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]

September is a month full of changes: it marks the switch from summer to fall, and from vacation to school. But it also means something really exciting - the DOE Solar Decathlon!

We've been tracking the event and showing you what's going on daily. See what's been happening on the blog:

New or Notable on Energy Savers

• Solar Decathlon 2011: The event runs Sept. 23 - Oct 2 in West Potomac Park in Washington D.C. Check it out if you have a chance!


• The seasonal switch to fallhas begun on Energy Savers. Read our tips to help you get prepared for saving energy and money in the cooler weather.

[More]

August was the hottest month on record for some of us, while others braced ourselves for the likes of hurricane Irene and earthquakes! Unfortunate power outages aside, saving energy is always a hot topic in the dog days of summer. See what we've been talking about in August:

New or Notable on Energy Savers

• Energy Savers has launched a campaign with the Ad Council to promote awareness about how saving energy saves money. Our new Saving Energy Saves You Money tab on Facebook has great interactive content such as videos, quizzes, and energy saving tips. Check it out!
[More]

This week, millions of kids across the United States are heading back to school. Parents are buying school supplies and perhaps heaving a sigh of relief (or shedding a tear). It's a rite of passage.

My wife and I look forward to our girl learning about energy—where it comes from and how we use it. She loves to share what she learned at daycare; I figure most kids are the same. If they share what they've learned about how to save energy with their parents, this becomes a great opportunity. Parents and kids together can go through their homes and see what they can do to save energy and money; they can also visit
Energysavers.gov as a family for great energy saving tips, including our new Lighting Changes Save You Money campaign. It can be a game, a weekend project, a way to bond. [More]

Summer is one of the best times of the year to get motivated to make those energy efficiency upgrades on your to-do list, and the Department of Energy can point you to some incentives to make the initial investment more affordable. Energy-saving products will save you considerable money over the long term, helping these products pay for themselves and significantly reducing your monthly energy bills.

Homeowners ready to take advantage of the savings should check out the energy efficiency tax credits offered through the IRS and promoted by the Department of Energy. [More]

How many light bulbs does it take to equal the power output of a TV set? Or is it the other way around?

The answer: It depends on the bulb and the TV. There are a few factors that determine the answer such as the wattage of the standard light bulb and the wattage of the TV.

I was curious about the energy usage of my 48" LCD flat screen TV, since I can feel the heat coming off of it when it's on (which doesn't help me to feel cooler in the summer). I figured it must be using a ton of power! [More]