I’ve lived in my condominium for several years, and though it naturally stays cooler in the summer (with all west-facing windows) I struggle to keep it warm in the winter without taking out a loan to pay utilities. Like any homeowner, I must answer the question: Is it better to try and insulate my existing window, or am I better off replacing it? Sometimes the answer is purely about upfront costs, but other times the inefficiency more than justifies the cost of replacement. [More]

At a December holiday party, the host handed me a newspaper clipping and asked me what I thought of the energy pyramid mentioned in the article. I hadn't read the article, so I told him I would read it and get back to him. Of course, when I found time to look into it, I didn't have the article with me. So I decided to do a little research on energy pyramids on the internet. It turns out that I found several variations on the theme, including the one mentioned in the article handed to me by my friend and neighbor, Larry. [More]

We don't often speak of it in these terms, but saving energy can sometimes have a positive influence on your health. Maybe you're getting more exercise because you bike to work instead of drive, or you're getting more fresh air while jogging outside instead of on the treadmill (not to mention vitamin D!). Maybe you're eating more raw fruits and vegetables instead of turning on the oven to bake a pizza or driving for fast food. Tell us your story.

How has saving energy affected your health?

Each Thursday, you have the chance to share your thoughts on a question about energy efficiency or renewable energy for consumers. Please comment with your answers, and also feel free to respond to other comments. [More]

Last Wednesday, like so many others likely did, I found myself watching President Obama's State of the Union address. Now, admittedly, a sentence like that kind of invites a whole lot of thoughts and opinions, but I'm not thinking much about that—I'm just using it for a springboard for my actual topic.

So, I was watching the State of the Union, and I was paying particular attention to all his comments about clean energy. And while President Obama was talking about his plans and goals for the future, it made me think of a lot of the work that EERE is already doing. But, I thought, most people don't know some of this stuff exists, do they? [More]

Every now and then, I like to take a look back at some of the entries we've published over the last year on the Energy Savers Blog. We try not to repeat ourselves (too much), so if you're looking for a particular topic to be covered on the blog, be sure to check out the categories and archives on the blog home page to see if we've already written about it.

Otherwise, here are a few entries from around this time last year that may interest you:

• Energize Your Career: Educational Opportunities in Renewables and Efficiency


• Thinking from a Whole-Building Approach


• Stop Paying for Energy You Aren't Using


• Do You Wonder How Much Energy Your Home Could Get from Solar or Wind?


• The Newest Addition to the ENERGY STAR Lineup: Water Heaters

Allison Casey is a senior communicator at DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which assists EERE in providing technical content for many of its Web sites. [More]

We've been talking a lot about tax credits and rebates on the blog recently. We may sound like a broken record, but we really want you to be aware of the incentives available if you are considering a purchase for your home.

If you read Monday and Tuesday's entries, you know that people who bought and installed energy-saving products in 2009 are now thinking about claiming their tax credits.

If you have been thinking about making a purchase, now is the time to act. Some of the tax credits are only available through 2010 (others, including geothermal heat pumps, solar energy systems, wind energy systems, and fuel cells, are available through 2016).

If appliances are on your list, check out which rebates your state is offering. Some of the programs have already begun and others are starting soon, so check out the details before you buy.

And finally, please share your plans!

What do you plan to buy for an energy tax credit or rebate in 2010?

Each Thursday, you have the chance to share your thoughts on a question about energy efficiency or renewable energy for consumers. Please comment with your answers, and also feel free to respond to other comments. [More]