quadrillion is one thousand million million -- that's 15 zeros.

The Department of Energy has proposed new standards for fluorescent tube lamps, including the four-foot-long bulbs found in millions of office light fixtures, and incandescent reflector lamps, the common cone-shaped light…

Submitted by ktfinklea on Thursday, January 29, 2009.

Addicted to your computer? Another post from our friends at Simple Steps lends some tips and tricks at saving energy after you've torn your eyes from facebook updates.

Ensure that your computer doesn't work overtime and waste electricity with these simple steps. Get rid of your screensaver, shut off your monitor and plug into a smarter power strip to save energy, money and prevent pollution from power plants.

Set Sleep Mode

Check your computer's settings and activate "sleep mode." Setting your computer to go to sleep after a few minutes of inactivity will save power and the battery if you're using a laptop. Shutting down an inactive monitor and processor can save you up to $50 a year and cut energy use by more than 90 percent. Mac users can find energy saving settings under System Preferences in…

Submitted by ktfinklea on Wednesday, January 21, 2009.

Is the hurtful cold of winter causing you to pursue some form of lightbox therapy? If you're dying to let some light in, or looking to cut down on your energy consumption, read this blog from our friends at Simple Steps and check out the latest in light-emitting diodes.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs aren't the only option for conscious, energy efficient lighting. LED, which stands for light-emitting diodes, are small and incredibly durable. Buy one now and you may not have to replace it until 2028. LEDs last up to 60,000 hours -- five times longer than compact fluorescents and 50 to 60 times the lifespan of an incandescent bulb. They use so little energy that some don't have to be plugged in at all, running on solar power or a single battery.

You already have LEDs in…

Submitted by ktfinklea on Thursday, March 6, 2008.

Our friends at Simple Steps just put up a great post about energy efficiency and your TV. Since we've made it to the other side of the writer's strike and the possibility of better programs beckons, you might want to check out how to make your couch potato time, and non-couch potato time for that matter, more efficient.

Check out their post here.