“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Although this quote was popularized by Mark Twain early in the 20^th Century, here in the 21^st Century, amidst the war of words over global warming, the saying perhaps should be updated to: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and computer models.”

This is the third article in my Microsoft Hohm™ Blog series on critical thinking, or “how do we know ...

Ever wonder how San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Chicago compare when it comes down to energy consumption? Or how your neighborhood compares to that of your brother-in-law’s? Now you can! Today we’re launching the Hohm zip code pages for every zip code in the country -- all 42,000+ of them. You can also see common energy savings tips for your area, or check out different scenarios for energy consumption based on zip code, home age and size. We’re ...

 

Global warming is one of the greatest challenges of our generation. It's going to require new ways of thinking to incorporate cleaner sources of energy in our energy generation, to improve our energy efficiency, and to reduce our carbon footprint. We are already seeing innovations in this space in energy generation, distribution, efficiency, and storage. From more efficient solar panels and wind turbines, to a smart grid transforming how we manage energy distribution, to home energy management solutions helping ...

About a month ago we did a short post about the proposed Cash for Caulkers program by President Obama. Today we have a couple updates on the program.

1. The Cash for Caulkers bill is formally called the Home Star program, which is part of the short term jobs bill to create new greener jobs and provide incentives for homeowners/contractors to perform work which will improve home energy efficiency.
2. This bill is still pending (must be passed by Congress and signed ...

 

In the following weeks we’ll be focusing on green design – making your home beautiful and respecting the environment. You’ll see tips, examples, DIY projects and resources you can use for your home design projects.

Tell us what you would like to learn about green design and we’ll try to include something for you.

To get started, think about what green design means to you. What do you hope to get out of the project and what are you ...

 

Reducing energy use in the home is an integral part of addressing global climate change, energy security, and green economic growth.  Energy used in the residential sector is a significant contributor to green house gas emissions (GHGs).  In California for example, homes are responsible for 14% of GHGs, 32% of the state’s electricity consumption, and 36% of its natural gas consumption.  In response to this many homeowners are taking action to save both money and energy use through energy efficiency upgrades. 

 

Unfortunately many people ...

When it came time to buy a new car back in 2006, my choice was clear.  The Toyota Prius was the only car at that time that provided the performance I needed and was as eco-responsible as I could get.  I knew that my top priority was sustainability and so my “green” decision was easy.

 

Living in California, I thought that other Prius buyers were doing it for the same reasons, but I’ve learned it’s always good to know whether you’re really as similar ...

 

For many people, our home is our sanctuary.  As our shelter from the storm, nothing is more personal than when we feel our homes under siege.  With dozens of recent examples on how toxic items are entering our homes, how can we remain calm, make informed decisions, and keep our homes and lives free of chemicals?

First and foremost, unless something is known to contain toxic levels of chemicals, please don’t throw it out prematurely. To paraphrase Thomas Friedman ...

Surprisingly enough, the end of December is already upon us, and we all know what that means – the holiday season. Before the noughties (lamest decade nickname ever) end, however, there are some ways for all of us to prepare our homes in these last couple of weeks leading up to the close of the decade. I present, for your enjoyment, the 12 Green Days of Christmas, or rather, 12 things you can do to be greener for Christmas.

Yes, technically, the 12 days of ...

With the economic downturn putting pressure on many people’s wallets, we have been analyzing our purchases, and trimming back on many costs we do not view as essential.  Enviromedia recently released a report showing that 82% of consumers are still purchasing eco-products, despite the economic lull.  Given the higher upfront costs of these products, why are people still choosing to buy green?  Do people now view these products as essential items?

For many people, they see the long-term savings associated ...