After writing oodles of remodeling recommendations regarding Energy Star products, I was rather nonplussed when I read some recent reports regarding the label. And not just any label, the nation’s most widely used and accepted source for eco-friendly advice. It turns out much of the criticism revolves around outdated, unchecked, or irrelevant testing.

According to the Blueprint for Financial Prosperity, Energy Star labels simply cannot be trusted for some products. TVs, VCRs, computers, and air conditioners are among them. Televisions, for example, are rated by how much energy is used when they are turned off. Other items, such as dryers, water heaters, and ovens, carry the label but are not actually regulated. On the other hand, you can trust the label for dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, and washing machines…according to this article. Inconsistency is the main problem here. (more…)

Air conditioning is like a friend to many of us. Summertime heat waves so often feel like tidal waves crashing at our front steps that we’ll do just about anything to keep them from getting in. Usually we rely on air conditioning to do the trick, and it works hard, pumping cool air constantly until it finds the comfort zone. Yet, in a way, air conditioners are like people; when they work that hard all the time they get worn down, they don’t work as well and they need a little TLC at the end of the day. Keeping your air conditioner healthy keeps your air healthy, your spirits high, and your energy bills low. Here are some tips for a healthy AC system: (more…)

Tankless water heaters are quite common throughout European countries, but they really haven’t caught on to widespread usage here in America. Are the Europeans just ahead of us in the use of more energy efficient fixtures, or are there cons affecting their popularity here?

Pros and Cons

Tankless, or demand water heaters as they are also called, are more energy efficient that typical water heaters in that they provide hot water only when you need it, and don’t waste energy storing it for hours on end. They contain a burner that heats cold water right when you turn the faucet on, eliminating the need for a storage tank. The average tankless water heater produces 2-5 gallons of hot water per minute. This is significantly less than a storage heater can produce, leading to one of their disadvantages. If more than one person is drawing on the heater at once, it can cause a shortage. Many homeowners opt to have more than one heater within the home, allowing for multiple functions at once. (more…)