Apartment Therapy: heat & cold

Zip-A-Way: Removable Window Sealant

Just the other day we were starting to think about winterizing our home for the season, when we got a great tip from one of our favorite home improvement gurus, Lou Manfredini. Lou suggested that as...

Trane's Deluxe Programmable Digital Thermostat

Everyone knows that using a programmable thermostat is a must if you heat during winters. The trouble is that most people don't know how to program them or they just don't do it. Most of the costs of ...

Roundup: It's National Weatherization Day!

Who knew there was a day set aside nation-wide to concentrate on home weatherization? Well, the U.S. Department of Energy has declared that today's the day, so be sure to take a good look at your home...

Cheap & Energy Efficient Ways to Winterize Your Apartment

Winter will soon be upon us and temperatures are starting to plunge for most of us. Unless you're living in California or Florida, you'll soon be getting ready to see some snow, if you haven't already...

How To: Insulate with Bubble Wrap

We've blogged about a bubble wrap "stained glass window" before, but bubble wrap also works as a great insulator when it's cold. See how to use leftover packaging to decrease your heating bill, afte...

Illinois Dedicates $242 Million to Home Weatherization

Here in Chicago, the cold winters can make for high heating bills and lots of energy use, so we were happy to hear Governor Pat Quinn announce that a chunk of federal stimulus money will go to Illi...

EcoSmart Fireplace Lets You Move Your Heat Around

So we're sitting here typing away with a comforter and furry slippers in an attempt to keep warm without turning on the heater. It's currently 38 degrees outside. I guess fall just got its butt kick...

Green Concept: Solar Powered Blind Air Conditioner

We don't have AC, because it just doesn't get hot enough here in the Bay Area to justify it. However, there are places where it's an absolute necessity. But it uses so much energy. That's why we think...

14 Ways To Keep Warm Without Turning the Heat On or Up

Okay granted, unlike most of my fellow Re-Nest bloggers, I live in Los Angeles. Lately, however, we've had quite the spell of cold and rainy weather, and the same thick plaster walls that keep my h...

How To: Make Sure You Maintain A High Albedo
Green Architect

(Welcome to Scott, one of the finalists for our Green Architect blogger search. He's writing from Boston. Comment away!) I don’t know if any of you are quite as crazy as I am and dream of someda...

Hot or Not? The Dyson Air Multiplier

We were one of the first to write about the new Dyson Air Multiplier, a fan without blades. At around $300, it can apparently cool you off for 1/50th of the energy of an air conditioning unit. ...

Does Energy Film Really Work?
Good Question

Q: I've been looking into an energy saving window film. Has anyone used anything similar, and does it work? Sent by Holly...

Taiwan Crematorium Uses Heat From Dead Bodies to Cool Living Ones

OK, while we hope none of you are cremating remains as part of a home business venture, the energy plan designed by the Taipei Second Funeral Parlor in Taiwan is something that might be able to be ...

How To: Make Your Own Draft Dodger

It's starting to get chilly. (We actually wore socks to bed last night.) So that means that we're going to have to turn the heat on soon. And when we turn the heat on, we like to keep as much of it ...

LiveRoof Modular Green Roof System

LiveRoof, as seen at this year's West Coast Green, is the first invisible modular green roof system. We're thinking this product would be great for not only homes, but that garden shed you have plan...

Fall Home Maintenance To-Do List
Kiplinger.com

As much as I hate to admit it, fall is here. It's still warm in the Bay Area, but yesterday I felt that hint of crispness in the air. When the weather starts to turn cool, it's a good time to get yo...

The Most Useless Energy-Related Products?

Have you ever heard of an energy retrofit that just sounded too good to be true, like insulating paint or passive fresh air inlets? This list has some obvious picks, but a couple on here might just ...

The Piet Stove: A Smoke-Free Indoor Ethanol Stove

This portable, clean burning, installation free stove is one of a kind. Designed to be used like an electric area heater, it burns ethanol, a clean burning and stable fuel source......

Flashback, Flashforward: Building With Solar Storage Tubes

Some technology just doesn’t change. Around for decades, water storage tubes provide thermal mass to moderate indoor air temperatures. Use to store heat during the day and keep warm at night, you ...

Cocoon Fire Ranges

We were just recently introduced to the Cocoon Fire Ranges and we can't take our eyes off of them. They wouldn't have a place anywhere in our home (too sleek, too modern) but we can't deny that they'r...

35 Tips To Green Your Home
Body+Soul Magazine

Improve your energy efficiency. Reduce your carbon footprint. Live a healthier life. According to a recent study, global CO2 emissions rose in 2008 by 1.94 percent year-on-year to 31.5 billion me...

How to Insulate an Adobe House?
Good Questions

Q: We live in an adobe house and, contrary to popular belief, it is not particularly energy efficient. The "R value" is about 5 or 6. Short of wrapping the exterior of the house in insulation and re...

Green Idea: Smart Appliances Talk to Electrical Grid

What’s your typical routine when you get home? Start cooking dinner, run the dishwasher, and do some laundry all while watching a little TV and cooling off in the A/C? Well, that’s the typical A...

Simple Green: Turn Off the Fan

Here's a current debate in our house: If a fan is on in a room and there’s no one around to feel it, does it cool the air?...

8 Ways to Keep Your Garden Happy During a Drought
Planet Green

Having trouble keeping your plants happy during a drought? There are ways to get your garden through heat and dry spells without keeping the sprinklers on all the time…...

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Posts tagged “heat & cold”