I’ve often wished I lived in one of those fabulous places where it’s 72 degrees and sunny year-round. But unfortunately, most of us don’t. And to stay comfortable, we need heat and hot coffee in the winter, and air-conditioning and lemonade in the summer. Luckily, part of the Energy Savers site is dedicated to helping us save energy during all four seasons. Bring up the dedicated Energy Savers seasonal website and learn great ways to reduce your energy bill. Tips range from small changes you can make immediately, such as closing your drapes, to information on modifications you can make to your home for even larger benefits. There is even information on assistance for energy-savings improvements to your home. On the page you’ll also find the Weekly Tips widget, with fresh tips on how to stay warm and toasty without your heating bill skyrocketing. Imagine if you utilized one easy tip a week, the savings could have a tremendous effect on your energy cos... [More]

Memorial Day is coming up and there are many ways to honor the men and women who died in service to our country. You may be planning to attend a parade or ceremony, or maybe you're just planning to take a moment of silence to reflect and remember.

Along with these excellent community activities, many Americans also choose to gather with friends and family to honor our heroes and usher in the unofficial start of summer. While the weather can still be unpredictable, by this time most of us are ready for sun and shorts and barbecue.

If you're planning to entertain—particularly if you'll be cooking—be sure to check out last year's entry on how to save energy in the kitchen during the summer. [More]

Earth Day, Daylight Saving Time, and the upcoming Memorial Day holiday have me already looking forward to my annual summer "big trip." Before leaving town for extended periods of time, I always take some basic, small steps to save money and energy at home, including: [More]

Seems we were just hunkering down for cold weather and bundling into our big coats just last week. Well, come to think of it, it WAS last week—it got pretty darn cold here in the DC area a couple of nights back.

This might make you wonder when spring is going to get here. Good question. Even though the average temperature shows an upward trend over the weeks to come, we all know that temperatures bounce up and down a lot. Add to that the atmospheric instability that generates, and we get plenty of rain (and even severe thunderstorms) as well.

What does this have to do with energy? Everything. For one, home and business owners have to compensate for erratic, unpredictable changes in temperature and humidity. This means setting thermostats to a lower (or higher) baseline pretty much day to day; however, if you have a programmable thermostat, you can avoid that kind of close scrutiny of your home or business's heating and cooling. [More]

This week, we wrapped up February and bid a hearty hello to March—and the coming spring! It's still early, though, and spring hasn't fully sprung yet. While you may be having a warm day here and there, cold and snowy days are still cropping up in many parts of the country. This up-and-down weather can be difficult to adapt to, especially when you're trying to maximize your energy savings. So we'd like to hear your tricks.

How do you adapt your energy use during the winter-to-spring transition?

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]

This week, you read about some ways you can use shade to keep your home cool in the spring and summer. Some people are lucky enough to have a lot of trees for natural shade, while others of us have to create our own.

Spring is the perfect time of year to do some planting around your home, and landscaping is a natural and beautiful way to keep your home cool in the Summer and reduce your energy bills. Carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of the energy a typical household uses for energy. Dense shading deciduous trees are generally best, and should be planted on the south-side of structures—far enough away from homes to allow for proper growth of the selected tree, but close enough for the shade of the tree in its maturity to cast a shadow to south-facing windows.

Be mindful to choose trees that thrive in your climate zone. Indigenous species are a safe bet. This will ensure your trees are healthy and they will generally require less water. And to be environmentally friendly—use natural fertilizers and pesticides.

And if you aren't able to plant trees, there may be other methods—such as overhangs and awnings—that you can use to shade your home.

How do you shade your home in the summer?

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]