Practical cleaning, upkeep, and energy-saving guides for American homes.
Renters can’t replace windows or insulation, but they can still cut bills. Practical ways to save on cooling, heating, appliances, and electronics, and what to ask your landlord.
Many smart thermostats are a 30-minute DIY job, but missing C-wires, heat pumps, and older wiring can complicate things. What installation involves, typical costs, and who to call.
ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostats save about 8% on heating and cooling on average. The features that drive savings, compatibility checks, and well-known models.
A ceiling fan can let you raise the thermostat about 4°F with no loss in comfort, but only if you actually raise it. How fans save money, the right direction, and the limits.
A sudden jump usually comes from weather, a rate change, a longer billing period, or one appliance misbehaving. A step-by-step way to find the cause and what to do next.
Devices that are off but plugged in still draw power, often estimated at 5% to 10% of household electricity. How to find the worst offenders and cut the waste without hassle.
Air conditioning, space heating, and water heating top the list in U.S. homes, followed by lighting and refrigeration. How to find your own biggest users and what to do.
The Department of Energy suggests 78°F when you’re home and higher when you’re away. How to set a summer schedule that saves money without making the house miserable.
Space heating is the largest energy use in U.S. homes. Thermostat strategy, sealing drafts, insulation, and safe use of heat pumps and space heaters to cut winter bills.
Air conditioning is the biggest summer cost in most homes. Practical ways to cut it, from thermostat settings and fans to shading windows and shifting usage off-peak.