There has been a lot of chatter in Washington lately about energy. Namely, alternative energy sources, energy consumption, our dependence on foreign oil, and rising energy costs. While there are some scientists who are frantically working on ways to both cut our energy usage and some people (citizens, voters) who are right there with them, supporting them, there are others who sit idly by.
And then they complain when their energy bills are high, or cry when foreign oil consumption reaches a new high as our foreign debt skyrockets.
My main point …

The utility bill busters energy saving forums have launched! located at http://www.utilitybillbusters.com/articles/forum/, the forums give you a chance to post your questions to the community and get answers.
As a way of introducing the forums, I am giving away three valuable energy guides to you:

The Smart Consumer Checklist, which covers energy considerations when shopping
The Energy Star Report, or “When energy star is NOT energy smart”
And Ten Minutes to Ten Percent off your energy bill – Which covers 10 simple things you can do tonight to save 10% off your energy bill.

How …

LEED Green Associate (GA) Certification Process: Basic Questions Answered
There are some common questions asked by people having an interest in or prepared to take the LEED GA examination. Here is some basic information about the examination process that addresses many FAQs.
Becoming able to Take the LEED GA Examination
Before taking the examination there are a few necessities that must first be met. An application must be submitted that will get checked.
The Green Building Certification Institute ( GBCI ) audits five to seven percent of all applications.
Candidates who are selected for an …

The easiest way to save money on your energy bills is to do a simple energy audit. And the best way to do a complete, professional energy audit is with one of the energy audit kits available from http://www.energyaudits.net. There are two kits available, the professional kit and the starter kit – both of which are priced within any homeowners budget

An energy audit is the best possible way to save money on your energy bills. An energy audit works 100% when done correctly – no matter where you live.
The Home Energy Audit kit is the first download-able, do it yourself kit available online today. It walks you through the basics of an energy audit, and even teaches you how to replicate professional results with very little effort, and next to no money. Talk about a good value.
And now you can download the Home Energy Audit Kit for 50% off the …

I’m very happy to announce that the full length original e-book/e-course “Reducing your energy bills: A practical and realistic approach” is going to be made available online 100% free. This is a big step forward as the original e-book had over 400 pages of money and energy saving tips.
I’ve already begun to post excerpts online, but you will see all the chapters, and all the tips, very shortly.
There will be a new category, or section, created for the book. Look for it soon!

The cover of this issue depicts extraordinarily useful information: the homes whose attics are inadequately insulated. British residents can go onto the Web and find their homes-or their neighbors’ homes-to determine their thermal efficiency.
This aerial photo, along with the widely available photos in Google Earth and other services, illustrates the rapidly changing definitions of privacy. Thirty years ago, various groups in the United States used high-flying planes to take infrared photos like this one for the same purpose. But those programs were scotched by people outraged by the invasion of …

The elections overshadowed a press release by Energy Star announcing a settlement with LG, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of appliances and consumer electronics. That’s a pity because the settlement sends an important message to manufacturers. It also reveals how valuable LG thinks the Energy Star endorsement actually is.
Recall that Consumer Reports (and Home Energy almost a year earlier) found that LG refrigerators were designed to either circumvent DOE test procedures or were tested in such a manner that led to a much lower energy use than what would …

It was good news to learn that Energy Star has finally announced specifications for water heaters. The specification for heat pump water heaters is particularly welcome, since these products have an unusually large savings potential. A heat pump water heater can reduce water-heating energy by half, which translates into over 1,500 kWh per year in many homes. Nearly 40% of American homes use electric water heaters, so the market is huge. This market is unlikely to be tapped soon, however, because there are no significant American manufacturers of heat pump …

A general question that gets asked more often than you think is “because of the recent crappy credit market (and weak economic climate) what will happen to my energy bills? Will they increase?”
The answer, unfortunately, is a sound “I don’t know.” Givent he current market conditions, and weak economic forecast with signs of continued slowdowns, energy prices may continue to actually fall depending on the market volatility. This is welcome news for consumers, as their bills may actually be lower.
However, this is typically not the case. During times of economic …