ENERGY
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That faint sucking sound you hear may be vampire appliances draining electricity from your walls. Vampires are electr...
Today of all days, take one step toward protecting the planet, and your monthly utility costs will benefit as well.
Homeowners seeking ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce heating and cooling costs now have an interesting alt...
During our long experience with incandescent light bulbs, we got used to thinking about light in terms of wattage. Bu...
While our 50 Shades may not be as sexy as the blockbuster novel, these green tips for the home promise gratifying results and earth-friendly fulfillment.
Adopt one of these 12 home energy saving ideas and save money on utilities in 2013.
We hear a lot about lighting and energy efficiency, but can the right light bulb really be effective in reducing mont...
From bicycles to home soda-maker systems, we've gathered 11 green gift ideas for the earth-minded person on your list.
The next generations will face fuel costs so high, they’ll make the standard twentieth-century under-insulated stick-...
Harnessing the sun's energy to power homes is a viable and increasingly cost-effective option for homeowners.
Which projects will do the most good to lower your utility bills? A professional home energy audit can help you decid...
Today, September 14th, is the kickoff of the 2012 Solar Decathlon, and this year it’s being held in sunny Spain. List...
Wherever lights are accidentally left on a lot, your home is leaking money. Sometimes, just changing the switch can s...
If you have a south-facing roof without solar panels on it, you’re probably paying too much for hot water. LISTENList...
Reconsider your old fireplace, which could be costing you more money than you know.
Advancements in technology have improved heat and light control for today's homeowners.
Prep your windows and add exterior or interior window coverings to cool your house.
Window layout is key to taking advantage of views and minimizing monthly utility costs.
Install new and improved fluorescent lighting fixtures to save money, electricity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Use the sun's rays to create electricity and lower your bills!
Installing a solar hot water system makes sense for the environment and your wallet.
As April 15 bears down, you might be able to save a little "scratch" if your 2011 home improvements fell within the n...
By changing your appliances and food storage methods, begin creating a "green" kitchen.
Eco-friendly thinking when buying for the home is not just for environmental activists anymore. You can also save money by shifting to energy-efficient appliances.
Read our guide to learn ventilation know-how that can go a long way towards keeping you cool and saving money on energy bills.
Keep warm and comfortable this winter and lower your utility bills with some energy-efficient home improvements.
Cooktops that use magnets to generate heat. Lawn trimmers without wheels. Dishwashers for outdoors. Innovation is hap...
Follow these 8 simple ways to reduce your energy consumption and energy bills!
Despite what you may have heard—the incandescent light bulb is not going the way of the dinosaur. "It will, however...
Solar or photovoltaic systems are an increasingly popular way to offset rising utility bills — just place them in the sun and let them go to work converting sunli...
Is your blood pressure rising on the same schedule as your month-to-month heating and cooling bills? Relax—you can st...
Homeowners have access to a growing variety of interactive green tools, on websites of government agencies, organizations, and businesses, that can be used to est...
Improve efficiency in electricity usage from the beginning--the bulb.
Homes that produce as much energy as they use + sustainable living = a green and happy earth.
Identify energy-loss areas to cut costs and increase comfort.
Windows affect comfort, health, and energy bills. New green windows perform better than ever before.
Bob talks with Robert Rainey of PJ Overhead Door as the new and improved garage door panels and tracks are installed on the Norwell home.
As the upper-story walls are poured, Bob talks with the builder and contractor about the significant savings in time, energy, and cost that come with concrete and...
Work is being done on the roof—laying Deck-Armor and installing metal roofing and photovoltaic panels. Bob talks with Jeff Wolf from GroSolar about the photovolta...
The Beasleys selected Pella Architect Series windows for their 1895 home. The windows are Energy Star rated for high efficiency and feature replica-style hardware.
Bob visits the South Bronx, NY, where Habitat for Humanity has partnered with private developer Les Bluestone to create a green oasis for low-income families that...
Architect Mary Kennedy and Bob tour her Georgian Colonial family home in Westchester County, NY. After a flood ruined the house, the challenge was to salvage and ...
Bob visits with architect Alan Shope who has built a unique earth-bermed house at his farm in Upstate New York.
Bob reviews the heating and air conditioning equipment that will bring the Shingle Style house into its second century.
Bob meets with architect Gregory Rochlin and expert carpenter Danny Ruffini to restore old double-hung windows and replace lead sash weights with new spring-loade...
Bob meets with the installer of the new HVAC system to discuss how it filters air and reduces energy costs.
Bob talks with the installer of a new on-demand tankless water heater that is more energy efficient than tank water heaters.
An old basement window is replaced, and experts explain the costs of the Owens Corning finishing system.
Bob revisits the techniques and products used to keep the basement dry.
Bob discusses the installation of a plastic subfloor to prevent water damage and the selection of a basement dehumidifier.
The house's two chimneys are repaired, allowing the installation of a gas fireplace insert, and basement family-room cabinets are completed.
Bob meets with Bill Zoeller to discuss the ways this property will be 50% more energy efficient that a typical Florida Home.
Bob meets with Electrician Harry Cunningham to install a backup generator.
Bob and Chris Vila visit the plastering contractor and receive a lesson in plaster mixing. Next, they talk to Dino from Dino's Construction, who's installing the ...
Bob meets with Lenora Campos from Toto USA, a leader in water technology and the largest toilet manufacturer in the world. Campos introduces Bob to the dual-flush...
Bob and Jeff Akers of The Air Authority review the water-cooled HVAC system, granting focus to its ingenious mechanical design and up-to-code energy efficiency.
Bob looks at the order and placement of the windows on the facade of the modern Colonial. Upon closer inspection, the classically inspired fenestration, size, typ...
Kevin Callahan from Sears joins Bob to talk about the new Kenmore air conditioning condensers that will be installed.
Robert Kirkpatrick from Rinnai joins Bob to explain the tankless hot-water system being installed in the Manhattan Brownstonel.
At the Cobb Hill co-housing community, Bob and general contractor Mark Albee look at some of the energy efficient and eco-friendly products in use.
Bob visits with Mark Lundquist of Burnham Hydronics to check out the boiler for the hot-water heating system being installed in the Mashpee, Massachusetts, afford...
Bob visits Emma and Jacob Josselyn in their Cape Cod-style home to see the new Vermont Castings Addison cast-iron electric stove that will warm the corner of thei...
Bob talks with Ray Adam (from Pella Windows) about the new French doors to be installed in the library. It's an active/inactive door with all hardware. The most i...
Bob goes up to the attic of the Victorian project house, where an ODL tubular skylight is being installed. Also, Bob looks back at the installation of windows on ...
Bob tours the master bathroom, noticing the finishing touches and pointing out the features. Also, Bob checks out the Finlandia sauna, before reviewing te Crysta...
Bob talks with Deane Evans (from the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing) and Ren Anderson (from the National Renewable Engergy Laboratory) about phot...
Bob visits the Global Solar factory in Tucson, AZ to see how they company manufactures its unique solar-electric (photovoltaic) devices.
Carpenter Bob Ryley meets Steve Wilkinson in the kitchen to install the Corian countertops, and Bob talks with Ren Anderson (from the National Renewable Energy La...
Janet MacIlvaine and George James (from the Department of Energy) show Bob how they conduct a blower door test.
Bob meets with Brian Redding (from the APA) to learn more about roof framing techniques for resisting hurricanes and high winds.
Bob inspects the remote device, controlling the PA system, HVAC, lighting, and entertainment systems. In the basement, Bob Ryley is exploring the wires and cables...
Bob assists electrician Barry Driscoll and carpenter Bob Ryley with the installation of a stacked energy-efficient washer-dryer unit.
Bob meets with plumbing contractor Craig Rinaldi and Mary Moffroid (from Controlled Energy), who are installing a tankless hot water heater.
A high-efficiency Buderus boiler is installed, and Steve Offutt (from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) explains the national Energy Star program.
Bob talks with factory representative Chris Hoff and heating contractor Peter Lydon during the installation of a Buderus high-efficiency boiler.
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley install a Maytag Neptune washer-dryer set. Jay Klosterman (from Maytag) describes the product's energy saving features.
Bob reviews the kitchen appliances, paying special attention to their energy saving features.
Australian-born architect and homeowner, Gavin Langley, shows Bob how attics are insulated in his home country.
Landscape designer Ruth Foster explains her selection of plant material and flowering shrubs for the backyard and directs the planting of a Sephora Japonica shade...
John Marran (from Energy Kinetics) and heating expert Frank Iadarola review the energy efficient boiler system that will supply heat to the hydronic floors and to...
Ryan Pirro (from RestorationWindows.com) discusses refurbishing old windows with solid-bronze sash chains, new parting beads, and spring-bronze weather stripping ...
Bob meets with Don Schumacher (from NCFI), who explains polyurethane spray-on insulation. Applied directly to the back of sheathing, it swells to 25 times its liq...
