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 …

When you are buying a new home, here are some things to look for to ensure you keep your energy bills low:

Look for energy efficient appliances. Most of the time they will still have the energy guide sticker on them. Check the efficiency and relative costs.
Check the age and condition of the delivery ducts and vents
Ask what the last HVAC job was. If someone installed central air or a new furnace after the home was built, there is an excellent chance the installer did due diligence and inspected the house …

If you live in the United States, the Government requires that appliances have an energy guide, which is a yellow decal applied to the appliance that tells you about the efficiency and energy usage of the appliance.
Compare energy guides when shopping – you can potentially save a lot of money by purchasing an appliance that uses less energy.
Yes, but what is the Energy Guide exactly?
Well, the Energy Guide program was started by the US Government to test the energy efficiency of various appliances. It attempts to set baselines for energy …