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A good rechargeable battery charger has one purpose: to make sure you always have juiced-up batteries ready to power ...
Welcome to Old House Appreciation with Bob Vila, a month-long series dedicated to showing you the best reasons to own...
As the maker of the world’s first outdoor portable power station, Jackery recently introduced its most flexible and h...
Capable air conditioners can transform sweltering garages into comfortable spaces. Whether you simply want a temperat...
We've all been there—dinner is over, and now comes the part of your evening you dread the most: tackling that mountai...
If you have been in a lighting or hardware store recently, you may have noticed something missing—incandescent light ...
In today's age of rising energy costs and increasing environmental awareness, having an energy-efficient home has nev...
While renters may not have the same options for improving energy efficiency as those who own their homes, there are m...
This content has been brought to you by Kohler. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. When it comes to st...
Do you know how the SEER rating on your new air conditioner impacts your energy bill? How about HSPF of your heat pum...
This is the third installment of Bob Vila’s Most Valuable Projects of 2023, a month-long series featuring high-ROI ho...
Q: During a recent blackout, my neighbor and I kicked around the idea of alternative power sources. Besides solar and...
Air conditioners have a tough life. Outdoor units are constantly exposed to the elements, while window and wall units...
Home generators come in several sizes with a range of power outputs. Having one when the power goes out can ensure fa...
Summertime is fun time, but it also comes with bouts of extreme heat in many areas. That often leads to increased dem...
While public charging points for electric vehicles are becoming more common, a home electric vehicle (EV) charger wil...
Energy-efficient home upgrades benefit the environment by reducing energy demands and air pollution, plus they can pu...
Solar power offers numerous benefits, including reduced energy bills, fewer carbon emissions, and even a potential in...
Q: I recently moved into a house with gas appliances. I purchased new smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, but I’m no...
Chilly months are much more bearable with a functioning, efficient heating system, but there are many options for kee...
Highlights The typical cost for a home energy audit ranges from $208 to $675, with homeowners paying an average of $...
As the risk of power outages and rolling blackouts increases, due in part to an aging electrical grid and an increase...
The dawn of the electric car revolution is here, and enthusiastic drivers anticipate being able to shed their depende...
Life is surprisingly expensive. You pay for food, clothing, electricity, gas, water, insurance, vehicles, fuel, repai...
When temperatures fluctuate, it’s easy to flip on your home’s heating and cooling system and not think much about it....
There’s a growing focus on electric meters lately. With energy prices rising, many folks may have developed trust iss...
Climate change is already shaping how people live. With more powerful hurricanes, wildfires, heat waves, and flooding...
How exactly do solar panels work with the electric grid to charge my electric car?A: Let's start with the basics. Mos...
This article is part of Old House Appreciation with Bob Vila, a month-long series dedicated to showing you the best p...
The most significant change in transportation since we took horses off the streets is upon us. Are you ready? An elec...
Q: I’ve been looking for creative ways to save money at home. I heard that doing laundry during certain times of the ...
The Inflation Reduction Act that was recently passed by the U. S. Congress includes $369 billion for energy security ...
If you’re curious about off-grid living, you may have heard of an Earthship. Earthship homes are built partially into...
Installing a residential wind turbine can help generate clean energy for your home, RV, or even a boat or camper. How...
One of the key ingredients of an efficient, comfortable home sauna is the choice of heater. There are a number of dif...
Power outages can threaten to spoil the food in the fridge and lead to life-threatening situations in cold temperatur...
Gone are the days when the only clothesline option was a simple rope suspended between two trees or poles in the back...
Home wind turbines provide a way to independently generate power. They typically contain three blades and use the wi...
Using energy-efficient light bulbs is a simple way to help reduce your bills. Having energy-efficient bulbs on hand m...
A window air conditioner is the only way to beat the heat for those who lack the comforts of central air conditioning...
This winter, stop cold air from seeping into your home and driving up your energy costs. These fixes—some of which are under $10—will help keep you warm.
Q: Lighting experts tout the longevity and potential money savings of LEDs, but is all that true? Are there ways to e...
Q: My partner and I have an ongoing disagreement about the right temperature setting for the heat during cold months....
Less Wind, Less EnergyWindbreaks protect a home from wind and provide shade, both of which can help conserve energy. ...
The purpose of a generator is to provide power to appliances, electronic devices, and lighting in remote locations, l...
Eco-friendly home upgrades won’t just make your home more comfortable, they can also help you save money over time. These 10 upgrades offer the best return on you...
When we set out to build a new construction home, we had a lot of research to do. Having lived in city apartments for...
Whether you have multiple acres, a postage stamp-sized yard, or a container garden, planting your own victory garden can benefit the environment.
Don’t wait until the electric bill arrives to find out how much energy you use. The bill shows only your total energy...
Creating a backyard space takes planning and effort, so it’s a shame that you can’t use it as often when temperatures...
Your personal battle against climate change takes place one day at a time. The way you use electricity, water, and fossil fuel can lower your carbon footprint and...
Window insulation kits are an affordable solution to cut the cost of your energy bill and make a home less drafty. Fo...
Propane heaters are an incredibly effective way to quickly heat a medium to large living space using liquid propane (...
If your house could talk, it would tell you that spending a little money now on small repairs could save you big bucks down the road. We’ve put together 20 of the...
Dual fuel generators are one of those household investments that is easy to put off. But once you have one, you may w...
Putting a dent in your home improvement to-do list can often put an even bigger dent in your wallet. But these 21 humble DIY projects reduce, reuse, and reimagine...
A midwinter ice storm has knocked out the power on your block, and the temperature on the thermostat is plummeting. W...
How much do you pay for electricity each month? Whatever the answer, you probably wouldn't mind having a lower electric bill. The good news is, there are many sim...
Portable generators are one of the most important tools in a home safety plan for when power outages occur. In the ev...
Solar chargers are becoming more portable, lightweight, and undeniably handy. Perfect for camping, they’re also usefu...
Make today the start of an eco-friendly lifestyle change. Try these 20 easy ideas you can do right now to be kinder to the planet.
Don't assume a nice landscape has to break the bank. In fact, a smart landscape design plan can offset other home maintenance costs. See the best landscaping idea...
Adopt these 12 home-energy saving ideas and save money on utilities.
Leaving the lights on and blasting the furnace will cost you more in some states than others.
Don’t believe all the tips and tricks that promise to reduce your energy consumption.
Nowadays, many renters and homeowners choose light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) over the classic incandescent, fluores...
If your windows let in anything other than a view, you may be thinking it's time for replacement windows. But not so ...
Q: I just opened my electric bill, and my jaw dropped. It’s way higher than ever! I called the electric company to se...
Gas stoves cook food using an open flame when the gas is ignited, while electric stoves use electricity and metal hea...
You’ve heard of LEDs. You’re aware of compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). So what’s the next big idea in home illumination? They’re called smart bulbs, and they co...
Households gobble up more than 30 percent of the electricity consumed in the United States. Sure, efficiency has improved over the years, but consumers continue t...
Two billion people globally live with severe water scarcity. Small changes we can all make now will go a long way toward saving water—and our planet.
In the past few decades, solar panels have gone from an expensive novelty to an increasingly popular source of power generation. Today, more and more homeowners a...
Staying comfortable through the summer often comes at a price (after all, air conditioning ain't cheap). If your energy bills have your blood pressure rising fast...
Window treatments let you control light, privacy, and indoor temperature while complementing your décor. While you’ve...
Everything seems more difficult when Old Man Winter comes calling. Even everyday activities become major hassles when you have to scrape an iced-over windshield o...
Along with colorful falling leaves, tailgate parties, and family gatherings, autumn’s crisp air brings a reminder of ...
Preparing for winter doesn’t have to be a chore! Read on for 23 fun and fast DIY ways to keep your home warm and weatherproof, no matter what the season brings.
It might as well be one of the laws of nature: As outdoor temperatures drop, electricity bills rise. In much of the country, it takes a lot of energy to keep your...
Drafty homes waste energy, yet most homeowners don’t have a clue as to how energy inefficient their homes may actuall...
You turn off lights when you leave a room, combine errands to stretch a tank of gas, and run only full loads in your dishwasher. Yet even if you're following the ...
What if you could simply roll a layer of paint onto your walls and increase the thermal insulating property (R-value)...
Check out these energy-saving tips that will help your air conditioner do its job without breaking a sweat—or the bank.
If you’ve had the same hot water heater for longer than 10 years—the standard lifespan—it's smart to consider replaci...
Q: My 15-year-old air conditioning unit finally gave up, so I’m in the process of shopping for a new one. I’ve heard ...
A homeowner's to-do list can seem endless, especially come spring. Paint the exterior. Mow the lawn (again and again ...
While homeownership undeniably comes with plenty of expenses, there’s no reason to spend more than you have to. If your home seems more like a money pit than an a...
Most people nowadays own thousands of dollars' worth of laptops, smartphones, tablets, and countless other devices that play crucial roles in our everyday lives. ...
As far as your HVAC system (cooling and heating system) goes, what's out of sight is out of mind. But don't always assume your system is running at peak performan...
For many of us, our attitude toward the roof is pretty much "out of sight, out of mind. " It's only when something bi...
Nowadays, more than 90 percent of homes and virtually all businesses in America use air conditioning to beat the summertime heat. In fact, according to the U.S. D...
Though often overlooked, air conditioner filters are responsible for a mighty important job: keeping dust, dirt, and ...
Q: I’ve just turned on the air conditioner for the summer, but I just can't get get comfortable. The appliance circul...
Flexible and versatile, this inexpensive material can prevent more expensive home issues down the road.
Keeping up with the Joneses can be a frustrating and fruitless pursuit…but what if those enviable neighbors are saving money, supporting a cleaner environment, an...
Q. We just bought a house, and the previous owners told us that the water heater is about 6 years old. Does that mean...
It's the 21st century! It shouldn't be such a struggle for owners to heat their homes evenly enough to enjoy total co...
Homeowners rarely think about their water heater or its vital contribution to the convenience of modern living. Likew...
During the hottest days of the year, it’s likely that you rely heavily on an air conditioning unit—be it targeting yo...
You want to save money on utility costs and do your part to conserve energy, but some energy upgrades are so expensive that you may never see a payback in this li...
For homeowners who have witnessed their energy bills rise ever higher over the years, heating and cooling represents ...
It may seem like a paradox, but sometimes you have to spend a little money to save a lot of green. Investing in just a few little upgrades like energy-efficient l...
This time of year, homeowners around the country bemoan the high cost of home heating and naturally seek out ways to ...
Owning a home is expensive: There are property taxes and mortgages, tiny repairs and big maintenance projects, energy costs and water bills. After all's said and ...
Winter is coming! Is your house ready to deal with harsh winter winds, blowing snow, and frosty windows? A well winterized home has what it takes to stand up to w...
Believe it or not, in one fell swoop you can lower your energy bills and improve the air quality in your home. The se...
This post has been brought to you by Mitsubishi Electric. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. In the ma...
You are reading one installment in a ten-part series devoted to exploring Mitsubishi Electric ductless heating and co...
We owe a lot to the humble air conditioner. Like most inventions, the idea came from a very real need: relief from ex...
If you know anything at all about pipe insulation, you know that it goes a long way toward preventing frozen pipes. T...
Costs for heating your home with oil, natural gas, propane, and electricity seem to go in only one direction: up! Steadily increasing prices for fossil fuels are ...
Winter's right around the corner, and with those falling temperatures come rising energy costs. But don’t despair—a few quick and easy solutions to common househo...
Air conditioning is responsible for as much as one third of the electricity consumed in summer. These are energy-thir...
Up until recently, buying a light bulb was probably as routine for most people as buying a carton of milk. But new li...
Here's a great device for keeping your home energy dollars from going down the drain. A drain water heat recovery de...
Solar electric systems are appearing on more and more rooftops across America, but their pace of adoption has not bee...
It's difficult to overstate the importance of windows in home design, not least because they have an impact on both t...
Window films are like sunglasses for your house, inexpensively improving the energy efficiency of your home, even as ...
As energy prices continue to rise, it's important to become even more conscious of the efficiency and cost-effectiven...
If you're searching for the best window air conditioner, check out these 9 highly rated models for small, medium, and large rooms.
Homeowners looking to reduce air conditioning costs and shield interior furnishings from the sun’s harsh glare may wa...
Solar energy can be used to do all sorts of work around the house, from providing electricity for lights and applianc...
Today’s residential lighting considerations go beyond decorative fixtures. Lighting influences our general well-being...
If you’re considering a new system for your home, talk first to your architect or designer. Conversations with HVAC c...
Those seeking ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce heating and cooling costs have an increasingly popular alt...
With temperatures dipping into the single digits here in the Northeast—and below 0° F in many other places—shivering ...
Today, September 14th, is the kickoff of the 2012 Solar Decathlon, and this year it’s being held in sunny Spain. List...
Everyone agrees that you should change your HVAC filter on a regular basis, but not everyone agrees on the type of fi...
Burning MoneyA fire in an open hearth is only 10 percent efficient at best, which means that 90 percent of the heat e...
An imperative “rite of spring” in our house is checking our two central air conditioning systems to make sure they ar...
Reduce Fuel, Save Money If you have a south-facing roof, you're probably paying too much for hot water. Over a millio...
High noon will turn many a classic home into a summertime sweatbox. And while noisy window-mounted air conditioners c...
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...
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...
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...
An old basement window is replaced, and experts explain the costs of the Owens Corning finishing system.
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.
Bob revisits the techniques and products used to keep the basement dry.
The house's two chimneys are repaired, allowing the installation of a gas fireplace insert, and basement family-room cabinets are completed.
Bob discusses the installation of a plastic subfloor to prevent water damage and the selection of a basement dehumidifier.
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...
