A Consumer Resource For Home Energy Savings

Ceiling fans are one of the most popular and generally well regarded of all home energy efficiency features. They have a very pragmatic appeal to those who want to cut summer electric bills. At the same time, they offer a decorative alternative to typical light fixtures. So it should come as no surprise that two-thirds of American households now have ceiling fans. Home improvement centers do a brisk and growing business in sales to do-it-yourselfers, and it’s not uncommon to find ceiling fans installed by builders in nearly every bedroom and living area in many new homes.

But while ceiling fans can help cut summer energy use, they can also be substantial energy users–depending on how they are used and what kind of lights, if any, are part of the fan package. Because ceiling fan lights are often the brightest, most…

Often, when homeowners make improvements to an existing house, the most important aspects of home performance – including safety, comfort, energy efficiency, durability, and environmental impact – are literally invisible during key steps of any home sale or refinance transaction.

One result is that energy efficiency investments are overlooked or inaccurately valued at the time of a home sale. The key to making these investments visible to everyone involved in a home sale – including appraisers, Realtors®, buyers, and sellers – is standardized documentation and consistent communication across the energy efficiency and real estate industries.

A …

How can we save more money without significantly changing our lifestyle? The answer may surprise you. Making energy-efficient improvements to your home and the way you choose to use your resources is much simpler than you may be anticipating. In fact, once you start living sustainably, you'll have a hard time imagining how you did it any other way. Here are five major ways to cut your costs while boosting your overall energy efficiency.

Insulate Your Home: Studies have shown that adding insulation to the walls and windows of your home can prevent energy loss an average of 35%. This means that instead of paying to heat the entire neighborhood, you'll only be heating your own home, and doing so far more efficiently. Many insulation companies have become exceedingly adept at insulating existing wall and…

The holiday season is a wonderful time of year full of food, presents and twinkling lights. It is also a time of year when the sun sets sooner, snow is falling, and temperatures drop. All of this adds up to a surge in energy use as lights go on sooner and the heaters come on. For those using solar energy, the winter weather provides some unique challenges as the sun is available for fewer hours and build-up from snow and ice can affect your solar panels. So, whether you have already invested in solar or are interested in going solar this holiday season, here are some tips to remember.

1. Solar Panels Do Work in Winter: First, let’s overcome the misconception that…