Sean Daily, Green Living Ideas‘ Editor-In-Chief, talks about efficient ENERGY STAR products and the Change a Light Campaign with Wendy Reed, Campaign Manager for ENERGY STAR.

Click Play Below,or

This post contains additional media. Click here to view the full post.

Read more of this story »

Staying away from the topics of food and transportation, which are probably the biggest daily products you could green, here is a list of products you use everyday.

Read more of this story »

In an effort to feed two children with the same bottle, the Obama administration has created a rebate program that has potential to affect the average Joe and Jane. The nation has stumbled forward, carrying the weight of the struggling economy on one leg and the weight of energy concerns on the other; but the current administration hopes to change that.

It is hope of recovery, of success, of change that prompted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. And it is that same hope that has created a sub-program within the Recovery Act; a program that will encourage energy efficiency while putting money back into the hands of the people.

Read more of this story »

In a Cliff’s Notes version of the myriad incentives, rebates, and tax incentives GREENandSAVE has created a Federal Tax Incentive Decoder and condensed the material to 11 bite sized pages. Best of all, this resource does not cost a dime and can be downloaded at: http://www.greenandsave.com/homecheckup/free_federal_tax_incentive_decoder

Read more of this story »

One quarter billion dollars is a lot. An awful lot. Most people will never even come near that amount of money, but that’s what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Americans saved this past year by switching over to energy efficient homes.

In the EPA’s announcement on July 3, it was reported that 17 percent of all single family homes built across the nation in the year 2008 received the EPA’s Energy Star approval rating, which means that a homes are at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30 percent more efficient than standard homes. The percentage of Energy Star homes was up from 12 percent in 2007.

The increase in Energy Star rated homes shows that home builders and home buyers are investing in homes that save money and the environment. “Every year more Americans decide to cut their energy bills and help keep the air clean in their communities by buying a new home that has earned EPA’s Energy Star,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.

Read more of this story »

1. Free energy-efficiency information, resources, and technical advice—ENERGY STAR for Small Business provides free information, resources, and technical advice on hundreds of cost-savings practices. Includes a downloadable copy of the free ENERGY STAR for Small Business Guide, “Putting Energy into Profits” and information about ENERGY STAR–labeled products.
2. Free recycling and conservation signs—You can customize, download, and print free recycling and conservation signs at recyclereminders.com.
3. Free control of your IT—If you run a network, software from companies like LocalCooling.com allows the settings on computers to be controlled centrally so you can automatically turn those babies off when no one is using them.
4. Free Green IT for Dummies—HP sponsors a free, downloadable, condensed, limited edition of the Green IT for Dummies guide.
5. Free recycling bins—The Coca-Cola/NRC Recycling Bin Grant Program provides recycling bins to selected grant recipients for the collection of beverage container recyclables in public settings.
6. Free rideshare widget for websites— at GooseNetworks.com.

   Read more of this story »

   ]]> http://ecopreneurist.com/2009/06/12/19-free-green-tools-for-small-buinesses/feed/ http://ecopreneurist.com/2009/04/27/greening-your-office-with-hp/ http://ecopreneurist.com/2009/04/27/greening-your-office-with-hp/#comments Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:38:21 +0000 Reenita Malhotra http://ecopreneurist.com/2009/04/27/greening-your-office-with-hp/  

   This Earth Day, it was my mission to take serious steps towards greening my home office. While saving paper was the no-brainer approach, there is no escaping those documents that absolutely need to be printed in any office large or small. So, the next obvious choice is to look at greening your print habits.

   Given that I have been using the HP Officejet Pro 8500 for a few weeks now, I am beginning to realize its merits as an ideal printer for small business or home office use. Not just because of its efficiency but also because it is a truly green option as far as printers go.  

   Read more of this story »

   ]]> http://ecopreneurist.com/2009/04/27/greening-your-office-with-hp/feed/ http://sustainablog.org/2009/04/21/epa-kicks-off-earth-week-with-a-call-for-public-service/ http://sustainablog.org/2009/04/21/epa-kicks-off-earth-week-with-a-call-for-public-service/#comments Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:04:43 +0000 Jeff McIntire-Strasburg http://sustainablog.org/2009/04/21/epa-kicks-off-earth-week-with-a-call-for-public-service/ Click here to view the full post.

   The EPA’s going beyond the normal tips about recycling and saving water this year for Earth Day: they’ve launched a partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs of America to get young people involved in environmentally-themed community service projects. EPA’s ENERGY STAR program will also be offering “Go Green Nights” to Parent-Teacher Organizations across the country. Check out EPA administrator Lisa Jackson’s discussion with members of the media above.

   ]]> http://sustainablog.org/2009/04/21/epa-kicks-off-earth-week-with-a-call-for-public-service/feed/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/03/11/smart-utilities-offering-rebates-for-solar-hot-water-systems/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/03/11/smart-utilities-offering-rebates-for-solar-hot-water-systems/#comments Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:39:49 +0000 Timothy B. Hurst http://cleantechnica.com/2009/03/11/smart-utilities-offering-rebates-for-solar-hot-water-systems/

   So you want to take advantage of the sun’s energy somehow but solar photovoltaics just aren’t in the cards? Solar hot water systems may not be as sexy as their electron-producing counterparts, but in most scenarios, you will get more energy bang for your buck—especially if you’re on a budget—because water heating consumes the most energy in a home after space heating and cooling.

   After being seen almost exclusively on the rooftops of Jimmy Carter-era homes, solar hot water panels have made substantive advances in recent years, including efficiency improvements, earning some manufacturers the coveted Energy Star label.

   Read more of this story »

   ]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/03/11/smart-utilities-offering-rebates-for-solar-hot-water-systems/feed/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/03/03/centex-raises-bar-for-energy-efficient-homebuilding/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/03/03/centex-raises-bar-for-energy-efficient-homebuilding/#comments Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:50:46 +0000 Adam Williams http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/03/03/centex-raises-bar-for-energy-efficient-homebuilding/

   Dallas-based Centex Corporation has rolled-out a green line of home development in St. Louis, building new homes with its Centex Energy Advantage designs.

   The homes the company has begun building in the St. Louis metro area are considered as much as 40 percent more efficient than the typical 10-year-old home.

   In a region of the United States looked upon as flyover land, usually implying it’s behind the times, Centex is claiming to be the first national homebuilder to install energy monitors in every home it builds, going forward.

   The other standard features of the Energy Advantage package, as listed by Centex, are:

   Read more of this story »

   ]]> http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/03/03/centex-raises-bar-for-energy-efficient-homebuilding/feed/ http://greenbuildingelements.com/2009/03/03/stimulate-my-home/ http://greenbuildingelements.com/2009/03/03/stimulate-my-home/#comments Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:44:45 +0000 Jessop Petroski http://greenbuildingelements.com/2009/03/03/stimulate-my-home/ Stimulus Bill Increases Rewards for Energy-efficient Remodeling

   Energy-efficient remodeling replaces painting your bedroom walls as the most significant home improvement project of 2009.

   We all know that green is the talk of the town these days, but we’re not talking about paint color any more when it comes to home remodeling. The word ‘green’ now holds it’s weight in eco-friendly, money saving home improvements.

   To add to the wave, the government has now stepped in and made stimulating your home a great way to stimulate the ecomomy by giving back a 30 percent tax credit for homeowners who install energy-efficient windows, insulation or heating systems in 2009 and 2010.

   Read more of this story »

   ]]> http://greenbuildingelements.com/2009/03/03/stimulate-my-home/feed/ http://greenbuildingelements.com/2009/01/20/energy-challenge-issued-to-employees/ http://greenbuildingelements.com/2009/01/20/energy-challenge-issued-to-employees/#comments Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:27:57 +0000 Dawn Killough http://greenbuildingelements.com/2009/01/20/energy-challenge-issued-to-employees/

    

    

    

   Energy Star challenges all employees to reduce the energy use at their places of work, through its newest promotion, “Bring Your Green to Work.”  The corresponding web site offers employees the chance to register themselves and their company for the challenge and learn more about how to reduce energy use.

   The child in me likes the “virtual office” application that offers several tips for lowering energy use.  Ideas include unplugging cell phone chargers when not in use, using window shades to block or allow light and heat into the space as necessary, and, of course, using Energy Star rated equipment.  It is presented in an easy to use interface, in which users click on blue stars placed throughout the “office” to receive the tips.

   Read more of this story »

   ]]> http://greenbuildingelements.com/2009/01/20/energy-challenge-issued-to-employees/feed/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/15/enerworks-solar-water-heater-is-first-to-get-energy-star-approval/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/15/enerworks-solar-water-heater-is-first-to-get-energy-star-approval/#comments Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:08:32 +0000 Ariel Schwartz http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/15/enerworks-solar-water-heater-is-first-to-get-energy-star-approval/

   I’ve always wanted a solar water heater in my imaginary house that I own, and now I think I know what brand I want, too. EnerWorks solar water heaters are the first to qualify for the new ENERGY STAR residential water heater program. The heaters were judged based on numerous factors, including solar fraction (portion of hot water delivered by solar energy), solar energy factor (energy delivered by the system divided by electrical or gas energy put into the system), and warranty.

   Read more of this story »

   ]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/15/enerworks-solar-water-heater-is-first-to-get-energy-star-approval/feed/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/01/10/california-maps-out-plan-to-ban-plasma-televisions/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/01/10/california-maps-out-plan-to-ban-plasma-televisions/#comments Sat, 10 Jan 2009 07:25:46 +0000 Jerry James Stone http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/01/10/california-maps-out-plan-to-ban-plasma-televisions/

   The California Energy Commission hopes to end the burden of energy-inefficient plasma and LCD TVs on the state’s power grid. The regulations are expected to pass mid-2009, and could be in full effect by 2013.

   Officials claim that the standards, once fully in place, would be a power gain equivalent to that of 87,000 homes. On the flip side, if the regulations do pass, it will surely remove some TVs from store shelves and slightly boost sticker prices.

   Read more of this story »

   ]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/01/10/california-maps-out-plan-to-ban-plasma-televisions/feed/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/12/19/us-epa-watersense-program-releases-new-internet-widget-for-water-efficiency/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/12/19/us-epa-watersense-program-releases-new-internet-widget-for-water-efficiency/#comments Fri, 19 Dec 2008 03:23:45 +0000 Amiel Blajchman http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/12/19/us-epa-watersense-program-releases-new-internet-widget-for-water-efficiency/ The Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program is the EPA’s water efficiency equivalent to its wildly successful and well-known Energy Star program. Watersense’s mission is to protect the future of the U.S. water supply by promoting and enhancing the market for water-efficient products and services.

   WaterSense has jumped onto the internet “widget” bandwagon, and recently released a widget that provides a jump to the WaterSense website, which includes tips and facts about water efficiency. The widgets provided by WaterSense are intended to be seasonal and up-to-date, encouraging webmasters and website owners to add environmental content to their website or Myspace page. The website intends to update and change its content on a monthly  basis.

   Information provided by WaterSense on their website includes:

   • Fixing water leaks at home;
   • Reducing water use in the shower;
   • Using water-efficient toilets; and
   • How to water your lawn efficiently.

   Image: Water Tap via Flickr’s Media Commons

   ]]> http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/12/19/us-epa-watersense-program-releases-new-internet-widget-for-water-efficiency/feed/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/10/04/energy-star-and-watersense-sales-tax-holiday-this-weekend/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/10/04/energy-star-and-watersense-sales-tax-holiday-this-weekend/#comments Sat, 04 Oct 2008 14:03:24 +0000 Becky Striepe http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/10/04/energy-star-and-watersense-sales-tax-holiday-this-weekend/
   [image via Byron Wigfal]

   Georgia’s governor announced the state’s fourth annual ENERGY STAR and WaterSense Sales Tax Holiday. The tax break covers energy efficient or water efficient products that cost $1,500 or less per item and runs until midnight this Sunday. This is the fourth annual ENERGY STAR Tax Holiday, but this year the governor added WaterSense labeled products to those available for savings.

   I’m embarrassed to admit that I had never heard of the WaterSense label before! In a state that’s still suffering a severe drought, Georgians could make a huge difference with even small modifications to their water consumption. WaterSense products are approximately 20% more efficient than equivalent ones on the market. A 20% reduction in water use could go a really long way! According to the EPA:

   Read more of this story »

   ]]> http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/10/04/energy-star-and-watersense-sales-tax-holiday-this-weekend/feed/ http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/09/11/interested-in-greening-your-commercial-kitchen-enter-to-win-40000-in-equipment/ http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/09/11/interested-in-greening-your-commercial-kitchen-enter-to-win-40000-in-equipment/#comments Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:07:35 +0000 Joel Bittle http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/09/11/interested-in-greening-your-commercial-kitchen-enter-to-win-40000-in-equipment/ The folks over at Food Service Warehouse are celebrating the announcement of their Certified Green Commercial Kitchens program by announcing a green commercial kitchen contest, with $40,000 worth of kitchen equipment and supplies going to the winner.  If you operate a commercial kitchen and have taken steps to make it greener, fill out the form by October 31 to enter the contest. It’s free and the prizes include a refrigerator/freezer, steamer, fryer, ice machine, oven, and more.

   Food Service Warehouse is an online source for commercial kitchen equipment that has taken impressive steps in encouraging green commercial kitchen practices.  They have devoted dozens of pages to explaining the advantages of going green and giving practical advice on how to achieve it.

   Read more of this story »

   ]]> http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/09/11/interested-in-greening-your-commercial-kitchen-enter-to-win-40000-in-equipment/feed/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/09/10/energy-star-ratings-greenwashing-or-double-standards/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/09/10/energy-star-ratings-greenwashing-or-double-standards/#comments Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:11:32 +0000 Derek Markham http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/09/10/energy-star-ratings-greenwashing-or-double-standards/

   You did your homework and bought an energy-efficient refrigerator.

   It has the Energy Star rating, so you’re thinking that you might save some money on the electric bill and help to green your house by purchasing it.

   You might be wrong.

   In the October issue of Consumer Reports, “Save Energy, Save Money“, an article entitled “Energy Star has lost some luster” has stirred up some controversy. Consumer Reports rated one refrigerator as using 60% more electricity than the Energy Star label stated, and one, the LG LMX25981ST French-door fridge, as using more than double the energy on the label.

   It turns out that according to the Department of Energy (DOE) procedures for testing, the refrigerator’s ice machine should be turned off during the test. Turning off the ice maker on some models, like the one tested, also turns off the cooling to the ice-making compartment.

   Who buys a refrigerator with an ice-maker and then shuts it off?

   Read more of this story »

   ]]> http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/09/10/energy-star-ratings-greenwashing-or-double-standards/feed/ http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/09/09/doe-lights-up-forrestal-building-with-solar-energy/ http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/09/09/doe-lights-up-forrestal-building-with-solar-energy/#comments Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:26:41 +0000 Max Lindberg http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/09/09/doe-lights-up-forrestal-building-with-solar-energy/

   Solar Energy Comes to the DOE Headquarters

   One of the largest solar power systems in Washington, D.C. was inaugurated atop the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Forrestal Building today (9-9-08).  Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman, shown here, energized the system for the first time, saying:

   “The significance of this solar array is both practical and symbolic–it improves the way the Department consumes energy and it is a symbol of America’s commitment to using the best available new technologies to confront the energy challenges we face today and will face tomorrow,”

   Read more of this story »

   ]]> http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/09/09/doe-lights-up-forrestal-building-with-solar-energy/feed/