Windows: Strategically raising and lowering windows is an age-old way to reduce heat buildup in your house and significantly reduce your need for air conditioners except on the hottest days. Opening windows at night will pull in cool air; opening sash windows top and bottom and cross-ventilating will circulate the air; and closing windows early in […]

One advantage of summertime is the abundance of solar energy that can be harnessed to dry laundry. In fact, a clothesline is an efficient and cost-free way to reduce your electricity bill. In 2021, the average cost to Iowans of a kWh of electricity was 12.21 cents ( U.S. Energy Information Administration). According to the EPA a typical

Air sealing and insulation are the first and most important investments many people should make in their home’s energy system. Insulation prevents heat from escaping in the winter and entering in the summer and can lower heating and air conditioning bills by 15% or more. Although walls, floors, and ceilings all require adequate insulation, a quick way

Most homes feature a single thermostat, designed to heat the whole house more or less evenly. This means many households heat unoccupied rooms for hours, days, or months at a time, increasing both carbon emissions and utility bills. This can be reduced by maintaining lower temperatures in unused areas, known as “zoned heating.” The least expensive zoning

Turning down the furnace is the fastest, easiest, and cheapest way to cut your winter utility bill. The US Department of Energy recommends keeping your thermostat at 68 degrees in the wintertime, and lowering it by 7-10 degrees at night or when you’re out of the house. This trims energy costs 10% or more. You can, of

As summer temperatures soar, we all appreciate shade trees. A healthy tree canopy of diverse species cools surface and air temperatures, removes air pollutants, provides wildlife habitat, and absorbs stormwater runoff, all while being visually appealing and raising property values. Trees are, in fact, essential to a livable community. Many urban dwellers live in heat

Increased precipitation, in the form of heavier downpours, is a commonly-seen impact of the warming climate. When heavy rain falls on streets, roofs, and other impervious surfaces or compacted soils, it can quickly overload drainage systems, resulting in flooding and all the related risks to lives, property, and natural ecosystems. Homeowners can help by reducing the

Another way to keep your house cooler – and reduce urban heat island – is to install a “cool roof” that reflects sunlight, lowers the roof’s temperature, and reduces heat flow into the house. Ideally a cool roof is installed during new construction or routine repair. Existing roofs can also be retrofitted with cooling, solar-reflective

Windows are an essential feature of any home – for sunlight, cool breezes, a view of the neighborhood –but they’re potentially a huge cause of energy loss. On average, 25-30% of heat gain or loss is through windows, forcing your HVAC system to work harder, shortening its life, and costing you thousands of dollars in

Americans waste as much as 30% of the energy they pay for every month. To stop hemorrhaging money and make your house more comfortable, get a home energy assessment! Johnson County residents have three options – a simple do-it-yourself; a free inventory by trained Americorps students; and a professional audit w/ energy coaching services aimed