The Green Home

Take steps to improve air quality

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:07:27 -0400

As spring time comes around, pollen season begins, setting off allergies and exacerbating health problems like asthma. While you can't control the air quality outside, you can improve the quality of the air in your home and provide your family a safe haven to breathe easy and get relief from the yellow haze outside.

Energy audits reveal issues, but be prepared for costs

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:25:50 -0500

Rather than asking, "Should I spend the money or not?" ask yourself "How much more will I spend on utility costs?"

Better airflow: The cure for the common household cold?

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:42:38 -0500

If you're finding that your home suddenly feels stuffy or clammy, or if common colds now seem like a chronic condition for your family members, it might be time to check the airflow in your home.

Don't fall for energy wasters

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:14:08 -0400

This month, make it your family's mission to search out the energy wasters in your home and take the necessary steps to improve your home's efficiency before the truly cold weather arrives, and you can reap the savings for the rest of the season.

Debunking myths about insulation

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 17:38:17 -0400

There are some big myths out there about insulation, and they're holding homeowners back from realizing great energy savings and home efficiency improvements.

Beat the heat without over air conditioning

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 17:14:58 -0400

Summertime means hotter temperatures and the urge to run the air conditioner non-stop. Yet over-air conditioning your home not only wastes energy, it reduces the lifetime of an expensive household appliance and drives up electricity bills through the summer.

Are the windows in your home a pane?

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 16:19:40 -0400

Historic windows are often a "pain" in the pocketbook because they're literally a pane; a single pane of glass is all that protects homeowners from the weather outside, be it hot summer sun or cold winter nights.

Seasonal allergies inside? Look to home's air quality

Fri, 18 May 2012 18:28:08 -0400

With so many allergy causing particles in the air outside, allergy sufferers often retreat indoors, not realizing that their home can exacerbate instead of alleviate the runny nose, itchy eyes and sneezing.

Evict energy hogs from your home

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 20:33:09 -0400

When it comes to looking for power drains around the house, the best thing to do is to consider age. Old appliances, especially the large ones, don't run nearly as efficiently as newer ones.

Put the Earth to work for you: Geothermal systems

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:22:55 -0400

Geothermal heating and cooling systems are a modern application of an ancient principle. Anthropologists speculate that one of the reasons that our prehistoric ancestors lived in caves was simply that ground-based dwellings were far more temperate than above ground homes.

Choose the right home efficiency contractor

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:23:39 -0500

The home efficiency and green living industry is still relatively new.

Home remodeling in 2012? Put efficiency on your checklist

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:15:22 -0500

While a more spacious master bedroom or new granite counters in the kitchen are often the goal, one of the biggest benefits which homeowners find after renovations is improved energy efficiency, especially in older homes.

Insulation options range from good, better, best

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:09:56 -0500

While winter is the most common time for homeowners to show an interest in improving the home's insulation, it's important to remember that better insulation has year-round benefits.

Start simple to put efficiency first

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:38:56 -0500

The expansion of the home performance and energy efficiency industry in the past decade has resulted in a wider awareness of energy issues, and many new products for homeowners, ranging from simple DIY kits at the local hardware store to complex solar panel or wind power installations on private properties. With so many ways to "live green" on the market, where do homeowners start?

Top 4 comfort issues in your home that can be fixed

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 08:39:45 -0400

Fortunately, the area of energy efficient retrofits has expanded rapidly in the past decade and there are many problems which you might be living with in your home which CAN be resolved, often quickly, easily, and with a minimal cost.

Start fall with HVAC checkup

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:33:01 -0400

A visual inspection, cleaning and minor repair tune up for your HVAC system typically costs less than $90, just twice a year in fall and spring, but gives enormous value to your family's comfort and peace of mind.

Huge energy efficiency tax incentives set to expire

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:12:38 -0400

Time is running out for homeowners to benefit from $1500 tax credits for new HVAC and insulation.

High cooling bills? New HVAC isn't always the answer

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:49:01 -0400

As somebody who makes part of his living from installing new HVAC systems, folks look at me strange when I tell them that new HVAC isn’t always the best way to cut their bills or improve comfort in their home. Often there are simpler, cheaper solutions.

Being green is really about common sense

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:38:31 -0400

It's never made sense to me that people talk about either going green or growing our economy. Since when has waste, inefficiency or using up our resources made economic sense?

Older homes can have low energy bills too

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:17:07 -0400

From my experience of working with older and historic homes, the poor energy performance of older buildings can actually be a real opportunity.

Mapping a path to lower bills

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:52:54 -0400

Energy efficiency isn't always intuitive. Green building expert Bobby Ferrel unpacks the mysteries.

Tax credits and utility incentives

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:49:02 -0400

With State and Federal tax incentives, and generous utility rebates, you could get as much as 65 percent of a project paid for — slashing payback times by more than half. But it's a confusing world out there — here's the lowdown on what's available.

Why get an energy audit?

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:28:33 -0400

TV, radio, and “weekly shopper” ads for replacement windows and doors, HVAC systems, and insulation are on the rise since the announcement of the recent energy efficient tax credits. All these things may be great ideas for your home too, but how do you know? If you call a window company, they’ll probably try to convince you that you NEED new windows. If you call an HVAC company, they’ll probably try to convince you that you need a new HVAC system. If you call an insulation company…..guess what? So how do we know what our home can best benefit from? What will give us the best return on our investment? Get an energy audit!

Thinking geothermal?

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:54:19 -0400

Getting Started

Are spring tune-ups worth the money?

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:50:24 -0400

The warm spring weather is here. You may be heading out doors to enjoy the welcome change of season before the hot summer arrives. After enjoying the out doors you come in and hit the air conditioning and all is well. Or is it?