As more and more folks are interested in becoming green - more and more folks are using the opportunity to take advantage of that interest. As always - the golden rule is - if something looks too good to be true, it probably is.
"Find out the secret that a BIG so and so is not telling you" - sites that sell you a "secret" pretty much all look the same.
A site that
looks like this one is a dead give away, right?
Then why on earth are so many people
falling for sites that sell a $50 e-book that teaches you how to make your own renewable energy (solar or wind) for under $200?
Most of us would have to spend $15K+ to be completely free from our electric companies (and we know it!). Are there really any "secrets" that our electric company is not telling us, and by learning these secrets we could achieve the same results for 2% of the cost? Again - if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
The e-book mentioned above will indeed teach you how to make your renewable energy (windmills and solar panels) for under $200 each. The problem is - the solar panel you can build with this guide will generate a whopping 200 watts! Now open your last electric bill and see much energy you consumed in the last month. Under 900 kWh - impressive! Under 500 kWh - you are green! (According to
The Department of Energy, in 2007 the average house used 936 kWh / month). Building a 200 watt solar panel will be a fun weekend educational/family project with your kids, but it won't get you off the grid. Just as an example - a 1500 watt hair dryer used for 10 minutes will consume 250 watts.
Currently solar energy manufacturers make solar panels that generate energy at about $3-5 a watt. But remember - the eco-friendly industry is special in a way that folks are rather oriented towards making a difference (versus just hunting after you money), so I tend to believe that what they have to offer is the best solution that exists today.
What you can do instead:
Instead of investing thousands of dollars into building your own solar panel or installing a commercial one - try making changes to what you have:
-- replace your lightbulbs, fridge, AC, etc - with energy efficient alternatives - if your equipment is wasting 2,000 watts a month - why build (or buy) solar panels to support the waste when you can eliminate the waste in the first place?
-- turn up your AC in summer (just a few degrees can make a big difference)
-- educate yourself on
how much energy various devices use and see where you can cut corners in a way that makes a difference without making you miserable. A hair dryer mentioned above is a great example: instead of blow-drying your hair for 10 minutes each morning - go drink some coffee/get ready for work and let your hair air dry halfway, then blow dry it for 5 minutes (instead of 10) to style it up. Sounds silly? It actually is serious. A 1500 watt hair dryer used for 5 minutes consumes 125 watts. Compare that to a 12 watt compact compact florescent light bulb - 125 watt would be enough to power 3 of these light bulbs for 3.5 hours. The amount of energy saved by not using a hair-dryer for 5 minutes can light up an apartment for most of the evening.
Instead of looking for hidden secrets, we should be looking for information already widely available on the internet - and doing the math. There are many ways to cut corners and make a difference without making a huge investment.
Also read: Green newbie tip #2: looking for "organic" clothes and bedding? Organic cotton may not be a sustainable (let alone - wallet-friendly) option 
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