American builders have long insulated homes by stuffing the walls with fiberglass or foam. In recent years, building science experts have debated the merits of turning the home inside out by placing a barrier of insulation on the exterior instead. It’s an unconventional approach, but one that has proven highly beneficial in Europe, where the […]

Perfectly suited to celebrate a mid-decade year that’s poised for revitalization, Coral Reef is Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year 2015. The uplifting, vivacious hue with floral notes is the perfect mélange of pink, orange and red that can be used to liven up any space. Pulled from the Sherwin-Williams Buoyant palette, Coral Reef (SW 6606) […]

One of the most common residential plumbing system problems is the wait for hot water. Each year, the average home wastes thousands of gallons of water down the drain, waiting for hot water to reach the kitchen or bathroom faucets. Running water also wastes lots of energy used to heat and transport that water. Striving […]

An on-demand pumping system makes sense if the wait for hot water is long, and the waste of ambient temperature water is significant in highly used areas such as the kitchen, bathroom or laundry area. If there are two or more hot water locations on the same trunk line that are a good distance from […]

General Electric has launched GeoSpring, the first hybrid electric water heater manufactured in the U.S., which will save the average consumer $325 annually, the company reports. The product is part of GE’s new emphasis on energy efficiency. GE also is emphasizing energy efficiency in its stepped-up ad campaign this year, spending $65 million on ads […]

While everyone knows that a heating and cooling system is one of the biggest energy users in the home, the reason why that’s so may surprise you. As the push for more energy efficient air conditioners, heat pumps and furnaces aims to reduce the 30 percent of household electrical use, that effort could be a […]

It’s clear that homeowners’ desire for energy efficient, high performance homes is growing. A big part of that is choosing the best heating and cooling system for the home. Heating and cooling costs the average homeowner about $1,000 a year – nearly half the home’s total energy bill. That’s why more homeowners are opting for […]

A trend is a new direction, not a quickly fading fad. According to the world’s leading platform for home remodeling and design, Houzz.com, nearly half of us remodel to prevent potential health problems, so this trend is more anesthetic than aesthetic. Whether it’s non-offgassing finishes, no-formaldehyde cabinets, or better air filtration systems, homeowners realize a […]

Two senators, whose energy efficiency legislation failed earlier this year, have reintroduced a watered down version of the same request. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) introduced the bill on Wednesday, December 3, in hopes that some piece of their bipartisan, widely supported legislation would be passed during the remaining days of the lame-duck session of […]

The trend among home builders is to offer solar power options as standard features in many of their Western and Southern new neighborhoods, according to Kris Hudson, Wall Street Journal staffer. Although few companies have gone as far as Lennar, the nation’s second largest home builder, making solar available for new home buyers is becoming a standard option. Consumers […]