2015

News: Rooftop solar brings higher home appraisals

News: Rooftop solar brings higher home appraisals


Homes with rooftop solar are appraised at a higher value, according to new research from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. For the past few years, Berkeley Lab has been collecting data on the value of homes with solar photovoltaics compared to those without PV. Early studies relied on modeling and found that buyers were willing read more...

News: Are smart thermostats the new CFLs?

News: Are smart thermostats the new CFLs?


The U.S. energy efficiency industry has been bemoaning the lack of low-hanging fruit – inexpensive and easy energy savings – now that efficient lightbulbs are fairly ubiquitous. Could smart thermostats be the new replacement? Events in Chicago last week suggest so. The smart thermostat is starting to show scale. In what project sponsors say read more...

News: Six ways an energy audit can skyrocket a home’s listing price

News: Six ways an energy audit can skyrocket a home’s listing price


If you’ve ever been in the market to buy or sell a house, you’re probably familiar with a few key questions when it comes to utilities. Septic or sewer? Oil or gas? And how much will it cost to heat and cool this place? The answer to those questions can affect the final offer, read more...

News: New Devices for Indoor Air Quality May Provide a Catalyst for Residential Efficiency

News: New Devices for Indoor Air Quality May Provide a Catalyst for Residential Efficiency


Until recently, homeowners had no way to measure their indoor air quality (IAQ) or understand the possible health effects from it. If they can’t identify and measure the problem, there’s no way to manage it. That is changing with the release of products like Awair, Birdi, Netatmo, CubeSensors, Withings’ Home and Alima that monitor air read more...