When you’re remodeling your home, not only are you updating its look and style and infusing your own taste into it, but you also have an opportunity to make your home more energy efficient. That means lower energy bills, and lessening your impact on the environment. But not everyone is an energy-efficiency expert! Luckily, the… Read more »
R-Value: Understanding the Rating System for Insulation
Does your home have sufficient insulation inside of it to keep things cool in the summer and warm in the winter? The R-value of your insulation, which is the rating system that is used when it comes to insulation, will determine whether or not it keeps your home comfortable at all times. By gaining a… Read more »
Tesla, Solar City to Merge: What’s It Mean for Green?
Shareholders recently approved a deal for a new merging of technology giants Tesla and SolarCity, and the benefits of this union could very well change the energy-efficiency world as we know it in the best way possible. We’re talking about the potential for incredible technology advancements, new cost-saving services and much more. Let’s check out… Read more »
Renewables and Politics: President Trump and Green Energy
When Donald Trump was on the campaign trail in the months and weeks leading up to the 2016 presidential election, he was very clear about his energy plan. He told the American people that he wants to deregulate the energy industry and create new jobs in the energy sector. He also said that his goal… Read more »
New Pipe Insulation Requirements Take Effect in January
The 2016 Building Energy Efficiency Standards are scheduled to become effective on Jan. 1, 2017. One area of the 2016 standards that has received a lot of attention is the new hot water pipe insulation requirements. These new standards apply to new homes constructed after Jan. 1, as well as to any homes that are… Read more »
Understanding the Solar Investment Tax Credit
Are you interested in transitioning to solar power but you still aren’t convinced that the benefits outweigh the costs? The Solar Investment Tax Credit may just change your mind. Not only can it provide a savings on installing solar energy, but it can help you realize how making an environmentally conscious choice can be the… Read more »
Keeping Energy Efficient with Plumbing Along Exterior Walls
Making sure a home is energy efficient is not just good for the environment, but it is also good for the budget. Wasted energy – whether electricity, water, gas or oil – has an environmental and financial impact. Many new homes have plumbing along interior walls because it is more efficient, but keeping energy efficient… Read more »
Five Things to Know About Solar Ready Requirements
Solar is becoming an increasingly common and affordable alternative for generating electricity. Estimates are that more 1 million homes in the U.S. now have solar panels installed. California is a leading proponent of home solar panels, and has implemented solar ready requirements for new homes. Here are five things the California Energy Commission’s Efficiency Division… Read more »
REGREEN in Four Simple Steps
It is more important now than ever to think about the effect that our homes have on the environment. Going green is the perfect way to do your part to make your home more energy efficient, and that goes for older properties as much as it does for brand-new homes. The REGREEN program is a… Read more »
Using Renewables to Boost Water Supplies?
California is now amid its fifth year of serious drought, and state and private agencies alike have been trying everything from water usage restrictions to exploring alternative sources of water as part of efforts to balance demand with availability. The problem with converting alternative water sources like recycled wastewater, brackish groundwater and seawater into potable… Read more »