This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of MatchBook for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Everyone knows, collage education is expensive these days. So,if you’re paying for college or know somebody who is, you know what I’m talking about. Paying tuition is just part of the financial strain, that forces many students to live on a tight budget. That’s not all, the financial expense can put a strain on the entire family. Then, to add to that, there is the expense of books each quarter. Textbooks can be very costly, especially when students need to spend $100-$200 for just one textbook. That’s more than $1,000 a year,  in out of pocket expense. It can definitely be a huge hit to the wallet and pain point for students on a tight budget (and their families). It can even make a difference in attending or not attending classes.

Now, you can breathe easier and keep attending those classes. Thanks to MatchBooks. Their mission is simple but powerful: Matching Your Textbooks (content) so You Can Read for FREE!

Here’s how it works: Let’s say you are taking General/Intro Psychology (101) this Spring semester, and the assigned book is “Psychology” Myers 9th edition. MatchBooks, has a FREE “matched book” for Myers Psych, that you can read online, with NO expiration date and NO fee!  You don’t even have to go anywhere to get the information you need, when you need it.

The team at Matchurbook.com starts with a high-quality open textbook. Then, they match it to the expensive book being used in a large “intro” course, like psychology.  MatchBooks, then follows the same chapter order, covers the same topics per chapter, and includes the same key terms as the assigned textbook, giving you a “matched book” that you can read for FREE online!  In many cases, you can even take psychology classes at home online, and just go in for testing. I did!  Even better, NOW you can do it all online, the entire course.  What makes MatchBooks even better is, you don’t need to worry about getting your copy.  I can recall, having to wait for a shipment to arrive of the course book I needed, and class had already started!  Just another reason, MatchBooks is such an amazing concept.

In the example here, the MatchBook team took, Introduction to Psychology by Charles Stangor, and rearranged the content to match the order of topics in the ninth edition of Psychology by David Myers. MatchBook for Myers Psych, is the very first MatchBook created. Students, you will want to be among the first to check it out at matchurbook.com.

Early reviews by both students and professors, are very positive, with more MatchBooks coming later this year, in different subjects.

Professors always take great care in selecting the right textbook for the courses they teach. There’s no question that students need access to the assigned textbooks to do well in class. But, the good news is, if students aren’t buying textbooks because they can’t afford them, MatchBooks is there to help!

MatchBooks, represent the best of all worlds: high quality textbooks written by great authors, that are matched to the assigned textbooks. MatchBooks, are published under a Creative Commons open license, which makes it possible for students to read online for FREE!  NO catch and NO expiration date.

Matchurbook.com is a project of Flat World Knowledge on Facebook, the world’s largest publisher of free and open college textbooks. Be sure to like them on Facebook.  MatchBooks, is here to make a difference in meeting your educational goals!

“Who Cares About This Planet?” – Challenge

Back on November 1, 2011, I wrote this post entitled “Who Cares About This Planet?” -Challenge.  The challenge was announced by Planet People, inviting you to enter your own environmentally friendly and innovative projects or ideas, that could make an impact your community, and show Who Cares About This Planet.

“Who Cares About This Planet?” – Winner

Below is the press release and announcement of the winner.

PLANET PEOPLE ANNOUNCES VIKAS MALHOTRA AS  THE WINNER OF THE

‘WHO CARES ABOUT THIS PLANET?’ – CHALLENGE

His Eco-Friendly Workplace Idea Submission Receives Highest Number of Fan Votes to win the challenge.

Toronto, Canada—(January 18, 2011) – Planet People, a manufacturer of innovative and sustainable cleaning products, today announces Vikas Malhotra, as the grand prize winner of the “Who cares about this Planet?” Challenge.

In early November, the Challenge asked for submissions of creative and innovative environmentally sustainable project ideas that can make a sustainable impact within their communities.  Five finalists were selected by an Advisory Committee in December, and fans were asked to vote for their favorite finalists by January 12, on the iQ Facebook Page.

The winning entry was submitted by Vikas Malhotra, resident of Brampton, Ontario with a passion to encourage environmental living in both his home and his workplace.  His submission introduces incentive-based programs for carpooling and encourages using online billing to reduce paper waste. He also creates incentives for individuals to remove wasteful, non-recyclable materials from the workplace.  As the winner of the Challenge, Mr. Malhotra will be awarded $1,000 to help bring his idea to fruition.

“Who Cares About This Planet?” – inaugural challenge

“As the inaugural ‘Who Cares About This Planet?’ Challenge, we are both inspired and proud of all those who submitted an entry,” said Eric Green, Planet People President. “Mr. Malhotra, has a fantastic idea that will not only create a more sustainable workplace, but one that will also inspire others to take on his mission. We congratulate Mr. Malhotra for this achievement.”

The Challenge, follows the company’s 2011 launch of iQ, a line of household cleaning products that questioned conventional cleaning with innovative packaging that allows consumers to reduce plastic waste by over 80%. The Challenge Advisory Committee, consisting of leaders in the environmental sector, that includes the CEO of Green Living, eco-journalists from Mother Nature Network, and a representative from Planet People, judged submissions based on iQ’s core values that stress innovation, creativity, and sustainable impact at a community level.

“What people don’t realize is that if everyone put in a little bit of effort, towards something that will help our planet, we could all make the world a better place,” said Malhotra. “Thanks to this grant, I can start doing that at work, hopefully driving change here and eventually implementing the plan in my community as well.”

To support the “Who cares about this Planet?” Challenge, Planet People worked with Made Wade and filmmakers, Eighteen Eighty, an emerging Toronto based Spoken Word artist, to create a thought provoking short film that expresses the conflict between concern and ignorance for our planet. Here is the  “Who cares about this Planet?” short film, created by Made Wade.  It is both eye opening and truthful! So, “Who Cares About this Planet?”  Hopefully, we all do, as we work toward many greener tomorrows, and show the world Who Cares About This Planet.

Where We Rank In Solar Power

The blog entitled 1bog, stands for One Block off the Grid.  I wanted to pass along their new infographic: The Top Ten Countries Using Solar. The graphic explores the rapid growth of the solar power market in Europe, and how we here in the U.S., rank and measure up.

To view this graphic as a full page visit this link. Infographic: The Top Ten Countries Using Solar .

Where We Rank in Solar Power- Germany is the leader

According to this graphic, Germany has set the pace in solar power growth since 2010.  They continue to attract investors with remarkable low prices, and a feed-in tariff, that has allowed for price certainty and long term contracts.  They are now in the best position in Europe, to consider self consumption,  making a smooth transition and integration of solar systems into the grid.

Where We Rank- 7th in Solar Power

Here in the U.S. the solar power market is poised for rapid growth. However, we rank seventh on the global scale. The rising cost of electricity, along with a high level of insulation (meaning how much sunshine we get) has consumers looking to the sun for economic answers.  California, dominates the U.S. solar power market, with 60% of all installations. They also boast a very good school, called Boots on the Roof.  In a prior post of mine, Put Your Green Boots on the Roof, I spoke of how the school offers top notch, training and certification in solar installations.

In recent news, a California based company called Wagan Tech, is making available solar power generators available for in home installation, and at great prices.  As for where we rank in solar power, it could be better.  But, we have planned projects, that represent strong future growth, and a consumer market that is looking to green up with solar power.  We are working toward a better tomorrow and a brighter and greener future.

A Look at Our Energy Consumption

A look at our energy consumption, is probably the furthest thing from your mind, as you are putting away all those Christmas lights. Don’t you sometimes feel like you might actually get ahead of the game, if you weren’t paying so much for your electric bill?  Thanks, to this new infographic chart from Credit Sesame, you can now get a better idea of where all that money goes, and how your energy dollars are used. It takes a look at our energy consumption.

Right now, our electric costs may be the last thing on our minds, as we are putting away our holiday chores and preparations for the end of 2012. But, if you’re like most of us Americans, chances are you’ll get a bit of a shock in the mail when that next bill arrives.

A Look at Our Energy Consumption and How We Consume Energy

This chart, is a look at how we consume energy. It’s not just because of those festive holiday lights, all around your house and yard, that are driving up the cost. It’s everything else we tend to do more of during the winter. Especially, during the holidays, there is more cooking, washing and drying, heating the home, and cranking up the heat on those chilly nights. Even watching TV, or using other electronics, seems to cost more this time of year, perhaps, because we spend more time indoors. We want our homes warm and cozy.

Here in Washington, it seems crazy what we pay for electricity, when we have an abundance of hydro-electric power. Perhaps, we shouldn’t complain much, because other places in the world, are doing without our creature comforts, or they are paying even more, than we are.

A Look at Our Energy Consumption and Your Questions

So, just a few questions for you to ponder and check out on the chart here, about our energy consumption and how we consume energy.

How does your typical monthly electric bill compare to the average in your state? How about the rest of the United States? Where exactly do those kilowatts go?  Where is electricity the cheapest? Check out this handy chart for some eye opening information.  I hope you have found this information useful, and you are welcome to share your thoughts, here.  In more ways than one, here’s hoping 2012 brings Power to the People, as we take a look at our energy consumption!

Related articles

• Infographic: America’s Energy Prices Vs. The World (fastcompany.com)
• Why energy markets prove ultimately unfair (usedthoughts.com)
• How Lighting Effects Your Home’s Energy Consumption (zen.homezada.com)

This is the way Seattle brings in the New Year, with fireworks at the Needle. This is from ringing in 2011.  This years celebration promises to be spectacular, in that 2012, marks the 50th anniversary of the Seattle World’s Fair, back in 1962.  My hope is that this New Year 2012, brings you much joy, happiness and prosperity.