Explore 1,000+ articles designed to guide you through every stage of your home improvement project.
Roofing
What Is a Cool Roof Coating and Is it Right for My Home?
Everyone has that one room in their home that’s always too warm in the middle of the afternoon. Maybe it has a lot of windows, or perhaps it’s located in the path of the sun, but it never seems to get cool in there. The same idea applies to your roof. If you have dark…
HVAC
You’ve heard of smart thermostats. So why not a smart air vent, too? While that might seem like overkill (after all, who really ever touches their air vents?), smart vent manufacturers argue that manipulating vents offers a convenient way to lower energy consumption and keep your home more comfortable. The idea here is that homeowners…
Other Home Projects
Want to know where you can save energy in your home but don’t want to hire an energy auditing company? You can save money and a simple home energy audit yourself. Start by pinpointing these five most common ways homes lose energy. Locate air leaks Where in your home is cold air seeping in or warm…
Other Home Projects
Did you know that solar panel uses go beyond traditional installations on home rooftops? From solar ovens to solar swimming pool heaters, there is a solar energy solution for all of your energy needs. Solar panels can be made as small as those found on calculators or as large as the roof on your home,…
Windows
Energy-Efficient Skylights: What to Know
Choosing the Right Skylight for Energy Efficiency Skylights are among the hardest-working windows in your home, offering natural light, improved ventilation, and an added sense of space. When selected carefully, they can reduce reliance on artificial lighting and help manage heat, ultimately lowering energy costs. However, not all skylights are created equal, especially in terms…
Other Home Projects
What Is the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency and How Do I Use It?
Rebates, incentives, and loan programs, oh my! When it comes to solar energy and other home efficiency updates, there’s a dazzling variety of ways to save. Your choices range all the way from federal tax incentives right down to rebate programs from your local energy provider. In fact, you could have hundreds of different programs…
Solar
There are dozens of reasons why installing residential solar panels is a great idea. Perhaps the most popular is it will save you money on your electricity bill. In fact, the allure of solar panels for most homeowners is that over their lifespan, they will pay for themselves. To do that, most homeowners will need…
Solar
Understanding the Quality of Different Solar Panels
Every day it seems like solar companies are releasing the most efficient solar panels to date. With so many companies making that claim, it’s difficult to wade through the noise. One useful resource to help you choose is the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), who created standards for manufacturing solar panels under the ISO 9000…