(by Phoebe Parlade) If you didn’t already know, LED bulbs only use about one-fifth of the energy that a typical incandescent bulb uses. Additionally, over the past few years, LED bulbs have become more affordable for consumers and are starting to be a viable option for lighting in both the home and work place. As… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Home Performance
Home’s Highest Energy Costs (and How to Lower Them)
by Uma Campbell, January 14, 2016- When posed with the question, “what uses the most energy in our homes?” many people aren’t very surprised to learn that their HVAC (Heating/Ventilation & Air Conditioning) systems are the biggest culprits on most utility bills. Accounting for almost half (47%) of all energy costs, keeping our house comfortable year… Continue Reading
The Comfort Project: Keeping Homes Warm This Winter for Underserved Families
Cost-burdened households in north Alabama will save 20% or more every year on home energy bills thanks to the 2015 Comfort Project, a community partnership between Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments (TARCOG) and the non-profit Nexus Energy Center. The project utilizes the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program to identify the most cost-effective… Continue Reading
The Best Way to Prevent Home Water Pipes from Freezing
January cold snaps like the Polar Vortex test the quality of your home construction because it only takes a small defect in insulation and air-sealing to freeze a pipe. Unfortunately, most homes have dozens of places where pipes can freeze because home builders and home buyers rarely pay attention to the thermal performance of a home… Continue Reading