So-Cal Solar Blog

Because solar energy is worth blogging about…

Posts Tagged ‘clean energy’

Have A Green Wedding And Make That Day A Little Bit More Special!

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

You can help save the environment even on your wedding day. By having a green wedding, you can enjoy all the elements of a traditional wedding while making sure that you are minimizing any harm to the environment.

The first major consideration is the number of guests you are inviting. It is great to have a big wedding but it is expensive as well. A practical move would be to choose special friends, family, and relatives to invite for your wedding. This will cut down your expenses and also reduce the carbon footprint because fewer guest will mean less travel!

Try to make use of local ingredients and hire a local caterer who has enough knowledge about how to produce those sumptuous dishes you want but from local produce. You are not only helping the environment but you are also patronizing the local growers by buying their produce. These foods are relatively healthier compared to those from other places that may have preservatives in them.

Why not wear a vintage bridal gown instead of a new one that may contain many synthetic materials. Or try choosing a gown that is made from organic cotton or hemp.  The wedding dress is one the most important elements of your wedding so you will be proud, knowing that what you are wearing not only looks great but is also good for the environment.

Instead of importing out of season flowers from abroad, you can make use of the local grown blooms. Some couples even use flowers from their own garden!  Another tip to consider is sharing flowers with another couple who has the same wedding date as yours. After the celebration, you can also send your flowers to some nursing homes instead of throwing it away.

For your wedding favors, you can give away flower seeds which will also serve as a lasting memento for your wedding as your guests can enjoy for a long time the blooms that will result from these seeds.

Perhaps the most significant impact on the environment is you choice of wedding venue. Try to have your wedding outdoors and during the day.  Make sure you ask the venue important questions like whether they participate in recycling or conserve water.  If you really want to have the biggest impact on your green wedding day choose a venue that utilizes solar electric.  This would mean your wedding day would run completely on clean energy and help aid in the fight against global warming.

If you want to have an eco-friendly wedding that is sincere and genuine, you can check out Green Wedding. There you can find 101 tips on how to have the ultimate green wedding of your choice and a free green wedding e-book to help you get started planning your green wedding now.

Energy Audits…it’s a Good Thing!

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

Each and every year we file our taxes and leave the office of our CPA and think man I hope I don’t get audited. Many associate the word “audit” as a negative form with the likelihood of getting into some sort of trouble after the audit is completed or that could just be me. Nonetheless an audit that many homeowners do not think of doing that could save them money in the long run is an energy audit.


An energy audit is a home inspection that analyzes the flow of energy throughout the residents. An inspector will inspect the structure of the home from walls, windows, doors and appliances to evaluate the current energy demand. The inspector will also interview the homeowners to better understand their energy usage pattern and the history of the home. After a complete analysis of the home and utility bills an inspector will be able to make recommendations from inexpensive changes and upwards. Always remember if you are seeking to make the biggest energy impact on your home a solar electric system should be at the top of your list of home improvements. A solar electric system not only reduces or eliminates your energy bill but makes you energy independent and produces clean energy as well.


In the long run an energy audit is a great resource to explore for the sake of the home and home owners.