Suburban Shangri-la
The author makes his backyard friendly to wildlife and children alike by avoiding pesticides and creating a natural environment.
House & Home
Managing Mold: This Deadly Toxin May Already be Affecting Your Home
Mold spores float around inside & out but usually don’t cause problems for us — except when they settle into our homes & expand…
Compassionate Conservation
In a development that makes a mockery of its own declaration that the U.S. is experiencing an energy crisis, the Bush Administration recently proposed drastic 30 percent cuts in federal programs that promote energy-efficient buildings and encourage businesses and homeowners to invest in solar and wind power.
Pooling Your Resources
Give Your Swimming Pool–and Your Utility Bills–an Energy-Smart Makeover Six million American homes have swimming pools, which provide a cool alternative to the blazing heat of summer months and a refreshing excuse to put off that lawn work just a little bit longer. Unfortunately, the effort it takes to blow up those rafts isn't the […]
The Green Scale
In sizing up a prospective house, more and more homebuyers are asking themselves how the property rates on the green scale…
Living Filters
To lower stress, many physicians recommend a relaxing hobby like gardening. But cultivating plants indoors may also lower the risk of asthma, allergies and “sick building syndrome.” The Environmental Protection Agency cites indoor air pollution as one of the top five public health threats in America, and the main culprit in the 60 percent rise […]
The Eternal Flame
Lighting accounts for 20 to 25 percent of all electricity sold in the U.S., according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). With Americans paying eight cents per kilowatt hour, energy-efficient lighting is starting to look very appealing to consumers. And because energy costs can also add up quickly from frequently-used appliances, small changes can equal big-time savings.
Windows 2000
Saving Money With Energy-Efficient Fenestration Most of us think we're being energy-conscious when we remember to put up the storm windows in the fall. But just because there are two panes of glass between you and the outside world doesn't mean you're protected against significant energy loss. Window technology has made a lot of progress […]
Out the Window
Modern Homes are Heat Wasters, but Green Money-Savers are Possible.