Most of the time, I feel like I'm doing my part to save energy, and I'm getting better all the time. But sometimes I feel like what I do to try to offset the unfathomable amount of energy that's consumed around me, and around the country, is so tiny that my actions won't make a ripple of difference. I wonder how the few hundred kilowatt hours per month I shave off through my conscientious behavior and my use of energy-efficient products and appliances means something in the face of the American economic juggernaut. Think about the incredible amount of fuel used by the cars and trucks in the American fleet or the electricity used in powering the factories, schools, hospitals and offices that make our world go round. It's hard to wrap your head around it. But one of the most exciting things I learned about the Department of Energy when I came to work here was that I wasn't alone—that experts have been working for many years in the Industrial Technologies Program and the Building Te... [More]

The Living Zero Home Tour is on the road, and it may be in a city near you! If you have the chance to see the tour, you may be surprised to discover the small steps that you can take to save energy and money. Have you visited the Living Zero Home Tour? Tell us about your visit in the comments. 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.

You may have already heard about the Living Zero Home Tour, which is a traveling and interactive exhibit featuring ENERGY STAR products, eco-friendly construction methods, and innovative technologies that drastically reduce energy consumption—while at the same time saving on energy bills. Last week, Good Morning America aired a short video clip about the tour and how compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) can help save money and energy at home. With lighting comprising 11%-20% of annual household energy consumption, CFLs are important component of net-zero energy buildings and provide a return on their purchase within two years. Zero-Energy Homes combine state-of-the-art, energy-efficient construction and appliances with commercially available renewable energy systems, such as solar water heating and solar electricity. The combination results in a home that produces its own energy—as much or more than it needs. Even though the home might be connected to a utility grid, it has net... [More]