According to the Nielsen Company, about 54% of homes in the U.S. had three or more television sets in 2009. I hate to admit it, but I’m average – I have three. However, any burglar would have laughed himself silly at the “electronics” in my house. Last fall I had four VERY old CRT TVs. They all worked, but needed an analog-to-digital converter box. I do hate to get rid of something that still works, and you can’t even give those away any more. I finally recycled the (at least) 30-yr-old 13” TV at NREL’s responsible electronics recycling day in December – it hadn’t been used in years anyway. A few days after the recycling event (of course), the main TV died (a 26” one purchased in 1994 – ONLY 17 years old). For the last few years, for some reason when the power to the set went out, the power cable would quit working. I’d buy a new $14 cable, and the TV would start working again – until the next time the power to the set was disconnected. When I went away for Thanksgiving last fall, I made it a point NOT to turn off the surge protector for the main TV—the few cents it would cost to operate while I was away was lots cheaper than a new power cable—but it quit working shortly after I got home, and this time the “quick fix” didn’t work. [More]

In the middle of winter, fireplaces are a popular topic. This week, Ernie talked about re-building his dual-sided fireplace and adding a damper and tempered-glass doors in the process. In the heating urban myth debate, Elizabeth shared her former roommate's assumption that using a gas fireplace to heat a single room would be more efficient than a central heating system (not necessarily - it depends on your utility rates).

We have several blog entries that talk about using your fireplace efficiently, and we provide some tips on our seasonal website. [More]

I don't have an interesting tidbit, video, or page to link to today, so I thought I would share a few things I've heard people say about saving energy. I'd call them "stories," except I'm paraphrasing and summarizing so much that it's more like random advice that I've heard people give. I think they're kind of fun reminders that, well, we are all pretty energy-savvy here, but there's still a lot of education that needs to be done.

Let's get this started!

Once upon a time, I knew someone who was sure that it would cost less to use a gas fireplace to heat their living room than it would to let the central heating run. They figured the fireplace could heat a small area better than the central air, which would have to heat the whole house. [More]

It comes as no surprise that 9-out-of-10 American homes burned wood for heat a little more than a century ago. Likewise, it's also probably not news that the number dwindled to less than 1% by the 1970s. After all, who wants to chop and stack cordwood when you can set the thermostat to be comfortable? Perhaps that's why Paul Bunyan is so rarely spotted around town these days.

Still, there is something irresistible about the warmth of a crackling fire. That appeal probably explains why fireplaces and wood-burning heating stoves haven't disappeared in many communities, and that upgrades such as energy efficient inserts and stoves are common. [More]

In the coldest parts of winter, we've turned our thoughts toward the best seasonal tips, conservation of water and lighting power, and what's new in 2012. If you've missed any of January's posts, here's a recap.

What's New in 2012

• Are you looking for an easy way to save energy in your home quickly? Learn about the New Lighting Facts Label to compare efficient light bulb choices and determine which ones may be best for your home.


• Learn about electric vehicles in DOE's new Electic Vehicle 101 Video and connect with a handy listing of calculators, fueling station finders, and financial incentives.


• Thinking about installing renewable energy in your home? See which renewable energy systems and products are eligible for tax credits through 2016, and which credits expired in 2011.

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Winter. For many of us, the season means hot chocolate, winter sports, exercise indoors, and the classic American pastime—movie night. So, if you find yourself caught in a chilly day, and are in the mood for popcorn and a good flick at home, check out the following movies that have environmental or clean energy innuendoes/themes:

• Back to the Future—In parts II and III of the popular series, the DeLorean time machine was powered by the Mr. Fusion Home Energy Reactor. In the end of the first movie, we see Dr. Emmett Brown putting a banana peel, beer (and the can), and other waste products into the Mr. Fusion unit, and in turn, suggesting that the car's flux capacitor is run on biomass energy. Another interesting tidbit is that the cool DeLorean car that was featured in the series is actually being made in real life as an electric vehicle.

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