Q: Based on our water bills, my family uses lots of water and much of it is probably hot water. Is there a simple solar hot water system design that I could build myself? A: Heating water can account ...

You know how expensive energy can be—and it’s not getting any cheaper. Bills piling up is one reason why people look into solar energy solutions for their homes, but when people think solar they tend ...

Heating water is one of the most energy-consuming and costly household tasks. According to the Department of Energy, it makes up roughly 18% of a standard home's monthly energy budget. And if you use ...

Solar energy has been around for a long time now, which means it's become much more accessible to normal homeowners. With solar panels or collectors installed on your roof, you can take advantage of ...

Taking a hot shower can literally mean pouring money down the drain. The average American household spends almost $300 pear ...

Dealing with high utility bills? Water heating may be one of the major culprits. According to the US Department of Energy, it is one of the largest residential energy uses and accounts for nearly ...

Having spent 30+ years in residential construction, contracting, remodeling, maintenance and home repair, Deane now contributes DIY, informational and financial content as a freelance writer and ...

A water heater is one of those home appliances that you don't think about until it stops working. However, a water heater can be a major energy eater, whether you're buying one for a new home or ...

David Roche works for the Institute for Sustainable Futures, which received funding for this work from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). About half of Australian households use electric ...