Consumer | Green Advisor

Lessons Learned from Canadian Photovoltaic Installations

Posted on January, 2013 Categories: Building Green , Consumer , Energy , Energy Savings , Featured , Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) , Solar Canadians are used to seeing photovoltaics (PV) – devices that create electricity from sunlight - embedded in calculators, garden accent lighting and other electronic devices. More recently, Read more

Do Gas Fireplaces Save You Money?

Posted on January, 2013 Categories: Building Green , Consumer , Energy , Energy Savings , Featured , Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) Nothing is nicer on a cold winter night than curling up beside a warm fire. Gas fireplaces can offer a clean burning option with a convenient click of a button. A recent survey of household energy use Read more

Layering Up for Winter - Insulation Retrofits for Your Home

Posted on December, 2012 Categories: Building Green , Check It Out! , Consumer , Energy , Energy Savings , Featured , Insulation , Windows & Doors If you own an older home, chances are that you are always on the look-out for ways to reduce your heating costs. Adding insulation to your home not only helps you save money right now, it’s also a way to “future proof” your home, Read more

New Walls for New Houses

Posted on November, 2012 Categories: Building Green , Ceilings & Walls , Check It Out! , Consumer , Energy , Energy Savings , Planning There are many attractions to buying a newly constructed home. These include new, up-to-date finishes, modern floor plans and amenities, comfort and energy efficiency. When considering your options, energy-efficient heating, appliances and lighting are common choices. Read more

Electricity: Phantom Loads in Your House

Posted on November, 2012 Categories: Building Green , Check It Out! , Consumer , Energy , Energy Savings , Featured Today’s household electrical devices offer a range of convenient features such as LED lights, timers, clocks, remote controls, built-in battery chargers, and “instant on” capability; however Read more

Passive Solar Design- Energy Savings All Year

Posted on October, 2012 Categories: Building Green , Check It Out! , Consumer , Energy , Featured , Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) , Planning , Solar Most of us know the pleasure and comfort of sitting in front of a south facing window on a sunny winter’s day. What’s less well known is that the warmth you feel can also significantly reduce your heating bill. Read more

Owners Find That Downsizing Doesn't Necessarily Mean Downgrading

Posted on August, 2012 Categories: Consumer , Electric Vehicles , Energy , Energy Savings , Featured , Hybrids , Transportation The adage "Good things come in small packages" has never been more true, at least when it comes to today's new cars and trucks. The latest automotive study by J.D. Power and Associates suggests that owners of small cars and light trucks are often just as satisfied with their vehicles as owners of larger ones. Read more

A Step Toward Better Solar Energy Systems

Posted on July, 2012 Categories: Building Green , Consumer , Energy , Featured , Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) , Roofs , Solar A Michigan Technological University researcher has made a solar cell that brings more to the rooftop: it’s good at making electricity, and it’s great at capturing heat to warm your home and your water. Read more

Hot Tips for a Cool Summer

Posted on June, 2012 Categories: Check It Out! , Consumer , Energy , Energy Savings , Featured , Leisure , Parks & Recreation , Recycling , Transportation , Waste Management , Water Management The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released a list of tips for the summer season. Whether relaxing at home or off exploring the great outdoors there are many ways people can save money and cut energy costs, while still enjoying the summer. Read more

NASCAR and EPA Partner on Green Initiatives

Posted on June, 2012 Categories: Business , Consumer , Energy , Energy Savings , Featured , Recycling , Waste Management Recently the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) signed an agreement to raise awareness of environmentally friendly products and solutions to address Read more