Solar-powered Lights Add Sparkle to the Night

Now that the days are filled earlier with darkness, it’s the perfect time to brighten up your outdoor spaces.  Solar-powered lights are ideal since they add nothing to your electric bill, and they come in such a wide assortment, there’s a light for practically every situation! An arbor or trellis Streetlamp style lights for your […]

Looking to Plants for Energy Solutions

If you haven’t seen the PBS Nova series, “Making Stuff: …Smarter, Safer, Stronger,…,” then you’re missing out on seeing incredible science making our world a better place.  In the “Making Stuff:  Cleaner” episode, David Pogue provides us with an entertaining look into some of the latest technological advances in creating and storing energy to power […]

The Right Landscaping Can Lower Your Energy Bills!

While most houses are not passive solar homes (designed and oriented so as to capture the sun’s warmth in winter and keep the house cool and comfortable in summer), there are some easy things we can do with our landscaping to compensate for this that will lower our utility bills. The upcoming fall season is […]

Water Heaters Should Be The Next Green Initiative

Editor’s note: The following is a guest post by Diane Kuehl.  Diane is a home improvement professional and co-owner of DIY Mother. She lives on her farm in Springfield, Illinois with her husband and two kids. Whether we like it or not, we are all part of the green craze to a certain extent. Our […]

Efficiency Tips for Central Air Conditioning

To reduce your utility bills, save money, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and make your A/C long-lasting, energy efficiency is key. To keep your central air working optimally, follow these easy tips: FOR EXISTING A/C UNITS: Change the filters when dirty! Check it every 1-3 months and replace with a good quality filter.  The filter’s “MERV” […]

Alec Baldwin Requests Wind Turbine

The environmentally-conscious actor and resident of the Hamptons, NY, has recently applied for a wind turbine for his 8+ acre home site. Although a couple of farms and the fire station operate wind turbines in Amagansett, he would be the first homeowner to have one. A public hearing will determine whether or not Mr. Baldwin’s […]

Light up the Night with Solar Lighting

Ahhh, the power of the sun… Nothing beats setting a path a glow without using electricity, which means easy installation and no wires to deal! Today’s solar lights typically use LEDs, or light emitting diodes, which are very long lasting, durable and safe (no mercury and they don’t heat up much).  A small photovoltaic panel […]

Inexpensive Way to Heat Your Pool!

Aaahhh, the power of the sun! An industrious homeowner recently posted his work on a do-it-yourself project to heat his pool.  Basically, he mounted a regular garden hose to a 4×8′ sheet of plywood, painted it all matte black and wrapped it in bubblewrap.  It sits in the sun and heats up while a cheap […]

Improve the Efficiency of Radiators

If you’re lucky enough to have hot water radiators, the most comfortable and least allergen-producing heating system, you may be wondering how to increase their efficiency this winter.  Here are some tips to help save money on your heating bills:

Warm up Your Home with these Green Winter Tips, Part I

Want to create a cozy retreat for those cold, wintry days and nights?  There are many things you can do to make your home feel warmer, improve its efficiency and lower energy bills.  In this post I’ll focus on ideas for drafty windows and doors.

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