This week, Andrea talked about insulating her water heater tank in preparation for cooler weather (of course, that's something you can do any time of year to save money and energy at home). She also listed many other ways to reduce your water heating costs.

Erin blogged about something we don't often think about: the historical perspective of using renewable energy. For example, Leonardo da Vinci had designed a solar powered water heater among other things. As for geothermal energy, archaeological evidence shows that the first human use of geothermal resources in North America occurred more than 10,000 years ago. [More]

One of the benefits of living in the Nation’s capital is direct access to so many great museums. From outdoor works of art at the Sculpture Garden to live butterflies at the National History museum—there’s something out there to spark your interest and feed your curiosity.

My personal favorite is the National Gallery of Art—there you can take free guided tours almost any day of the week. On a recent tour, a guide explained the significance and history of Ginevra de’ Benci—the only portrait by Leonardo da Vinci in the Western Hemisphere. [More]

Nearly six weeks ago I visited for the first time the paradise of Hawaii. While it’s easy for visitors to appreciate its sun-kissed beaches and warm ocean breezes, you may not realize Hawaii also is a renewable energy lover’s paradise. Sunshine and wind, especially, are in abundant supply.

The Aloha State is planning to utilize these renewable resources to achieve 70% clean energy by 2030. These are some of the most aggressive clean energy goals in the nation—and in my mind, another reason why Hawaii is such a special place. [More]

On Tuesday, Elizabeth wrote about some resources to help you learn more using renewable energy at home. Do you use renewable energy in your home? Tell us about it! If you would like to use renewable energy in the future, share 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.