This week, you read about Chris' experience with frozen pipes, and how he saved money with a simple do-it-yourself (DIY) project. While not every project is suitable for do-it-yourself (some of them really do require experienced professionals), sometimes DIY really is easy and can amount to significant savings. What do-it-yourself projects have saved you energy and money? 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.

Earlier this month, just one day after Denver's first cold snap of the season, I woke up and saw a new text message from my downstairs neighbor. She was writing to let me know no one in our small, six-unit condo building had water. Immediately I feared the worst: The pipes froze overnight and burst, damaging the building and causing thousands of dollars in repair work. After throwing on some warm clothes, I surveyed the basement and outside where the water enters our building. No burst was visible. Relieved, we called a plumber, who for a hefty service fee was able to come out the same day and thaw our pipes. He also confirmed our pipes hadn't burst, and water was again flowing from our faucets. Yet, with sub-zero temperatures forecast throughout the upcoming week, we knew we had to quickly act. Upon closer examination, we discovered that the insulation—which used to protect the space where the water enters our building—was gone. No wonder our pipes had frozen; nothing was ... [More]

Black Friday sales have never been enough to entice me to brave the crowds after Thanksgiving. I'm just not that dedicated to shopping. After-Christmas sales, however, are another story. Sometimes those sales are just too good to pass up. If you're planning to take advantage of some of those great sales, you may want to see if there are any deals out there for energy-efficient purchases—but time is running out if you want to get a tax credit when you file your 2009 taxes in April. You have just four days to make your purchase for this year's tax credit. See the products that are eligible for federal energy-efficient tax credits. Don't forget to save your receipts and Manufacturer's Certification Statement, which certifies that the product meets requirements for the tax credits. You can usually find it on the manufacturer's Web site, or call them directly. Learn from my experience—I almost bought the wrong product—and make sure anything you buy meets those requirements... [More]

This week, you read about Amy's war with her dishwasher and how she plans to take advantage of her state's appliance rebate program to replace it. Will you be purchasing new appliances for a rebate from your state? Tell us about your plans. 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.

Winter officially hit this week, and those of you on the east coast found out in a big way. Many of you are still shoveling out while trying to take care of those last-minute holiday preparations. (I'm actually kind of jealous. I love shoveling snow. I just hate driving in it.) Anyway, I know you're busy, so before you run off to bake more cookies (send me some?), here are some quick energy-related reminders for the next few weeks: Celebrate Efficiently As you're running through your to-do list, don't forget to think about how you can save energy during all of the hustle and bustle. Our entry from last year on Tips to Save Energy During the Holidays is a good place to start. Resolve to Save During a quieter moment, you may be looking ahead to 2010 and thinking about your resolutions. I, of course, think you should Resolve to Save Energy in the New Year. This entry from last year will help you make SMART energy-saving resolutions that last longer than the average new-year gym membershi... [More]

My dishwasher and I have been locked in mortal combat for almost a month now, ever since it decided to quit working at nearly the same moment I decided to start washing the Thanksgiving dinner dishes. Over the past week it has started to look as if the dishwasher may have won the battle. And so, while I've been contemplating washing all those Christmas dishes by hand this year, I've also been shopping for a new energy-efficient dishwasher to replace my old one. As someone who's planning on buying a new appliance in the near future, I've been really excited about the possibility of taking advantage of new state rebates for the purchase of ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances. Funded with $300 million from the Department of Energy's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, the Appliance Rebate Program gives each state and territory the chance to develop and implement a unique program to encourage their residents to replace old appliances with new, more energy efficient models. Most... [More]