With energy prices increasing, so is your need for an energy-efficient home. This article provides tips for conserving energy and lowering your...
With energy prices increasing, so is your need for an energy-efficient home. This article provides tips for conserving energy and lowering your...
View Home Improvement Guide RSS feedWith energy prices increasing, so is your need for an energy-efficient home. This article provides tips for conserving energy and lowering your energy bill.
With the rising costs of energy, many homeowners are trying to find ways to cut their energy bills. There are several ways you can save money, such as replacing old windows or adding appliances with more energy-efficient counterparts. Here are a few tips to make your home more energy efficient.
According to Paul Fisette of the University of Massachusetts, www.umass.edu, an average home can lose 30% of its heat and cool air through windows. There are many ways to make windows energy efficient for every budget. If any of your windows need to be replaced and you have the budget to replace them, you could buy new windows that have been engineered to be energy efficient. Many of these windows have multiple glazes or are made of more durable materials.
If you don't want to replace your windows, you can replace your window treatments. The writers at Southern Living, www.southernliving.com, recommend Levolor blinds because they act as insulators, keeping out cold air as well as harsh sunlight. You could also use shutters if you don't like blinds.
If you don't want to replace anything, you could install weather stripping.
The Energy Star program is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that helps consumers and business owners be more energy efficient. You may know Energy Star from the labels on appliances. They endorse a variety of appliances such as washers, dishwashers, dehumidifiers, refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners.
The Union of Concerned Scientists, www.ucsusa.org, reports that Energy Star products can reduce an average home's energy bill by at least 30%. Some states also offer consumers rebates or discounts for purchasing Energy Star appliances.
If you're looking for Energy Star appliances, look for the energy star label. There's also a complete list of Energy Star partners at the Energy Star website.
Falling prices are eroding the value of U.S. homes. According to a new Fed report, the equity that Americans have in their homes has dropped to the lowest level on record.
A survey commissioned by a national federation of state and local apartment associations shows that most renters will not be jumping into the U.S. housing market anytime soon. Has renting become the smart decision?
Some politicians are in favor of providing assistance to the millions of homeowners who are facing default as a result of poor decision-making and falling home prices. Others are dead set against it. Let's see where the American people stand.
Small banks and big ones alike are on the verge of bankruptcy, due to all of the bad loans that have been approved over the past few years. Although people tend to assume that their money will be safe even if their banks fail, history has shown that this isn't always the case. Find out if your hard-earned cash is at risk.
When it comes to home prices, location matters. Consider this: a $210,000 home in Atlanta, GA would be worth $1.4 million in Beverly Hills. The same home would be worth $509,000 in Washington D.C. and $207,000 in Phoenix. Find out how much homes might be worth in different cities in this home price comparison.
An open letter to all of the lawmakers and taxpayers who think a mortgage bailout is what we need to solve the housing crisis.
A national survey found that Stamford, Connecticut has most expensive rents among other U.S. cities. Residents need a household wage of $31.58 to afford fair market rent on a two-bedroom rental unit. Find out which other metro areas and states have high housing costs.
To get borrowers to leave a house--and leave it in good condition--mortgage lenders around the nation have begun offering cash for keys. Some lenders are paying out upwards of $3,000.
Republicans and Democrats are working on a new measure inappropriately named ''The Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008''. This legislation is being billed as help for homeowners, but homebuilders and the mortgage industry are the true beneficiaries.