residential

Water Conservation is Energy Conservation

Water Conservation is Energy Conservation


Conserving our limited water supplies is always a good idea, but did you know there is also a direct connection between water and energy use? Delivering water and wastewater services is an energy-intensive effort, as the water is treated, pumped to our homes and businesses, then pumped to wastewater facilities to be treated again. read more...

What You Need to Know if it’s Time to Replace Your Heat Pump

What You Need to Know if it’s Time to Replace Your Heat Pump


Replacing an old heat pump with a new Energy Star model can lower electric bills and increase household energy efficiency, but before you call the HVAC installer, prepare yourself with this important information. How do heat pumps work anyway? Most heat pumps include an outside unit and an inside unit, also known as the read more...

Are You Solar Ready?

Are You Solar Ready?


Going solar is a big decision, one that has big potential to greatly reduce your utility costs and your greenhouse gas emissions. Maybe you’re just starting to explore a solar photovoltaic system for your home, or maybe you feel ready to take the plunge. Here are some factors to consider to get solar ready. read more...

Simple Energy Efficiency for Renters

Simple Energy Efficiency for Renters


Being a renter doesn’t mean giving up on energy efficiency. If you rent, you may pay your energy bills directly or they may be factored into the monthly rent. Either way, implementing these simple ideas will save energy and make your home more comfortable. If you pay the electricity bill, you’ll see some cost read more...

Stack Effect: The Driving Force Behind Heat Loss in Homes and What to Do About It

Stack Effect: The Driving Force Behind Heat Loss in Homes and What to Do About It


In buildings, stack effect is the phenomenon whereby warm air rises in a house and cold air enters to replace it. It is sometimes referred to as the chimney effect because it is also the driving force behind a fireplace draft up a chimney. In most houses, it is the single largest source of read more...

Improving Efficiency of Your Wood Burning Fireplace

Improving Efficiency of Your Wood Burning Fireplace


As cozy as they are, fireplaces typically remove more heat from a house than they contribute, sending up to eight percent of heat pump or furnace-warmed air up and out the chimney. But you don’t have to abandon your wood-burning ambiance–try these solutions that can improve the efficiency of your fireplace. Check Damper First, read more...

Weatherizing Your Old Single Pane Windows

Weatherizing Your Old Single Pane Windows


Many homeowners in older homes experience energy loss with old single pane windows, and outright window replacement can be costly and out of reach for some homeowners. Fortunately, there are many ways to improve the performance of existing windows at a far lower cost than replacement. Weatherizing windows focuses on stopping cold drafts and read more...

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...