Home Energy - Houseopedia, LLC

Don’t Miss Out on Energy Tax Credits

You’ve considered upgrading energy systems in your home but wonder whether the monthly energy savings will justify the high up-front...

Don’t Be Misled by Greenwashing

Consumers increasingly expect companies to follow environmentally responsible practices in manufacturing and packaging. Most companies strive to attain such standards...

What You Need to Know About Smart Light Bulbs

Switching to smart light bulbs is a great way to add smart technology to your home. What can smart bulbs...

Maintaining a Ductless Mini-Split Heating and Air Unit

Ductless mini-split heating and air-conditioning units bring climate-controlled air to spaces where traditional ducted systems aren’t feasible. A do-it-yourselfer can...

Is a Ductless Mini-Split Air System Right For Your Home?

Sometimes you need air conditioning or heat in a home without attic or basement space to run ducts. A ductless...

How to Raise Eco-Friendly Kids

Despite today's convenience-based culture, raising eco-friendly children is easier than you might think. Here are ten tips to help your...

What You Need to Know About Charging An Electric Vehicle

You’ve decided to buy your first fully electric vehicle (EV). But before you bring that technological wonder home, you must...

What You Need to Know About the Safety of Your Gas Stove

Gas stoves, which have long been a favorite of chefs and foodies, have recently come under scrutiny for potential environmental...

Safely Storing Gasoline and Diesel Fuel

Homeowners often keep gasoline or diesel fuel on hand for use in lawn equipment. You must handle these useful but...

DIY: Cleaning Your Air Conditioner Condenser

Specific maintenance steps are required for your air conditioner to operate at peak efficiency. Periodic cleaning of the outside air...

Watch For These Signs of an Electrical Fire

An electrical fire can be stealthy. Old or faulty wiring or an overloaded circuit can spark a fire inside a...

How to Safely Shut Off Your Utilities

You may need to shut off your home’s utilities in the event of a repair, suspected leak or an emergency....

Will a Nearby Wind Farm Blow Away Your Property Value?

Today, huge wind farms are spreading across parts of America. How does having a wind farm next to your property...

How to Safely Dispose of Light Bulbs

All light bulbs eventually burn out. Today’s compact fluorescent and LED bulbs are far more economical in energy usage than...

Choose The Correct Light Bulb Wattage

When a light bulb burns out, you may grab a replacement without considering its wattage. But there’s a risk of...

Help Your Air-Conditioner Keep Its Cool

Record-setting heat has suffocated the western states this summer. When the demand for power from utility companies surges during heat...

Do Shutting Vents Save on Energy Costs?

It seems to make sense. Shutting the heating and air conditioning vents to unused rooms should save on energy costs,...

Avoiding Solar Energy Scams with Powerful Knowledge

Solar energy offers you the chance to save money on your electric bill and be less dependent on “the grid.”...

Cut Energy Costs by Managing Idle load

As you and your family snooze soundly at night, your appliances, electronics and home systems still silently draw energy. This...

How Your Home’s Major Systems Affect Value

A new roof, foundation or HVAC system may not be as exciting as a kitchen or bathroom remodel, but all...

Extreme Temperatures Affect Appliances

It makes sense that temperatures might affect outdoor appliances, but did you know that extreme temperatures can affect appliances inside...

Best Bathroom Lighting Ideas

Since your bathroom is where you prepare to meet the day, good bathroom lighting is essential to looking your best....

Save Money With Improved Insulation

If you live in a home built before 1980, you may be able to slash your energy costs by increasing...

Using and Caring For Your Bathroom Exhaust Fan

The bathroom exhaust fan gets little attention, but it serves an important role in maintaining air quality in your bathroom...

Warm Your Toes With Radiant Floors

Radiant floors are a home heating method that doesn’t use traditional HVAC air ducts. Instead of warm air blowing through...

Pros and Cons of Home Saunas

Relaxing in a sauna at a fitness center may make you wonder about owning one at home. Here are the...

Watch Out for that Utility Line on Your Property!

Wouldn’t it be great to relax on your own deck, or gaze at a gorgeous new tree in your front...

FAQs for First-Time Homeowners

You’re happily settled in your first home but have come to realize how much you don’t know. Let’s answer some...

Choosing The Ideal Firewood To Light Up Your Night

Sitting beside a cozy, crackling fireplace can be one of life’s most satisfying experiences. You may not have given much...

How Energy Efficient Landscaping Can Save You Money

Energy efficient landscaping can play a vital role in both saving energy and slashing the price you pay for it....

Benefits of an Entry Vestibule to the Home

Many commercial buildings and retail stores have an entry vestibule, where visitors enter through an exterior door into a small...

How to Update an Old Brick Fireplace

Modern design has made fireplaces a focal point with tile and minimalist surrounds growing in popularity. So what’s a homeowner...

Cool Coverings: Screening an Outdoor Air-Conditioner Unit

A central air-conditioner unit makes summer tolerable in our homes, but the outside condenser and compressor are ugly ducklings in...

Understanding Different LED Light Colors

LED lights have revolutionized lighting, replacing old incandescent and fluorescent bulbs and saving energy. Understanding the various LED light colors,...

Dealing With Home Temperature Differences

Owners of two-story homes know the dilemma well: The upstairs tends to be hotter and the downstairs cooler. This makes...

Saving Green With a Home Energy Audit

A home energy audit can help you save money while you help save the planet. But how do you find...

Choosing the Right Size Heating and Air-Conditioning Units

Heating and air-conditioning units that are too large or small can raise your energy bill and cause other problems. Here’s...

Should I Switch to LED Light Bulbs?

Cheaper than ever before, LED light bulbs are surging in popularity in American households. Not only do they save money...

Understanding Home Dehumidifiers

If you live in a humid region of the country, you know the discomfort of high humidity. That moist air...

Does Your Home Need a Dehumidifier?

High humidity in a home is uncomfortable and can pose health risks. Would using a dehumidifier in your house make...

Balancing Comfort and Cost at the Thermostat

Summer’s merciless heat and winter’s icy temperatures make it hard to set your thermostat without breaking the bank. Here’s how...

Electricity: Your Home’s Risky Resource

Electrical malfunctions are the top cause of large residential fires, and electrocution deaths are frighteningly high. Electricity powers much of...

Help Your Refrigeration Keep Its Cool

We take our refrigerators and freezers for granted until something goes wrong. No one can avoid long-term power outages during...

A Cooler House without Big Energy Bills

Summertime means fun activities like swimming, cookouts and vacations. It can also mean higher electric bills if you run the...

Benefits of Home Air Purifiers

Home purification systems can improve quality of life for those with asthma and allergies. Let’s look at the benefits of...

Check the Fine Print on Utility Bills

The next time the monthly utility bills arrive, resist the urge to blindly write a check or schedule a payment....

How to Buy a Window Air Conditioner

If you find yourself living in a house or apartment without central air conditioning, it’s time to go shopping for...

Let’s Go Shopping for a Ceiling Fan

If you watch any of the TV design shows, the ceiling fans seem to be ignored in makeovers. By omission,...

Seven Technologies for Green Living

Technology has accelerated the ability to have a super energy-efficient home. Here are seven must-have ways to slash your usage...

5 Advantages to New Portable Power Stations

When the power goes out in your neighborhood -- or you simply want a little modern convenience on a family...

Water Heaters: Choosing the Best System

When choosing a water heater, homeowners need to know what type of heating system will provide the most efficient delivery...

Let’s Talk Caulk As A Money Saver

A high-quality caulking job goes a long way toward keeping the winter cold and summer heat from creeping into your...

Home Maintenance and Updates: It’s Money in Your Pocket

Smart homeowners think of their homes as more than just a place to live. Their houses are also their biggest...

The 411 on Home Heating and Air Conditioning Filters

Homeowners expect their houses to be warm in winter and cool in summer, but don’t take those comfortable temperatures for...

Does Your House Need a Water Filtration System?

Is our water safe to drink? Can it be improved for our consumption? These are questions you may be asking...

What Every Consumer Should Know About Energy Star

We’ve all seen the blue Energy Star logos on appliances, windows and even electronics, but what do they mean? Origins...

Nine Simple Ways to Prep Your Home for Winter

As fall fades from the calendar, it’s time to get your house in shape for winter. From annual furnace inspections...

Save Energy and Money With a Digital Thermostat

A programmable thermostat is a great investment for homeowners -- a multitasking tool that keeps you comfortable and helps you...

Home Heating Systems: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know

Nothing beats a warm evening at home when the winter wind is howling. You might not give your heater a...

New Air Conditioning Technology Delivers Cool Temperatures, Hot Savings

In today’s world, we take air conditioning for granted. We’ve come to expect cool indoor temperatures regardless of how high...

Give Your Heating and Air Conditioning Systems a Little TLC

It seems like it always happens at the worst possible time. For example, the air conditioner breaks in the middle...

New Technology Improves Home Insulation

Keeping your home warm in winter and cool in summer depends on a whole system of comfort engineering. Chief among...

It Pays to Think Green When Building or Remodeling a Home

Homeowners in tune with today’s demands to save energy and water will be rewarded for their conservation efforts with cold...

The Warm and Cozy Facts on Fireplace Choices

There’s little doubt why fireplaces are such a popular feature in homes. They conjure up thoughts of a warm and...

Shedding Light on Pros and Cons of Solar Panels

As a homeowner, you may be interested in learning more about solar power -- the pros and cons. It could...

Six Easy Ways to Lower Your Electric Bill

For most homeowners, the sting of a sky-high electricity bill is more than enough to prompt their interest in energy...

Six Water-Saving Tips for Homeowners

Homeowners with an eye on water conservation will be richly rewarded, saving themselves money on monthly water bills and helping...

Energy-Saving Tips: Your Wallet and the Planet are Winners

Once homeowners have been stung by high energy bills, they’re quickly motivated to save resources and money. Check out these...