Explore 1,000+ articles designed to guide you through every stage of your home improvement project.
HVAC
Want to take control of your HVAC system’s performance and energy use? A smart thermostat is a good start — but it doesn’t tell you everything. It can adjust temperatures and track usage, but it won’t alert you when a component is close to failing or when your system is losing efficiency. That’s where smart…
Solar
If you’ve looked into installing solar, you may have realized that your installation won’t be easy on your roof. The majority of solar mounts are attached directly to a home’s rafters, which means cutting into the roof. While installers generally take care to seal and flash holes to prevent leaks and water damage, those incisions…
Other Home Projects
How to Increase the Energy Efficiency of a Fireplace
How to Increase the Energy Efficiency of Your Fireplace Fireplaces generate a lot of heat — when you’re standing right in front of them. Unfortunately, when the fire is out, they can suck warm air from the room and send it up the chimney, which wastes energy and leaves the room feeling cold. But with…
Windows
Everything You Need to Know About Smart Windows
By now, you’re probably aware that your windows can play a pretty big part in your home’s energy use. Windows stand as a last defense against winds and heating and cooling loss—but the glass can also keep out unwanted solar heat as well. That means you need to pay attention to the energy measurements listed…
Other Home Projects
Energy-Efficient Outdoor Holiday Lights
Aren’t holiday lights the best? The way they can transform your home into a festive winter wonderland—nothing beats it when you’re looking for seasonal cheer. Still, it can be quite a challenge to hang them; plus, they use a lot of energy, and they’re expensive to keep lit. Here are some tips for outdoor holiday…
Other Home Projects
How to Use Leaves to Start a Home Composting System
If you’re still raking all your leaves to the curb or packing them into plastic bags, you’re missing an opportunity to create gold. Of course, in this case we mean the kind made from compost—decomposed organic material that can make the soil in your garden or landscape so rich and crumbly that almost anything can grow…
Solar
What Are the Best Solar Panels for Colder Climates?
Live in a climate with cold winters? Then you might think that solar is out of your reach—after all, it works best in the sun right? Well, not necessarily. Research shows that solar panels actually harvest energy more efficiently in chillier weather. Furthermore, when there’s snow on the ground, your solar output may even improve.…
Solar
Issues that May Arise with a Solar Hot Water Heater and How to Address Them
Once you saw the savings from your solar hot water heater, you started singing its praises from the rooftop. But like any appliance, your system needs a little regular TLC to perform its very best — and to avoid problems down the line. Issues with solar hot water heaters can have some grave consequences indeed…