Energy Efficient Homes

Radiant heating involves pumping hot water from a conventional gas or electric water heater through pipes below a home's floor. The hot water makes the floor warm, and that in turn radiates the...

Building your own homemade solar panels is inexpensive and moderately easy if you're familiar with basic soldering and wiring techniques. You need some plywood, boards, glass or plexiglass, a...

An inefficient roof can raise your utility bill in a couple of ways. Whether you are heating or cooling your house, heat will be transferred in during the summer and out during the winter from...

Home insulation maintains temperature by reducing the flow of heat. In the summer, insulation keeps the house cool. In the winter, insulation keeps the house warm. The degree to which insulation...

There are two federal programs that provide tax credits for homeowners for the purchase of energy conserving and alternative energy items. These purchases will also save the homeowner money in the...

Baseboard and radiant floor heating are both broad categories. Each can refer to several types of heating installations, because radiant floor heating can be electric or hydronic (using lines...

When choosing energy efficient parts to your new home be wise. Only do things that will really save you money.

In an effort to spruce up your house, you might want to install Vinyl Soffit. You need not hire a professional, if you are handy with tools and steady on a ladder. This is something you can do...

The Cash for Appliances program is almost live and is expected to start in early 2010. Under the new program, energy star rebates can be anywhere from $25 to $200, based on the energy star...

Constructing solar panels may seem daunting, but is nowhere near as difficult as you may think. With a few cheap materials, and a few easy steps, you can set up your own solar panel system for a...

Solar lights are typically available in the garden section of your local hardware store as low-wattage self-contained solar ground lights. These are excellent for lighting a walkway or parts of...

Adding insulation to your attic is a great way to save energy, but there are a number of choices that you need to sort through. What is the best type for your situation? What is the best...

So, you have weatherized and insulated your house. You have switched all of, OK most of your light bulbs to CFL’s and installed a low flow showerhead. Your programmable thermostat is set for...

LEDs: light emitting diodes. They're bright, compact, use very little energy, create very little heat, have a long life and they're all the rage. They seem to have several advantages over...

Many people have become interested in renewable energy sources due to rising energy prices and the damage created to the environment by the use of fossil fuels. Improvements in technology have...

Everyone is talking and trying to claim the energy tax credit this year. There are guidelines and rules that apply to qualify for the credit. Everything we do to our homes that are...

A creaky first floor, a hard to keep warm first floor or a first floor that is unusually humid can all point to one problem: no vapor barrier in the house crawl space. The crawlspace is designed...

No one wants to escape the cold on a winter day by going into a house that is roughly the same temperature as it is outside. If the home has a functional heating system, this will not be an issue....

There are two types of can lights, those that can come into direct contact with insulation and those that can't. If a can light can directly contact insulation, it will be marked with an IC on the...

A clothes dryer is a very convenient machine but can also be dangerous if not handled correctly. One of the riskiest parts of the dryer is the vent as that can become very hot and needs to be...

Are you looking for a new appliance and want to make sure that you get the most energy-efficient one possible? The following tips will help make sure that you are successful. The easiest way to...

The good news is you do not need to replace your existing wiring to use solar power. Solar energy, which is DC (direct current), can be converted to AC (alternating current) by using an inverter....

DIY pour-in foam insulation is not only a way of improving your home's comfort level, but it is also quick and relatively easy. The material can be applied in just about any location, including...

Making a solar heater for an in-ground pool is an easy way to reduce the need for grid-powered heating elements, which can be expensive. The average homeowner can build a panel from common...

Making power with a windmill alternator can be used to power home appliances and even supplement moderate electrical usage for a group of homes. Building the windmill power plant can be done with...

Living in a rental place has many positives and negatives. And while everyone is talking about saving money on energy during the winter, some of these advices are a little bit harder to be...

Adding insulation to walls is one of the most difficult home improvements you can do, unless you are already putting up new siding. Although most heat loss occurs through other places in the...

Upgrading to an energy efficient dishwasher can make a big difference in saving water and electricity, and will go a long way in lowering your monthly energy bill as well as your family's carbon...

When an older home is restored and becomes more energy efficient, or 'green', it creates environmental and health benefits. Green homes conserve energy and save money as well as reduce indoor air...

Masonry provides some of the longest lasting and durable siding in the construction industry. Brick and stone are popular choices for home coverings that are rather challenging to install, but,...

Crafting a wind generator from one or more automotive alternators can reduce or eliminate the need for grid home power. Alternators and moderate power usage can make the project effective, and...

Solar heating panels can supplement the need for grid power to heat the interior of a home. This very simple panel can be combined with other panels to raise the interior air temperature of the...

A solar powered home is the dream of many people because of the green awareness movement and the potential to save a lot of money long term by powering your home from the sun and avoiding high...

Solar hot water panels can reduce or completely eliminate the need for heating water with grid energy. The panels are easy to construct with common home repair components. The average homeowner...

If one room of your house seems to be chillier than the rest, it is most likely an insulation issue. There may be leaks and cracks in the walls, floors, windows or near doors that need to be...

Converting your home heating system from oil to natural gas has many benefits. Natural gas is pumped from a gas line directly into your home, so you don't have to worry about refilling the oil...

By programming your electronic thermostat to use your home's heating or cooling system less when you are away from home, the US Department of Energy estimates you could save about $180 per year in...

Solar power is not only a free source of power but in fact can be like a permanent coupon for your electric bill. This space heater design is easy to build and almost free to make if your not...

Weatherizing a home can save roughly 31% of electric energy expenditure. This significant energy efficiency saves money for families and reduces pollution as well. Here’s what you can do to do a...

Any modern house comes equipped with a hot and cold water system. Typically there is a boiler in the basement that's used to heat the water, and when you turn the water dial to hot, the water is...

A utility meter keeps track of your home's monthly power usage. Once a month, your utility provider sends someone out to check your meter. This information is recorded and used to bill you for...

In recent decades, increasing numbers of conscientious people have begun to view solar power as the future. Despite the enthusiasm for this environmentally friendly energy source, few have...

To insulate your home properly is a good move to make for a variety of reasons. First, it will keep the heat and the cool in at various times of the year. This will keep down the costs of energy...

The ceiling is the most important area of your home to insulate. Insulating your ceiling will reduce the heat flow and make your home weather-tight. This is the most cost efficient way to put less...

One way to protect a home against the rising costs of heating is the purchase of a geothermal system. Geothermal heating systems take advantage of the earth's natural heating properties. Although...

Making a solar panel air heater can reduce the need for grid power to heat the interior of a house. The unit sits outside of a window, collecting the sun's rays and warming a continuously moving...

Solar fans are a cheap, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly way to keep a hot room cool during the summer months. Because they need no energy source besides the Sun, and can run all day...

Using solar power from the sun is an easy way to generate electricity, and after the initial cost of creating your solar panels that electricity is completely free. Creating homemade solar power...

Using common tools and inexpensive materials that are easy to acquire, you can build your own homemade solar electric panels that create power output comparable to commercial panels, yet cost much...

Every homeowner should concern herself with properly insulating the house. Optimal levels of insulation reduce heating bills and pollution. Federal guidelines recommend that homeowners base their...