Solar Heated Pools
Not too hard … You can significantly reduce swimming pool heating costs by installing a solar pool heater. They’re cost competitive with both gas and heat pump pool heaters, and they have very low annual operating costs. Actually, solar pool heating is the most cost-effective use of solar energy in many climates and is very […]
Can You Afford Not To Have A Solar PV System?
Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has gained worldwide popularity in recent years. Many products are available on the market. Prices have come down. There are still federal and state incentives for solar PV installations. Solar PV systems offer great money and energy savings opportunities. Nevertheless, solar PV systems are still big-ticket items. The good news is […]
Dimmers and Energy Efficient Lighting – Not Always Compatible
Most homeowners today are concerned with energy efficiency and are beginning to take retrofitting seriously. They want the efficiency that comes from switching their lighting from outdated incandescent lights to LED or CFL bulbs and home lighting controls which add to the energy and cost savings of new light bulbs – but they may run […]
Don’t Throw CFL Bulbs in The Trash
As the low cost of CFL light bulbs saving 75% of energy compared to incandescent bulbs, many homes switched to CFL bulbs. CFLs are completely safe to use in homes, but they do contain a very small amount of mercury like fluorescent tubes. Never throw CFLs or fluoresecent tubes in the trash. Instead, dispose them […]
The Terry Project: A Comfortable Home At Last
Cathy had a heat pump installed, with a separate gas furnace as backup or alternate heating source. She is now able to heat the entire house, including the kitchen addition and other areas that she did not bother to heat in the past. Even with more space to heat, her utility bill dropped from between […]
Das Haus Is Coming, Das Haus Is Coming
Germany has been advocating a “passive house” standard for super energy efficient homes. The Germans are well known for their striving toward advanced technologies and manufacturing perfection. Building durable homes is no exception. In a nutshell, a passive home is tightly sealed, well-insulated, and equipped with high efficiency windows and doors. A 1500 square feet […]
Energy Efficiency Rises from the Ashes
My story started six years ago in Moraga, California. All was well. The kids were out of the house, two on their own and one in college. Work was good. All the saving and planning was paying off. We had saved enough to do the kitchen remodel that we planned years for. With me doing […]
LED Lights vs. CFL Lights: What Works for Your Home?
Choosing the right light bulb could drastically reduce your power bills and positively affect the environment, but with so many light bulb options on the market, knowing which one to choose can be difficult. Below is a simple comparison between incandescent, compact fluorescent (CFL) and light-emitting diode (LED) to help you decide which is right […]