Time to replace your roof? Think about making decisions that will help out with energy, last longer, and be lighter on the planet. First and foremost, your roof has to keep the water...

Most of us realize that water is a scarce resource and are looking for ways to use less of it in our homes. We need water to drink, for cooking, cleaning, flushing toilets, and, unless...

It is remarkably easy to waste electricity in our homes. Reducing some of this waste requires replacing inefficient equipment, but much of it can be solved by low or no-cost changes,...

The 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), commonly referred to as "the energy code", requires at least one clock setback thermostat be installed in a new home. Setback...

Rammed earth, an ancient construction technique, uses soil, sand, and sometimes a little Portland cement, compressed into forms to create thick, solid, and often beautiful structural...

Unless there is some big action by conservatives to repeal Bush administration legislation that requires more efficient lighting, many old incandescent bulbs (or lamps) will become...

Plenty of people who run central air conditioning systems in Houston (and other cities where hot weather dominates the calendar) complain about how their air conditioning doesn’t...

Since we’re heading into the summer, and it may well be a hot one this year, it’s a good time to look at home improvements that can help save energy and make your house...

One of the biggest causes of excessive energy use in homes comes from the amount of electrical equipment, lighting, and electronics we have, and how often it is left on when not needed....

When planning my visit to Michigan to see my daughter graduate college, I took the opportunity to invite myself to spend the night at an over 100 year old net zero energy home renovated...