I realized over the weekend that I missed National Bike to Work Day on Friday (and Bike to Work Week all last week), so I didn’t get a chance to remind all of you blog readers to bike to work if you can! Even if you missed the national event, do some searching to see […]
Energy-Efficient Rebuilding After Tragedy: Inspiration from Greensburg, Kansas
We discuss the weather a lot here on the Energy Savers Blog. It comes with the territory; seasonal temperature changes influence how we use energy in our homes. We also know that extreme weather can have big consequences; from health to finances to simple comfort, the weather has a huge effect on our daily lives. […]
How Do You Ensure Your Ducts Aren’t Leaky?
On Monday, John discussed leaky ducks…err…ducts, and how and why you should make sure they are well-sealed. How do you ensure your ducts aren’t leaky? Each Thursday, you have the chance to share your thoughts on a question about energy efficiency or renewable energy for consumers. Please comment with your answers, and also feel free […]
Say Hello to Stricter TV Standards
Two years ago, I described the ENERGY STAR designation for television sets. Last month I explained how the Federal Trade Commission is requiring manufacturers to place yellow EnergyGuide labels on all television sets beginning later this year. This year—2011—is going to be another banner year for consumers shopping for a new television set. Standards are being […]
Happy (But Cold) New Year(5)
It’s gotten chilly in Washington, D.C., but that’s probably old news to most of the country. I was thinking about it this morning, though, when there was a definite draft whistling from my bedroom windows. My family lives in a condo, so we have limited options for replacing the windows (that’s more of a whole-building […]
HVAC vs. Space Heaters: Which is More Efficient?
I live in Colorado, and when it’s cold it is very, very cold. Since I hate paying high heating bills, I typically have my thermostat set to a chilly 62°F. My husband and I have gotten used to this, and really like being able to use a warm comforter while the air stays cooler. There […]
This Month on Energy Savers: December 2010
We’ve been busy all through the holiday season on EnergySavers.gov and the Energy Savers Blog. Here are some highlights. What’s New or Noteworthy on Energy Savers 2010 marks the end of some tax credits for energy efficiency, while others are going strong through 2016. In addition, we’re keeping a close eye on additional tax credits […]
What Improvements Have You Made for an Energy Efficiency Tax Credit?
On Tuesday when Andrea highlighted the November happenings on Energy Savers, she mentioned that the federal energy efficiency tax credits are set to expire at the end of this year. This is really important to remember if you are planning to make energy-saving improvements, because they need to be “placed in service” by December 31, […]
How to Save Energy in Your Kitchen over the Holidays
For many of us, celebrating the holidays means food – hot, delicious, home-cooked food. And that means using those kitchen appliances! We’ve posted some energy-saving ideas in the past including winter and summer. Here are some quick tips to help you save energy in your kitchen this holiday season: Limit pre-heating times: Use an oven […]
How Do You Save Energy in the Kitchen?
On Monday, Amy pointed you to a video Q&A session in which Energy Secretary Steven Chu answered some reader-submitted questions. One of the questions that Secretary Chu answered was about dishwashing. He confirmed that using a dishwasher does, in fact, save energy and water over washing dishes by hand. If you have a dishwasher, this […]