Explore 1,000+ articles designed to guide you through every stage of your home improvement project.
Windows
Reducing the amount of air leakage in your home is a cost-effective way to decrease heating and cooling costs, improve durability, increase comfort, and create a healthier indoor environment. To prevent air leakage, homeowners can explore window caulking. Use caulk to seal, or reseal, windows from the outside elements. Caulk is an affordable, flexible substance…
HVAC
How to Save on Your Electric Bill
When the temperature rises, utility bills tend to do the same. Fortunately, there are plenty of simple changes you can make that will reduce your monthly bills without sacrificing comfort. Here are our top energy-efficient tips for how to save on your electric bill and other utility bills this summer. 1. Use a Programmable Thermostat…
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…
Windows
Exterior Treatments to Shade Windows from the Sun
One way to use less energy and lower your utility bills is by minimizing the amount of hot sunlight that enters your home through your windows. Here are seven exterior window shades and other window treatment ideas to shade windows from the sun. 1. Awnings Awnings are probably the most common exterior window treatment to…
Windows
How to Reduce Heat Transfer From Windows
If you only worry about your windows during cold winter months, you’re wasting a lot of energy. That’s because windows can allow so much hot air to seep into your living space during the summer—and lose conditioned cool air as well — which makes your home uncomfortable and hikes your AC bill — yikes! But…
Plumbing
Tips to Save Energy at Home: Water Heating
1. Install Low-Flow Faucets and Showerheads Low-flow faucets and showerheads reduce water use while maintaining strong water pressure, so comfort stays the same. Look for fixtures with the WaterSense label, which certifies efficiency without performance loss. Also check the gallons per minute (gpm) rating — lower numbers mean less hot water used and less energy…
Other Home Projects
Tips for Saving Energy in Your Home: Heating
Heating expenses can get out of hand in the winter months, especially if your home has hidden leaks or large spaces to keep warm. While you can’t avoid the dreaded utility bills, you can lessen the load on your HVAC system and your wallet by making small or moderate improvements—whatever you can manage helps. Here…
Insulation
How to Insulate Your Attic: A Complete Guide
Attic Insulation: A Key to Lower Energy Bills Keeping your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer starts with proper attic insulation. Without it, your HVAC system works overtime, driving up energy bills as heat escapes during winter or infiltrates during summer. The good news? Adding or upgrading attic insulation is a…