by Brian Reynolds With inflation driving costs higher on multiple fronts, including energy, finding ways to save money is crucial in the current economy. There are two ways to go about home energy savings — energy efficiency and energy conservation. The two are often confused as the same thing, but there are important distinctions. Energy… Continue reading.
With the winter weather temperature drops, you may have noticed your house feeling colder than you remembered last year. Or, you may have been reminded that your HVAC (short for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system isn’t working the way you liked, and that you’ve been meaning to look into ways to improve the situation…. Continue reading.
Whether you’re purchasing a new washing machine, an electric stove or that new deep freeze for the garage, researching the durability, brand and customer service that accompanies the appliance is common practice. Another key topic to research is the energy efficiency of your new appliance, i.e., how much it’s going to cost to run after the purchase… Continue reading.
By Kim Burton People considering home improvement projects typically think about tackling particular areas of the house. Yet one item that affects the entire dwelling – lighting – is often overlooked. With recent technological developments, it is easier than ever to retrofit existing houses with recessed lighting. Can-less recessed LED lights can lead to significant… Continue reading.
By Michaela Cox You don’t need a business degree to understand that when you’re running a commercial operation, you need to manage costs. And one of the easiest ways to save on your monthly energy bills is to invest in energy-efficient equipment and appliances. While energy-smart lighting and machines run on less electricity and… Continue reading.
Dear Pat and Brad: Several of my appliances are getting old and will need to be replaced soon. Will the appliance choices I make have much impact on my energy bill? – Chelsea Dear Chelsea: Your energy use varies month to month, so it can be difficult to see how much difference an appliance purchase… Continue reading.
by Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen It’s always a good idea to understand how you’re spending your money. You look over your credit card statement carefully each month, so you should do the same with your utility bill. As you’d suspect, analyzing your bill can help you save energy and money. If you live in… Continue reading.
Spending a few hundred dollars on an energy audit now could save you thousands of dollars over time. A home energy audit is a detailed assessment of your home that can give you a roadmap for future energy-related investments: • What efficiency investments will be most effective in reducing your energy bills? • Why might some areas… Continue reading.
by Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen Ready to make your home more energy efficient? The first step in beginning a renovation project is finding the right contractor. Here are some things to consider when deciding who to hire. Educate yourself so you can be in control of your project. Use reputable sources, like energy.gov, energystar.gov… Continue reading.
by Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen Today, many thermostats offer great new technologies and can do things thermostats of the past simply could not do. That said, it’s certainly worth asking if these new thermostats can save enough money to justify the extra cost. Let’s start by looking at the three main options for thermostats:… Continue reading.
by Laura Matney Just because a renter doesn’t own his/her home doesn’t mean energy-saving improvements can’t be made to the apartment or rental property. The 10 tips on this list do not significantly modify the house, but still can save the renter money. Here is the list: 1) Low-flow showerhead: Remove that old showerhead and… Continue reading.
By Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen If replacing your furnace seems to be on the near horizon, especially with colder weather a calendar page away, you might wonder what might be some economical options. For most of us, heating and cooling accounts for the largest part of our household energy use. An electric air-source heat… Continue reading.
BY TOM TATE The concept of the smart home is not as new as you might expect. In the late 1980s, as a product manager for Honeywell, I got to see a real smart home. Honeywell’s smart home contained impressive automation capabilities. Lighting, security, fire monitoring, temperature control and appliance use were all automated to… Continue reading.
