Home Energy Audits – The First Step to Improved Energy Efficiency

A home energy audit is a strong initial step toward improving the efficiency of a home. An effective audit will: Determine the amount of energy being used by one’s home, and Identify potential measures to improve energy efficiency. The audit, of course, is merely a precursor to saving energy. By implementing the audit recommendations and drawing on other resources (e.g. ENERGY STAR), a...

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs – Are they Helpful or Harmful?

Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL) are the likely replacement for the traditional incandescent bulbs that have been the standard since the early 20th century. CFL’s have joined home thermostats and fish as potential contributors to mercury exposure. Since mercury is a neurotoxin, it can cause damage to nerve cells, and can be harmful even in small doses. The effects of mercury exposure can...

Basic Electrical Safety Tips

Most homeowners avoid repairing or replacing electrical components primarily because of concerns regarding personal safety. Though electrical devices and wires are designed to be inherently safe, carelessness or ignorance can quickly offset any built-in safeguards.  However, by following a number of guidelines and practives, the relative novice can perform simple electrical repairs on many basic...

Distributed Generation – A Solution or Challenge?

Solar Panels On-site or decentralized generation is commonly referred to as distributed generation. It supplies electricity from sources that are at or near the point of consumption rather than that from large, centralized sources such as utility-owned coal, natural gas, oil, or nuclear power plants. The majority of these distributed systems include: Renewable energy sources such as sunlight,...