Explore 1,000+ articles designed to guide you through every stage of your home improvement project.
Solar
Do Solar Contractors Cover Damages to a Roof During Installation?
One thing’s for sure, a lot of people are catching solar fever. Experts predict that residential installations will multiply exponentially from 16.0 GW in 2016 to 121.2 GW in 2025. That’s great news for the environment, but potentially bad news for your roof—especially if your solar installer is something of a PV newbie. An inexperienced…
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…
Solar
The Pros and Cons of Buying Out a PPA for Solar
Price of solar energy systems got you down? A power purchase agreement—otherwise known as a PPA—offers a powerful alternative to afford solar equipment. In these arrangements, homeowners allow a third party company to install a solar energy system on their property. The cost of installation and the maintenance falls to this company, rather than the…
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
What Should I Turn the Thermostat to During the Day?
What’s the ideal temperature to set your thermostat to during the day? Like many homeowners, you might often wonder about just how high or low you need to set your furnace or AC to run when you’re away from home. You probably already know that it wastes money to heat or cool your homes when…
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…