Can you build a house with found objects?

One man's bottle cap may be another man's doorbell. Whether they're working from economic necessity, an artistic bent or environmental motivation, some people build their homes from everyday objects.

How Green Building Works

"Green" is one of the hottest buzzwords in construction. Proponents say green building is environmentally friendly -- and also healthier and more cost-efficient.

How LEED Certification Works

Let's say you're building a house. You want to "build green," but where do you start? Most likely, you'll turn to LEED.

How many solar cells would I need in order to provide all of the electricity that my house needs?

How many solar cells would I need in order to provide all of the electricity that my house needs?

How Smart Homes Work

Wouldn't it be nice to have your favorite song start up the moment you walked in the house? Or to get the coffee brewing from bed? Smart homes can do all those tricks, and you might be able to afford one, even if you're not Bill Gates.

How Smart Windows Work

With energy bills on the rise, homeowners are looking for new ways to use less power around the house. A cutting-edge window technology called the "smart window" allows consumers to fully or partially block light by turning a knob or pressing a button.

How Straw Bale Houses Work

Remember the story of the little pig who built a straw house, only to have the big, bad wolf huff and puff and blow it down? Nowadays, that pig would have a sturdy, energy-efficient home.

What is gray water, and can it solve the global water crisis?

As the world confronts a water crisis, more people are recycling gray water at home. Left over from bathing or washing clothes, gray water can be used to water your garden.

What is this bumpy stuff on my ceiling that looks like popcorn or cottage cheese?

What is this bumpy stuff on my ceiling that looks like popcorn or cottage cheese?

What's the one thing you can do to your home to save the most energy?

There are lots of ways to improve your home's energy efficiency, but the best thing to do is to make sure you have enough insulation to seal your home's "envelope."

How the ZeroHouse Works

This house uses the sun to power its refrigerator, gravity to pump water through its pipes and bacteria to break down its trash. How does it redefine green design?

Home Heating and Cooling Efficiency Tips

As energy prices rise, most homeowners are concerned about keeping heating and cooling costs down. Many simple steps can help reduce your energy usage. Learn how to keep those energy bills under control.

Home Energy-Saving Systems

When you work on your home to make it more energy efficient and less expensive to maintain, you must also consider safety issues. Learn about making safe adjustments to your home to save energy.

How to Clean Up Home Energy Consumption

Periodic cleaning and regular maintenance is the best way to improve your home's energy efficiency. For example, cleaning your refrigerator coils and your water heater's tank maintains maximum efficiency. Learn about home energy efficiency.

How to Conserve Energy at Home

What is "energy"? Where does it come from? How do we pay for it? Learn the answers to these questions, and find out how to live more efficiently in your home.