Energy Efficient Homes

Many homes are not designed to make the most of sunshine. Some have large shade trees or buildings blocking south-facing windows. You may live in an area with inconsistent rays or excessive...

When thinking of windmills, thoughts of an empty meadow of green grass, a brisk wind blowing at just the right speed, cold lemonade and a rocking chair sitting on a porch may run through your...

There are hundreds of ways to save electricity, especially if you count all of the weatherization and building envelope improvements that you could employ. With all of those choices, it is hard...

With today's interest in low-impact living, many consumers want to reduce their environmental footprint by choosing a green home. While "green" can mean different things to different people, there...

As the name suggests, the Titan tankless water heater provides hot water without the use of a storage tank. Instead of holding water in a tank and heating it, the Titan tankless water heater heats...

Florida weather is unpredictable, but you can always count on one thing -- it's hot. Depending upon where in the state you live, summer temperatures average in the 90s, with daytime winter...

Power companies charge for energy usage by the kilowatt hour (kWh). You can determine the number of kilowatts used by the light bulbs in your home with a few calculations. Use this number to...

Parabolic solar collectors are composed of curved, mirror-lined troughs or dishes designed to collect and concentrate sunlight. Unlike parabolic dishes, parabolic troughs are linear concentrated...

Electric baseboard heaters provide an excellent heating choice. Whether you're installing them throughout your house as the only source of heat, or in one room to offset another heating source,...

What you use to heat your home is no small matter. Heating costs make up a large portion of the monthly household budget. Because heating is a recurring charge, even small price differentials can...

Building and remodeling your home with sustainable materials can make a great impact on your environment and health. There are many places where you can find countertops made from recycled...

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) last 10 times longer and use significantly less energy than incandescent light bulbs. At an average lifespan of 8,000 hours, compared to 800 hours for...

Awnings are a great way to protect your windows and doors from the summer sun, winter snow, and sleet. They are also a simple and affordable way to lower the temperature inside your home, saving...

The amount of energy used by home heating and cooling systems is a function of the set temperature. Homeowners can save vast amounts of money by adjusting their thermostats when they are away or...

Corrugated polycarbonate sheets are cost-effective, high light transmitting, long-lasting greenhouse coverings. Corrugated polycarbonate is becoming popular among homeowners who prefer solar...

Finding cheap ways to insulate a building can be especially challenging, especially once the building is already built. Traditional insulation, especially in walls and attics, is often a major...

Adding a solar heater to a swimming pool can reduce or completely eliminate the need to heat it with grid power. Using common building materials, the average homeowner can construct the panel in...

Also called heat transfer, the theory of radiant heat is that heat will be transferred from one object that is hotter to another object that is colder. An example can be seen when you pour hot...

Having your home's wiring grounded is important in preventing power surges that can lead to fire or electrocution. A ground wire serves as the electrical current's shortest route back to the earth...

An electric tankless hot water system uses an electrically power heating unit to heat water on demand. As a result, there is no need for a water tank, allowing for several advantages to homeowners.

Solar panels that are installed on the roof of your home can save you money on your monthly energy bill. It can be expensive to coll and heat your home and saving money any way your can can...

Using solar energy is a great way to cut down on your utility cost each month. Most people get a little nervous when it comes to spending a lot of money to install solar panels. You can do it...

Electric boilers are used to heat water for various purposes, such as in-floor radiant and hot water baseboard systems. They are proven to be highly efficient since electric power supplies them...

Rooftop solar panels are one element of a photovoltaic (electricity producing) solar system. The panels are constructed of cells that vary in size and shape. The panels are placed together in an...

One of the best ways to get started on making your home more energy efficient is to determine where your house uses the energy that you pay for every month. A great tool to accomplish this is a...

As rising fuel costs leave consumers with surprises from electric companies in their mailboxes, the U.S. government is offering tax rebates to those homeowners who install either wind turbines or...

Corn pellet stoves are an economical way of heating your home, not to mention they are much more environmentally friendly than other stoves. There are many things to consider when choosing a corn...

You have two choices when insulating your foundation: insulate the exterior or the interior. Although insulating the outside is easier and cheaper, external insulation may not perform as well...

With high energy bills one may wonder what to do to stay warm and lower the energy cost this winter. Follow these simple steps and you will start noticing the energy bill go down.

In recent decades, coal has primarily been used in power plants and steel making. But with rising fuel costs in some areas, residential heating with a coal stove is making a comeback.

With the cost of utilities on the rise, plus the general increase in the overall cost of living, it literally pays to increase the energy efficiency of your home.

Photovoltaic cells absorb and transform sunlight into direct current. Panels featuring photovoltaic cells are constructed of chemically treated silicon wafers which are aligned to create an...

Adding a loft conversion to your house is a great way to gain some extra room without building an extension. Loft conversions can still be expensive, however, and there are several things that...

A geothermal system uses soil temperature to heat and cool piped water. The water returns to a heat pump located indoors, where it heats or cools the refrigerant inside the pump---much like a...

As the price of electricity slowly rises, along with all energy costs, photovoltaic solar power systems are becoming more popular with residential homeowners as well as large industries. Although...

Have you ever wondered how much energy was available in the wind blowing near your home or place of work? Perhaps there is enough energy in the wind to offset some or all of your electricity...

Windows might not show it, but they have become advanced piece of equipment. Low-end windows still use single-pane glass but provide little insulation. Double-pane windows were invented in 1935,...

Solar power can save money and reduce pollution. Solar panels can power everything from a pocket calculator to a large home or business. Mounts can be fixed or adjustable or can automatically track.

Solar ovens can take many forms. You can construct them from found materials, scrap lumber, and old cast iron dishes. They are inexpensive to construct, and they all harness energy from the sun to...

The photovoltaic process harnesses energy from the sun via the reaction between photons and electrons. The photons of light hit the cells and cause electrons in the cells to become excited, thus...

Solar air panels are used to heat the interior of a home by collecting and heating circulating air through a flat panel placed in a window or other opening. The panel is built using common...

Solar water panels reduce or completely eliminate the need for grid energy to heat water for the home. The panel is mounted on the roof of the home, where it collects sunlight and converts it into...

Solar homes are houses that have been designed (ideally) or modified to take advantage of the free energy the sun provides. This is accomplished using several methods ranging from careful design...

You're interested in powering your house with solar panels. You've heard its a good investment, but you aren't sure your house gets enough sun. This will tell you how to make an estimate of your...

Humans have been using solar power for thousands of years to heat their homes. Making solar panels to collect and store the sun power for heating and other electrical uses is a much newer...

Whether you are a renter or own your home, you most likely pay for the amount of electricity you use. It can be hard to monitor your monthly usage, and bills can often come out of the blue....

Homemade solar collectors can be used to heat water through radiant energy from the sun, which could reduce or eliminate the need for conventional sources of energy. The basic panel is constructed...

Attic vents are an integral part of managing air circulation in homes with undeveloped attic space. Designed as year-round vents, they mainly function by removing moisture and condensation in...

It takes a lot of energy to change the temperature of water, and while heating your swimming pool can extend your family's swimming season, it can be expensive to run pool heaters that use fossil...

Solar water heaters can reduce or eliminate the need for "grid" energy to heat water in the home. A panel in a window collects solar energy, heating water in pipes that is pumped back into the...