Topic: Energy

Visions of a sustainable future often center around high-tech solutions that cut energy use for heating, cooling, lighting, and other home services. However, a building’s design can have as much or more impact on its emissions and energy use than the appliances it contains. Learn more about how architectural design can influence a building’s efficiency.

Many household appliances use power even when they’re not turned on. Every year, this can add up to a lot of energy. Fortunately, devices like the Kill-A-Watt offer a way to identify these sneaky energy burglars. Read on as EcoBlock Project Manager Dr. Therese Peffer shares her own experiences with the Kill-A-Watt and what she discovered about her home power use.

Adding insulation and air sealing in an older home can be a relatively cost effective way to increase energy efficiency, increase comfort, lower costs, and reduce heat-related illness. However, millions of homes in California remain uninsulated. Read on to learn how insulation retrofits can cut costs and carbon while enhancing home comfort.

Home performance describes how the different systems in a home work together to create comfortable, healthy, and energy-efficient indoor environments. This building science-based approach evaluates different factors such as air flow, moisture/humidity, and thermal protection to improve occupant comfort, energy savings, and indoor air quality (IAQ).