energy efficiency
As the world becomes more concerned about reducing carbon emissions, burning fossil fuels, and reducing fuel consumption, the efficiency of the residential energy system becomes critical.
For the home owner energy efficiency can be increased by replacing aging appliances with energy star rated appliances, adding thresholds to doorways and sealing other areas of the home that may allow air flow in from the outside.
Replacement windows with double or triple pane glass, ultra violet filtration and working seals will add significantly to the war on energy efficiency. Using blinds or motorized shades on your windows can keep your home energy efficient.
Blogs on energy efficiency may include information on government rebates for increasing home energy efficiency and ways to improve the overall use of fuel consumed. Many cover step by step home construction projects for helping homeowners to save money and the environment.
Latest blogosphere posts tagged “energy efficiency”
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Secrets of the data bunker
The Guardian - guardian.co.uk —
Authority: 982
A former mine in Wiltshire once equipped as a cold war government retreat has become one of the worlds greenest server farms In a world where increasing amounts of our data are held somewhere in vast server farms, the opening of a new data centre in Wiltshire may seem like no big thing. Enormous sheds filled with ...2 hours ago -
By the Numbers: Energy Star homes reach major milestone
Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog —
Authority: 501
1 million Number of Energy Star-qualified homes built nationwide since the program debuted in 1995. These homes have saved Americans $1.2 billion in energy costs, reduced greenhouse-gas emissions by 22 billion pounds, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency . The top 10 markets for Energy Star ...4 hours ago -
SolarEdge Opens New European Office
Energy Business Daily —
Authority: 427
Solar energy harvesting supplier SolarEdge recently announced that it was launching a new European office to be situated in Dresden, Germany. SolarEdge is a supplier of various photovoltaic-based power harvesting and monitoring solutions for attaining maximum energy at a lower cost per watt. The company works with ...9 hours ago -
Teignbridge raises recycling rate for the fifth year running
People's Republic of South Devon The Peoples Republic of South Devon —
Authority: 140
Recycling news from Teignbridge Council is that the district has increased the amount of waste it recycles for the fifth year running, with a new rate of 57 per cent placing it sixth in the national top-ten recyclers, while collection costs were the lowest in Devon. The new rate for the year 2008/09 was ...11 hours ago -
First Large-scale ‘Living Building’ to be Constructed
Environmental Leader —
Authority: 620
The Oregon Sustainability Center, which is being called the first large-scale “living building,” is projected to have a zero carbon footprint.The 12-story building, to be built in Portland, will generate its own energy on-site using solar photovoltaics and goethermal energy. The building is adjacent to Portland ...12 hours ago -
Greenbuild Conference News Roundup: Day 1
Environmental Leader —
Authority: 620
With the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo now underway in Phoenix, Ariz., here are some of the initial announcements.YKK AP America has launched (PDF) two new products aimed at improving the energy-efficiency of commercial buildings. The company has expanded its enerGfacade product line with the addition ...13 hours ago -
Green home makeover will cost up to £15,000, says climate watchdog chief
The Guardian - guardian.co.uk —
Authority: 982
The head of Britains climate change watchdog predicted today that households will need to spend up to £15,000 on a full energy efficiency makeover if the government is to meet its ambitious targets for cutting carbon emissions. Warning that Britain needs to step up its efforts to reduce greenhouse gases after ...23 hours ago -
Latin America must cut emissions too | Henry Mance
The Guardian - guardian.co.uk —
Authority: 982
Middle-income countries are threatening the climate change deal they need by opposing mandatory cuts on principle When it comes to climate change negotiations , rich countries receive the brunt of the criticism. Some heat has been applied to the emerging heavyweights – China, India and Brazil – too. In contrast, ...1 day ago -
The "best" technology does not always win
Cleantech Group - Latest clean technology news —
Authority: 579
Cleantech Groups Greg Neichin reflects on the hurdles of bringing breakthrough technology to market versus those with the right mix of ease of implementation and return.1 day ago -
Garmin Eco-Route Add-on Turns Your GPS Into a Green-Driving Teacher
TreeHugger —
Authority: 721
Image: Garmin Knowledge is Power Most of us probably dont realize that over the past few years our cars have turned into computers on wheels. There are tons of sensors everywhere, but most of that information isnt available to the driver. Thats a shame, because if it was parsed through a user-intuitive interface, it ...1 day ago -
Road Trains: Autopilot Driving System Cuts Fuel Consumption, Travel Time
TreeHugger —
Authority: 721
Image via Earth2Tech Its one of those ideas that crosses your mind while youre stuck in never-ending stop and go traffic on some ugly stretch of the highway: what if there were some sort of a sensor that could put all of those cars into lockstep? Some sort of automated driving system that would keep that SOB from ...1 day ago -
electrical code questions
DIY Network - Home Improvement How-To & Projects : DIY Network —
Authority: 158
Hello,I have the following electrical code questions. My areauses the 1999 NEC.1) does the primary light fixture in the kitchen have tobe energy efficient? if it does, what IS an energy efficientfixture?2) do all closets have to have lights? can these lightsbe a pull chain light or do they have to have a switch?(I ...1 day ago -
1,000,000 Energy Star Home Owners Cant Be Wrong
TreeHugger —
Authority: 721
Image via Norcal Blogs The Energy Star program hit a milestone today--the one millionth efficient home that earned the blue label wrapped building. Thats right--the number of pointedly energy efficient homes in the US has hit the seven digit range. And though this comes on the heels of some unfortunate news about ...1 day ago -
‘Tio’ Light Switch System Teaches Kids to Conserve Household Energy
Inhabitots —
Authority: 540
Kids will be the world’s key decision-makers in the next 30 years, which is why it is crucial that we empower them now with the education and the tools to help reduce energy consumption. Designer Tim Holley’s Tio ghost is a wall-mounted light switch system which enables children to demonstrate their ...1 day ago -
Save money by replacing incandescent holiday lights with LED versions
Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog —
Authority: 501
If your holiday lights have seen better days , you might want to replace incandescent versions with more-efficient and more-durable LED lights . Our tests of mini, C7, and C9 holiday lights showed that while incandescent versions did burn more brightly than LEDs, the LEDs were much more durable, ran cooler and ...1 day ago -
Philly’s Comcast Center Now Tallest U.S. LEED Building
Environmental Leader —
Authority: 620
At 58 stories, the Comcast Center in downtown Philadelphia has earned the title of tallest LEED certified building in the United States.The building recently earned LEED Gold status for its core and shell, reports Inhabitat.The building, which stands 975 feet tall, takes advantage of high performance glass and ...1 day ago -
Five Fabric Skins Help Buildings Beautifully Harvest the Weather
TreeHugger —
Authority: 721
1. Harvesting water. Part of the prototype cloth is designed like a lotus leaf with microscopic spikes and depressions to make water bead, though letters absorb water so they appear. Photo via Filiz Klassen . Architecture, says designer Filiz Klassen , is infatuated with "super materials" and gimmicks. Instead of ...1 day ago -
Greenbuild Conference Boasts Construction Innovations
Environmental Leader —
Authority: 620
Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, to be held this week in Phoenix, will be a springboard for businesses to discuss their sustainable activities, reports Phoenix Business Journal.Projected to draw 20,000 people and generate about $29 million for the local economy, the conference features new sustainable ...1 day ago -
Kyocera Exits OLED Field, Casio Dives In
Environmental Leader —
Authority: 620
As Kyocera appears to be giving up on Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology, Casio is getting into the game.OLED technology promises to unleash a wave of improved energy efficiency in the displays market, making televisions, mobile phones and other gizmos brighter, thinner and more innovative in their ...1 day ago -
National Grid Wants to Triple Energy Efficiency Programs
Environmental Leader —
Authority: 620
If National Grid has its way, Massachusetts electricity customers will pay higher electricity and gas rates while benefiting from expanded energy efficiency programs that help them use less energy overall.National Grid submitted a proposal to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities to expand its energy ...1 day ago