Explore 1,000+ articles designed to guide you through every stage of your home improvement project.
Solar
Where to Install Solar — Instead of on the Roof
From the environmental impact to the low utility bills, you may love everything about solar. But many homeowners find they you quite fall in love with the way panels look. Luckily, you don’t have to choose between a bulky rooftop solar installation or nothing at all. Homeowners have several options to make use of the…
Solar
Microgrids Could Make Solar a Lot More Neighborly
What if you could set up your solar energy system and bypass your utilities altogether? With more powerful lithium ion batteries coming out on the market, some homeowners are beginning to see the electric company as an unnecessary middleman. That’s exactly what happened in Brooklyn this year. Residents there set up their own microgrid —…
Other Home Projects
Homeowner 101: How to Grout and Tile a Backsplash
Adding a backsplash in your kitchen is one of the best ways to personalize your space. It’s also one of the easiest ways to give your kitchen a refreshing update without doing a major remodel. Installing a tile backsplash will take some planning and precision on your part, but the results are well worth it.…
HVAC
What Are Passive House Standards?
What if you never had to turn on the heat or AC in your home? How much would you save on heating and cooling costs throughout the year? Probably quite a bit. The Department of Energy estimates that heat and air conditioning use make up almost half of the average household’s energy bills. That means…
Other Home Projects
Pet-Proof Your Home Renovation
You’ve finally scheduled the contractors, the workers are coming at 8 a.m., the blueprints are spread out, and you’re ready for a complete overhaul! As you survey the room, you notice a furry face staring back at you. What will you do about your pet during your home renovation? During construction, if there’s too much…
Other Home Projects
What Is the HERS Index and Why Does It Matter for My Home?
Want to reduce your home’s energy use? Well, then you’re probably going to want to make some improvements around your home. But which ones? And what should you focus on first? That’s where an energy evaluation can help. The first step in many residential energy overhauls is to have an energy audit performed. Professionally trained…
Other Home Projects
Does No-VOC Exterior Paint Matter?
Did you know that most home improvement paint includes VOCs—volatile organic compounds? Think about the strong fumes you smell in a newly painted room, which are often so harsh you have to air out the room for a few days while avoiding it entirely. Those are VOCs—chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene—and they leach into your…
Solar
Building-Integrated PV Looks and Feels Like the Future of Solar
Not to knock against solar panels, but they’re not always the most beautiful pieces of equipment. When you’ve spent time perfectly pairing your roof tiles to match your home’s siding, shutters, and trim, you risk altering the whole aesthetic when you slap panels on top. In fact, some homeowners groups and organizations even forbid residents…