Part 2 of Mold: Enemy of a Healthy Home. Environmental and Housing Factors Affecting Mold Growth In indoor environments, mold originates from two sources: mold infiltrating from outdoors (e.g., through open windows), and mold colonization on the interior of the home. Molds can obtain nutrients and moisture sufficient for growth from water-affected building materials such […]
Being an energy-smart consumer means getting the most from the energy you use: Lower your thermostat in winter and bump it up in summer before you go to sleep and before you head out for the day. Even easier, install a programmable thermostat that does it automatically. Clean or replace filters for forced-air furnaces, heat pumps […]
Part 4 of Geothermal Energy: Power from the Depths of the Earth. If you’ve ever soaked in water from a natural hot spring, you’re one of the millions of people around the world who has enjoyed the direct use of geothermal energy. And while this naturally occurring hot water may be the perfect tonic for […]
Part 14 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) ACEEE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting both economic prosperity and environmental protection. ACEEE provides publications and guides on making your home more energy efficient. Alliance to Save Energy […]
Part 1 of Sunspaces. Everyone living in a home with a sunroom or sunspace will tell you that it is the most comfortable room in the house. Many times the homeowner only complaint is that the sunspace should be bigger. Although aesthetics often drive the decision to add a sunspace to a home design, sunspaces […]
Part 3 of Energy-Efficient Windows. Manufacturers usually represent the energy efficiency of windows in terms of their U-values (conductance of heat) or their R-values (resistance to heat flow). If a window’s R-value is high, it will lose less heat than one with a lower R-value. Conversely, if a window’s U-value is low, it will lose less […]