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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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?...
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…...
Even though here in Chicago the thermostats have only surpassed 80 a few times, we have some neighbors who have their A/C on – all the time. While we recommend trying alternative cooling methods, ...
When it comes to fans and efficiency, blade size matters. The blades on these fans range from 6 feet to a staggering 24 feet! The larger the fan blade, the slower the fan has to turn to create the s...
While fresh, local vegetables are the tastiest and greenest types of veggies to consume, sometimes we need a backup for food storage or special recipes. I know we've spent some time in the grocery t...
Hot water down the drain seems like a waste of energy, right? Well, a low-tech product called EcoDrain is aiming to recapture that energy by placing a heat exchange device between your outgoing shower...
(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first. Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to: green(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com) Virginia left this question a...
Cost: $1.50 - $7.50 / 6ft section of insulation Time: 1-2 hours, depending on amount of pipes Uninsulated hot water pipes are like radiators, transferring the heat to the air – which is not a good...
Cost: $35 - $120 Time Spent: 1 Hour Tools: Screwdriver, Batteries, Programmable Thermostat Installing my Honeywell 5+2 Thermostat a year ago was one of the best and easiest projects I've done for my...
During the hot summer months in Brooklyn we like to spend as much time in our backyard as possible, but without a large tree to shade ourselves under there are some hours of the day that are just unb...
I'm not sure what it is about hot tubs, but I love them - especially during the winter. They seemed rather prevalent back in California but now living in North Carolina, I can't find them anywhere. I ...
Do you live in a "passive house" (not to be confused with a passive-aggressive house)? Each year when we make our winter visit to mom's big, old, drafty house she makes a big deal about turning on ...
Unfortunately, our tiny studio doesn't have a fireplace. But if it did, you can bet we'd be getting toasty with a cup of coffee and one of these: fire logs made from java!...
Growing up I always had an electric blanket - nothing fancy, just an on or off switch, but I loved it. Then, after moving in with my BF a few years ago, his parents bought us a new one and I was ecsta...
It’s that time of year where streets and sidewalks are covered in snow, ice – and salt. Not only is incredibly snow covered here in Chicago, its also incredibly cold, too cold for salt to melt the...
If you've already winterized your apartment/home and want to conserve just a little more, here's a simple idea that just requires a little imagination and muscle: rearrange your furniture/art/decorat...
There is nothing the least bit scientific about how we check for leaks in our own home. For example: It often feels cold near our windows -- we assume there is a leak. See what we mean? But what abou...
I spent Thanksgiving with my family in sunny, warm Southern California. The weather was beautiful, although not what most people would expect in November (e.g., we contemplated sun bathing in the back...
It was surprisingly chilly for LA during the Thanksgiving holiday, but we've been putting off turning on the heater. Instead, we picked up a box of Java-Logs while doing some last-minute grocery shop...
We love this simple sewing project as a way to use fabric scraps--and save on the heating bill! ...
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